Solid Power, Inc 10-K for FY2024
Solid Power, Inc. (SLDP)
About this 10-K
Solid Power, Inc filed this 10-K on February 28, 2025, covering the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (FY2024).
Headline figures
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Revenue
- $20.14M
- up 15.7% from $17.41M a year earlier
- Net loss
- $96.52M
- compared with a net loss of $65.55M a year earlier
- Diluted EPS
- -$0.54
- compared with -$0.37 a year earlier
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, as of June 28, 2024, the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $
DOCUMENT INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to its 2025 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2025 Proxy Statement”) are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K where indicated. The 2025 Proxy Statement will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this report relates.
Table of Contents
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Report”), including any portions of the 2025 Proxy Statement that may be incorporated by reference, contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties. References in this Report to “Solid Power,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Solid Power, Inc. (f/k/a Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation III) and its consolidated subsidiaries. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this Report, regarding our future financial performance, strategy, expansion plans, including plans related to the expansion of our electrolyte production capabilities, market opportunity, operations, and operating results; estimated revenues or losses; projected costs; future prospects; and plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “project,” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Report. We caution you that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control.
In addition, we caution you that the forward-looking statements regarding the Company contained in this Report are subject to the following factors:
| ● | risks relating to the uncertainty of the success of our research and development efforts, including our ability to achieve the technological objectives or results that our partners require and our ability to commercialize our technology in advance of competing technologies and our competitors; |
| ● | risks relating to our status as a research and development stage company with a history of financial losses with an expectation of incurring significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future, including execution of our business plan and the timing of expected business milestones; |
| ● | risks relating to the non-exclusive nature of our partnerships, our ability to secure new business relationships, and our ability to manage these relationships; |
| ● | our ability to negotiate and execute commercial agreements with our partners and customers on commercially reasonable terms; |
| ● | broad market adoption of EVs and other technologies where we are able to deploy our technology, if developed successfully; |
| ● | our success attracting and retaining our executive officers, key employees, and other qualified personnel; |
| ● | our ability to protect and maintain our intellectual property, including in jurisdictions outside of the United States; |
| ● | our ability to secure government contracts and grants, changes in government priorities with respect to our government contracts and grants, and the availability of government subsidies and economic incentives; |
| ● | delays in the construction and operation of facilities that meet our short-term research and development and long-term electrolyte production requirements; |
| ● | changes in applicable laws or regulations; |
| ● | risks relating to our information technology infrastructure and data security breaches; |
| ● | risks relating to other economic, business, or competitive factors in the United States and other jurisdictions, including supply chain interruptions and changes in market conditions, and our ability to manage these risks and uncertainties; and |
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| ● | those factors discussed in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Report. |
We caution you that the foregoing list does not contain all of the risks or uncertainties that could affect the Company.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this Report primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, operating results, financial condition and prospects. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those described in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Report. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this Report. We cannot assure you that the results, events, and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results, events, or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
Neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Moreover, the forward-looking statements made in this Report relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this Report to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Report or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments we may make.
TRADEMARKS
Our logo and trademark appearing in this Report and the documents incorporated by reference herein are our property. This document and the documents incorporated by reference herein contains references to trademarks and service marks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this Report may appear without the ® or TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks, or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of it by, any other companies.
MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA
We obtained the industry and market data used throughout this Report or any documents incorporated herein by reference from our own internal estimates and research, as well as from independent market research, industry and general publications and surveys, governmental agencies, publicly available information, and research, surveys, and studies conducted by third parties. Internal estimates are derived from publicly available information released by industry analysts and third-party sources, our internal research, and our industry experience and are based on assumptions made by us based on such data and our knowledge of our industry and market, which we believe to be reasonable. In some cases, we do not expressly refer to the sources from which this data is derived. In addition, while we believe the industry and market data included in this Report or any documents incorporated herein by reference is reliable and based on reasonable assumptions, such data involve material risks and other uncertainties and is subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors.” These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties or by us.
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PART I
Item 1. Business
Overview
Solid Power is a U.S.-based leader in solid-state battery technology and manufacturing processes. Our core technology is a sulfide-based solid electrolyte material, which replaces the liquid or gel electrolyte used in traditional lithium-ion battery cells. We believe our electrolyte technology has the potential to enable a step-change improvement in battery cell performance beyond what is currently achievable in conventional lithium-ion battery cells, including improved energy density, battery life, and safety performance. We are currently targeting the battery electric vehicle (“EV”) market due to the size and perceived demand for next generation battery technology but believe our technologies can have a broader application as they mature.
Commercialization Strategy
Our commercialization strategy is to manufacture and sell electrolyte to Tier 1 battery manufacturers and automotive original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) that choose to produce their own battery cells. We also intend to pursue licensing arrangements for our cell manufacturing processes and cell designs. This business model distinguishes us from competitors who are, or plan to be, commercial battery manufacturers and allows us to focus on our core strength of electrolyte development and production. Since we do not plan to produce commercial battery cells, we expect to have significantly lower capital requirements than cell manufacturers.
Technologies and Pilot Manufacturing
Our electrolyte is a sulfide-based material comprised of lithium sulfide (“Li2S”) and other inputs. We believe most OEMs and battery manufacturers have a technology roadmap that includes sulfide-based, solid-state cell products that can utilize our electrolyte. Our electrolyte is made from abundant materials produced at industrial scale in multiple geographical locations, except for the Li2S precursor material. Since we anticipate our Li2S need to significantly increase upon commercialization, we are taking a two-pronged approach to secure supply: sourcing from multiple global entities as well as working to develop in-house processes to produce material.
We believe sulfide-based solid electrolytes have the best-known balance of conductivity (i.e., the ability to move lithium ions quickly) and processability (i.e., the ability to allow cells to be produced on industry-standard roll-to-roll battery manufacturing equipment) out of all solid electrolyte classes. We develop our materials for stability and conductivity within each layer of the cell while also optimizing for areas such as cost and compatibility with conventional lithium-ion processing. We are also using customer feedback to tailor our electrolyte to meet customer requirements.
We currently produce electrolyte on two pilot manufacturing lines using a batch manufacturing process. The electrolyte we produce is used for customer sampling and internal cell development. In 2025, we intend to begin facility engineering and construction of a pilot electrolyte line using a continuous manufacturing process, which is expected to be commissioned in mid-2026. The continuous manufacturing line is expected to provide proof-of-concept of production-intent electrolyte manufacturing processes before proceeding to mass production.
Our current cell design is a multi-layered stacked pouch design made with a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (“NMC”) cathode, silicon-based anode, and separator, each of which contains our electrolyte. We produce cells in sizes ranging from 0.2 Ah to 60 Ah. Our research and development teams are also working on lithium metal and anode-free cells. Longer-term, we intend to pursue the development of a nickel- and cobalt-free battery cell that could remove those costly and difficult to obtain materials. Each of these technologies are significantly earlier in development than our current NMC-silicon cell design.
We currently produce solid-state cells ranging from 0.2 Ah to 60 Ah on pre-pilot and pilot cell manufacturing lines. Our cell manufacturing processes were developed around industry-standard lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing processes and equipment. We currently manufacture all of our cell designs ourselves, including our cathodes and anodes, using materials sourced from external suppliers. We source other input materials from both industry-leading and emerging suppliers. The cells we produce are used to improve the performance of our electrolyte and support our partners’ cell development programs.
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Partnerships
We collaborate with a number of industry leaders, including BMW of North America LLC (“BMW”), Ford Motor Company (“Ford”), SK On Co., Ltd. (“SK On”), and other OEMs and Tier 1 battery manufacturers. We expect to continue to work closely with these parties to improve our electrolyte and ultimately commercialize our technologies.
Benefits of Our Technology
We believe our electrolyte has the potential to provide the following benefits when incorporated into a solid-state cell as compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries:
| ● | Energy Density – our electrolyte may increase cell energy on both a volume and mass basis by allowing the use of higher-capacity electrodes than those currently used in traditional lithium-ion battery cells, which in turn could increase vehicle driving ranges at the same battery pack volume and mass. |
| ● | Battery Life – our electrolyte may improve high temperature stability of cells, and cell designs incorporating our electrolyte could achieve improved battery life compared to conventional lithium-ion battery cells. |
| ● | Safety – by removing the flammable liquid and gel components typically found in traditional lithium-ion battery cells, our electrolyte may bring safety improvements when incorporated into a solid-state cell. |
If our electrolyte proves successful at delivering these benefits, we believe it would allow for reduced costs of battery packs through reduction of expensive pack engineering.
2024 Business Highlights
Deepened our relationship with SK On.
We entered into a series of agreements with SK On in January 2024 with the goal of strengthening our relationship. The agreements include a research and development technology license agreement (the “SK On R&D license”), line installation agreement, and electrolyte supply agreement (collectively, the “SK On Agreements”). During 2024, we conducted trainings with SK On personnel, designed a pilot cell manufacturing line for installation at SK On’s facility (the “SK On Line”), and began ordering and testing equipment for the SK On Line. The SK On Agreements are expected to allow SK On to develop solid-state cells based on our technology and operate the SK On Line using our electrolyte. For more information regarding our relationship with SK On, see “—Partnerships” below.
Increased electrolyte sampling.
Having demonstrated our ability to produce electrolyte at the pilot scale, we sampled electrolyte to multiple new potential customers and industry leaders in 2024. These samples have yielded constructive feedback that we are incorporating into our electrolyte products. We believe improved production capabilities and continued robust customer sampling will ultimately drive commercialization of our electrolyte.
Commissioned our Electrolyte Innovation Center.
During 2024, we commissioned our Electrolyte Innovation Center (“EIC”), where we conduct research and development to improve the performance, manufacturability, and cost of our electrolyte and precursor materials. The EIC is designed to be flexible, which we expect will allow us to rapidly change both the chemistry of our electrolyte and our manufacturing processes prior to transferring those learnings to our pilot electrolyte manufacturing lines.
Increased our Korean presence.
In October 2024, we invested $400,000 for a 20% equity interest in a strategic partner in the Republic of Korea. In addition, we loaned this partner approximately $5.6 million and received a warrant to purchase an additional 20% equity interest in the partner. This partner provides process engineering support for our pilot cell lines and is serving as the installer for the SK On Line. In addition to providing critical services in connection with the installation of the SK On Line, we view this investment as an opportunity to further our expertise of cell manufacturing processes and to better integrate ourselves in the Korean battery market. See Note 11 of our audited financial statements included in this Report for more information.
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We also grew our presence in the Republic of Korea with the addition of several key employees focused on business development and program management in 2024. This expansion is designed to put us closer to the robust battery market in the Republic of Korea and Japan and allow us to strengthen our relationships with vendors, customers, and partners.
Progressed cell development.
After delivering A-1 cells to BMW in late 2023, we shifted our focus to improving the cell design for incorporation into A-2 cells as part of our BMW joint development agreement (“JDA”). During 2024, we made progress on multiple cell designs that we expect will improve cell performance as compared to our A-1 cells. We also made improvements to our production processes that we believe will allow us to produce higher quality prototype cells. These cells are designed to be produced on mostly conventional lithium-ion manufacturing equipment, which we believe is important to demonstrate the ability to commercially produce solid-state cells. We have worked collaboratively with BMW to enable BMW to utilize our learnings as it works to bring on-line its own solid-state cell development capabilities.
Validated by the U.S. Department of Energy.
In September 2024, we were selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) for a grant of up to $50 million under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With this project, we intend to install the first globally known continuous manufacturing process of sulfide-based solid electrolyte materials for advanced all-solid-state batteries and expand our electrolyte production capabilities. The expansion is designed to further our technology roadmap and support anticipated small volume programs of current and future customers as they begin to transition from traditional lithium-ion to solid-state battery technology. Through this multi-year capital improvement project, we plan to significantly increase our annual production capacity, first to 75 metric tons in 2026 and then to 140 metric tons in 2028, in order to meet anticipated demand. In addition, we expect the continuous manufacturing process will allow us to produce electrolyte at a lower cost compared to today’s process.
In January 2025, we and DOE entered into an assistance agreement (the “Assistance Agreement”) to formalize the terms of the grant. Our cost share obligation under the Assistance Agreement is $60 million, and we are subject to certain reporting requirements and compliance obligations under the Assistance Agreement. We may not receive funding under the Assistance Agreement in the amount we expect due to an executive order issued in January 2025 relating to funds appropriated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. For more information, see “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Development and Commercialization—We rely on government contracts and grants for a portion of our revenue and to partially fund our research and development activities, and such contracts and grants are subject to a number of uncertainties, challenges, and risks.”
2025 Development Objectives
Throughout 2024, many OEMs and battery manufacturers began projecting delayed commercial adoption of solid-state battery cells, with some projecting adoption in the late 2020s or early 2030s. We believe these projections are due, in part, to the uneven pace of battery science and the inherent challenges in predicting when research and development will be sufficient to reach commercialization.
Despite these projections, multiple new potential customers and industry leaders requested samples of our electrolyte in 2024, and we sampled a greater quantity of electrolyte in 2024 than 2023, with the majority of volume going to Asian Tier 1 battery manufacturers and OEMs in 2024. We believe this is largely due to Tier 1 battery manufacturers and OEMs coalescing around sulfide solid-state batteries as the preferred solid state cell architecture of the future and is a validation of our intended business model.
Through the sampling process, we have seen a variety in approaches to cell designs and, accordingly, have increased our focus on developing a strong understanding of how our electrolyte affects certain cell performance parameters. We believe this can give Solid Power a competitive advantage compared to electrolyte producers that do not have cell competencies and drive commercialization of our electrolyte. Pursuing this strategy will require us to reduce the amount of internal cell development we undertake in the short term, including scaling back on cell manufacturing as part of the automotive qualification process, though we still intend to work closely with our partners under their respective JDAs. We aim to facilitate worldwide cell development using our electrolyte and intend to leverage our cell capabilities to support our electrolyte development rather than to compete with Tier 1 cell manufacturers and OEMs. We believe this strategy gives us the best opportunity to be the electrolyte supplier of choice to Tier 1 battery manufacturers and OEMs that choose to produce their own battery cells.
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As the solid-state battery landscape continues to evolve, we are focused on the following near-term objectives:
Drive electrolyte innovation and performance through feedback from cell development and customers.
As we work to scale our electrolyte business, we plan to focus the majority of our cell research and development on enhancing the feedback between our cell and electrolyte teams, with the ultimate goal of developing a superior understanding of how and why our electrolyte performs in a solid-state cell and using that knowledge to help our electrolyte customers improve their cell development. We believe we are the only entity with both pilot-scale sulfide electrolyte manufacturing and pilot-scale solid-state cell manufacturing capabilities, which positions us well to utilize feedback from our internal cell development team as well as feedback from customers and other external parties to improve our electrolyte products.
Continue executing on our electrolyte development roadmap.
To scale to commercial volumes of electrolyte production, we must first demonstrate the feasibility of our production methods. Our current pilot electrolyte manufacturing is a batch process. In 2025, we intend to begin facility engineering and construction of a pilot electrolyte line that is designed to manufacture electrolyte on a continuous process. To support this project, we ordered long lead-time equipment at the end of 2024. We believe a continuous manufacturing process is necessary to scale to commercial volumes and this pilot line is designed to allow us to learn and optimize the manufacturing processes ahead of full commercialization. We expect the continuous process pilot line will be commissioned in mid-2026.
Ramp electrolyte sampling and identify long-term customers.
To be successful in the long term, we must identify and develop customers for our electrolyte material. During 2025, we expect to continue sampling electrolyte to potential customers, partners, and industry leaders, explore additional partnership opportunities, and build upon the success we had in 2024. We have significant pilot production capacity, which we believe differentiates us from our competitors. Additionally, through our sampling process, we expect to tailor our electrolyte to meet customers’ specifications, which we believe will ultimately allow our electrolyte to be designed into our customers’ cell designs.
Execute on the SK On Agreements.
During 2025, we intend to complete the installation of the SK On Line by completing factory acceptance testing at various equipment vendors and site acceptance testing at SK On’s facility. Following installation, we expect to spend several months validating the SK On Line to ensure it meets contractual requirements. As part of the validation efforts, we expect to begin delivering electrolyte to SK On under the electrolyte supply agreement.
Remain fiscally disciplined.
We are focused on extending our runway through financial discipline while still investing appropriately in technology development and process improvements. We remain focused on maintaining and using our strong balance sheet to best position Solid Power to reach commercialization. For more information, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
Partnerships
Since we do not contemplate becoming a commercial cell manufacturer, one of our key goals is to establish and expand partnerships with Tier 1 battery manufacturers and OEMs. Our agreements with BMW, Ford, and SK On are non-exclusive, allowing us to pursue additional OEM or battery manufacturer relationships. The following sets forth the material terms of our agreements with each of BMW, SK On, and Ford.
BMW Group
We have a long-standing relationship with BMW, which began in 2016. Our relationship initially focused on cell research and development, and in 2017, we announced a partnership to jointly develop solid-state battery cell technology. In 2021, BMW and Solid Power expanded the partnership with BMW Holding B.V.’s (“BMW Holding”) participation in our $135.6 million Series B investment round, which closed in May 2021 (the “Series B Financing”) and with the execution of a JDA for EV cells for testing and vehicle integration with BMW.
The JDA with BMW sets out the collaborative framework for research and development and vehicle integration of solid-state battery cells. The JDA requires us to continue our research and development efforts towards deployment in BMW’s EVs. Additionally, the terms of the JDA permit BMW to share in certain intellectual property developed through these research and development efforts. Solid Power’s ability to share developments gained through the course of performance of the JDA with its other partners is limited in certain circumstances. The JDA also contemplates entering additional agreements with BMW for purchase and
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pricing of electrolyte materials, integration into cell designs, as well as licensing our cell technology to cell producers. The key commercial terms of such additional arrangements have not yet been determined.
During 2022, we amended our JDA to provide BMW with a research and development-only license to certain of our intellectual property relating to cell manufacturing. The license allows for BMW to install a solid-state prototype cell manufacturing line based upon our proprietary information and BMW agreed to pay us $20 million between December 2022 and June 2024, subject to our achieving certain milestones. During 2024, we engaged with BMW in joint development and manufacturing activities at our facilities. Under the terms of the amended JDA, any intellectual property developed jointly by BMW and Solid Power at our facilities will be solely owned by us. In June 2024, we amended our JDA with BMW to (i) extend the term of the JDA to September 30, 2024 and (ii) revise the payment schedule under Amendment No. 4 to the JDA, effective November 1, 2022. In September 2024, we further amended our JDA with BMW to (i) extend the term of the JDA until we hit certain development milestones; provided that BMW will have termination rights in certain circumstances beginning on December 31, 2025, and (ii) revise certain deliverables and the timing to achieve various milestones and development targets and confirm cell performance requirements. We expect to negotiate a non-exclusive electrolyte supply agreement to supply BMW with our electrolyte material following commissioning of BMW’s prototype cell manufacturing line.
Pursuant to our Board Nomination Support Agreement, dated May 5, 2021, with BMW Holding (the “BMW Nomination Agreement”), BMW Holding has the right to nominate a director for election to our Board of Directors (the “Board”). Rainer Feurer, Senior Vice President at BMW and BMW Holding’s nominee, has served on our Board since December 2021 and was a director of Solid Power Operating, Inc. from May 2021 until December 2021, in each case pursuant to the BMW Nomination Agreement. Also, BMW Holding has the right to designate an individual to attend meetings of our Board and its committees in a non-voting, observer capacity.
SK On
In January 2024, we entered into the SK On Agreements. Under the SK On R&D license, SK On licensed our cell designs and manufacturing processes in exchange for payments totaling $20 million from 2024 to 2027, upon achievement of milestones. The SK On R&D license limits SK On to research and development activities and may not be used for commercial cell production. The line installation agreement provides that Solid Power will design, procure, and install the SK On Line at one of SK On’s Korea facilities in exchange for an estimated $22 million, upon achievement of milestones. SK On has also agreed to purchase our electrolyte for use on the SK On Line through the electrolyte supply agreement. Initially, under the electrolyte supply agreement, SK On will purchase electrolyte to validate the SK On Line. After validation, SK On is required to purchase at least eight metric tons of electrolyte from Solid Power through 2030, which it will use in advancing its cell technologies. Depending on volumes, we expect to receive at least $10 million from these electrolyte sales.
In October 2021, we entered into a non-exclusive JDA with SK On for joint production of our EV cells. In connection with the closing of the business combination with Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation III, SK On invested $30 million into our company. The JDA contemplates that SK On and Solid Power will collaborate to validate Solid Power’s cell designs and production processes are scalable and compatible with existing lithium-ion production technology, enabling us to deliver pre-commercial cells to our OEM customers. The terms of the JDA permit SK On to share in the intellectual property developed through the joint production efforts required under the JDA. Following entry into the SK On Agreements, we and SK On began winding down our 2021 JDA, and we expect the JDA will expire by its terms on March 31, 2025.
Ford Motor Company
We started our relationship with Ford in 2018, when it participated in our Series A-1 equity financing. In 2019, we announced an investment by Ford and partnership to jointly develop solid-state battery cells using our pilot production line. In 2021, we expanded our partnership with Ford’s participation in the Series B Financing and the execution of a JDA relating to testing and vehicle integration of our EV cells. In December 2024, we amended our JDA with Ford to extend the expiration date to December 31, 2025 and to revise our cell material delivery obligations.
The JDA with Ford sets out the framework for the collaboration on the research and development of our cells. The JDA requires us to continue our research and development efforts towards deployment in Ford’s EVs. Additionally, the terms of the JDA permit Ford to share in certain intellectual property developed through these research and development efforts. Solid Power’s ability to share developments gained through the course of performance of the JDA with its other partners is limited in certain circumstances. The JDA also contemplates entering into additional agreements with Ford for purchase and pricing of electrolyte materials, integration into cell designs, as well as licensing our cell technology to cell producers. The key commercial terms of such additional arrangements have not yet been determined.
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Intellectual Property
Our proprietary battery material and cell technology is protected through a combination of patents, patent applications, and trade secrets. Our patent portfolio includes technologies we invented, in addition to exclusive licenses obtained from the University of Colorado Boulder and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Solid electrolyte materials and methods of production make up the largest portion of our patent application filings. Additional subjects include electrode and cell designs, cell processing methods, and electrolyte precursor methods, among others. We regularly file new applications in areas that are enforceable or reverse-engineerable. Processes for manufacturing sulfide-based solid electrolyte materials and solid-state cells make up the majority of our trade secrets. As of February 1, 2025, we owned or exclusively licensed 21 issued United States patents, 91 pending United States patent applications, 115 non-United States and PCT patents and applications, two registered United States trademarks, two pending United States trademarks, and five registered or pending non-United States trademarks. We further protect our intellectual property with non-disclosure agreements for all employees, consultants, and other third parties, material transfer agreements, and license agreements.
Competition
Performance improvements in next-generation battery and EV technology will contribute to global adoption of EVs. This trend has heightened competition and brought new entrants into the industry. We compete directly with both established and emerging materials suppliers and battery cell producers in the United States and abroad, and some of our competitors may be better capitalized or have more experience, superior products, or stronger relationships with their suppliers and customers.
A number of mature and development-stage companies are seeking to improve conventional lithium-ion battery cells or to develop new technologies for battery cells. Some of these companies have established relationships with OEMs and are in varying stages of development.
We believe our ability to compete successfully with both traditional lithium-ion and new battery technology will depend on several factors, including electrolyte performance and cost, safety, energy density, and battery life, and non-technical factors such as brand, established customer and partner relationships, and financial and manufacturing resources. We believe our relationships with BMW, Ford, and SK On can expedite our research and development process relative to our competitors by creating a feedback loop allowing for rapid and intelligent iterations.
Government Regulation and Compliance
We are subject to substantial regulation in the United Staes and abroad, including international, federal, state, and local laws which may vary from country to country and are subject to change. Government regulations frequently control how battery cells and their components are stored, transported, used and disposed of through environmental laws and regulations regarding hazardous substances and solid waste. These laws may impose strict, joint, and several liability for the investigation and remediation of areas where hazardous substances may have been released or disposed. In the ordinary course of operations, we, through third parties and contractors, may handle hazardous substances within the meaning of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and similar state statutes and, as a result, may be jointly and severally liable for all or part of the costs required to clean up sites at which these hazardous substances have been released into the environment. We are also subject to the strict requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and comparable state statutes for the generation or disposal of solid waste, which may include hazardous waste. We believe we are in material compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. The cost of compliance with such laws and regulations has not had a material adverse effect on our capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position and is not anticipated to have a material adverse effect in the future. However, we cannot guarantee that we are in full compliance with all environmental laws and regulations or that we will be able to comply with any future requirements or changes in such laws and regulations without significant costs.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) and comparable laws in other jurisdictions regulate the protection of the health and safety of workers. In addition, the OSHA hazard communication standard requires that information be maintained about any hazardous materials used or produced in operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local government authorities, and the public.
In many cases, our products — including our cells and related technology — are or may in the future be subject to trade and export control laws and regulations in the United States and other jurisdictions where we do business. Such laws may include the export administration regulations and similar export control regimes, trade and economic sanctions maintained by the Office of Foreign Asset Control and other similar agencies, foreign direct investment rules and regulations, tariffs and quotas, and other related regulations in jurisdictions in which we operate. In particular, an export license may be required to export or re-export our products and technology to certain countries or end-users or for certain end-uses or such export, re-export, or end uses may be prohibited.
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In addition, we are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and other anti-corruption, anti-bribery, and anti-money laundering laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we have offices or do business, both domestic and abroad. Any failure to adequately comply with any of these obligations, or future changes with respect to any of these legal regimes, could cause us to incur significant costs, including the potential for new overhead costs, fines, sanctions, and third-party claims.
Human Capital
As of February 1, 2025, we employed over 260 employees, primarily based out of our facilities in Louisville, Colorado and Thornton, Colorado. Many of our employees have a technical background or hold advanced engineering and scientific degrees. We are committed to increasing diversity in the workforce and believe building and maintaining an inclusive and equitable culture is important for our success.
We are committed to compensating our employees in a competitive manner. We have taken steps to comply with Colorado’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. We offer competitive salaries and benefits, as well as a robust equity compensation plan, all with the intention of attracting and retaining team members capable of making our company a world leader in solid-state electrolyte production and battery development. Our compensation decisions are driven by individual contributions, the overall market, and how critical the role is to our success.
To date, we have not experienced any work stoppages and consider our relationship with our employees to be good. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or subject to a collective bargaining agreement.
Available Information
Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These reports and other information we file with or furnish to the SEC are available free of charge at https://www.solidpowerbattery.com/investor-relations/financials/sec-filings as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. In addition, the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
We use our website (www.solidpowerbattery.com) and various social media channels (e.g., Solid Power, Inc. on LinkedIn) as a means of disclosing information about Solid Power and our products to our customers, investors, and the public. The information posted on our website and social media channels is not incorporated by reference in this Report or in any other report or document we file with the SEC. Further, references to our website URLs are intended to be inactive textual references only. The information we post through these channels may be deemed material. Accordingly, investors should monitor these channels, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts. In addition, you may automatically receive e-mail alerts and other information about Solid Power when you enroll your e-mail address by visiting the “Investor Email Alerts” section of our website at https://ir.solidpowerbattery.com. Although our executive officers may also use certain social media channels, we do not use our executive officers’ social media channels to disclose information about Solid Power or our products.
Information about our Executive Officers
Set forth below, in alphabetical order, is a list of our executive officers as of February 28, 2025, including each executive officer’s principal occupation and employment during the past five years. None of our executive officers has any family relationship with any other executive officer, and none of our executive officers became an officer pursuant to any arrangement or understanding with any other person. Each executive officer has been elected to serve until their successor is appointed or their earlier death or removal or resignation from such office. Each executive officer’s age is set forth in the table next to their name.
Name |
| Position |
| Age |
Joshua Buettner-Garrett | | Chief Technology Officer | | 39 |
Linda Heller | | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | | 61 |
James Liebscher | | Chief Legal Officer and Secretary | | 44 |
John Van Scoter | | President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director | | 63 |
Joshua Buettner-Garrett serves as our Chief Technology Officer. He served as Solid Power Operating, Inc.’s Chief Technology Officer since November 2013. Prior to joining Solid Power Operating, Inc., he served as Program Manager of the Energy Storage Group at ADA Technologies, Inc., a research and product development business, from 2011 to 2013. He served as a Senior
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Research Scientist in the ADA Technologies’ Energy Storage Group from 2010 to 2011. Mr. Garrett holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University.
Linda Heller has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since June 2024. Prior to joining Solid Power, Ms. Heller served as Chief Financial Officer of Swell Energy, Inc., a distributed solar energy resource and deployment platform company, from May 2021 until June 2024. Prior to Swell Energy, Inc., Ms. Heller served as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Deca Technologies, Inc., a wafer technology company, from September 2017 to March 2020, and as Chief Financial Officer of eSolar, Inc., an early-stage solar power plant technology company, from 2013 to 2017. Ms. Heller served as Senior Vice President, Finance and CFO of Power-One, Inc., a formerly publicly traded company with shares listed on Nasdaq, from 2008 until 2010. She has also served as a director since 2016 and as chairman of the board since June 2020 of Active Life Scientific, Inc., an early-stage medical device company. Ms. Heller holds a B.A. in Economics from Rice University and an M.S. in Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
James Liebscher serves as our Chief Legal Officer and Secretary. He served as Lead Corporate Attorney of Solid Power Operating, Inc. from June 2021 through the closing of the business combination. Mr. Liebscher was a senior attorney at Aspect Holdings, LLC, an international energy company, from February 2020 until June 2021. He previously was in private practice as a securities and corporate attorney at Polsinelli PC from August 2016 until February 2020 and Dufford & Brown, P.C. from October 2014 until August 2016. Prior to his legal career, he served for nine years in the United States Air Force as an airborne cryptologic linguist. Mr. Liebscher holds an LL.M. in Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown University Law Center, a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School, and a B.S. in Business Administration from Bellevue University.
John Van Scoter serves as our President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director. He has served as our Chief Executive Officer, President and as a Class I Director since June 2023. Prior to joining Solid Power, Mr. Van Scoter served as Vice President, General Manager Products at SRI International Inc., an independent nonprofit research institute, from 2019 until June 2023. Prior to joining SRI, Mr. Van Scoter was the CEO, President and Chairman of eSolar, Inc., an early-stage solar power plant technology company, from 2010 until 2018. Prior to eSolar, he held multiple leadership positions over an almost 30-year career with Texas Instruments Incorporated (Nasdaq: TXN), including as Senior Vice President, Alternative Energy Strategy and Senior Vice President, General Manager of DLP® Products Division. Mr. Van Scoter served on the board of directors of TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE:TEL) from 2008 until 2018. Mr. Van Scoter holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Vermont.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that you should be aware of in evaluating our business. If any such risks and uncertainties materialize, our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
The risks described below are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial, could also have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition. The summary risk factors described below should be read together with the text of the risk factors set forth immediately after the summary risk factors, and both the summary and text of the risk factors should be read together with the other information set forth in this Report, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, as well as in other documents that we file with the SEC.
Summary of the Material Risks Associated with Our Business
These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
| ● | The pace of battery technology development is not predictable. Delays or failures in accomplishing development objectives may postpone or prevent us from generating revenues from the sale of electrolyte or licensing of our cell technology. Expectations for when we will achieve various technical and production-level performance objectives depend in large part upon assumptions, estimates, measurements, testing, analyses, and data developed and performed by us, which may be incorrect or flawed. |
| ● | We may not successfully develop our electrolyte for commercialization or attract customers. There is currently no commercial market for sulfide-based solid electrolytes and one may never emerge. Even if sulfide-based solid electrolytes are commercially adopted, we may not be able to effectively compete in any market. |
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| ● | It will be challenging to develop sulfide-based solid electrolyte capable of production at volume and with acceptable performance, yields, and costs. |
| ● | We have not reached agreement with our partners on economic terms for the commercial sale of electrolyte or licensing of our cell technology. As a result, our projections of revenue and other financial results are uncertain. |
| ● | We may not successfully complete development of our cell designs, commercially license our cell technology to OEMs or cell manufacturers, or generate material revenue from our cell technology. |
| ● | We have only conducted preliminary safety testing on our cells. Any cells using our technology will require additional and extensive safety testing prior to being installed in EVs. |
| ● | If we are unable to attract and retain key employees and qualified personnel, our ability to compete could be harmed. |
| ● | The non-exclusive nature of our agreements exposes us to the risk that our partners may elect to pursue other battery cell technologies or partners. |
| ● | We are seeking additional partners with which to collaborate in the development of our technology. Our inability to enter into development relationships with additional partners may impair our ability to control the timing of our development activities, sell our electrolyte, or generate licensing revenue. |
| ● | If we fail to develop solid-state battery cells for commercialization or meet certain milestones under certain of our agreements within the required time frames, our partners may terminate the agreements. |
| ● | Our business depends on our ability to manage our relationships with existing and future partners, customers, suppliers, and contractors, and we may not successfully manage these business relationships. |
| ● | The terms of certain agreements permit our partners to share in the intellectual property developed through the research and development efforts under their respective agreements. In certain circumstances, our ability to share developments gained through the course of performance of a particular agreement with our other partners may be limited, and our partners may be able to exploit certain of the intellectual property developed under their respective agreements in ways that are detrimental to us. |
| ● | The battery market continues to evolve and is highly competitive, and we may not be successful in competing in this market or establishing and maintaining confidence in our long-term prospects among current and future partners and customers. |
| ● | We may not be able to accurately estimate future demand for our technology, which could result in a variety of inefficiencies in our business, hinder our ability to generate revenue, and cause us to incur additional costs or experience delays. |
| ● | We rely heavily on owned and exclusively-licensed intellectual property, including patent rights, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, and know-how, and we may be unable to protect and maintain access to these intellectual property rights. |
| ● | We have not performed exhaustive searches or analyses of the intellectual property landscape of the battery industry and cannot guarantee that our technology, or its ultimate integration into EVs, does not infringe intellectual property rights of third parties. We may need to defend ourselves against intellectual property infringement claims, which may be time-consuming and cause us to incur substantial costs. |
| ● | Our business plan has yet to be tested, and we may not succeed in executing on our strategic plans, including commercialization. |
| ● | We are a research and development stage company with a history of financial losses and expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future. |
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| ● | We may require additional capital to support business growth, and this capital might not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. |
| ● | We may be unable to adequately control the costs associated with our operations and the components necessary to develop our technology. |
| ● | If we fail to effectively manage our future growth, we may not be able to market and license the technology and know-how to sell our electrolyte or manufacture our cells. |
| ● | Incorrect estimates or assumptions by management in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements could adversely impact our reported assets, liabilities, income, revenue, or expenses. |
| ● | We incur significant expenses and administrative burdens as a public company. |
| ● | Our business could also be adversely impacted if we have deficiencies in our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting as required by SOX. |
| ● | We have been, and may in the future be, subject to lawsuits, regulatory actions, or government investigations and inquiries which could lead us to incur significant costs or harm our reputation. |
| ● | The price of our common stock and Warrants could be adversely impacted by sales of substantial amounts of our common stock or Warrants in the public market or the perception that such sales could occur. |
Risks Related to Development and Commercialization
The pace of battery technology development is not predictable. Delays or failures in accomplishing development objectives may postpone or prevent us from generating revenues from the sale of electrolyte or licensing of our cell technology. Expectations for when we will achieve various technical and production-level performance objectives depend in large part upon assumptions, estimates, measurements, testing, analyses, and data developed and performed by us, which may be incorrect or flawed.
Our expectations for when we will achieve various technical and production objectives reflect our current expectations and estimates. Whether and when we achieve these objectives depend on a number of factors, many of which are outside our control, such as:
| ● | the success and timing of our development activities, including our ability to develop electrolyte and cell technologies with desired qualities and performance metrics; |
| ● | our success in securing additional development partnerships and the pace of our efforts with each of them; |
| ● | the extent of consumer acceptance of EVs generally and those deploying our products in particular; |
| ● | competition, including from established and future competitors in the battery industry or from competing technologies that may be used to power EVs as well as increased competition from China; |
| ● | unanticipated technical or manufacturing challenges or delays; |
| ● | difficulties identifying or constructing the necessary manufacturing facilities; |
| ● | other technological developments that could adversely impact the commercial potential of our technology; |
| ● | whether we can obtain sufficient capital when required to build our manufacturing facilities and sustain and grow our business; |
| ● | adverse developments in our partnership relationships, including termination of our partnerships or changes in our partners’ timetables and business plans; |
| ● | our ability to manage our growth; |
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| ● | our ability to manage our relationships with key suppliers and the availability of the raw materials we need to procure from them; |
| ● | our ability to retain existing key management, integrate new hires, and attract, retain, and motivate qualified personnel; and |
| ● | the overall strength and stability of domestic and international economies. |
Unfavorable changes in any of these or other factors beyond our control have impeded, and could continue to impede, our ability to achieve our objectives when planned. We may continue to experience unfavorable changes in factors beyond our control, and such unfavorable changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition. Additionally, we cannot predict market reaction or the impact on the price of our common stock and Warrants as we make announcements regarding our achievement, or failure to achieve, our objectives and publicly-disclosed milestones. Negative market reactions could result in volatility in the of the price of our common stock and Warrants.
We may not successfully develop our electrolyte for commercialization or attract customers. There is currently no commercial market for sulfide-based solid electrolytes and one may never emerge. Even if sulfide-based solid electrolytes are commercially adopted, we may not be able to effectively compete in any market.
Our business plan contemplates that we will sell our electrolyte to Tier 1 battery manufacturers and OEMs. However, our electrolyte is in the development stage, and we anticipate that our research and development efforts will extend in an iterative process even beyond delivery of our electrolyte to customers wishing to incorporate the material into their products. The continuous need to refine and optimize our products will require us to continue to perform extensive and costly research and development efforts. For example, through validation efforts, we have learned, and may continue to learn, that our electrolyte contains impurities or otherwise does not meet the quality or performance requirements of our customers. Fixing any such problems may require design changes or other research and development efforts, take significant time, and be costly. If our electrolyte fails to perform as expected, we could fail to attract or lose customers of our electrolyte.
Even if we successfully develop our electrolyte for commercialization, there is no established market for sulfide-based solid electrolyte. Our ability to sell our electrolyte to customers will depend on our or their success in developing battery cells which outperform those of traditional lithium-ion batteries. If battery manufacturers do not adopt sulfide-based cell architectures or if markets for sulfide-based solid electrolytes and solid-state battery cells do not develop in the time or to the level we anticipate, we may not be able to find customers to buy our electrolyte.
Further, we may have to compete with established companies that may be better capitalized or have more experience, superior products, or stronger relationships with their suppliers and customers. Potential customers may be wary of unproven products or not be inclined to work with less established businesses, and large organizations may have significant purchasing power and leverage in negotiating contractual arrangements with us. In addition, large organizations often have lengthy sales cycles, which may increase the risk that we spend substantial time and resources on a customer that ultimately elects not to purchase our products. If we are unable to successfully sell commercial volumes of electrolyte, we may be unable to achieve our financial projections, we may not recoup the costs associated with scaling production of our electrolyte, and our reputation and prospects may be adversely impacted, any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
It will be challenging to develop sulfide-based solid electrolyte capable of production at volume and with acceptable performance, yields, and costs.
Our business depends on our ability to produce sulfide-based solid electrolyte at volume and with acceptable performance, yields, and costs. Developing the technology and know-how to produce electrolyte with acceptable performance at scale and cost is extremely challenging. We face significant obstacles to reaching commercial levels of electrolyte production, including:
| ● | developing electrolyte that meets the quality and performance requirements of our customers; |
| ● | understanding optimization requirements for high volume manufacturing equipment; |
| ● | increasing production capacity through development of a continuous manufacturing process and construction of facilities capable of producing electrolyte on the commercial scale; |
| ● | securing materials, components, and equipment necessary for commercial production; and |
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| ● | reducing cost of production. |
If we are unable to overcome these challenges, we may not achieve commercial levels of electrolyte production. Significant delays in achieving, or failure to achieve, commercial production of our electrolyte could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
We have not reached agreement with our partners on economic terms for the commercial sale of electrolyte or licensing of our cell technology. As a result, our projections of revenue and other financial results are uncertain.
Our agreements provide a framework for our cooperation with our partners, and certain of these agreements contemplate that we will enter into additional arrangements with our partners for the commercial sale of electrolyte or licensing of our cell technology. For example, under the electrolyte supply agreement, we and SK On have agreed, at SK On’s option, to make a commercially reasonable effort to enter into a commercial electrolyte supply agreement for commercial battery cell production by SK On. However, we have not reached agreement on key terms for the commercial sale of our electrolyte or licensing of our cell technology with any of our partners, and the structure for realizing the monetary value of our products is unknown. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to agree with our partners on key commercial terms or that any terms will be financially beneficial for us.
We may not successfully complete development of our cell designs, commercially license our cell technology to OEMs or cell manufacturers, or generate material revenue from our cell technology.
Our cell architecture is inherently complex and incorporates technology and components that have not been used in commercial battery cell production. As with our electrolyte, we expect our research and development efforts to extend in an iterative process even beyond delivery of cells using our technology to OEMs for validation in order to refine and optimize our cell technology. For example, we have learned, and may continue to learn, from validation efforts that our cells contain defects or errors that cause the cells not to perform as expected. Fixing any such problems may require design changes or other research and development efforts, take significant time, and be costly. Any failure of cells using our technology to perform as expected could harm our ability to commercially license our cell technology as well as sell our electrolyte.
We expect to need several additional years of research and development before cells using our technology will be advanced enough for us to realize material revenue from licensing our cell technology. We or our customers must overcome significant hurdles to complete development, validation, and automotive qualification of cells using our technology, including:
| ● | meeting the rigorous and challenging specifications required by OEMs and battery manufacturers, such as battery life, energy density, abuse and safety testing, charge rate, cycle life, stack pressure, and operating temperature; |
| ● | increasing the volume, yield, reliability, and uniformity of cells and cell components; |
| ● | increasing the size and number of layers of cells; |
| ● | developing manufacturing techniques to produce the volume of cells needed for customer applications; |
| ● | understanding optimization requirements for high volume manufacturing equipment; |
| ● | designing and engineering packaging to ensure adequate cycle life (i.e., the number of charge and discharge cycle that a battery cell can sustain until its capacity falls below 80% of the original capacity); and |
| ● | reducing cost of production. |
We have encountered, and expect to continue to encounter, engineering challenges and delays as we increase the dimensions and throughput of cells and cell components. In order to be commercially viable, cells using our technology will need to be capable of being produced at a high yield without compromising performance, and we or our customers will have to solve related packaging challenges in a way that is scalable and at an acceptable cost. If we or our customers are unable to overcome these engineering and mechanical hurdles, we may not succeed in commercially licensing our cell technology.
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To generate material revenue from our cell technology, we will also need to identify customers willing to license our cell technology and enter into commercial license agreements. If we fail to bring our cell technology to market on a timely basis, products and technologies developed by others could render our cell technology obsolete or noncompetitive. Even if we complete development and succeed in entering into commercial license agreements, we may not start to generate revenues from such agreements until our customers have retrofitted or constructed and deployed facilities to build our cell designs at scale and we have constructed facilities to produce commercial volumes of our electrolyte. Any delay in development, automotive qualification, manufacturing scale-up, or construction of commercial electrolyte production facilities would delay our time to generate material revenue and may adversely impact our end-user relationships, including OEMs. Significant delays in providing commercial licenses to our technology could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
We have only conducted preliminary safety testing on our cells. Any cells using our technology will require additional and extensive safety testing prior to being installed in EVs.
To achieve acceptance by OEMs and be installed in commercially available EVs, any cells using our technology will have to undergo extensive safety testing in addition to the preliminary safety testing we have conducted. We cannot guarantee that such tests will be successful. We have identified, and may continue to identify, different or new safety performance issues during our cell development that have not been present previously. For example, during late 2023 and early 2024, a few EV cells we produced went into thermal runaway during testing. We have identified the root cause for these performance issues and are actively working to improve safety performance, but we cannot guarantee that we will successfully mitigate the problem. We have made, and will continue to make, cell design and manufacturing process changes to address performance issues, which may lead to delays to or suspension of research and development projects or commercialization and in turn have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
In addition, we have a limited frame of reference from which to evaluate the long-term performance of our technology. Issues or problems could arise once our technology has been deployed for a longer period, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to detect and fix any defects or errors. If our customers determine our technology does not perform as expected, they may delay deliveries, terminate further orders, or initiate product recalls, any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
If we are unable to attract and retain key employees and qualified personnel, our ability to compete could be harmed.
Our success depends on our ability to attract and retain our executive officers, key employees, and other qualified personnel, and our operations could be severely disrupted if we lost their services. Additionally, we have experienced, and may continue to experience, turnover in our executive officers, key employees, and other qualified personnel. For example, in the past 12 months, the Board appointed a new Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and our Chief Operating Officer resigned. We continue to be highly dependent on the services of our executive officers and other senior technical and management personnel who would be difficult to replace. If we make strides in development of our technologies or competition in battery cell technology and EVs intensifies, the risk that competitors or other companies will seek to hire our personnel could increase. Further, competition for qualified personnel can be intense, and our ability to attract and retain them depends on our ability to provide competitive compensation and an attractive work environment. We may not be able to attract and retain qualified personnel in the future and may continue to experience turnover. Departure of key personnel or continued turnover may inhibit our ability to successfully attract and retain the personnel necessary to grow our business, and result in stockholder uncertainty and cause the price of our common stock and Warrants to decline, any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
The non-exclusive nature of our agreements exposes us to the risk that our partners may elect to pursue other battery cell technologies or partners.
Our partners are motivated to develop and commercialize improved battery cell technologies. To that end, our partners have invested, and are likely to continue to invest in the future, in their own development efforts and, in certain cases, in agreements with our current and future competitors. If other technologies are developed more rapidly or are more efficient or effective than ours, our partners may elect to adopt and install a competitor’s cell technology or products over ours, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
We are seeking additional partners with which to collaborate in the development of our technology. Our inability to enter into development relationships with additional partners may impair our ability to control the timing of our development activities, sell our electrolyte, or generate licensing revenue.
We have entered into agreements with BMW, Ford, and SK On. We are actively seeking additional partnerships with other OEMs or Tier 1 battery manufacturers in an effort to diversify our development risk. However, the relationships we have with our
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existing partners and our partners’ rights under their respective agreements may deter other OEMs and battery manufacturers from working with us. If we are not successful in establishing partnerships with other OEMs or battery manufacturers, we will remain highly dependent upon our existing partners. Because we generally cannot control the pace or extent of our partners’ collaborative efforts with us, the pace of our efforts generally must align with that of each partner. Further, our partners’ interests and priorities may not align with our own. As a result, a failure to diversify may prevent us from controlling the timing at which our technology matures to commercialization and harm our prospects.
If we fail to develop solid-state battery cells for commercialization or meet certain milestones under certain of our agreements within the required time frames, our partners may terminate the agreements.
We have entered into non-exclusive agreements, including with BMW, Ford, and SK On, to collaborate on the research and development of our cells. The terms of some of these agreements generally require us to continue our research and development of solid-state battery cells and component materials such that our products are capable of being deployed in EVs within the next few years. Although we have extended some of these agreements, our products remain in the development stage, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to complete research and development in the time frame required by these agreements. If we do not meet these milestones or agree with our partners to extend or modify the terms of these agreements, we may not receive expected payments under these agreements and our partners may terminate their participation in the agreements without liability to us, which could adversely impact our reputation and prospects.
Our business depends on our ability to manage our relationships with existing and future partners, customers, suppliers, and contractors, and we may not successfully manage these business relationships.
We rely on a number of third parties in connection with development of our technology and performance on our contracts. Our partners, customers, suppliers, and contractors may have economic, business, or legal interests or goals that are inconsistent with ours. As a result, it may be challenging for us to resolve issues that arise in respect of the performance of our contracts, including our agreements with our partners. Any significant disagreements with these third parties may impede our ability to maximize the benefits of our partnerships and perform our contractual obligations and may slow the commercial roll-out of our technology. For example, we are utilizing a partner for the design and installation of the SK On Line, and a failure by our partner to satisfactorily and timely provide services could adversely impact our ability to fulfill our obligations under our line installation agreement with SK On. In addition, if our counterparties are unable or unwilling to meet their economic or other obligations under our agreements, we may be required to fulfill those obligations alone, which could delay our research and development progress.
The terms of certain agreements permit our partners to share in the intellectual property developed through the research and development efforts under their respective agreements. In certain circumstances, our ability to share developments gained through the course of performance of a particular agreement with our other partners may be limited, and our partners may be able to exploit certain of the intellectual property developed under their respective agreements in ways that are detrimental to us.
Certain of our agreements provide that, among other things, (i) any intellectual property jointly developed will be owned by both parties, with each party having the right to license that intellectual property to third parties in connection with the development of such party’s products, (ii) each party retains sole ownership of previously or independently developed intellectual property, and (iii) the partner receives a license to our solely developed intellectual property under the agreement for use in the partner’s products. To the extent that a development we make jointly with one of our partners involves such partner’s previously developed intellectual property, we may not be able to use any information gleaned in the course of performance under the agreement with such partner in performance of our other partners’ agreements, which could prevent us from scaling the development or deploying it in work with all of our partners. We cannot guarantee that we will maintain the access we need to our partners’ intellectual property, any jointly developed intellectual property will be adequately protected, or our partners will not seek to capitalize on jointly developed intellectual property for their sole benefit to the extent permitted by our agreements with them, such as through licensing agreements or other contractual arrangements they may enter with third parties that do not benefit us. Further, in certain of our agreements, we have agreed that our partners would receive certain rights to our intellectual property in certain circumstances, including if we were to fail to perform under commercial agreements that we may enter into in the future or otherwise abandon our business following the execution of such commercial agreements. If those provisions are triggered, certain of our partners may receive perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free licenses to portions of our intellectual property, which may limit the profitability and competitive advantage offered by our intellectual property and adversely impact our revenue.
We are subject to risks relating to the construction and development of facilities for our short-term research and development and long-term electrolyte production requirements.
Our business plan contemplates that we will construct additional facilities for research and development and commercial electrolyte manufacturing. In the near term, we are working to expand our electrolyte material production capabilities at our existing
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facilities through, for example, installation of equipment for continuous manufacturing of electrolyte. We may experience risks and complications associated with engineering and construction, including cost overruns and delays. Delay in the installation of a continuous production line could harm our development efforts and delay the expected expansion of our production capacity.
In the long term, and in connection with potential supply agreements, we will need to construct facilities to produce commercial volumes of our electrolyte. We have not secured a location or obtained the necessary licenses, approvals, permits, or consents for commercial-level electrolyte manufacturing facilities. In connection with constructing these facilities, we will need to identify and acquire the land or obtain leases for suitable locations that are appropriately zoned for activities involving hazardous materials, which will limit where we are able to locate our facilities and may require us to pay a premium for any such real estate. If we fail to do so, or otherwise encounter delays or lose necessary licenses, approvals, permits, consents, or commercial agreements, we could face delays or terminations of construction or development activities. If our planned facilities do not become operable on schedule, or at all, or become inoperable, production of our electrolyte and our business will be harmed.
Even if we successfully license our cell technology, we are subject to risks relating to production scale manufacturing of our cells through partners in the long term.
We aim to develop our cell technology in such a way as to enable our manufacturing partners to utilize existing lithium-ion cell manufacturing processes and equipment. While we believe development of a manufacturing process compatible with existing lithium-ion cell manufacturing lines could provide significant competitive advantages, modifying or constructing these lines for production of our products could be more complicated or present significant challenges to our manufacturing partners that we do not currently anticipate. As with any large-scale capital project, any modification or construction of this nature could be subject to delays, cost overruns, or other complications. Any failure to commence commercial production on schedule would likely lead to additional costs and could delay our ability to generate meaningful revenues. In addition, any such delay could diminish any “first mover” advantage we aim to attain, prevent us from gaining the confidence of OEMs, and open the door to increased competition. Any of the foregoing could hinder our ability to successfully grow our business and achieve a competitive position in the market.
Collaboration with third parties to manufacture our cell designs reduces our level of control over the manufacturing process. We could experience delays if our partners do not meet agreed upon timelines or experience capacity constraints. Potential disputes with partners could stop or slow cell production, and we could be impacted by adverse publicity related to our partners, whether or not such publicity is related to such partner’s collaboration with us. In addition, we cannot guarantee that our suppliers will not deviate from agreed-upon quality standards. Further, any partnerships with international third-party cell manufacturers or OEMs could expose us to the political, legal, and economic risks impacting the regions in which our partners’ manufacturing facilities are located, further reducing our control over the production process as we scale manufacturing.
If we are unable to enter into agreements with cell manufacturers on terms and conditions acceptable to us, we may need to contract with other third parties or create our own commercial production capacity. We may not be able to engage other third parties or establish or expand our own production capacity to meet our needs on acceptable terms or at all, and the expense and time required to adequately complete any transition or expansion may be greater than anticipated, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
We rely heavily on complex equipment for our operations, and the production of our technology involves a significant degree of risk and uncertainty in terms of operational performance and costs.
We rely heavily on complex equipment for our operations and the production of our electrolyte and cells. Integrating this equipment into the production of our electrolyte and cells is time intensive and requires us to work closely with the equipment providers to ensure that it works properly with our technology. This integration involves a degree of uncertainty and risk and may result in the delay in the scaling up of production or cause us to incur additional costs.
Our current manufacturing facilities require, and we expect that our future manufacturing facilities will require, large-scale machinery. Such machinery may unexpectedly malfunction and require repairs and spare parts to resume operations, which may not be available when needed. Because we do not maintain any redundancies in our research and development facilities, unexpected malfunctions of our production equipment may significantly affect our operational efficiency. In addition, because this equipment has not historically been used to produce sulfide-based solid electrolytes or build solid-state battery cells, the operational performance and costs associated with this equipment is difficult to predict and may be influenced by factors outside of our control, such as failures by suppliers to deliver necessary components of our products in a timely manner and at prices and volumes acceptable to us; environmental hazards and associated costs of remediation; difficulty or delays in obtaining governmental permits; damages or defects in systems; industrial accidents; and fires, seismic activity, and other natural disasters.
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Problems with our manufacturing equipment could result in it not performing to our expectations, the personal injury to or death of workers, loss of production equipment, damage to our manufacturing facilities, monetary losses, delays, unanticipated fluctuations in production, environmental damage, administrative fines, increased insurance costs, and potential legal liabilities, any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
We rely on government contracts and grants for a portion of our revenue and to partially fund our research and development activities, and such contracts and grants are subject to a number of uncertainties, challenges, and risks.
We currently rely on government contracts and grants for a portion of our revenue and to partially fund our research and development activities. For example, the Assistance Agreement provides that DOE will provide us with funding of up to $50 million for our installation of equipment necessary for the continuous production of sulfide-based solid electrolyte material. Changes in government priorities or government funding reductions or delays could result in discontinuation of funding under, or termination of, our government contracts and grants. Further, the change in administration could increase this risk. On January 20, 2025, an executive order, titled Unleashing American Energy (the “Executive Order”), paused disbursement of funds appropriated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law pending further review. Because the Assistance Agreement is funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, our continued receipt of funding under the Assistance agreement could be delayed or cancelled. In addition, the Executive Order declared a policy of eliminating the “electric vehicle (EV) mandate.” The government has discretion under the terms of the Assistance Agreement to discontinue future funding as the result of insufficient progress, change in strategic direction, or lack of available funding. The government could determine that the Assistance Agreement no longer effectuates DOE priorities, interpret the terms of the Assistance Agreement to permit termination for this reason, and terminate the agreement. There can be no assurance that we will continue to receive funding under our government contracts and grants in the amounts that we expect or at all.
Further, as a government contractor or subcontractor, we must comply with laws, regulations, and contractual provisions relating to the formation, administration, and performance of government contracts and grants, which may impose added costs on our business. Although our management team and other personnel devote a substantial amount of time to compliance initiatives, we cannot guarantee that our efforts will be successful. Any failure to comply with such laws, regulations, and provisions or satisfy our obligations under such contracts and grants could lead to termination of contract; civil or criminal penalties; withholding, delay, or disallowance of payments to us; reimbursement of the government for amounts previously received; claims for damages from our partners; contract price adjustments or refunds; suspension or debarment from obtaining government contracts and grants; or non-ordinary course audits and internal investigations, any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
Obtaining grant funding and selling to government entities can be highly competitive, expensive, and time consuming, often requiring significant upfront time and expense without any assurance of success. Awards of contracts and grants may be subject to appeals, disputes, or litigation. Government contracts also often contain provisions and are subject to laws and regulations that provide government customers with additional rights and remedies not typically found in commercial contracts. For example, government customers may terminate existing contracts for convenience, with short notice, and without cause. Government contracts may also require work to be performed or products to be manufactured in a particular jurisdiction, include preferential pricing terms, or require us to obtain special certifications. If such certification requirements change or we fail to timely achieve or maintain compliance with applicable requirements, we may be at a competitive disadvantage and disqualified from selling our technology to government or quasi-government entities.
In addition to government contracts and grants, we benefit from certain government subsidies and economic incentives, including tax credits, rebates, and other incentives, that support the development and adoption of clean energy technology. We cannot guarantee that government grants, subsidies, and incentives will be available to us at the same or comparable levels in the future. The Executive Order indicated that the government will consider eliminating subsidies that favor EVs. Any reduction, elimination, or discriminatory application of these grants, subsidies, or incentives may require us to seek additional financing, which may not be obtainable on commercially attractive terms or at all; adversely impact public sector demand for our technology; and diminish the competitiveness of the battery industry generally or our technology in particular. Any change in our ability to secure these grants, subsidies, and incentives could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
Substantial increases in the prices for our raw materials and components, some of which are obtained from a limited number of sources where demand may exceed supply, could materially and adversely affect our business.
We rely on third-party suppliers for materials, components, and equipment necessary to produce electrolyte and develop cells, including key supplies, such as Li2S, NMC, silicon, lithium metal foil, and manufacturing tools. We face risks relating to the timely availability, adequate quality, and consistency of these materials and components, including that we will be subject to demand shortages and supply chain challenges and generally may not have sufficient purchasing power to eliminate the risk of price increases for the raw materials and tools we need. Further, certain materials and components, including Li2S, are not currently produced at a
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scale we believe necessary to support our proposed commercial operations. If we are unable to enter into commercial agreements with our current suppliers or our replacement suppliers on favorable terms, or these suppliers experience difficulties meeting our requirements, the development and commercial progression of our technology may be delayed.
Separately, we may be subject to various supply chain requirements regarding, among other things, conflict minerals and labor practices. We may be required to incur substantial costs to comply with these requirements, which may include locating new suppliers if certain issues are discovered. We may not be able to find any new suppliers for certain raw materials or components required for our operations, or such suppliers may be unwilling or unable to provide us with products.
Any disruption in the supply of materials, components, or equipment could temporarily disrupt our research and development activities or production of our electrolyte or cells until we obtain the required material. For example, in 2023, we received lower-quality NMC from one of our suppliers, which caused delays in cell production and affected the performance of our cells. Changes in business conditions, unforeseen circumstances, governmental changes, transportation disruptions, and other factors beyond our control or which we do not currently anticipate could also affect our suppliers’ ability to deliver components or equipment to us on a timely basis. Currency fluctuations, trade barriers, tariffs, or shortages and other general economic or political conditions may limit our ability to obtain key materials, components, and equipment for our electrolyte or cells or significantly increase freight charges, raw material costs, and other expenses associated with our business.
Accidents and severe weather conditions, natural disasters, or other catastrophic events could adversely impact our facilities and operations.
Some of our operations involve the manufacture and handling of a variety of explosive and flammable materials, and our research and development activities expose our employees to a number of potential occupational hazards. We have experienced, and may continue to experience, accidents from time to time. Among other things, we could experience leaks and ruptures, explosions, fires, transportation accidents involving our products, chemical spills, other discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases, and other environmental and workplace safety incidents. For example, our employees could be exposed to toxic hydrogen sulfide as a result of the components we use being exposed to moisture, which could harm our employees, slow or stop production, and result in litigation, fines, increased insurance premiums, and workers’ compensation claims. Any such accident could harm our employees, damage our facilities, or adversely impact our operations. Further, because we do not have redundancies in our research and development facilities, an accident that damages our facilities could significantly disrupt our operations.
Severe weather conditions, natural disasters, and other natural events, such as floods, fires, earthquakes, typhoons, and health pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, could also affect our facilities and operations. For example, our facilities are located in a region which is affected by fires. In December 2021, the Marshall fire destroyed a significant number of buildings and disrupted a number of businesses in the Louisville, Colorado area. Further, our facilities and operations could also be adversely impacted by other events outside of our control, including power loss, telecommunications failures, cyberattacks, wars, riots, break-ins, and terrorist attacks. Given that we lack redundancies in our research and development facilities, any damage to our facilities could significantly disrupt our operations. Damage to our facilities or disruption of our operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
Further, we cannot guarantee that associated losses, claims, or liabilities will be covered by our insurance or any rights of indemnity or contribution that we have against others. We also cannot be sure that our existing insurance coverage will continue to be available on acceptable terms or in sufficient amounts to cover all of our potential losses. A loss that is uninsured or which exceeds policy limits could require us to pay substantial amounts, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operation, and financial condition.
A global pandemic (e.g., COVID-19) and associated responses could disrupt our business and operations.
A global pandemic could have significant impact on economic activity and markets throughout the world. For example, the impact of COVID-19, including changes in consumer and business behavior, pandemic fears and market downturns, and restrictions on business and individual activities, created significant volatility in the global economy and led to reduced economic activity. Governmental authorities may implement measures in an attempt to contain a virus, such as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter-in-place orders, and business shutdowns, which may disrupt supply chains and impact our ability to continue our operations. Various aspects of our business cannot be conducted remotely, including many aspects of the research and development and manufacturing of our products.
The extent to which a future pandemic impacts our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, such as the duration and spread of the pandemic,
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its severity, the actions taken to contain the virus or address its impact, the impact on us and our partners, contractors, suppliers, and customers, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating activities can resume.
Risks Related to Industry and Market Trends
The battery market continues to evolve and is highly competitive, and we may not be successful in competing in this market or establishing and maintaining confidence in our long-term prospects among current and future partners and customers.
The battery market in which we compete continues to evolve and is highly competitive. To date, we have focused our efforts on our solid-state technologies, which we believe to be a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion battery cell technology. However, lithium-ion battery cell technology has been widely adopted, and many of our current competitors have, and future competitors may have, greater resources than we do and may be able to devote greater resources to the development of their current and future technologies. These competitors may also have greater access to customers and may be able to establish cooperative or strategic relationships amongst themselves or with third parties that may further enhance their resources and competitive positioning. In addition, traditional lithium-ion battery manufacturers may continue to reduce cost and expand supply of conventional batteries and, therefore, adversely impact our prospects and ability to sell our products at market-competitive prices with sufficient margins.
Many OEMs, a number of battery technology companies, and other competitors are researching and investing in solid-state efforts and, in some cases, in battery cell development and production. For example, formation of the China All-Solid-State Battery Collaborative Innovation Platform (“CASIP”) was announced in 2024. CASIP has government-backed investment funds and intends to have a supply chain for solid state batteries up and running by 2030. We do not have exclusive relationships with any Tier 1 battery manufacturer or OEM to sell electrolyte or provide their future battery cell technologies, and investments made by these Tier 1 battery manufacturers or OEMs may result in technological advances earlier than, or superior in certain respect to, the technology we are developing. There are also a number of companies seeking to develop alternative approaches to solid-state technology. As new companies and larger, existing vehicle and battery manufacturers enter the solid-state battery cell space, we may lose any perceived or actual technological advantage we may have in the marketplace and suffer a decline in our market position.
The battery industry also competes with other emerging or evolving technologies, such as natural gas, advanced diesel, and hydrogen-based fuel cell powered vehicles. Developments in alternative technologies or improvements in battery technologies made by competitors may adversely impact the sales, pricing, and gross margins of our products. As technologies change, we will attempt to upgrade or adapt our products to continue to provide products with the latest technology. However, our products may become obsolete or our research and development efforts may not be sufficient to adapt to changes in or to create the necessary technology to effectively compete. If we are unable to keep up with competitive developments, including if competing technologies achieve lower prices or other emerging technologies enjoy greater policy support, our competitive position and growth prospects may be harmed. Similarly, if we fail to accurately predict and ensure that our solid-state technologies address customers’ changing needs or emerging technological trends, or if our customers fail to achieve the benefits expected from our technologies, our business will be harmed.
We must continue to commit significant resources to developing our technology in order to establish a competitive position, and these commitments must be made without knowing whether our investments will result in products customers will accept. We cannot guarantee that we will successfully identify customer requirements and develop and bring our electrolyte or cell technology to market on a timely basis, or that products and technologies developed by others will not render our electrolyte or cell technology obsolete or noncompetitive, any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operation, and financial condition.
In addition, Tier 1 battery manufacturers, OEMs, and other customers may be less likely to purchase our electrolyte or license our cell designs if they are not convinced that our business will succeed in the long term. Similarly, suppliers and other third parties may be less likely to invest time and resources in developing business relationships with us if they are not convinced that our business will succeed in the long term. Accordingly, in order to build and maintain our business, we must instill and maintain confidence among current and future partners, customers, suppliers, analysts, ratings agencies, and other parties in our long-term financial viability and prospects. Maintaining such confidence may be complicated by certain factors, including those that are largely outside of our control, such as:
| ● | delays in or impediments to completing or achieving our research and development goals; |
| ● | our limited operating history; |
| ● | market unfamiliarity with our products; |
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| ● | unexpected costs that Tier 1 battery manufacturer, OEM, and other potential partners may be required to incur to scale manufacturing, delivery, and service operations to meet demand for EVs containing our technology or products; |
| ● | competition and uncertainty regarding the future of EVs; |
| ● | the development and adoption of competing technologies that are less expensive and/or more effective than our products; and |
| ● | our eventual production and sales performance compared with market expectations. |
Our future growth and success are dependent upon consumers’ willingness to adopt EVs.
Our growth and future demand for our products are highly dependent upon the adoption by consumers of alternative fuel vehicles in general and EVs in particular. The market for new energy vehicles is still rapidly evolving, characterized by changing technologies, competitive pricing and factors, evolving government regulation and industry standards, and changing consumer demands and behaviors. For example, the federal government may seek to eliminate subsidies that favor EVs, which could adversely impact demand for our technology. If the market for EVs in general does not develop as expected, or develops more slowly than expected, our business, prospects, results of operation, and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
We may not be able to accurately estimate future demand for our technology, which could result in a variety of inefficiencies in our business, hinder our ability to generate revenue, and cause us to incur additional costs or experience delays.
It is difficult to predict future demand for our technology and appropriately budget for our expenses, and we may have limited insight into trends that may emerge and affect our business. We anticipate being required to provide forecasts of our demand to our suppliers prior to the scheduled delivery of products to our customers. Currently, there is no historical basis for making judgments on the demand for our technology or our ability to develop, manufacture, and deliver our products. If we overestimate our requirements, our suppliers may have excess inventory, which could indirectly increase our costs. If we underestimate our requirements, our suppliers may have inadequate inventory, which could interrupt manufacturing of our products and result in delays in shipments and revenues. In addition, lead times for materials and components that our suppliers order may vary significantly and depend on factors such as the specific supplier, contract terms, and demand for each component at a given time. If we fail to order sufficient quantities of product components in a timely manner, the delivery of our products to our customers could be delayed, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operation, and financial condition.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
We rely heavily on owned and exclusively-licensed intellectual property, including patent rights, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, and know-how, and we may be unable to protect and maintain access to these intellectual property rights.
Our success depends on our ability to protect and maintain our intellectual property rights, and we may not be able to prevent unauthorized use of our owned and exclusively-licensed intellectual property. We rely on a combination of the intellectual property protections afforded by patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret laws in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as license agreements and other contractual protections, to establish, maintain, and enforce rights and competitive advantage in our technology. In addition, we seek to protect our intellectual property rights through non-disclosure and invention assignment agreements with our employees and consultants and through non-disclosure agreements with business partners and other third parties. Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights, third parties, including our vendors, partners, customers, and consultants, have and may in the future attempt to copy or otherwise obtain and use our intellectual property without our consent or may decline to license or defend necessary intellectual property rights to us on terms favorable to our business. Further, our technology and intellectual property may be subject to theft or compromise via more indirect routes. For example, our products or components thereof may be reverse engineered by partners, customers, or other third parties, which could result in infringement of our patents or theft of our know-how or trade secrets.
Detecting and addressing unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly, and the steps we have taken or will take to prevent misappropriation may not be sufficient. Any enforcement efforts we undertake, including litigation, could require involvement of the licensor, be time-consuming and expensive, and divert management’s attention. Additionally, existing intellectual property laws and contractual remedies may not provide the protection needed to safeguard our intellectual property. For example, a significant portion of our patent rights have been obtained through exclusive licenses. Because we do not own those patent rights, we have less control over their maintenance and enforcement, which may limit our ability to maintain any competitive advantage those patent rights provide. Failure to adequately protect our owned and exclusively-licensed intellectual property may result in our
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competitors using our intellectual property to offer products, loss of our competitive advantage, and harm to our reputation and could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
We have not performed exhaustive searches or analyses of the intellectual property landscape of the battery industry and cannot guarantee that our technology, or its ultimate integration into EVs, does not infringe intellectual property rights of third parties. We may need to defend ourselves against intellectual property infringement claims, which may be time-consuming and cause us to incur substantial costs.
Others, including our competitors, may hold or obtain intellectual property rights that would prevent, limit, or interfere with our ability to make, use, develop, sell, license, lease, or market our technology or products. From time to time, we may receive inquiries from third parties relating to whether we are infringing their intellectual property rights and third parties may seek court declarations that they are not infringing upon our intellectual property rights. The defense of infringement claims may divert management’s attention, and we may incur significant expenses in addressing these matters. If we are determined to have infringed upon a third party’s intellectual property rights, we may be required to:
· | cease selling, leasing, incorporating, or using products that incorporate the challenged intellectual property; |
· | pay substantial damages; |
· | materially alter our research and development activities and proposed production processes; |
· | obtain a license from the holder of the intellectual property right, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all; or |
· | redesign our products at significant expense. |
We license patents and other intellectual property from third parties and may face claims that our use of this intellectual property infringes the rights of others. In such cases, we may seek indemnification from our licensors as permitted by our license agreements, but our rights to indemnification may depend on a number of factors, such as our use of the technology and whether we choose to retain control over conduct of the litigation. If our rights to indemnification are unavailable or insufficient to cover our costs and losses, future infringement claims could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
There are risks to our intellectual property based on our international business operations.
Patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret laws vary significantly throughout the world. A number of foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the United States, and our intellectual property rights may not be as strong or as easily enforced outside of the United States. Efforts to protect against the unauthorized use of our intellectual property outside of the United States may be unsuccessful. Our international business operations may also expose us to material risks of theft of our technology and other intellectual property, including technical data, business processes, production processes, formulas, data sets, or other sensitive information. Conducting business in certain jurisdictions, housing our technology and other intellectual property abroad, and licensing our technology to foreign partners may increase our exposure to these risks.
Our patent applications may not result in issued patents, and our patent rights may be contested, circumvented, invalidated, or limited in scope.
Our patent portfolio includes patent applications. If our patent applications do not result in issued patents, the disclosures in those applications would become available to the public and we may be unable to prevent others from commercially exploiting products similar to ours. The status of patents involves complex legal and factual questions, and the breadth of claims allowed is uncertain. As a result, we cannot be certain that our patent applications will result in patents being issued or that our patents, and any patents that may be issued to us, will afford us adequate protection against competitors with similar technology. Others have numerous patents and pending patent applications in the same fields as our technology and may claim priority, which could prevent us from obtaining a particular patent. Our existing patents and patent applications, including those we have exclusively licensed, could be challenged on the basis that they are otherwise invalid or unenforceable. Patent applications filed in foreign countries may be subject to laws, rules, and procedures that differ from those of the United States, and we cannot guarantee that foreign patent applications related to issued U.S. patents will be issued.
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Risks Related to Our Limited Operating History
Our business plan has yet to be tested, and we may not succeed in executing on our strategic plans, including commercialization.
As a research and development stage company, we face a number of difficulties normally encountered by new enterprises, including substantial risks and expenses in the course of establishing or entering new markets, organizing operations, and undertaking marketing activities. The likelihood of our success must be considered in light of these difficulties and the competitive environment in which we operate. There is nothing at this time upon which to base an assumption that our business plan will prove successful, and we may not be able to generate significant revenue, raise additional capital, or operate profitably. We will continue to encounter challenges frequently experienced by early commercial stage companies, including scaling up our infrastructure and managing our headcount, and may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, or delays in connection with our growth. In addition, as a result of the capital requirements of our business, we can be expected to continue to sustain substantial operating expenses without generating sufficient revenue to cover expenditures. Any investment in our company is therefore highly speculative and could result in the loss of your entire investment.
It is difficult to predict our future revenues and appropriately budget for our expenses, and we have limited insight into trends that may emerge and affect our business. If actual results differ from our estimates or we adjust our estimates in future periods, our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, our financial performance in one period may not be indicative of financial performance in future periods.
We are a research and development stage company with a history of financial losses and expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future.
We incurred an operating loss of approximately $105.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 and an accumulated deficit of approximately $181.2 million from our inception in 2012 through December 31, 2024. We believe we will continue to incur operating losses each quarter until the significant sale of our electrolyte or production of our cell designs begins. Development in materials sciences is not linear, and the pace of our efforts will depend in significant part on the level of engagement and extent of resources devoted to these efforts by our partners, making it difficult to predict when we will begin to recognize material revenues from our technology. In addition, we currently rely on a limited number of customers for a significant portion of our revenue. The loss of any of our major customers may increase our operating losses and have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
The rate at which we will incur losses may be significantly higher in future periods as we, among other things, continue to incur significant expenses in connection with the design, development, and manufacturing of our technology; expand our research and development activities; invest in additional research and development and manufacturing facilities and capabilities; build up inventories of raw materials and other components; commence sales and marketing activities; develop our distribution infrastructure; and increase our general and administrative functions to support our growing operations. We may find that these efforts are more expensive than we currently anticipate or that these efforts may not result in revenues, which would further increase our losses.
We may require additional capital to support business growth, and this capital might not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
Our expectations regarding our capital needs are dynamic, changing, and subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described herein. For example, our budgets assume, among other things, that our development timeline progresses as planned and our corresponding expenditures are consistent with current expectations, but our timeline and expectations been derived based on internal estimates and discussions with our key partners only and do not factor in the possibility of additional partnerships. Further, our capital expenditures and operating and development requirements have increased materially as we further our research and development efforts, scale up production operations with our partners, and incur expenses as a public company, including insurance, financial reporting, legal, and audit costs. As we continue our progress toward commercialization, we expect that our operating expenses will continue to increase.
We may need additional capital before we recognize material revenues, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. As a result, we may need to access the debt and equity capital markets to obtain additional financing in the future. Our ability to obtain additional financing will be subject to a number of factors, including:
| ● | the level of success we have experienced with our research and development programs; |
| ● | our operating performance; |
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| ● | market conditions; |
| ● | investor sentiment; and |
| ● | our ability to incur additional debt in compliance with any agreements governing our then-outstanding debt. |
These factors may make the timing, amount, terms, or conditions of additional financings unattractive to us. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity, equity-linked, or debt securities, those securities may have rights, preferences, or privileges senior to the rights of our then-issued and -outstanding equity or debt, and our existing stockholders may experience dilution. If we are unable to generate sufficient funds from operations or raise additional capital, we may be forced to take actions to reduce our capital or operating expenditures, including by not seeking potential acquisition opportunities, eliminating redundancies, or reducing or delaying our production facility expansions, any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
We may be unable to adequately control the costs associated with our operations and the components necessary to develop our technology.
We require significant capital to develop our technology. As we develop our technologies and scale our operations, we expect to continue to incur significant expenses, including those relating to research and development, raw material procurement, leases, sales, and distribution. Our ability to become profitable in the future will depend on our ability to successfully develop and market our products as well as our ability to control our costs. If we are unable to efficiently design, appropriately price, and sell and distribute our products, our anticipated margins, profitability, and prospects would be adversely impacted.
Our business and prospects, including our ability to control costs, could be adversely impacted by changes in macroeconomic conditions, such as changes in administration, inflation, interest rates, slower growth or recession, tariffs, international conflicts, trade disputes, sanctions, and government efforts to stimulate or stabilize the economy. Changes in macroeconomic conditions could happen rapidly, and we may fail to prevent or limit our losses or exposures.
If we fail to effectively manage our future growth, we may not be able to market and license the technology and know-how to sell our electrolyte or manufacture our cells.
We intend to use our cash on hand to execute on our near-term objectives, which include driving electrolyte innovation and performance through feedback from cell development and customers, continuing to execute on our electrolyte development roadmap, ramping electrolyte sampling and identifying long-term customers, executing on the SK On Agreements, and remaining fiscally disciplined. That said, our management team has considerable discretion in the application of the funds available to us. We may invest these funds in a manner that does not improve our ability to market and license the technology and know-how to manufacture our cells or sell our electrolyte and ultimately results in a significant, or any, return for our stockholders. In addition, pending their use, we may invest our cash on hand in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value. Failure to effectively manage our growth could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
We may not succeed in establishing, maintaining, and strengthening our brand, which could adversely impact customer acceptance of our technology.
Our business and prospects depend on our ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen our brand. The battery industry is intensely competitive, and we may not be successful in building, maintaining, and strengthening our brand. Some of our current and potential competitors, including many cell manufacturers and OEMs around the world, have greater name recognition, broader customer relationships, and substantially greater marketing resources than we do. If we do not develop and maintain a strong brand, we may lose the opportunity to build a critical mass of customers, which could adversely impact customer acceptance of our technology and have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
Risks Related to Finance and Accounting
Incorrect estimates or assumptions by management in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements could adversely impact our reported assets, liabilities, income, revenue, or expenses.
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires management to make critical accounting estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, stockholders’ equity, revenue, income, and expenses during the
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reporting periods. Incorrect estimates and assumptions by management could result in reported amounts that are overstated or understated and have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
We incur significant expenses and administrative burdens as a public company.
As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, SOX, stock exchange listing requirements, and other applicable securities rules and regulations. These rules and regulations require us to incur significant legal, accounting, and financial compliance costs. In addition, advocacy efforts by stockholders and third parties may prompt additional governance and reporting requirements. Our management team and other personnel devote a substantial amount of time to compliance initiatives. Our compliance efforts may not be successful and may divert management’s attention from other business concerns and harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our business could also be adversely impacted if we have deficiencies in our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting as required by SOX.
Pursuant to Section 404 of SOX, we are required to conduct annual assessments on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. These assessments require disclosure of any material weaknesses identified in our internal control over financial reporting, and we may not always be able to conclude, within the prescribed timeframe or at all, that our internal control over financial reporting is effective.
During the course of our review and testing, we may identify deficiencies, including material weaknesses, and be unable to remediate them before we must provide required reports. If we identify one or more material weaknesses, stockholders may lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements and the price of our common stock and Warrants may decline. The existence of a material weakness could also limit our ability to prevent or detect a misstatement of our accounts or disclosures, which could result in a material misstatement of our consolidated financial statements. We cannot guarantee that efforts to remediate a material weakness will ultimately have the intended effects to permit us to timely file our quarterly and annual reports with the SEC, and we may become subject to litigation or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities. If we are unable to timely file periodic reports or maintain compliance with applicable stock exchange listing requirements, stockholders may lose confidence in our financial reporting, the price of our common stock and Warrants may decline, our common stock and Warrants may be subject to delisting, and we may become subject to litigation or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities. We cannot guarantee that the measures we take will be sufficient to avoid potential future deficiencies or material weaknesses.
We may not realize the anticipated benefits of our transactions with a strategic partner in the Republic of Korea and issuance of stock to two individuals who provide services to this partner.
On October 21, 2024, we entered into a series of transactions with a strategic partner in the Republic of Korea, including a $400,000 investment for a 20% equity interest in the partner, loans of approximately $5.6 million to the partner, and receipt a warrant to purchase an additional 20% equity interest in the partner. See Note 11 of our audited financial statements included in this Report for more information. We cannot guarantee that we will receive amounts owed by the partner on time or at all.
Additionally, in connection with this series of transactions, we issued shares of common stock to two individuals who provide services to the partner to incentivize these individuals to provide services that directly and indirectly benefit us. For example, we are utilizing the partner as the installer for installation of the SK On Line. There can be no assurance that our issuance of shares of common stock to such individuals will provide the desired incentives. If the individuals fail to provide services that directly and indirectly benefit us or the partner prioritizes other customers ahead of us, our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition could be harmed.
We maintain cash deposits in excess of federally insured limits. Adverse developments affecting financial institutions, including bank failures, could adversely impact our liquidity and financial performance.
We maintain domestic cash deposits in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, insured banks that exceed the FDIC insurance limits. The failure of a bank, or other adverse conditions in the financial or credit markets impacting financial institutions at which we maintain balances, could adversely impact our liquidity and financial performance. Bank failures; events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance, or other adverse developments that affect financial institutions; or concerns or rumors about such events may lead to liquidity constraints. For example, on March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank failed and was taken into receivership by the FDIC. We cannot guarantee that our deposits in excess of the FDIC or other comparable insurance limits will be backstopped by the U.S. or applicable foreign government, or that any bank or financial institution with which we do business will be able to obtain needed liquidity from other banks or government institutions or by acquisition in the event of a failure or liquidity crisis.
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Our ability to utilize any net operating losses or tax credit carryforwards to offset taxable income may be subject to certain limitations.
Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code limits the ability of a corporation that undergoes an “ownership change” to use its pre-change net operating losses to offset future taxable income. An “ownership change” generally means a greater than 50 percentage point change (by value) in a corporation’s equity ownership by certain stockholders over a three-year period. If we have experienced an ownership change at any time since our incorporation, we may be subject to these limitations on our ability to utilize our net operating losses and other tax attributes to offset taxable income or tax liability. In addition, future changes in our stock ownership, which may be outside of our control, may trigger an ownership change.
Changes in tax law or regulations could suspend the use of net operating losses or tax credits, possibly with retroactive effect. As a result, if we earn net taxable income, we could be unable or limited in our ability to use net operating losses and other tax attributes to offset such taxable income, which could result in increased future income tax liabilities. Similar provisions of state tax law may also limit our use of accumulated state tax attributes.
Risks Related to Legal and Regulatory Compliance
We have been, and may in the future be, subject to lawsuits, regulatory actions, or government investigations and inquiries which could lead us to incur significant costs or harm our reputation.
From time to time, we have been, and may become involved in significant litigation, regulatory actions, or government investigations and inquiries as well as legal proceedings and investigations arising in the normal course of business, such as commercial or contractual disputes; indemnity or warranty claims; disputes with potential customers, former employees, and suppliers; intellectual property matters; personal injury claims; environmental issues; tax matters; and employment matters. For example, on December 3, 2024, two purported stockholders filed a putative class action against the former officers and directors of Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation III (“DCRC”), including Erik Anderson; Riverstone Holdings, LLC; and related sponsors and entities (the “Hamilton Defendants”). The Hamilton Defendants have demanded indemnification and advancement of defense costs from us, and we could be liable for the legal fees, defense costs, judgments, and/or settlement fees incurred by certain of the Hamilton Defendants. See Note 14 of our audited financial statements included in this Report for more information. Further, if we are successful in our commercialization efforts, we may become subject to product liability claims if our products do not perform as expected or malfunction.
The defense of lawsuits, regulatory actions, or government investigations and inquiries may divert our management’s attention, and we may incur significant expenses in addressing these matters. In the future, we may be required to pay damages or settlements or become subject to injunctions or other equitable remedies, and such claims or liabilities may not be covered by our insurance or by any rights of indemnity or contribution that we have against others. Although we maintain insurance in amounts we believe to be adequate, we may incur claims or liabilities for which we are not insured or that exceed the amount of our insurance coverage. The outcome of litigation, regulatory actions, and government investigations and inquiries is often difficult to predict, and future litigation, regulatory actions, or government investigations and inquiries could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition. Additionally, even if unsuccessful, a lawsuit, regulatory action, or government investigation could generate substantial negative publicity about our technology and business, inhibit commercialization of our products, and impede our ability to secure additional insurance coverage on commercially acceptable terms or at reasonable costs, any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
We are subject to substantial regulation, and changes to, or failure by us to comply with, these regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
Our technology is subject to substantial regulation under international, federal, state, and local laws, including export control laws and other trade regulations, and we incur significant costs in complying with these regulations as we develop and work to commercialize our technology. The U.S. government has made and continues to make significant changes in U.S. trade policy and has taken certain actions that could adversely impact U.S. trade, including imposing tariffs on certain goods imported into the United States, increasing scrutiny on foreign direct investment, and modifying export control laws applicable to certain technologies. In retaliation, other countries have implemented, and continue to evaluate, additional trade controls on a wide range of U.S. products and companies. Sustained uncertainty about, or worsening of, current global economic conditions and further escalation of trade tensions between the United States and its trading partners could result in a global economic slowdown and changes to global trade. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable regulations may be difficult, time-consuming, and costly. The nature and extent of any changes in regulations, and their impact on our business, may be unpredictable, and certain of our competitors may be better suited to withstand or react to these changes. Any changes in the laws and regulations to which we or our partners, contractors,
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suppliers, or customers are subject, or any changes in enforcement, administration, or interpretation of such laws or regulations, could interfere have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
We are also subject to laws affecting our operations outside of the United States, including anti-bribery laws, anti-corruption laws, anti-money laundering, and export control laws. For example, our products—including our cells and related technology—are or may in the future be subject to trade and export control laws and regulations in the United States and other jurisdictions where we do business. As a result, an export license may be required to export or re-export our products and technology to certain countries or end-users or for certain end-uses or such export, re-export, or end uses may be prohibited. Obtaining the necessary export license for a particular sale or offering may not be possible or may be time-consuming and may result in the delay or loss of sales opportunities. Additionally, the FCPA prohibits bribery of foreign public officials, government employees, and political parties and requires public companies in the United States to keep books and records that accurately and fairly reflect their transactions. We may leverage third parties to sell our products and conduct our business abroad, and we or such third parties may interact with officials and employees of government agencies or state-owned or -affiliated entities. Regulators in the United States and a number of other countries have expanded their focus on enforcement of anti-bribery, anti-corruption, and export control laws in recent years. While we have implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by us and our personnel with the FCPA and other applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and export control laws, such policies and procedures may not be effective in all instances to prevent violations. Any determination that we have violated these laws could subject us to, among other things, civil and criminal penalties, significant fines, profit disgorgement, injunctions on future conduct, securities litigation, suspension or disbarment from government contracts, and loss of export privileges, any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition. Responding to any investigation or action may also divert our management’s attention, and we may incur significant expenses in defending an investigation or action.
Additionally, we and our partners, contractors, suppliers, and customers are subject to numerous international, federal, state, and local environmental health and safety laws and regulations, including those pertaining to management, storage, transportation and disposal of chemicals and wastes; emissions and contamination; and land use, fire code, and zoning. These laws and regulations may require us or our partners, contractors, suppliers, or customers to obtain permits; comply with procedures or restrictions; or incur significant capital, operating, and other costs associated with compliance. For example, our manufacturing process creates regulated air emissions, and we are required to utilize emissions control technology as a result. Our facilities are also subject to environmental permitting requirements, and permitting agencies with discretionary authority may refuse to issue required permits or impose costly permit conditions. Such actions could increase the cost, or lengthen the timeline, of developing additional manufacturing facilities. Future changes in permitted uses or conflicts with non-governmental organizations regarding the use of land for our manufacturing facilities could delay or prevent us from building additional research and development and manufacturing facilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition. Further, we rely on third-party contractors to ensure compliance with certain laws and regulations, including those relating to the disposal of wastes. If we are unable to secure contractors for key supply chain and disposal services, we could incur increased costs for compliance with environmental health and safety laws and regulations. Any determination that we or our contractors have violated these laws and regulations could subject us to, among other things, civil and criminal penalties, other liabilities under such laws and regulations, and liabilities for any impacts to human health or natural resources, any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
We may be adversely impacted by a disruption or failure of our information technology infrastructure, data security breach, or failure to comply with privacy laws.
Our information technology infrastructure is critically important to our business operations. We rely heavily on a host of computer software and hardware systems, including our financial, accounting, and other data processing systems and the systems of third-party service providers. These information technology systems, many of which are managed by third parties or used in connection with shared service centers, may be susceptible to damage, disruptions, or shutdowns due to factors outside of our control, such as failures during the process of upgrading or replacing software, databases, or components thereof; maintenance or security issues or errors; issues with migration of applications to the “cloud;” power outages; hardware or software failures; cyberattacks and other cyber incidents; telecommunication failures; denial of service; user errors; or natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or other catastrophic events. Some of our information technology systems are not fully redundant, and our disaster recovery planning cannot account for all eventualities.
We and our third-party service providers face various security threats on a regular basis, including ongoing cybersecurity threats to and attacks on our and their information technology infrastructure. Cyberattack techniques change often, may not immediately be recognized, and can originate from a wide variety of sources. There has been an increase in the frequency, sophistication, and ingenuity of the data security threats we and our service providers face. We have experienced threats to our data and systems, and existing measures may not prevent or limit the impact of a future incident. Any unauthorized access to or acquisition of data belonging to us or our partners, contractors, suppliers, customers, or employees could result in loss or theft of confidential
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information or intellectual property, financial loss or misappropriation of funds, a disruption of our business, damage to our reputation and competitive position, and exposure to regulatory intervention and fines, and other liability, any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition. Additionally, if our partners, contractors, suppliers, and customers experience a breach or system failure, their business could be disrupted, which could result in a disruption in our supply chain or our research and development activities.
We incur significant costs in building and maintaining our information technology infrastructure; protecting against or remediating breaches, incidents, and disruptions; and monitoring and complying with evolving and complex data privacy regulations, which costs may increase over time. We are subject to a variety of laws and regulations regarding privacy, data protection, and data security, and many jurisdictions require companies to notify individuals, regulatory authorities, and others of security breaches involving certain types of data. We may expend significant resources to notify third parties of a breach, and our insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover claims or liabilities related to a breach or incident. Further, we may be unable to comply with changes in data privacy regulations in the necessary timeframe or at reasonable cost, and any failure or alleged or perceived failure to comply with applicable data privacy regulations could result in regulatory investigations and proceedings, fines and other liability, and damage to our reputation.
Changes in relevant tax laws or regulations, an adverse interpretation of these items by tax authorities, or changes to our obligations as a result of expanded business operations could adversely impact our effective tax rate and tax liability.
We are subject to income, withholding, and other tax obligations in the United States and the Republic of Korea and may become subject to taxation in additional international, state, and local jurisdictions with respect to income, operations, and subsidiaries related to those jurisdictions. Our future effective tax rates may fluctuate widely. Our effective tax rate in a given financial reporting period may be materially impacted by a variety of factors, such as the composition of operating income by tax jurisdiction; changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities, application of accounting and tax standard, and our pre-tax operating results; and new or revised tax legislation.
Additionally, we record tax expense based on our estimates of future payments, which may include reserves for uncertain tax positions in multiple tax jurisdictions, and valuation allowances related to certain net deferred tax assets. At any one time, many tax years may be subject to audit or examination by various taxing jurisdictions, and the results of these audits, examinations, and negotiations with taxing authorities may affect the ultimate settlement of these issues. Increases in our effective tax rate and tax liability could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
Risks Related to our Common Stock and the Warrants
The price of our common stock and Warrants could be adversely impacted by sales of substantial amounts of our common stock or Warrants in the public market or the perception that such sales could occur.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the price of our common stock and Warrants.
We have registered shares reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive compensation plans. Subject to the satisfaction of applicable vesting restrictions, the shares issued thereunder will be available for immediate resale in the public market.
We may not realize the anticipated benefits of our stock repurchase program, and any failure to repurchase shares of our common stock may adversely impact the price of our common stock.
On January 23, 2024, we announced that our Board approved a stock repurchase program authorizing us to purchase up to $50 million of our outstanding common stock. Under the repurchase program, we may purchase shares of our common stock from time to time on the open market, in unsolicited negotiated transactions, or in any manner that complies with the provisions of Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. The repurchase program expires December 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2024, we have repurchased approximately $9.07 million of our common stock under the repurchase program. The timing and amount of any future purchases under the repurchase program will depend on a number of factors, such as the price of our common stock, economic and market conditions, and corporate and regulatory requirements. If we do not purchase the full amount of shares of our common stock authorized under the repurchase program, our reputation, investor confidence, and the price of our common stock may be adversely impacted.
The existence of the repurchase program could cause the price of our common stock to be higher than it otherwise would be and potentially reduce the market liquidity for our common stock. Further, we cannot guarantee that any purchases under the
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repurchase program will enhance long-term stockholder value. For example, the price of our common stock may decline below the levels at which we purchase such shares, and short-term fluctuations in the price of our common stock could reduce the effectiveness of the repurchase program. Purchasing shares of our common stock under the repurchase program will also reduce the amount of cash we have available to fund capital expenditures, investments in strategic initiatives, other operating requirements, and further share repurchases, and we may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the repurchase program.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish, or publish inaccurate or unfavorable, research about us, our business, or our market, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our common stock, the price and trading volume of our common stock and Warrants could decline.
The trading market for our common stock and Warrants is influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us, our business, our market, or our competitors. If any of these analysts adversely change their recommendation regarding our common stock, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, the price of our common stock and Warrants could decline. If any of these analysts cease coverage or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause the price or trading volume of our common stock and Warrants to decline.
The issuance of additional shares of common stock under our equity incentive compensation plans or employee stock purchase plan or shares of preferred stock would dilute the interest of our stockholders and may present other risks.
We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common stock under our equity incentive compensation plans or employee stock purchase plan and we may also issue preferred stock. The issuance of additional shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock:
| ● | may significantly dilute the equity interests of our existing stockholders; |
| ● | would subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock; |
| ● | could cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and |
| ● | may adversely impact the price of our common stock and Warrants. |
Delaware law and provisions in our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation (our “Second A&R Charter”) and amended and restated bylaws (our “Bylaws”) might delay, discourage, or prevent a change in control of the Company or changes in our management, thereby depressing the price of our common stock and Warrants.
We are a Delaware corporation, and the anti-takeover provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) may discourage, delay, or prevent a change in control by prohibiting us from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, even if a change of control would be beneficial to our existing stockholders. In addition, provisions of our Second A&R Charter and Bylaws may make the acquisition of us more difficult, deter hostile takeovers, or delay or prevent changes in our management. Among other things, these provisions:
| ● | provide advance notice procedures with regard to stockholder nominations of candidates for election as directors or other stockholder proposals to be brought before meetings of our stockholders, which may discourage our stockholders from bringing certain matters before meetings of our stockholders; |
| ● | provide the Board the ability to authorize issuance of preferred stock, which makes it possible for the Board to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of Solid Power; |
| ● | provide for a classified Board with staggered three-year terms, with each class as nearly equal in number as possible; |
| ● | prohibit stockholder action by written consent, which forces stockholder action to be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders; |
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| ● | provide that certain provisions of our Second A&R Charter can only be amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class; |
| ● | provide that certain provisions of our Bylaws can be altered or repealed by (i) the Board or (ii) our stockholders upon the affirmative vote of 66 2/3% of the voting power of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class; |
| ● | provide that only the Board (pursuant to a majority vote) or the Chairperson of the Board may call a special meeting of stockholders; and |
| ● | designate Delaware and federal courts as the exclusive forum for certain disputes. |
Our Bylaws designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees, or agents.
Our Bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court in Delaware or the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of Solid Power, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, stockholder, officer or other employee of Solid Power to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our Second A&R Charter or Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim as to which such court determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of such court (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of such court within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than such court or for which such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction.
In addition, our Bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), against any person in connection with any offering of our securities, including, without limitation and for the avoidance of doubt, any auditor, underwriter, expert, control person, or other defendant. Pursuant to the Exchange Act, claims arising thereunder must be brought in federal district courts of the United States of America.
The choice of forum provision in our Bylaws may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees, or agents, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. However, our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived (and cannot waive) our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. If a court were to find the choice of forum provision in our Bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
There can be no assurance that the our publicly-traded warrants (the “Public Warrants”) or warrants sold in a private placement as part of our initial public offering or acquired through a conversion of a working capital loan (the “Private Placement Warrants” and, together with the Public Warrants, the “Warrants”) will ever be in the money, and they may expire worthless.
The exercise price for the Warrants is $11.50 per share of common stock. There can be no assurance that the Warrants will ever be in the money prior to their expiration, and as such, the Warrants may expire worthless.
We may amend the terms of the Warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders with the approval of the holders of at least 50% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants (or, if applicable, 65% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants and 65% of the then-outstanding Private Placement Warrants, voting as separate classes).
Our Warrants were issued in registered form under our warrant agreement with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company which provides that the terms of the Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants to make any other changes. However, if an amendment would adversely and differently affect either the Public Warrants or Private Placement Warrants, the approval of 65% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants and 65% of the then-outstanding Private Placement Warrants, voting as
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separate classes, is required. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the Warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants (or, if applicable, 65% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants and 65% of the then-outstanding Private Placement Warrants, voting as separate classes) approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the Warrants with approval of the holders of at least 50% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants (or, if applicable, 65% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants and 65% of the then-outstanding Private Placement Warrants, voting as separate classes) is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the Warrants, convert the Warrants into cash or stock (at a ratio different than initially provided), shorten the exercise period, or decrease the number of shares of our common stock purchasable upon exercise of a Warrant.
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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item1C. Cybersecurity
Risk Management and Strategy
Governance
Item 2. Properties
We currently operate out of two facilities in Colorado. We lease approximately 38,000 square feet in Louisville, Colorado under a lease that expires in December 2029. Most of this facility, which we refer to as SP1, is used for cell production, research and development, quality control, and general office space.
We lease approximately 75,000 square feet in Thornton, Colorado under a lease that expires in March 2029. Most of this facility, which we refer to as SP2, is used for pilot production of electrolyte, research and development, quality control, and general office space.
In addition, we lease general office space in the Republic of Korea that is immaterial to our financial statements.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we have been, and may become, involved in litigation or other legal proceedings. See Note 14 of our audited financial statements included in this Report for more information. Regardless of outcome, litigation, including indemnity claims, can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources, and other factors.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common stock and Warrants are traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbols “SLDP” and “SLDPW,” respectively.
Holders of Common Stock and Warrants
As of February 26, 2025, there were 30 record holders of our common stock and four record holders of our Warrants. The actual number of stockholders and Warrant holders, respectively, is greater than this number of record holders and includes investors who are beneficial owners but whose shares or Warrants are held in street name by brokers and other nominees.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
On October 21, 2024, we issued a total of 298,508 shares of restricted stock to two individuals who provide services to our strategic partner in the Republic of Korea. A total of 59,702 of these shares of restricted stock vested immediately upon issuance. The issuances were intended to incentivize such individuals to provide services that directly and indirectly benefit us. The restricted stock was issued pursuant to the provisions of Regulation S of the Securities Act on the basis that both individuals are not residents of the United States and are otherwise not “U.S. persons,” as defined in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S of the Securities Act. See Note 11 of our audited financial statements included in this Report for more information.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table summarizes our common stock repurchase program activity for the three months ended December 31, 2024:
Period | | Total Number of Shares Purchased | | Average Price Paid Per Share | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program(1) | | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased under the Program(1) | |||||||||
October 1 - October 31, 2024 | | — | | $ | — | | — | | $ | 41,726,078 | |||||||
November 1 - November 30, 2024 | | 704,401 | | $ | 1.12 | | 704,401 | | $ | 40,927,283 | |||||||
December 1 - December 31, 2024 | | — | | $ | — | | — | | $ | 40,927,283 | |||||||
Total | | 704,401 | | $ | 1.12 | | 704,401 | | | | |||||||
(1)On January 23, 2024, we announced that our Board approved a stock repurchase program authorizing us to purchase up to $50 million of our outstanding common stock. Under the repurchase program, we may purchase shares of our common stock from time to time until the repurchase program expires on December 31, 2025. The shares of common stock may be purchased on the open market, in unsolicited negotiated transactions, or in any manner that complies with the provisions of Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. Management’s decision to repurchase shares of common stock will depend on a number of factors, such as the price of our common stock, economic and market conditions, and corporate and regulatory requirements.
Item 6. [Reserved]
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Report. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect future plans, estimates, beliefs, and expected performance. For additional discussion, see “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” above. The forward-looking statements are dependent upon events, risks, and uncertainties that may be outside of our control. Our actual results could differ materially from those
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 35
discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below and those discussed elsewhere in this Report under “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors,” as such descriptions may be updated or amended in future filings we make with the SEC. Unless indicated otherwise, the following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated statements and notes thereto in this Report. We do not undertake, and expressly disclaim, any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, new developments or otherwise, except to the extent that such disclosure is required by applicable law.
Overview
Solid Power is a U.S.-based leader in solid-state battery technology and manufacturing processes. Our core technology is a sulfide-based solid electrolyte material, which replaces the liquid or gel electrolyte used in traditional lithium-ion battery cells. We believe our electrolyte technology has the potential to enable a step-change improvement in battery cell performance beyond what is currently achievable in conventional lithium-ion battery cells, including improved energy density, battery life, and safety performance. We are currently targeting the EV market due to the size and perceived demand for next generation battery technology but believe our technologies can have a broader application as they mature.
Key Factors Affecting Operating Results
We are a research and development-stage company and have not generated significant revenue through the sale of our electrolyte or licensing of our cell designs. Our ability to commercialize our products depends on several factors that present significant opportunities but also pose material risks and challenges, including those discussed in the “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” sections of this Report, which are incorporated by reference.
Prior to reaching commercialization, we must improve our products to ensure they meet the performance requirements of our customers. We also will have to continue to negotiate commercial agreements with our customers on terms and conditions that are mutually acceptable. To satisfy anticipated demand, we will need to scale production of our electrolyte. All of these factors will take time and affect our operating results. Since many factors are difficult to quantify, our actual operating results may be different than currently anticipated.
Revenue generated to date has primarily come from performance on research and development licensing agreements and government contracts. We will need to continue to deploy substantial capital to expand our production capabilities and engage in research and development programs. We also expect to continue to incur administrative expenses as a publicly traded company.
In addition to meeting our development goals, commercialization and future growth and demand for our products are highly dependent upon consumers adopting EVs. The market for new energy vehicles is still rapidly evolving due to emerging technologies, competitive pricing, government regulation and industry standards, and changing consumer demands and behaviors.
Basis of Presentation
We currently conduct our business through one operating segment. As a research and development company with no commercial operations, our activities were conducted primarily in the United States as well as Republic of Korea. Our historical results are reported under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and in U.S. dollars.
Results of Operations
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we increased capital and operational investments centered on expanding our electrolyte capabilities and advancing our cell designs. Our most significant capital investment in 2024 was the EIC, which is designed to develop, improve, and test electrolyte manufacturing processes. Our operational investments were focused on the strategic enhancement of our research and development workforce, strengthening our presence in the Republic of Korea, as well as efforts to improve electrolyte and cell performance.
Revenue
We have entered into various collaborative arrangements for research and development efforts related to our technologies. In 2024, we generated revenue of $20.1 million, which represented a $2.7 million, or 16%, increase compared to our 2023 revenue of $17.4 million. This increase was driven primarily by our performance on the SK On Agreements, with strong execution on the line installation agreement and completion of key steps in the transfer of our technology, which together accounted for $11.8 million of our 2024 revenue. We intend to continue executing on the SK On Agreements and anticipate an increase in revenue in 2025 as we achieve
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 36
milestones under the SK On Agreements. The decrease in government revenue in 2024 was related to the completion of certain government grants in 2023 and the timing of entry into the Assistance Agreement with DOE. While there can be no assurance that we will continue to receive funding under our government contracts and grants in the amounts we expect or at all, government revenue may increase in 2025 compared to 2024 as we execute on the Assistance Agreement and begin facility engineering and construction of a pilot electrolyte line using a continuous manufacturing process.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses consist primarily of research and development costs focused on improving the performance of our electrolyte and cell designs. In 2024, operating expenses were $125.5 million, an increase of $17.5 million compared to our operating expenses of $108.0 million in 2023. This increase was largely attributable to a 30% increase in electrolyte production in 2024 compared to 2023. This resulted in a corresponding increase to our production costs, such as materials, lab supplies, and hazardous waste removal. In 2025, we expect production costs to be consistent with 2024. Although we anticipate increasing electrolyte production in 2025, we intend to offset the increase in production cost with more favorable pricing on input materials and hazardous waste disposal. The increase in operating expenses in 2024 also resulted from equipment purchases made in the performance of the SK On Agreements, which accounted for $8.2 million of our operating expenses in 2024. In 2025, we expect expenses associated with the execution of the SK On Agreements to increase in correlation with an increase in revenue as we achieve the next milestones under the SK On Agreements. Additionally, we had an increase in costs related to scaling our operations in the United States and the Republic of Korea in 2024. Overall, we expect operating expenses to increase in 2025 compared to 2024 as we continue to focus on our collaborative arrangements and research and development efforts.
Nonoperating Income and Expense
Our nonoperating income and expense consists of interest income earned on our investments, the non-cash change in our fair value of our warrant liabilities, and non-recurring expense items. In 2024, nonoperating income and expense was $10.1 million, a decrease of $15.0 million compared to our nonoperating income and expense of $25.1 million in 2023. This decrease was driven in part by the reduced cash balance of our investments in 2024, which resulted in a lower actual book return of our investments. As a result, interest income in 2024 was $17.7 million, a decrease of $2.6 million compared to interest income of $20.3 million in 2023. The decrease in nonoperating income and expense was also due to a change in the fair value of our warrant liabilities that drove a year-over-year increase in expense of $9.4 million as well as a $2.0 million non-cash loss on the disposal of assets.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
The sale of equity has historically been our primary source of cash, with a smaller portion of cash coming from achievement of performance milestones under agreements with our partners and our government contracts.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had total liquidity as set forth below:
| | December 31, | | ||||
(in thousands) | | 2024 |
| 2023 | | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 25,413 | | $ | 34,537 | |
Available-for-sale securities | |
| 302,057 | |
| 381,071 | |
Total liquidity | | $ | 327,470 | | $ | 415,608 | |
As of December 31, 2024, contract receivables were $1.4 million, deferred revenue was $3.2 million, and total current liabilities were $20.0 million. As of December 31, 2023, contract receivables were $1.6 million, deferred revenue and deferred revenue from related parties was $0.8 million, and total current liabilities were $15.9 million.
Short-Term Liquidity Requirements
Our short-term liquidity requirements include operating and capital expenses needed to further our research and development programs and to install our continuous electrolyte production line. We anticipate that our most significant capital expenditures in 2025 will relate to facility engineering and construction of a pilot electrolyte line using a continuous manufacturing process and improvements to our cell development capabilities.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 37
We anticipate our total combined capital expenditures and cash flow from operations for 2025 will be between $100 million and $120 million, excluding any benefit from the Assistance Agreement. We expect to fund our short-term liquidity requirements through our cash on hand and other liquid assets.
Long-Term Liquidity Requirements
We believe that our cash on hand is sufficient to meet our operating cash needs and working capital and capital expenditure requirements for a period of at least the next 12 months. Longer-term, we believe we have adequate liquidity to support our operations until we generate adequate cash flows from electrolyte sales and/or licensing activities or we raise additional capital. We also believe that we have adequate cash on hand for our stock repurchase program should we choose to execute additional share repurchases.
We may require additional liquidity sources if there are material changes to our business conditions or other developments, including changes to our operating plan; development progress or delays; negotiations with OEMs, cell manufacturers, or other customers; market adoption of EVs; supply chain challenges; competitive pressures; and inflation. To the extent that our resources are insufficient to satisfy our cash requirements, we may need to seek additional equity or debt financing. We also may opportunistically seek to enhance our liquidity through equity or debt financing, if such financing becomes available to us on terms that we consider favorable. If financing is not available, or if the terms of financing are less desirable than we expect, we may be forced to take actions to reduce our capital or operating expenditures, which may adversely affect our development, business, operating results, financial condition and prospects.
Stock Repurchase Program
On January 23, 2024, we announced that our Board approved a stock repurchase program authorizing us to purchase up to $50 million of our outstanding common stock. Under the stock repurchase program, we may purchase shares of our common stock from time to time until the repurchase program expires on December 31, 2025. The shares of common stock may be purchased on the open market, in unsolicited negotiated transactions, or in any manner that complies with the provisions of Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. Management’s decision to repurchase shares will depend on a number of factors, such as the price of our common stock, economic and market conditions, and corporate and regulatory requirements. During the year ended December 31, 2024, we repurchased 5,704,401 shares of common stock at an average cost of $1.59 per share for an aggregate cost of approximately $9.07 million.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities for the periods presented.
| | Year Ended December 31, | ||||
(in thousands) | | 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Net cash and cash equivalents used in operating activities | | $ | (63,899) | | $ | (58,261) |
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by investing activities | | | 64,204 | |
| 42,502 |
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) financing activities | | | (9,429) | | | 173 |
Cash used in operating activities:
Cash used in operating activities increased $5.6 million from 2023 to 2024 primarily due to increased research and development costs related to improving our electrolyte and cell designs and increased electrolyte production. The increase in cash used in operating activities was also due to increased direct equipment costs associated with execution of the SK On Agreements, with a portion of these costs reflected in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024. The increase in cash used in operating activities was partially offset by increased cash received from customers, with $21.1 million of cash received from customers in 2024 compared to $12.6 million of cash received from customers in 2023.
Cash provided by investing activities:
Cash provided by investing activities increased $21.7 million from 2023 to 2024 primarily due to increased proceeds from purchases and sales of available-for-sale securities, which provided $86.8 million of proceeds in 2024 compared to $77.6 million of proceeds in 2023. The increase in cash provided by investing activities was partially offset by capital expenditures for construction of the EIC in 2024 and cash used for our investment in a strategic partner in the Republic of Korea.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 38
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities:
Cash used in financing activities increased $9.6 million from 2023 to 2024 primarily as a result of cash utilized for the repurchase of $9.07 million of our common stock under the stock repurchase program.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We are not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under SEC rules.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements included elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this Report. The preparation of our financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. We base our estimates on past experience, technical analysis and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, and we evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Our critical accounting estimates are those that materially affect our financial statements and involve difficult, subjective, or complex judgments by management. A thorough understanding of these critical accounting estimates is essential when reviewing our financial statements. We believe that the critical accounting estimates listed below involve the most difficult management decisions because they require the use of significant estimates and assumptions as described above.
Valuation of Private Placement Warrant Liability | ||
Description | Judgments and Uncertainties | Effect if Results Differ From Assumptions |
| | |
The private placement warrant liability is classified as a liability, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815 – Hedge Accounting, as they do not satisfy the criteria to be classified as equity based on the indexation criteria. Public and private warrants are recorded at their fair value at the date of issuance, and subsequently remeasured at each reporting period end. Any change in value is recognized through the consolidated statements of operations. | Valuation of private placement warrants requires that we make significant judgments and assumptions related to the fair value based on the Black-Scholes model including term, stock price, volatility and the selection of guideline public companies, risk free rate and dividend yield. | If we were to change our judgments or estimates used in valuation of private warrants, it could cause a material increase or decrease to the gain or loss realized from the change in fair value of private placement warrants, and to the underlying warrant liability. |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 39
Collaborative Revenue | ||
Description | Judgments and Uncertainties | Effect if Results Differ From Assumptions |
| | |
We recognize revenue from our research and development collaboration agreements representing joint operating activities in accordance with ASC 808 – Collaborative Arrangements. These agreements include the following components: parties to the contract are active participants, both parties are exposed to significant risks and rewards, and both parties are dependent on the commercial success of the efforts under the contract. | Our revenue recognition accounting methodology requires us to make significant estimates and assumptions, and to apply professional judgment. Our collaborative arrangements are recognized over time using the input measurement method utilizing labor hours in relation to total labor hours anticipated to satisfy the combined performance obligation. Collaborative revenues from cost-based contracts are recognized based on costs incurred during each period plus any earned fee. Contract costs include all direct labor, subcontract costs, costs for materials and indirect costs related to the contract performance that are allowable under the provisions of the contract. Collaborative revenues from fee-based contracts are recognized based on costs incurred to meet contractually defined milestones and deliverables along with our assessment of achievement of those measurable deliverables under the contract or based on appropriate over time methods. | If we were to change our judgments or estimates, it could cause a material increase or decrease in the amount of revenue or deferred revenue that we report in a particular period. |
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are a smaller reporting company as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act. As a result, pursuant to Item 305(e) of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide the information required by this Item.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 40
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: | 42 |
44 | |
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss | 45 |
46 | |
47 | |
48 |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 41
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Solid Power, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Solid Power, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s 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 Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks 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.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 42
Revenue recognition based on the percentage of completion method
Description of the Matter | As described in Note 2 and Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements, revenues from collaboration arrangements are recognized over time utilizing incurred labor hours in relation to total labor hours anticipated to satisfy the combined performance obligation, and revenues from a new collaboration arrangement totaled $11.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Due to the long-term nature of contracts, developing the total anticipated labor hours requires judgment. Factors that impact the total anticipated labor hours include the length of time required to complete the performance obligation, the achievement of milestones, and employee and subcontractor performance. Auditing management’s estimate for the total anticipated labor hours was challenging and complex due to the judgment involved in evaluating management’s assumptions over the total labor hours anticipated to satisfy the combined performance obligation. |
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit | To test the total anticipated labor hours, we performed audit procedures that included, among others, reading the contract to confirm our understanding of the Company’s obligations and evaluating the significant data and assumptions used by management to determine the total anticipated labor hours. We inquired of both finance and operations personnel to understand the progress of the contract and the assumptions used to develop the estimate. We compared actual hours incurred to estimated hours to assess the historical accuracy of management’s estimate, we compared anticipated hours to hours incurred to date for similar activities to assess those estimates, and we verified achievement of key project milestones. |
/s/
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.
February 28, 2025
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 43
Solid Power, Inc.
(in thousands, except par value and number of shares)
Consolidated Balance Sheets
| | December 31, | ||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Assets | | | | | | |
Current Assets | | |
|
| |
|
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | | | $ | |
Marketable securities | | | | | | |
Contract receivables | |
| | |
| |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| | |
| |
Total current assets | |
| | |
| |
Long-Term Assets | | | | | | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | |
| | |
| |
Right-of-use operating lease assets, net | | | | | | |
Right-of-use finance lease assets, net | | | | | | |
Investments | | | | | | |
Intangible assets, net | |
| | |
| |
Other assets | | | | | | |
Loan receivable from equity method investee | | | | | | — |
Total long-term assets | | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | | | $ | |
Liabilities, Mezzanine Equity and Stockholders’ Equity | |
| | |
|
|
Current Liabilities | |
| | |
|
|
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities | | $ | | | $ | |
Deferred revenue | |
| | | | |
Deferred revenue from related parties | |
| — | | | |
Accrued compensation | |
| | |
| |
Operating lease liabilities | | | | | | |
Finance lease liabilities | | | | | | |
Total current liabilities | |
| | |
| |
Long-Term Liabilities | | | | | | |
Warrant liabilities | | | | | | |
Operating lease liabilities | | | | | | |
Finance lease liabilities | |
| | |
| |
Other liabilities | | | | | | |
Total long-term liabilities | | | | | | |
Total liabilities | | | | | | |
Mezzanine Equity | | | | | | |
Mezzanine equity | | | | | | — |
Stockholders’ Equity | |
|
| |
|
|
Common stock, $ | |
| | |
| |
Additional paid-in capital | |
| | | | |
Accumulated deficit | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) | | | | | | ( |
Total stockholders’ equity | |
| | |
| |
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders’ equity | | $ | | | $ | |
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 44
Solid Power, Inc.
(in thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 |
| ||
Revenue | | $ | | | $ | | |
Operating Expenses | | | | |
| | |
Direct costs | | | | | | | |
Research and development | | | | |
| | |
Selling, general and administrative | | | | |
| | |
Total operating expenses | | | | |
| | |
Operating Loss | | | ( | |
| ( | |
Nonoperating Income and Expense | | | | |
| | |
Interest income | | | | | | | |
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities | | | ( | | | | |
Interest expense | | | ( | |
| ( | |
Other expense | | | ( | | | — | |
Total nonoperating income and expense | | | | |
| | |
Pretax Loss | | | ( | |
| ( | |
Income tax expense | | | | |
| — | |
Share of net loss of equity method investee | | | | | | — | |
Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders | | $ | ( | | $ | ( | |
Other Comprehensive Income | | | | | | | |
Comprehensive Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders | | $ | ( | | $ | ( | |
Basic and diluted loss per share | | $ | ( | | $ | ( | |
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted | | | | |
| | |
| | | | |
| | |
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 45
Solid Power, Inc.
(in thousands, except number of shares)
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
| | Common Stock | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
| | | | | | | | Additional | | Accumulated | | Accumulated | | Total Stockholders’ | ||||
|
| Shares |
| Amount |
| paid-in capital |
| deficit |
| OCI |
| Equity | ||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2022 | | | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | ( | | $ | ( | | $ | |
Net loss | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | ( | | | — | | | ( |
Withholding of employee taxes related to stock-based compensation | | | — | | | — | | | ( | | | — | | | — | | | ( |
Shares of common stock issued under the ESPP | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | — | | | |
Shares of common stock issued for vested RSUs | | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Stock options exercised | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | — | | | |
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | | |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | — | | | — | | | | | | — | | | — | | | |
Balance as of December 31, 2023 | | | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | ( | | $ | ( | | $ | |
Net loss | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | ( | | | — | | | ( |
Withholding of employee taxes related to stock-based compensation | | | — | | | — | | | ( | | | — | | | — | | | ( |
Shares of common stock issued under the ESPP | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | — | | | |
Shares of common stock issued for vested RSUs | | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Shares of common stock issued to non-employees | | | | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Stock options exercised | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | — | | | |
Repurchase and retirement of shares of common stock | | | ( | | | ( | | | ( | | | — | | | — | | | ( |
Remeasurement of mezzanine equity | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | ( | | | — | | | ( |
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | | |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | — | | | — | | | | | | — | | | — | | | |
Balance as of December 31, 2024 | | | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | |
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 46
Solid Power, Inc.
(in thousands, except par value, share amounts, and per share amounts)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 |
| ||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | ( | | $ | ( | |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash and cash equivalents from operating activities: | | | | |
| | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | | |
| | |
Amortization of right-of-use assets | | | | | | | |
Loss on sales of property, plant, and equipment | | | | |
| — | |
Loss on extinguishment of note receivable | | | | | | — | |
Share of net loss of equity method investee | | | | | | — | |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | | |
| | |
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities | | | | | | ( | |
Accretion of discounts on other long-term liabilities | | | | | | | |
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on available-for-sale-securities | | | ( | | | ( | |
Change in operating assets and liabilities that provided (used) cash and cash equivalents: | | | | |
| | |
Contract receivables | | | | |
| ( | |
Contract receivables from related parties | | | — | | | | |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | | | | |
| ( | |
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities | | | | |
| | |
Deferred revenue | | | | |
| ( | |
Deferred revenue from related parties | | | ( | | | ( | |
Accrued compensation | | | ( | |
| | |
Operating lease liabilities | | | ( | | | ( | |
Net cash and cash equivalents used in operating activities | | | ( | |
| ( | |
Cash Flows from Investing Activities | | | | |
| | |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | | | ( | |
| ( | |
Purchases of available-for-sale securities | | | ( | |
| ( | |
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment | | | | | | — | |
Cash paid for loan receivable from equity method investee | | | ( | | | — | |
Cash paid for equity method investment | | | ( | | | — | |
Purchases of intangible assets | | | ( | |
| ( | |
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by investing activities | | | | |
| | |
Cash Flows from Financing Activities | | | | |
| | |
Payments of debt | | | — | |
| ( | |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | | | | |
| | |
Proceeds from issuance of shares of common stock under the ESPP | | | | | | | |
Cash paid for withholding of employee taxes related to stock-based compensation | | | ( | | | ( | |
Repurchase of shares of common stock | | | ( | | | — | |
Payments on finance lease liabilities | | | ( | | | ( | |
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) financing activities | | | ( | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | | | ( | | | ( | |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | | $ | | | $ | | |
| | | | | | | |
Supplemental information | | | | | | | |
Cash paid for interest | | $ | | | $ | | |
Accrued capital expenditures | | $ | | | $ | | |
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 47
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (in thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)
Note 1 – Nature of Business
Solid Power, Inc. (the “Company”) is developing solid-state battery technology for the battery electric vehicle (“EV”) and other markets. The Company’s planned business model is to sell its electrolyte and to license its cell designs and manufacturing processes.
Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company have been prepared on the basis of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. All amounts presented in the footnotes are in thousands, except share and per share amounts or as otherwise indicated.
The Consolidated Financial Statements include accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Company accounts for its investment in an entity in which the Company does not exercise significant influence or have the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits as a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The VIE is accounted for under the equity method at the cost of initial investment. The Company evaluates its relationships with the VIE on an ongoing basis, including when the Company believes a loss in value may have occurred which is other than temporary. The Company measures its equity method investment at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus the share of the equity method investee’s loss or gain. Activity is included in Investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and separately within Share of net loss of equity method investee in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss and within Cash Flows from Investing Activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Segment Reporting
The Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) is its Chief Executive Officer. The Company has determined that it operates in |
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and contingencies at the date of the financial statements as well as reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Estimates made by the Company include, but are not limited to, those related to the measurement of revenue for collaborative arrangements, valuation of warrants, valuation of stock-options and useful lives of long-term assets, among others. The Company bases these estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2024 and throughout the year, the Company’s cash accounts exceeded federally insured limits.
Available-for-Sale Securities
The Company’s investment policy is consistent with the definition of available-for-sale securities. The Company does not buy and hold securities principally for the purpose of selling them in the near future. The Company’s policy is focused on the preservation of capital, liquidity, and return. From time to time, the Company may sell certain securities, but the objectives are not to generate profits on short-term differences in price.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 48
These securities are carried at estimated fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity until realized. Gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are reported on the specific-identification method. Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned. The Company’s available-for-sale securities are recorded within Marketable securities and within Investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Contract Receivables
Contract receivables consist of amounts due from government entities and commercial contractors. Management considers all contract receivables collectible and, therefore, the Company has not recorded an allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2024, and 2023. Amounts for work performed but not billed as of December 31, 2024, and 2023 are included within contract receivables and shown in the table below.
|
| December 31, | ||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Contract receivables not billed | | $ | | | $ | |
Credit Risk and Major Customers
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, investments and loan receivables. The Company seeks to mitigate its credit risk with respect to cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, and investments by making deposits with large, reputable financial institutions and investing in high credit rated instruments.
The Company grants credit in the normal course of business to government entities and commercial contractors. The Company periodically monitors the financial condition of its customers to reduce credit risk, but generally does not require collateral to support contract receivables.
The table below sets forth revenue and contract receivable concentration for customers that accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total gross revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023.
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | |||
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
|
Revenue concentration | |
| |
| |
Number of customers | |
| |
| |
Related total revenue percentage |
| % | | % | |
Contract receivable concentration |
| |
|
|
|
Number of customers |
|
| |
| |
Related contract receivables percentage |
| % | | % | |
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist primarily of security deposits, prepaid insurance, and other minor miscellaneous expenses paid in advance.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. The Company capitalizes property, plant and equipment with useful lives exceeding one year. Assets are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. The straight-line method is used for computing depreciation. Depreciation expenses are recorded within Operating Expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. Cost of maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred. Construction in progress related to specialized equipment will be reclassified as Property, plant and equipment and depreciated, once placed in service.
|
| Depreciable Life |
Production equipment | | |
Laboratory equipment | | |
Furniture and Computer Equipment |
| |
Leasehold improvements |
| Lesser of asset life or lease term |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 49
Investments
The Company considers all available-for-sale securities with an original maturity of less than 12 months when purchased to be marketable securities. The Company considers all available-for-sale securities with an original maturity of 12 months or more when purchased to be investments.
The Company records its investments in non-marketable equity securities in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 321 – Investments - Equity Securities. Under the measurement alternative, carrying value is measured at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer. Adjustments are determined at fair value as of the transaction date. The Company’s equity securities investment is presented in Investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company’s non-marketable equity securities investment, as noted in Note 11 – Related Party Transactions, is evaluated for impairment based on qualitative factors, including the investee’s financial and liquidity position and access to capital resources, among others. When indicators of impairment exist, a loss is recorded equal to the difference between the fair value and carrying value of the investment.
The Company acquired an equity interest in Dahae Energy Co., Ltd (“Dahae”) in October 2024. The Company has determined that Dahae is a VIE. The Company does not have a controlling financial interest in Dahae and, therefore, accounts for its investment using the equity method of accounting. As a result of the Company’s interest in Dahae, Dahae is considered a related party. See Note 11 – Related Party Transactions for more information.
Loan Receivable from Equity Method Investee
The Company accounts for its loan receivable from its equity method investee, Dahae at its stated principal amount, net of any discount or premium. The related discounts or premiums on the loan receivable are amortized or accreted over the term of the loan receivable. The Company classifies its loan receivable on a current (due within 12 months of reporting date) and a long-term (due in excess of 12 months from reporting date) basis in accordance with the stated maturity date.
Interest income is accrued based on the contractual terms which are payable on a quarterly basis. Interest income from the loan receivable is presented as Interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. Any interest receivable from the loan receivable represents a current asset within Prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company applies ASC 326 – Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments to financial assets measured at amortized cost, including the loan receivable from Dahae. The Company utilizes the discounted cash flow method to estimate current expected credit losses. The Company has not recognized an allowance for current expected credit losses on its loan receivable and does not have any loans receivable in nonaccrual status. See Note 11 – Related Party Transactions for more information.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of licenses and costs incurred for pending patents and trademarks. Licenses consist of rights to use patents and are amortized over their estimated useful life of to
Leases
The Company accounts for its leases under ASC 842 – Lease Accounting. Under this guidance, the Company classifies contracts meeting the definition of a lease as operating or financing leases, and leases are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as both a right-of-use asset and lease liability, calculated by discounting fixed lease payments over the lease term at the rate implicit in the lease or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. Lease liabilities are increased by interest and reduced by payments each period, and the right-of-use asset is amortized over the lease term. For operating leases, interest on the lease liability and the amortization of the right-of-use asset result in straight-line rent expense over the lease term. For finance leases, interest on the lease liability and the amortization of the right-of-use asset results in front-loaded expense over the lease term. Variable lease expenses, including common maintenance fees, insurance and property tax, are recorded when incurred.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 50
In calculating the right-of-use asset and lease liability, the Company elects to combine lease and non-lease components for all classes of assets. The Company excludes short-term leases having initial terms of 12 months or less as an accounting policy election and instead recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation primarily consists of stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and restricted stock grants to non-employees. Expenses for stock-based compensation are measured based on fair value on the date of the grant and recognized over the prescribed vesting schedule as described within Note 8 – Stock-Based Compensation.
The estimated fair value of stock options on the date of grant is calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and is affected by the Company’s stock price, as well as assumptions regarding risk-free rate, dividend yield, and the historical volatility of comparable entities. The estimated fair value of RSUs is determined based on the number of shares granted and the closing price for of the Company’s common stock one business day before the grant date. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. Employee compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite vesting service period and is recorded within Operating Expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
The Company recognizes expenses for restricted stock grants to non-employees based on the grant date fair value of the restricted stock, which is based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock one business day before the grant date. Non-employee stock-based compensation expenses are recognized on a straight-line basis over the non-employee vesting period. Non-employee stock-based compensation related to restricted stock grants is recognized within Share of net loss of equity method investee in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
Revenue
The Company records revenue in accordance with ASC 808 – Collaborative Arrangements. Revenue recognition is recorded by analogy to ASC 606 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers. These agreements include the following components: parties to the contract are active participants, both parties are exposed to significant risks and rewards, and both parties are dependent on the commercial success of the efforts under the contract. Revenue from the Company’s collaborative arrangements is recognized over time using the input measurement method utilizing labor hours in relation to total labor hours anticipated to satisfy the performance obligation. The Company expenses contract fulfillment costs as incurred. The Company recognizes government revenue from cost contracts on the basis of costs incurred during the period and for cost plus fixed-fee contracts on the basis of costs incurred during the period plus the fee earned. Contract costs include all direct labor, subcontract, material, and indirect costs related to the contract performance that are allowable under contract provisions.
Deferred revenue represents cash collected in advance of revenue recognized.
|
| December 31, | ||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Deferred revenue | | $ | | | $ | |
Deferred revenue from related parties | | | — | | | |
Warrant Liabilities
The Company accounts for warrants as liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480 – Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC 815 – Hedge Accounting. Warrants recorded as liabilities are recorded at their fair value within Warrant liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are remeasured on each reporting date with changes recorded in Change in fair value of warrant liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
Fair Value Measurements
The Company applies fair value accounting for selected financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring and nonrecurring basis. Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount 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. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. The accounting guidance ASC 820 – Fair Value Measurement established a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 51
the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, used to determine the fair value of its financial instruments. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Level 1 – inputs include quoted market prices in an active market for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 – inputs are market data, other than Level 1 inputs, that are observable either directly or indirectly, including quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted market prices in an inactive market, and other observable information that can be corroborated by market data.
Level 3 – inputs are unobservable and corroborated by little or no market data.
The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with original maturities of less than 90 days to be cash equivalents. The Company accounts for the change in fair value of the Company’s available-for-sale securities in Other Comprehensive Income in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
Research and Development
The Company’s research and development activities focus on making improvements to its electrolyte and cell technologies with the ultimate goal of commercializing technology that outperforms conventional lithium-ion. Costs related to research and development are expensed as incurred.
Income Taxes
The Company recognizes deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or tax returns. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the differences between the Consolidated Financial Statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by the amount of any uncertain tax positions or tax benefits that are not expected to be realized based on available evidence. The Company records deferred tax assets and associated valuation allowances, when appropriate, to reflect amounts more likely than not to be realized based on the Company’s analysis. The Company’s temporary differences result primarily from capitalization of certain qualifying research and development expenses, accruals and reserves, depreciation of property, plant and equipment, stock compensation expense, capitalization of operating or financing leases, and net operating loss carryovers.
The Company provides deferred U.S. federal, state, or foreign income tax benefits for periods presented. The Company has also provided a valuation allowance on the net deferred tax asset because of uncertainty regarding realizability. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on generating sufficient taxable income prior to the expiration of loss carryforwards.
The Company accounts for any uncertainty in income taxes by recognizing the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company measures the tax benefits recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements from such a position based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution. Interest and penalties associated with tax positions are recorded in the period assessed as Selling, general and administrative in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
Basic and Diluted Loss per Share of Common Stock
Basic loss per share is based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Basic loss per share represents Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period.
Diluted loss per share includes the dilutive effect of additional potential shares of common stock issuable from stock-based awards and grants determined using the treasury stock method. Diluted loss per share represents Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders divided by diluted weighted average number of shares of common stock, which includes the average dilutive effect of all potentially dilutive securities outstanding for the period.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 52
Foreign Currency
The Company’s reporting currency and the functional currency of its foreign operations is U.S. dollars. The Company’s Korean subsidiary maintains its financial statements in U.S. dollars. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are remeasured using the exchange rate prevailing at the balance sheet date. Gains and losses arising on remeasurement or settlement of foreign currency denominated transactions or balances are included in the determination of income. The Company has not entered into derivative instruments to offset the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. The total impact of foreign currency transaction losses for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Segment Reporting
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2023-07 Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures which expands annual and interim disclosure requirements for reportable segments, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. Effective December 31, 2024, the Company adopted ASU 2023-07 on a retrospective basis. See “—Segment Reporting” above and Note 15 – Segment Disclosure for more information.
Income Taxes
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09 Income Taxes (Topic 740) Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. ASU 2023-09 requires companies to disclose, on an annual basis, specific categories in the effective tax rate reconciliation and provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. In addition, ASU 2023-09 requires companies to disclose additional information about income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 will be effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2025 and will be applied on a prospective basis with the option to apply the standard retrospectively. The Company is evaluating the impact of ASU 2023-09 and anticipates that it may result in additional required disclosures in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ending December 31, 2025. Income Statement
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03 Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40) Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses. ASU 2024-03 requires disclosure of specified information about certain costs and expenses in the notes to the financial statements. ASU 2024-03 will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027. ASU 2024-03 can be applied either prospectively to financial statements or retrospectively to any prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is evaluating the disclosure impact of ASU 2024-03.
Note 3 – Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment are summarized as follows:
| | December 31, | ||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Production equipment | | $ | | | $ | |
Laboratory equipment | | | | | | |
Leasehold improvements | |
| | |
| |
Furniture and computer equipment | |
| | |
| |
Construction in progress | |
| | |
| |
Total cost | |
| | |
| |
Accumulated depreciation | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Net property, plant and equipment | | $ | | | $ | |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 53
Depreciation expenses for dedicated laboratory equipment and production equipment are charged to research and development. The other depreciation expenses are included in the Company’s overhead and are allocated across Operating Expenses based on Company personnel costs incurred.
Depreciation expenses related to property, plant, and equipment are summarized as follows:
| | December 31, | |||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 |
| ||
Depreciation expense | | $ | | | $ | | |
The Company expanded its pilot electrolyte production to produce larger quantities of electrolyte to feed cell-production lines and continue research and development efforts at its Thornton, Colorado facility (“SP2”). The Company began producing electrolyte at SP2 in 2023. The Company also built an electrolyte innovation center (the “EIC”) at SP2 to design, improve, and test electrolyte manufacturing processes. The Company placed nearly all of the EIC into service in 2024 and expects to place the remaining portion in service by the end of the first quarter 2025. Construction in progress related to property, plant, and equipment is summarized as follows:
|
| | | | | |
| | December 31, | ||||
Construction in progress |
| 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
SP1 – Capital projects | | $ | | | $ | |
SP2 – Increased scale electrolyte production | |
| | |
| |
Note 4 – Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are summarized as follows:
| | December 31, | ||||||||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | ||||||||
| | Gross Carrying | | Accumulated | | Gross Carrying | | Accumulated | ||||
| | Amount |
| Amortization |
| Amount |
| Amortization | ||||
Intangible assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Licenses | | $ | | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | ( |
Patents | | | | | | ( | | | | | | ( |
Patents pending | | | |
| | — |
| | |
| | — |
Trademarks | | | | | | — | | | | | | — |
Trademarks pending | | | |
| | — |
| | |
| | — |
Total amortized intangible assets | | $ | | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | ( |
Amortization expense for intangible assets is summarized as follows:
|
| December 31, |
| ||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | | ||
Amortization expense | | $ | | | $ | | |
Useful lives of intangible assets range from to
Note 5 – Fair Value Measurements
The carrying amounts of certain financial instruments, such as cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities, approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturities. The difference between the amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale securities as of December 31, 2024 was not material. As of December 31, 2024,
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 54
Assets and Liabilities Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis were classified within the fair value hierarchy as follows:
| | | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||
| |
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Level 3 |
| Total | ||||
Assets | Balance Sheet Classification | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commercial paper | Marketable securities | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | |
Corporate bonds | Marketable securities | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | |
Corporate bonds | Investments | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | |
Government bonds | Investments | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | |
U.S. treasuries | Marketable securities |
| $ | | | $ | — | | $ | — |
| $ | |
Bifurcated embedded derivative | Loan receivable from equity method investee | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | | | $ | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Warrants | Warrant liabilities | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | |
Private Placement Warrants | Warrant liabilities | | $ | — | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | |
| | | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| |
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Level 3 |
| Total | ||||
Assets | Balance Sheet Classification | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commercial paper | Marketable securities | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | |
Corporate bonds | Marketable securities | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | |
Corporate bonds | Investment | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | |
Government bonds | Marketable securities | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | |
Government bonds | Investment | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Public Warrants | Warrant liabilities | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | |
Private Placement Warrants | Warrant liabilities | | $ | — | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | |
There were
The following table provides the available-for-sale securities purchased during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Available-for-sale securities purchased | | $ | | | $ | |
Fair Value of Bifurcated Embedded Derivative
The fair value of the bifurcated embedded derivative (the “Derivative”) has been estimated using the with-and-without method as of December 31, 2024 using Level 3 unobservable inputs and Level 2 directly or indirectly observable inputs, including estimated credit rating, risk-free interest rates, and expected future cash flows. Material increases or decreases in any of those inputs may result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. Material increases or decreases in expected future cash flows may result in a significantly higher or lower estimated fair value of the Derivative. See Note 11 – Related Party Transactions for more information.
Fair Value of Warrants
The fair value of the private placement warrants issued as part of the Company’s business combination in 2021 (the “Private Placement Warrants”) have been estimated using a Black-Scholes model as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. The estimated fair value of the Private Placement Warrants is determined using Level 2 directly or indirectly observable inputs. Inherent in a Black-Scholes model are assumptions related to expected stock-price volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate, and dividend yield. Material increases (or decreases) in any of those inputs may result in a significantly higher (or lower) fair value measurement. The Company
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 55
estimates the volatility of its Private Placement Warrants based on implied volatility from the Company’s publicly-traded warrants (the “Public Warrants” and, together with the Private Placement Warrants, the “Warrants”) and from historical volatility of select peer companies’ common stock that matches the expected remaining life of the Warrants. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon yield curve for a maturity similar to the expected remaining life of the Warrants. The dividend yield is based on the historical rate, which the Company anticipates remaining at zero. The fair value of the Public Warrants has been measured based on the quoted price of such warrants on the Nasdaq Stock Market, a Level 1 input.
The following table provides quantitative information regarding Level 2 inputs used in the recurring valuation of the Private Placement Warrants as of their measurement dates.
|
| December 31, | |||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | | ||
Exercise price | | $ | | | $ | | |
Stock price | | $ | | | $ | | |
Volatility | |
| | % |
| | % |
Term (in years) | |
| | |
| | |
Risk-free rate | |
| | % |
| | % |
The following table provides a rollforward (per Warrant) of the Public Warrants measured at fair value using Level 1 inputs and Private Placement Warrants measured at fair value using Level 2 inputs.
| | Public Warrants | | Private Placement Warrants | ||
|
| Level 1 Fair Value |
| Level 2 Fair Value | ||
December 31, 2023 | | $ | | | $ | |
Change in fair value | | $ | | | $ | |
December 31, 2024 | | $ | | | $ | |
See Note 6 – Warrant Liabilities for more information.
Note 6 –Warrant Liabilities
The table below provides a summary of the outstanding Public and Private Placement Warrants.
| | December 31, | ||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Public Warrants | | | | | ||
Private Placement Warrants | | | | | ||
Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase
Redemption of Public Warrants When Price per Share of Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $
The Company may redeem all of the outstanding Public Warrants:
| ● | in whole and not in part; |
| ● | upon at least |
| ● | at a price of $ |
| ● | if the last sale price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $ |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 56
Redemption of Public Warrants When Price per Share of Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $
The Company may redeem all of the outstanding Public Warrants:
| ● | in whole and not in part; |
| ● | upon at least |
| ● | at a price of $ |
| ● | if the last sale price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $ |
The “fair market value” of the Company’s common stock means the average reported last sale price of the Company’s common stock for the trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of Warrants.
None of the Private Placement Warrants are redeemable by the Company so long as they are held by the initial purchasers of the Private Placement Warrants or their permitted transferees. The table below provides the fair value of warrant liabilities at:
| | December 31, | ||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Fair value of warrant liabilities | | $ | | $ | ||
The table below provides the gain (loss) recognized in connection with changes in fair value of warrant liabilities at:
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Gain (loss) recognized associated with warrant liabilities | | $ | ( | | $ | |
Note 7 – Stockholders’ Equity
Common Stock
Stock options exercised for common stock, shares of common stock issued under the Solid Power, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”), shares of common stock issued upon vesting of RSUs, shares of restricted stock issued to non-employees, and shares of common stock repurchased under the stock repurchase program for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are summarized in the table below.
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | | ||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | |
Shares of common stock issued upon exercise of stock options | | | | | |
Shares of common stock issued under the ESPP | | | | | |
Shares of common stock issued upon vesting of RSUs | | | | | |
Shares of restricted common stock issued to non-employees | | | | — | |
Shares of common stock repurchased | | ( | | — | |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 57
The table below presents the cash received or paid associated with common stock related activities for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||
|
| 2024 | | 2023 | ||
Cash received from exercise of stock options | | $ | | $ | ||
Cash received from shares of common stock issued under the ESPP | | | | | ||
Cash paid for shares of common stock repurchased | | | ( | | | — |
Stock Repurchase Program
On January 23, 2024, the Company announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the Company to purchase up to $
The table below presents the number of shares repurchased and retired, the aggregate cost paid to repurchase such shares of common stock, including principal and commissions paid and excise tax accrued, and the average cost paid per share of common stock repurchased and retired for the year ended December 31, 2024. The repurchased shares were subject to excise tax of
| | For the Year Ended December 31, | |
| | 2024 | |
Repurchased and retired shares of common stock | | | |
Principal paid for shares of common stock | | $ | |
Commissions paid for shares of common stock | | $ | |
Total cash paid to repurchase and retire shares of common stock | | $ | |
Excise tax accrued | | $ | |
Average cost paid per share | | $ | |
Note 8 – Stock-Based Compensation
2014 Plan and 2021 Plan
Options granted under the Solid Power, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) have a
Options granted under the Solid Power, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) during 2022 have a
Effective April 1, 2022, the Company began granting RSUs in accordance with the terms of the 2021 Plan. The grant date fair value of RSUs awarded are determined based on the Company’s closing common share price on the Nasdaq on the trading day preceding the grant date. RSU awards for employees granted during 2022 generally vest
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 58
Upon vesting, granted RSUs entitle the grantee to receive
At December 31, 2023 and 2024, the Company had
Beginning on January 1, 2022, the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2021 Plan shall increase annually by an amount equal to the lesser of (i)
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Option awards granted under 2021 Plan | | | | | | |
RSU awards granted under 2021 Plan | | | | | | |
Restricted Stock Grants to Non-employees
On October 21, 2024, the Company granted shares of restricted stock to non-employees pursuant to the provisions of Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These grants were not granted as part of any existing plan. The restricted stock grants vest over a
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Restricted stock grants to non-employees | | | | | | — |
Compensation Expense for Stock-Based Compensation
The fair value of stock options and RSUs issued to employees and directors is recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period of the award. The fair value of the restricted stock grants issued to non-employees is recognized straight-line over the vesting period of the grant. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized compensation costs totaling:
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Stock-based compensation costs related to RSUs | | $ | | | $ | |
Stock-based compensation costs related to stock options | |
| | |
| |
Stock-based compensation costs related to the ESPP | | | | | | |
Total equity-based compensation costs | | $ | | | $ | |
The unrecognized future compensation costs as of December 30, 2024 and 2023 were $
The Company records compensation across Operating Expenses within the following financial statement lines:
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Direct costs | | $ | | | $ | |
Research and development | | | | | | |
Selling, general and administrative | | | | | | |
Total equity-based compensation cost | | $ | | | $ | |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 59
The fair value of restricted stock grants to non-employees is recognized over the vesting period. The Company recognized $
Stock Options
For purposes of determining the compensation cost, the fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model that uses the weighted-average assumptions noted in the following table. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of comparable companies. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercise and employee termination within the valuation model. The risk-free rate for periods within the expected life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.
The fair value of each stock option grant during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used:
| | | | | | | |
| | 2024 |
| 2023 |
| ||
Approximate risk‑free rate | | | % | | | % | |
Volatility | | | % | | | % | |
Average expected life (in years) | | | | | | ||
Dividend yield | | | % | | % | ||
Weighted‑average grant date fair value | | $ | | $ | | | |
Estimated fair value of total stock options granted | | $ | | | $ | | |
A summary of option activity under the 2014 Plan and 2021 Plan for the year ended December 31, 2024 is presented below.
| | | | | | | Weighted-average |
| | | | | | | Remaining |
| | Number of | | Weighted-average | | Contractual Term | |
Options |
| Options |
| Exercise Price |
| (in years) | |
Outstanding at January 1, 2024 | | | | $ | | | |
Granted | | | | $ | | | |
Exercised | | ( | | $ | | | |
Forfeited or expired | | ( | | $ | | | |
Outstanding at December 31, 2024 | | | $ | | | ||
| | | | | | | |
Exercisable at December 31, 2023 | | | | $ | | | |
Exercisable at December 31, 2024 | | | | $ | | ||
Cash received from options exercised under the 2014 Plan and 2021 Plan during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $
Restricted Stock Units
The following table summarizes unvested RSUs at December 31, 2024 and the changes for the year ended December 31, 2024.
| | Number of |
| Weighted-average | |
| | RSUs | | Grant Date Fair Value | |
Balance at December 31, 2023 | | | | | |
Granted | | | | | |
Vested or Exercised | | ( | | | |
Forfeited | | ( | | | |
Balance at December 31, 2024 | | | | | |
The unvested RSUs had
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 60
Restricted Stock Grants to Non-employees
The following table summarizes unvested restricted stock grants to non-employees and the changes for the year ended December 31, 2024.
| | Number of |
| Weighted-average |
| | Grants | | Grant Date Fair Value |
Balance at December 31, 2023 | | — | | — |
Granted | | | | |
Vested | | ( | | |
Forfeited | | — | | — |
Balance at December 31, 2024 | | | | |
ESPP
The ESPP originated with
The ESPP is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code. Substantially all employees are eligible to participate and, through payroll deductions, can purchase shares on dates determined by the administrator. However, with respect to the Section 423 Component (as defined in the ESPP), an employee may not be granted rights to purchase stock under the ESPP if the employee, immediately after the grant, would own (directly or through attribution) stock possessing
Note 9 – Basic and Diluted Loss Per Share
The table below sets forth the basic and diluted loss per share calculation for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||
| | 2024 | | 2023 | | ||
Net loss attributable to common stockholders | | $ | ( | | $ | ( | |
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted | | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted loss per share | | $ | ( | | $ | ( | |
Due to the net loss for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, diluted loss per share was computed without consideration of potentially dilutive instruments as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. The table below sets forth (in shares) potentially dilutive securities excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation.
| | | | | |
| | December 31, |
| ||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | |
Warrants | | |
| | |
2014 Plan & 2021 Plan - stock options | | |
| | |
2021 Plan - RSUs | | |
| | |
ESPP - common stock | | | | | |
Non-employee restricted stock grants - common stock | | | | — | |
Total potentially dilutive securities | | | | ||
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 61
Note 10 – Leases
The Company leases its facilities and certain equipment. Fixed rent escalates each year, and the Company is responsible for a portion of the landlords’ operating expenses such as property tax, insurance, and common area maintenance.
The Company’s facility in Louisville, Colorado (“SP1”) is under a noncancelable operating lease with a maturity date in December 2029. In 2022, the Company amended this operating lease to incorporate a prior subleased space into the base lease and extend the term of the lease. In 2024, the Company amended this operating lease to incorporate additional space and further extend the term of the lease. The Company has the right to renew this operating lease for an additional
On September 1, 2021, the Company entered into an industrial operating lease agreement for its facility in Thornton, Colorado, or SP2, with the initial term through March 31, 2029. Under this operating lease, the Company has one option to renew for
The Company has certain equipment leases classified as finance leases as of December 31, 2024.
The Company’s leases do not have any contingent rent payments and do not contain residual value guarantees.
The components of lease expense are as follows:
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Finance lease costs: | | |
|
| |
|
Amortization of right-of-use assets | | $ | | | $ | |
Interest on lease liabilities | |
| | |
| |
Operating lease costs | |
| | |
| |
Total lease expense | | $ | | | $ | |
The components of cash flow information related to leases are as follows:
|
| For the Years Ended December 31, | | ||||
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 | | ||
Operating outgoing cash flows – finance leases | | $ | | | $ | | |
Financing outgoing cash flows – finance leases | |
| | |
| | |
Operating outgoing cash flows – operating leases | |
| | |
| | |
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities: | | | — | | | | |
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new and modified operating lease liabilities: | | | | | | — | |
|
| December 31, 2024 |
|
Finance lease |
|
| |
Weighted-average remaining lease term – finance leases (in years) |
| | |
Weighted-average discount rate – finance leases |
| | % |
Operating lease |
| | |
Weighted-average remaining lease term – operating leases (in years) |
| | |
Weighted-average discount rate – operating leases |
| | % |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 62
As of December 31, 2024, future minimum payments during the next five years and thereafter are as follows:
Fiscal year |
| Finance Lease |
| Operating Lease | ||
2025 | | $ | | | $ | |
2026 | | | | | | |
2027 | | | | | | |
2028 | | | | | | |
2029 | | | — | | | |
Thereafter | | | — | | | |
Total | | | | | | |
Less present value discount | | | | | | |
Total lease liabilities | | $ | | | $ | |
Note 11 – Related Party Transactions
BMW of North America LLC
During 2022, the Company amended its joint development agreement (“JDA”) with BMW of North America LLC (“BMW”) to provide a research and development-only license to certain of the Company’s intellectual property relating to cell manufacturing. The license allows, among other things, BMW to install a solid-state prototype cell manufacturing line based on the Company’s proprietary information. The license is limited to BMW’s research and development activities and may not be used for commercial battery cell production. During 2024, the Company further amended its JDA with BMW to extend the term of the JDA, revise the payment schedule, and revise certain deliverables and the timing to achieve various milestone and development targets and confirm cell performance requirements. During 2024, BMW also purchased certain cell materials from the Company for approximately $
Before BMW’s installation of its cell manufacturing line, the Company and BMW have agreed to joint development and manufacturing activities at the Company’s facilities. Any intellectual property developed jointly by the Company and BMW at the Company’s facilities will be solely owned by the Company. To the extent intellectual property is jointly conceived elsewhere, the Company and BMW will jointly own such intellectual property. The intellectual property developed by us or BMW individually will be owned by such party. Both parties will have the right to utilize the other party’s technical improvements for research and development purposes only. The Company, with certain limitations, has the right to cause BMW to license BMW’s technical improvements to the Company for commercial purposes.
BMW will pay the Company $
Ford Motor Company
During 2024, the Company amended its JDA with Ford Motor Company (“Ford”) to extend the term of the JDA and revise certain deliverables and the schedule for delivery to Ford during the term of the JDA.
Dahae Energy Co., Ltd.
During 2024, the Company entered into a series of transactions with Dahae, a strategic partner in the Republic of Korea. Dahae provides process engineering support for the Company’s pilot cell lines and is serving as the installer for installation of a pilot cell manufacturing line at SK On Co., Ltd.’s facility. The transactions included an equity interest, extinguishment of an existing promissory note, bond (the “Bond”) with detachable warrants (the “Detachable Warrants”) and a bifurcated embedded derivative (the “Derivative”), restricted stock grants for non-employees, and a term loan facility. During 2024, the Company incurred $
The Company acquired a
The Company extinguished an existing promissory note from Dahae in exchange the Bond with the Detachable Warrants and the Derivative. At the time of extinguishment, the Company recognized a loss of $
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 63
The Bond has an explicit interest rate of
The Company recorded the Detachable Warrants within Investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at a fair value upon acquisition of $
The Company granted
The Company entered into a term loan facility with Dahae. Dahae drew upon the facility on November 3, 2024, with a principal balance of $
All financing agreements between the Company and Dahae are collateralized by Dahae’s assets and a minority equity interest in Dahae. The Company has committed to provide up to $
The table below presents the summarized transactions recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets related to the Company’s equity method investment for the periods presented.
| | December 31, | ||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 |
Bond (a) | $ | | $ | — |
Loan | | | | — |
Warrants | | | | — |
Equity method investment (b) | | | | — |
Mezzanine equity | | | — | |
| (a) | Includes the $ |
| (b) | Reflects the Company’s $ |
The table below presents the summarized transactions recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss related to the Company’s equity method investment for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively.
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||
| | 2024 |
| 2023 |
Interest income | $ | | $ | — |
Share of net loss of equity method investee | | | | — |
Other comprehensive income | | | | — |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 64
Note 12 – Retirement Plans
The Company sponsors a 401(k) plan for all employees. The plan provides for the Company to make a discretionary matching contribution. Contributions to the plan totaled $
Note 13 – Income Taxes
Income taxes included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are detailed below.
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| ||
Current income tax expense | | | | | | | |
Federal | | $ | — | | $ | — | |
State | | | | | | — | |
Foreign | | | | | | — | |
Deferred income tax expense | | | | | | | |
Federal | | | — | | | — | |
State | | | — | | | — | |
Foreign | | | — | | | — | |
Total income tax expense | | $ | | | $ | — | |
The tables below represent a reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax expense to income tax.
|
| December 31, | |||
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
|
Income tax benefit at the federal statutory rate | | | % | | % |
State income taxes - net of federal income tax benefits | | | % | | % |
Foreign withholding taxes | | ( | % | — | % |
Global tax rate differential | | ( | % | — | % |
Permanent differences | | ( | % | | % |
Net change in valuation allowance | | ( | % | ( | % |
Research and development | | | % | | % |
Other | | ( | % | ( | % |
Total income tax expense | | ( | % | | % |
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the effective tax rate was approximately (
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 65
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred income tax assets and liabilities are presented below.
| | December 31, | ||||
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Deferred tax assets | | | |
| |
|
Net operating loss | | $ | | | $ | |
R&D credit | | | | | | |
Stock compensation | | | | | | |
Section 174 capitalization | | | | | | |
ROU lease liability | | | | | | |
Available-for-sale securities | | | ( | | | |
Other | |
| | |
| |
Total deferred tax asset | |
| | |
| |
Valuation allowance | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Net deferred tax assets | |
| | |
| |
Deferred tax liabilities | |
|
| |
|
|
Intangibles (non-goodwill) | | $ | ( | | $ | ( |
Property, plant and equipment | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Accretion | | | ( | | | ( |
ROU asset | | | ( | | | ( |
Total deferred tax liabilities | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Total net deferred tax liability | | $ | — | | $ | — |
The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the existence, or generation, of taxable income in the periods when those temporary differences and net operating loss carryovers are deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, taxes paid in carryover years, projected future taxable income, available tax planning strategies, and other factors in making this assessment. Based on available evidence, management does not believe it is more likely than not that all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. Accordingly, the Company has established a valuation allowance equal to the net realizable deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance increased by $
At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had total U.S. federal net operating loss carryovers of approximately $
The following table summarizes the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits.
|
| December 31, 2024 | |
Balance, beginning of year | | $ | |
Gross increases related to prior period tax position | |
| |
Gross increases related to current period tax position | |
| |
Gross decreases related to prior period tax position | |
| — |
Balance, end of year | | $ | |
The 2019 through 2023 tax years remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and, with few exceptions, various other state tax agencies. These taxing authorities have the authority to examine those tax years until the applicable statutes of limitations expire.
Note 14 – Contingencies
The Company may be party to litigation from time to time in the normal course of business. The Company maintains insurance to cover certain actions and believes that resolution of such litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 66
On December 3, 2024, two purported stockholders filed a putative class action against the former officers and directors of Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation III (“DCRC”), including Erik Anderson; Riverstone Holdings, LLC; and related sponsors and entities (the “Hamilton Defendants”) in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (Hamilton et al. v. Anderson et al., C.A. No. 2024-1241-JTL). The lawsuit alleges breach of fiduciary duties and unjust enrichment arising from the merger of Solid Power Operating, Inc. with a subsidiary of DCRC and seeks to recover unspecified damages and equitable relief. None of the Company, its subsidiaries, or its current officers or directors, except Mr. Anderson, is named as a defendant. The Hamilton Defendants have demanded indemnification and advancement of defense costs from the Company. Accordingly, it is reasonably possible that the Company could be liable for the legal fees, defense costs, judgments, and/or settlement fees incurred by certain of the Hamilton Defendants. The proceedings are subject to uncertainties inherent in the litigation process, and the Company cannot currently estimate a reasonably possible loss.
Note 15 - Segment Disclosure
The Company receives both government and collaborative revenue and receives revenue from U.S. and the Republic of Korea. The Company determined geographic area based on the country to which its legal entity is incorporated. The Company received revenue from certain customers that each accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total gross revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023. The table below sets forth revenue by type, customer, and geographic area for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023.
| | | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||
Type of Revenue | Customer | Geographic Area | 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
Government | Customer A | U.S. | $ | | | $ | |
Government | Customer B | U.S. | | | | | |
Government | Other | U.S. | | | | | |
| | Total government | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Collaborative | Customer C | U.S. | $ | | | $ | — |
Collaborative | Customer C | Republic of Korea | | | | | — |
Collaborative | Customer D | U.S. | | | | | |
Collaborative | Other | U.S. | | | | | — |
| | Total collaborative | | | | | |
| | Total revenue | $ | | | $ | |
Note 16 – Subsequent Events
On January 21, 2025, Solid Power Operating, Inc. and the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) entered into an assistance agreement with an effective date of January 1, 2025 (the “Assistance Agreement”). The Assistance Agreement provides that DOE will provide the Company with funding of up to $
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired controls. As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2024. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 67
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Management 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 (2013). Based on such evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2024.
As a non-accelerated filer, our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to issue an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes during the quarter ended December 31, 2024 that were identified in connection with management’s evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 68
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information regarding executive officers called for by Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K may be found under “Business—Information About our Executive Officers.” The other information required by this Item is included in the Company’s 2025 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2024 in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company’s 2025 annual meeting of stockholders under the captions “Corporate Governance Matters,” “Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors,” and “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports.” Such information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this Item is included in the Company’s 2025 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2024 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this Item is included in the Company’s 2025 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2024 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this Item is included in the Company’s 2025 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2024 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by this Item is included in the Company’s 2025 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after December 31, 2024 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 69
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
(a) | Financial Statements, Financial Statement Schedules, and Exhibits |
(1) | Financial Statements: |
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2) | Financial Statement Schedules: None |
(3) | Exhibits |
| | | | Incorporated by Reference | ||||||
Exhibit |
| Description |
| Schedule |
| File |
| Exhibit/ |
| Filing Date |
2.1 | | | 424B3 | | 333-258681 | | Annex A | | November 10, 2021 | |
2.2 | | | 424B3 | | 333-258681 | | Annex A-1 | | November 10, 2021 | |
3.1 | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 3.1 | | December 13, 2021 | |
3.2 | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 3.1 | | November 21, 2022 | |
4.1 | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 4.1 | | December 13, 2021 | |
4.2 | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 4.2 | | December 13, 2021 | |
4.3 | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 4.1 | | March 26, 2021 | |
4.4 | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.2 | | December 13, 2021 | |
4.5± | | | S-4 | | 333-258681 | | 4.4 | | August 10, 2021 | |
4.6 | | | 10-K | | 001-40284 | | 4.6 | | March 23, 2022 | |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 70
10.1 | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.5 | | March 26, 2021 | |
10.2# | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.7 | | December 13, 2021 | |
10.3# | | | S-8 | | 333-262714 | | 99.3 | | February 14, 2022 | |
10.4# | | | S-8 | | 333-262714 | | 99.1 | | February 14, 2022 | |
10.5# | | Form of Stock Option Grant Notice under Solid Power, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan | | S-8 | | 333-262714 | | 99.4 | | February 14, 2022 |
10.6# | | Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant under Solid Power, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan | | S-8 | | 333-262714 | | 99.5 | | February 14, 2022 |
10.7# | | | S-8 | | 333-262714 | | 99.6 | | February 14, 2022 | |
10.8# | | | S-8 | | 333-262714 | | 99.7 | | February 14, 2022 | |
10.9# | | | S-8 | | 333-262714 | | 99.8 | | February 14, 2022 | |
10.10± | | | S-4/A | | 333-258681 | | 10.11 | | October 13, 2021 | |
10.11± | | | S-4/A | | 333-258681 | | 10.12 | | October 13, 2021 | |
10.12± | | | S-4/A | | 333-258681 | | 10.13 | | October 13, 2021 | |
10.13± | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.15 | | December 13, 2021 | |
10.14± | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.1 | | December 21, 2022 | |
10.15± | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.1 | | June 24, 2024 |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 71
10.16± | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.1 | | October 1, 2024 | |
10.17± | | | S-4/A | | 333-258681 | | 10.14 | | October 13, 2021 | |
10.18± | | | S-4/A | | 333-258681 | | 10.15 | | October 13, 2021 | |
10.19± | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.1 | | July 5, 2023 | |
10.20± | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.1 | | December 17, 2024 | |
10.21± | | | S-4/A | | 333-258681 | | 10.16 | | November 2, 2021 | |
10.22± | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.1 | | January 16, 2024 | |
10.23± | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.2 | | January 16, 2024 | |
10.24± | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.3 | | January 16, 2024 | |
10.25 | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.1 | | January 24, 2024 | |
10.26# | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.1 | | July 10, 2023 | |
10.27# | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.10 | | December 13, 2021 | |
10.28# | | Solid Power, Inc. Executive Change in Control and Severance Plan | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.11 | | December 13, 2021 |
10.29# | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.1 | | December 13, 2021 | |
10.30# | | | 8-K | | 001-40284 | | 10.1 | | May 31, 2023 |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 72
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 73
97* | | Solid Power, Inc. Policy on Recovery of Incentive Compensation | | | | | | | | |
101.INS* | | XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data file because its Inline XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document | | | | | | | | |
101.SCH* | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | | | | | | | | |
101.CAL* | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase | | | | | | | | |
101.DEF* | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Document | | | | | | | | |
101.LAB* | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | | | | | | | | |
101.PRE* | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase | | | | | | | | |
104* | | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) | | | | | | | | |
* | Filed herewith. |
** | Furnished herewith. |
± | Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601. The Company agrees to furnish an unredacted copy of the exhibit to the SEC upon request. |
# | Indicates a management or compensatory plan. |
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 74
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, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: February 28, 2025
|
| SOLID POWER, INC. | |
| | | |
| | By: | /s/ Linda Heller |
| | Name: | Linda Heller |
| | Title: | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 75
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints John Van Scoter, Linda Heller, and James Liebscher, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact, proxy and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, proxy and agent, or his or her substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Name |
| Title |
| Date |
| | President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director | | |
/s/ John Van Scoter | | (Principal Executive Officer) | | February 28, 2025 |
John Van Scoter | | | | |
| | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | | |
/s/ Linda Heller | | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | | February 28, 2025 |
Linda Heller | | | | |
| | | | |
/s/ Erik Anderson | | Director | | February 28, 2025 |
Erik Anderson | | | | |
| | | | |
/s/ Kaled Awada | | Director | | February 28, 2025 |
Kaled Awada | | | | |
| | | | |
/s/ Rainer Feurer | | Director | | February 28, 2025 |
Rainer Feurer | | | | |
| | | | |
/s/ Steven H. Goldberg | | Director | | February 28, 2025 |
Steven H. Goldberg | | | | |
| | | | |
/s/ Susan Kreh | | Director | | February 28, 2025 |
Susan Kreh | | | | |
| | | | |
/s/ Aleksandra Miziolek | | Director | | February 28, 2025 |
Aleksandra Miziolek | | | | |
| | | | |
/s/ Lesa Roe | | Director | | February 28, 2025 |
Lesa Roe | | | | |
| | | | |
/s/ John Stephens | | Director | | February 28, 2025 |
John Stephens | | | | |
| | | | |
/s/ MaryAnn Wright | | Director | | February 28, 2025 |
MaryAnn Wright | | | | |
Solid Power, Inc. | 2024 Form 10-K | 76
Exhibit 19
SOLID POWER, INC.
INSIDER TRADING POLICY
(Adopted on August 4, 2023 – Supersedes all prior versions)
A. | POLICY OVERVIEW |
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Solid Power, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with any subsidiaries, the “Company”), has adopted this Insider Trading Policy (this “Policy”) to help you comply with the federal and state securities laws and regulations that govern trading in securities and to help the Company minimize its own legal and reputational risk.
It is your responsibility to understand and follow this Policy. Insider trading is illegal and a violation of this Policy. In addition to your own liability for insider trading, the Company, as well as individual directors, officers, and other supervisory personnel, could face liability. Even the appearance of insider trading can lead to government investigations or lawsuits that are time-consuming, expensive, and can lead to criminal and civil liability, including damages and fines, imprisonment, and bars on serving as an officer or director of a public company, not to mention irreparable damage to both your and the Company’s reputation.
For purposes of this Policy, the Company’s Chief Legal Officer serves as the Compliance Officer. The Compliance Officer may designate others, from time to time, to assist with the execution of his, her, or their duties under this Policy.
B. | Policy STATEMENT |
1.No Trading on Material Nonpublic Information. It is illegal for anyone to trade in securities on the basis of material nonpublic information. If you are in possession of material nonpublic information about the Company, you are prohibited from:
a. | using it to transact in securities of the Company; |
b. | disclosing it to other directors, officers, employees, consultants, contractors, agents, or other service providers whose roles do not require them to have the information; |
c. | disclosing it to anyone outside of the Company, including family, friends, business associates, investors, or consulting firms, without prior written authorization from the Compliance Officer; or |
d. | using it to express an opinion or make a recommendation about trading in the Company’s securities. |
In addition, material nonpublic information about another company that you learn through your job at the Company is subject to these same restrictions around disclosure and trading. If you are in possession of material nonpublic information about the Company’s suppliers, customers, or competitors, you cannot use that information to trade securities. Any such action will be deemed a violation of this Policy.
2.No Disclosure of Confidential Information. You may not at any time disclose material nonpublic information about the Company or about another company that you obtained in connection with your service with the Company to friends, family members, or any other person or entity that the Company has not authorized to know such information. In addition, you must handle the confidential information of others in accordance with any related non-disclosure agreements and other obligations that the Company has with them and limit your use of the confidential information to the purpose for which it was disclosed.
If you receive an inquiry for information from someone outside of the Company, such as a stock analyst, or a request for sensitive information outside the ordinary course of business from someone outside of the Company, such as a business partner, vendor, supplier, or salesperson, then you should refer the inquiry to the Chief Financial Officer or Compliance Officer. Responding to a request yourself may violate this Policy and, in some circumstances, the law. Please consult the Company’s External Communications Policy for more details.
3.Definition of Material Nonpublic Information. “Material information” means information that a reasonable investor would be substantially likely to consider important in deciding whether to buy, hold, or sell securities of the Company or view as significantly altering the total mix of information available in the marketplace about the Company as an issuer of the securities. In general, any information that could reasonably be expected to affect the market price of a security is likely to be material. Either positive or negative information may be material.
It is not possible to define all categories of “material” information. However, some examples of information that could be regarded as material include, but are not limited to:
a. | significant developments involving business relationships, including execution, modification, or termination of significant agreements or orders with customers, suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, or other business partners; |
b. | significant information relating to the operation of a product or service, such as new products or services, major modifications or performance issues, defects or recalls, significant pricing changes, or other announcements of a significant nature; |
c. | significant developments in research and development or relating to intellectual property; |
d. | financial results, key metrics, financial condition, earnings pre-announcements, guidance, projections, or forecasts, particularly if inconsistent with the Company’s guidance or the expectations of the investment community; |
e. | restatements of financial results or material impairments, write-offs, or restructurings; |
f. | changes in independent auditors or notification that the Company may no longer rely on an audit report; |
g. | business plans or budgets; |
h. | creation of significant financial obligations or any significant default under or acceleration of any financial obligation; |
i. | impending bankruptcy or financial liquidity problems; |
j. | significant legal or regulatory developments, whether positive or negative, actual or threatened, including litigation or resolving litigation; |
k. | major events involving the Company’s securities, including calls of securities for redemption, adoption of stock repurchase programs, option repricings, stock splits, changes in dividend policies, public or private securities offerings, modification to the rights of security holders, or a notice of delisting; |
l. | significant corporate events, such as a pending or proposed merger, joint venture or tender offer, significant investment, acquisition or disposition of a significant business or asset, or change in control of the Company; |
m. | major personnel changes, such as changes in senior management or employee lay-offs; |
n. | data breaches or other cybersecurity events; |
o. | updates regarding any prior material disclosure that has materially changed; and |
p. | the existence of a special blackout period. |
“Material nonpublic information” means material information that is not generally known or made available to the public. Even if information is widely known throughout the Company, it may still be nonpublic. Generally, in order for information to be considered public, it must be made generally available through media outlets or SEC filings.
After the release of information, a reasonable period of time must elapse in order to provide the public an opportunity to absorb and evaluate the information provided. As a general rule, at least one full trading day shall pass after the dissemination of information before the information is considered public.
As a rule of thumb, if you think something might be material nonpublic information, it probably is. You should always reach out to the Compliance Officer if you have questions.
C. | PERSONS COVERED BY THIS POLICY |
This Policy applies to you if you are a director, officer, or employee of the Company, both inside and outside of the United States. In addition, this Policy applies to the Company. To the extent applicable to you, this Policy also covers your immediate family members, persons with whom you share a household, persons who are your economic dependents, and any entity whose transactions in securities you influence, direct, or control. You are responsible for making sure that these other individuals and entities comply with this Policy.
This Policy continues to apply, even if you leave the Company or are otherwise no longer affiliated with or providing services to the Company, for as long as you remain in possession of material nonpublic information. In addition, if you are subject to a trading blackout under this Policy at the time you leave the Company, you must abide by the applicable trading restrictions until at least the end of the relevant blackout period.
D. | Trading Covered by this Policy |
Except as discussed in Section H (Exceptions to Trading Restrictions), this Policy applies to all transactions involving the Company’s securities or other companies’ securities for which you possess material nonpublic information obtained in connection with your service with the Company. This Policy therefore applies to:
1.any purchase, sale, loan, gift, or other transfer or disposition of any equity securities (including common stock, options, restricted stock units, warrants, and preferred stock) and debt securities (including debentures, bonds, and notes) of the Company and such other companies, whether direct or indirect (including transactions made on your behalf by money managers);
2.any other arrangement that generates gains or losses from or based on changes in the prices of such securities including derivative securities (for example, exchange-traded put or call options, swaps, caps, and collars), hedging and pledging transactions, short sales, and certain arrangements regarding participation in benefit plans; and
3.any offer to engage in the transactions discussed above.
This Policy also applies to transactions involving the Company’s securities in which the Company is engaged. With respect to such transactions, the Compliance Officer shall work with other executive officers of the Company to implement controls necessary to ensure that the Company does not engage in transactions involving the Company’s securities in violation of insider trading laws, such as Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1.
There are no exceptions from insider trading laws or this Policy based on the size of the transaction or the type of consideration received.
E. | Trading Restrictions |
Subject to the exceptions set forth below, this Policy restricts trading during certain periods and by certain people as follows:
1.Quarterly Blackout Periods. Except as discussed in Section H (Exceptions to Trading Restrictions), all directors, officers, and employees of the Company must refrain from conducting transactions involving the Company’s securities during quarterly blackout periods. To the extent applicable to you, quarterly blackout periods also cover your immediate family members, persons with whom you share a household, persons who are your economic dependents, and any entity whose transactions in securities you influence, direct, or control. Even if you are not specifically identified as being subject to quarterly blackout periods, you should exercise caution when
engaging in transactions during quarterly blackout periods because of the heightened risk of insider trading exposure.
Quarterly blackout periods will start at the end of the 15th day of the third month of each fiscal quarter and will end at the start of the second full trading day following the Company’s earnings release,
or if no earning release is issued, on the second full trading day following the Company filing its Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, as applicable.
The prohibition against trading during the blackout period also means that brokers cannot fulfill open orders on your behalf or on behalf of your immediate family members, persons with whom you share a household, persons who are your economic dependents, or any entity whose transactions in securities you influence, direct, or control during the blackout period, including “limit orders” to buy or sell stock at a specific price or better and “stop orders” to buy or sell stock once the price of the stock reaches a specified price. If you are subject to blackout periods or pre-clearance requirements, you should so inform any broker with whom such an open order is placed at the time it is placed.
From time to time, the Company may identify other persons who should be subject to quarterly blackout periods, and the Compliance Officer may update and revise Schedule I as appropriate.
2. Special Blackout Periods. The Company always retains the right to impose additional or longer trading blackout periods at any time on any or all of its directors, officers, and employees. The Compliance Officer will notify you if you are subject to a special blackout period by providing to you a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit A. If you are notified that you are subject to a special blackout period, you may not engage in any transaction of the Company’s securities until the special blackout period has ended other than the transactions that are covered by the exceptions below. You also may not disclose to anyone else that the Company has imposed a special blackout period. To the extent applicable to you, special blackout periods also cover your immediate family members, persons with whom you share a household, persons who are your economic dependents, and any entity whose transactions in securities you influence, direct, or control.
3.Regulation BTR Blackouts. Directors and officers may also be subject to trading blackouts pursuant to Regulation Blackout Trading Restriction, or Regulation BTR, under U.S. federal securities laws. In general, Regulation BTR prohibits any director or officer from engaging in certain transactions involving Company securities during periods when 401(k) plan participants are prevented from purchasing, selling, or otherwise acquiring or transferring an interest in certain securities held in individual account plans. Any profits realized from a transaction that violates Regulation BTR are recoverable by the Company, regardless of the intentions of the director or officer effecting the transaction. In addition, individuals who engage in such transactions are subject to sanction by the SEC as well as potential criminal liability. The Company will endeavor to notify directors and officers if they are subject to a blackout trading restriction under Regulation BTR. Failure to comply with an applicable trading blackout in accordance with Regulation BTR is a violation of law and this Policy.
F. | PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS |
You may not engage in any of the following types of transactions other than as noted below, regardless of whether you have material nonpublic information or not.
1.Short Sales. You may not engage in short sales (meaning the sale of a security that must be borrowed to make delivery) or “sell short against the box” (meaning the sale of a security with a delayed delivery) if such sales involve the Company’s securities.
2.Derivative Securities and Hedging Transactions. You may not, directly or indirectly, (a) trade in publicly traded options, such as puts and calls, and other derivative securities with respect to the Company’s securities (other than, to the extent permitted under the applicable grant documents, stock options, restricted stock units, and other compensatory awards issued to you by the Company) or (b) purchase financial instruments (including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, and exchange funds) or otherwise engage in transactions that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or
offset, any decrease in the market value of equity securities either (i) granted to you by the Company as part of your compensation or (ii) held, directly or indirectly, by you.
3.Pledging Transactions. You may not pledge the Company’s securities as collateral for any loan or as part of any other pledging transaction.
4.Margin Accounts. You may not hold the Company’s common stock in margin accounts.
G. | Pre-clearance of Trades |
The Company’s directors and officers and any other persons identified on Schedule I of this Policy as being subject to pre-clearance requirements must obtain pre-clearance prior to trading or gifting the Company’s securities. If you are subject to pre-clearance requirements, you must submit a pre-clearance request in the form attached as Exhibit B to the Compliance Officer at least two business days prior to your desired trade or gift date. The person requesting pre-clearance will be asked to certify that he, she, or they is not in possession of material nonpublic information about the Company. The Compliance Officer is under no obligation to approve a transaction submitted for pre-clearance and may determine not to permit the transaction.
If the Compliance Officer is the requester, then the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or their delegate, must pre-clear or deny any trade or gift. All trades and gifts that receive pre-clearance must be executed on the proposed trade date(s) included in the pre-clearance request.
Even after pre-clearance, a person may not trade or gift the Company’s securities if they become subject to a blackout period or aware of material nonpublic information prior to the trade or gift being executed.
From time to time, the Company may identify other persons who should be subject to the pre-clearance requirements set forth above, and the Compliance Officer may update and revise Schedule I as appropriate.
Exceptions to Trading Restrictions |
There are no unconditional “safe harbors” for transactions made at particular times, and all persons subject to this Policy should exercise good judgment at all times. Even when a quarterly blackout period is not in effect, you may be prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the Company’s securities because you possess material nonpublic information, are subject to a special blackout period, or are otherwise restricted under this Policy.
The following are certain limited exceptions to the blackout period restrictions imposed by the Company under this Policy:
1.stock option exercises where the purchase of stock options is paid in cash and shares continue to be held by the option holder after the exercise is finalized;
2.receipt and vesting of stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock, or other equity compensation awards from the Company;
3.purchases through the employee stock purchase plan; however, this exception does not apply to subsequent sales or gifts of the shares purchased through such plan;
4.net share withholding of equity awards where shares are withheld by the Company in order to satisfy tax withholding requirements, so long as the election is irrevocable and made in writing at a time when a trading blackout is not in place and you are not in possession of material nonpublic information;
5.sell to cover transactions, so long as the election is irrevocable and made in writing at a time when a trading blackout is not in place and you are not in possession of material nonpublic information and to the extent approved and implemented by the Company, where shares are withheld by the Company upon vesting of equity awards and sold in order to satisfy tax withholding requirements; however, this exception does not apply to any other market sale for the purposes of paying required withholding;
6.trades made pursuant to a valid 10b5-1 trading plan approved in advance by the Company (see below);
7.purchases of the Company’s stock in the 401(k) plan resulting from periodic contributions to the plan based on your payroll contribution election; however, this exception does not apply to elections you make under the 401(k) plan to (a) increase or decrease the percentage of your contributions that will be allocated to a Company stock fund, (b) move balances into or out of a Company stock fund, (c) borrow money against your 401(k) plan account if the loan will result in liquidation of some or all of your Company stock fund balance, or (d) prepay a plan loan if the pre-payment will result in the allocation of loan proceeds to a Company stock fund;
8.changes in form of ownership where beneficial ownership does not change (for example, a transfer from your individual ownership to a trust for which you are the trustee and sole beneficiary);
9.transfers by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; and
10.changes in the number of the Company’s securities you hold due to a stock split or a stock dividend that applies equally to all securities of a class, or similar transactions.
Please be aware that even if a transaction is subject to an exception to this Policy, you will need to separately assess whether the transaction complies with applicable law. In addition, the limited exceptions set forth in this Section are not exceptions to the pre-clearance requirements of this Policy; therefore, if you are subject to the pre-clearance requirements of this Policy, then you must still pre-clear any of these transactions with the Compliance Officer. Any other Policy exceptions must be approved by the Compliance Officer in consultation with the Board or an independent committee of the Board.
I. | 10b5-1 Trading Plans |
The Company encourages its directors, officers, and employees to adopt written 10b5-1 trading plans in order to mitigate the risk of trading on material nonpublic information. These plans allow for individuals to enter into a prearranged trading plan as long as the plan is not established, modified, or terminated during a blackout period or when the individual is otherwise in possession of material nonpublic information. To qualify for the exception to this Policy, any trading plan adopted by a director, officer, or employee must be pre-approved by the Company before it is entered into and must otherwise comply with Rule 10b5-1 and the requirements set forth in the Requirements for Trading Plans attached as Exhibit C.
J. | Section 16 Compliance |
Certain of the Company’s officers, all of the Company’s directors, and certain other individuals are required to comply with Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and related rules and regulations that set forth reporting obligations, limitations on “short swing” transactions, which are certain matching purchases and sales of the Company’s securities within a six-month period, and limitations on short sales.
To ensure transactions subject to Section 16 requirements are reported on time, each person subject to these requirements must provide the Company with detailed information (for example, trade or gift date, number of shares, exact price, etc.) about his, her, or their transactions involving the Company’s securities on the same business day as such transaction occurs.
The Company is available to assist in filing Section 16 reports, but the obligation to comply with Section 16 is personal. If you have any questions, you should check with the Compliance Officer.
K. | VIOLATIONS OF THIS POLICY |
Company directors, officers, or employees who violate this Policy will be subject to disciplinary action by the Company, including ineligibility for future Company equity or incentive programs or termination of employment or an ongoing relationship with the Company. The Company has full discretion to determine whether this Policy has been violated based on the information available.
There are also serious legal consequences for individuals who violate insider trading laws, including large criminal and civil fines, significant imprisonment terms, and disgorgement of any profits gained or losses avoided. You may also be liable for improper securities trading by any person (commonly referred to as a “tippee”) to whom you have disclosed material nonpublic information that you have learned through your position at the Company or made recommendations or expressed opinions about securities trading on the basis of such information.
Please consult with your personal legal and financial advisors as needed. Note that the Company’s legal counsel, both internal and external, represent the Company and not you personally. There may be instances where you suffer financial harm or other hardship or are otherwise required to forego a planned transaction because of the restrictions imposed by this Policy or under securities laws. If you were aware of the material nonpublic information at the time of the trade, it is not a defense that you did not “use” the information for the trade. Personal financial emergency or other personal circumstances are not mitigating factors under securities laws and will not excuse your failure to comply with this Policy. In addition, a blackout or trading-restricted period will not extend the term of your options. As a consequence, you may be prevented from exercising your options by this Policy or as a result of a blackout or other restriction on your trading, and as a result your options may expire by their term. It is your responsibility to manage your economic interests and to consider potential trading restrictions when determining whether to exercise your options. In such instances, the Company cannot extend the term of your options and has no obligation or liability to replace the economic value or lost benefit to you.
L. | PROTECTED ACTIVITY NOT PROHIBITED |
Nothing in this Policy, or any related guidelines or other documents or information provided in connection with this Policy, shall in any way limit or prohibit you from engaging in any of the protected activities set forth in the Company’s Whistleblower Policy, as amended from time to time.
M. | Reporting |
If you believe someone is violating this Policy or otherwise using material nonpublic information that they learned through their position at the Company to trade securities, you should report it to the Compliance Officer.
N. | AmendmentS |
The Board reserves the right to amend this Policy at any time, for any reason, subject to applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and with or without notice, although it will attempt to provide notice in advance of any change. Unless otherwise permitted by this Policy, any amendments to this Policy must be approved by the Board.
SCHEDULE I
PERSONS SUBJECT TO
QUARTERLY BLACKOUT PERIODS,
PRE-CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS, AND
SECTION 16 REPORTING AND LIABILITY PROVISIONS
1.DIRECTORS AND SECTION 16 OFFICERS
All directors and Section 16 officers are subject to quarterly blackout and pre-clearance requirements.
2.OTHERS
All employees of the Company are subject to quarterly blackout periods.
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF SPECIAL BLACKOUT NOTICE
[COMPANY LETTERHEAD]
[Date]
CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION
[Insert company address]
Dear [Insert Name]:
Solid Power, Inc. (together with any subsidiaries, the “Company”) has imposed a special blackout period in accordance with the terms of the Company’s Insider Trading Policy (the “Policy”). Pursuant to the Policy, and subject to the exceptions stated in the Policy, you may not engage in any transaction involving the securities of the Company until you receive official notice that the special blackout period is no longer in effect.
You may not disclose to others the fact that a special blackout period has been imposed. In addition, you should take care to handle any confidential information in your possession in accordance with the Company’s policies.
If you have any questions at all, please contact me at [insert contact information].
Sincerely,
Compliance Officer
EXHIBIT B
PRE-CLEARANCE CHECKLIST
Person proposing to trade: | | |
Proposed trade (type and amount): | | |
Manner of trade: | | |
Proposed trade date(s): | | |
Affiliate of the Company: | | o Yeso No |
o | No blackout period. The proposed trade will not be made during a quarterly or special blackout period. |
o | No pension fund blackout under Regulation BTR.* There is no pension fund blackout period in effect. |
o | No prohibition under Insider Trading Policy. The person confirmed that the proposed transaction is not prohibited under the Insider Trading Policy. |
o | Section 16 compliance.* The person confirmed that the proposed trade will not give rise to any potential liability under Section 16 as a result of matched past (or intended future) transactions. |
o | Form 4 filing.* A Form 4 has been or will be completed and will be timely filed with the SEC, if applicable. |
o | Rule 144 compliance (Response required only from affiliates of the Company). |
o | The “current public information” requirement has been met (i.e., all 10-Ks, 10-Qs and other relevant reports during the last 12 months have been filed); |
o | The shares that the person proposes to trade are not restricted or, if restricted, the applicable holding period has been met; |
o | Volume limitations (greater of 1% of outstanding securities of the same class or the average weekly trading volume during the last four weeks) are not exceeded, and the person is not part of an aggregated group; |
o | The manner of sale requirements will be met (a “brokers’ transaction” or directly with a market maker or a “riskless principal transaction”); and |
o | A Form 144, if applicable, has been completed and will be timely filed with the SEC and the relevant national securities exchange. |
o | Rule 10b-5 concerns. The person has been reminded that trading is prohibited when in possession of any material nonpublic information regarding the Company that has not been adequately disclosed to the public. The individual has discussed with the Compliance Officer any information known to the individual or the Compliance Officer that the individual believes may be material. |
* Applies if the individual is a director or an officer subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Date:
(Signature of Compliance Officer)
(Print name of Compliance Officer)
I am not aware of material nonpublic information regarding the Company. I am not trading on the basis of any material nonpublic information. The transaction is in accordance with the Insider Trading Policy and applicable law. I intend to comply with any applicable reporting and disclosure requirements on a timely basis. I understand that I must execute the trade by the end of the second trading day after the date on which the trade is cleared by the Compliance Officer. I understand that by signing below, I am not obligated to execute the trade.
(Signature of person proposing to trade)
EXHIBIT C
REQUIREMENTS FOR TRADING PLANS
For transactions under a trading plan to be exempt from (A) the prohibitions in the Insider Trading Policy (the “Policy”) of Solid Power, Inc. (together with any subsidiaries, the “Company”) with respect to transactions made while aware of material nonpublic information and (B) the pre-clearance procedures and blackout periods established under the Policy, the trading plan must comply with the requirements of the affirmative defense set forth in Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1 and must meet the following requirements:
1.Any trading plan must be submitted to the Compliance Officer for review and pre-approval at least two business days prior to the desired date of adoption, modification, or termination, including any suspension of trading under the plan.
2.Upon adoption, modification, or termination of a trading plan, the executed plan must be promptly submitted to the Compliance Officer with an executed certificate representing that the trading plan or termination, as applicable, complies with Rule 10b5-1 and the criteria set forth herein, along with any other information requested by the Compliance Officer.
3.The trading plan must be in writing and signed by the person adopting the trading plan.
4.The trading plan must specify either (a) the amount and price of Company securities to be purchased or sold and the dates for such purchases or sales or (b) a formula that determines the amount and price of Company securities to be purchased or sold and the dates for such purchases or sales. The trading plan may not grant discretion to a stockbroker or other person with respect to the execution of trades under the plan.
5.The trading plan must be adopted, modified, or terminated at a time when:
a. | the person adopting, modifying, or terminating the trading plan is not aware of any material nonpublic information; and |
b. | there iss no quarterly, special, or other trading blackout in effect with respect to the person adopting, modifying, or terminating the trading plan. |
6.The trading plan must (a) be entered, modified, or terminated in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5-1 and (b) include representations that the person adopting or modifying the trading plan is not aware of any material nonpublic information about the security or Company on the date of adoption or modification, as applicable, and has entered or modified such plan, as applicable, in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5-1.
7.The individual adopting the trading plan may not have entered into or altered a corresponding or hedging transaction or position with respect to the securities subject to the trading plan and must agree not to enter into any such transaction while the trading plan is in effect.
8.For the Company’s directors and Section 16 officers, the first trade or gift under the trading plan (including any modified trading plan) may not occur until after the later of (a) 90 calendar days after adoption or modification of the trading plan or (b) two business days after the filing of the Company's Form 10-Q (or Form 10-K for any plan adopted or modified during the fourth fiscal quarter) for the fiscal quarter in which the trading plan was adopted or modified, up to a maximum of 120 calendar days after adoption or modification of the trading plan. For anyone other than the Company’s directors and Section 16 officers, the first trade or gift under the trading plan (including any modified trading plan) may not occur until 30 calendar days after adoption or modification of the trading plan. In the event of a modification, the existing plan would remain in effect until the modified plan comes into effect.
9.The trading plan must have a minimum term of one year and a maximum term of two years from the date of adoption or modification of the trading plan in accordance with these requirements.
10.Within the one year preceding the modification or adoption of a trading plan, a person may not have otherwise modified or adopted a plan more than once.
11.The trading plan must be the sole outstanding trading plan for the person adopting the trading plan, unless an exception is approved in advance by the Compliance Officer.
12.If the trading plan is a single-trade plan, it must be the sole single-trade plan within any consecutive 12-month period.
13.The person terminating a trading plan prior to its stated duration may not trade in the Company’s securities until after the later of (a) the completion of the next quarterly blackout period after such termination (or, if the plan is terminated during a quarterly blackout period, the end of that blackout period) and (b) 30 calendar days after such termination.
14.All transactions during the term of the trading plan (except for the “Exceptions to Trading Restrictions” identified in the Policy) must be conducted through the trading plan.
15.All transactions under the trading plan must be in accordance with applicable law.
16.The Company must have authority to require the suspension or cancellation of the trading plan at any time.
17.The trading plan (including any modified trading plan) must meet such other requirements as the Compliance Officer may determine.
18.All persons adopting a trading plan must act in good faith with respect to the trading plan for the entire duration of the plan.
M E M O R A N D U M
To: | Directors, officers, and employees of Solid Power, Inc. |
From: | Solid Power, Inc. |
Date: | [______] |
Re: | Insider Trading Policy |
Attached is a copy of our Insider Trading Policy, which governs transactions involving trading in securities by directors, officers, employees, consultants, advisors, contractors, agents, and other service providers of Solid Power, Inc. (together with any subsidiaries, the “Company”). As described in the Insider Trading Policy, violations of insider trading laws can result in significant civil and criminal liability. Accordingly, please carefully review the materials provided.
After reading the Insider Trading Policy, please sign the receipt and acknowledgment at the bottom of this memorandum and return it to the Compliance Officer. The Insider Trading Policy applies to you regardless of whether you sign the receipt and acknowledgment at the bottom of this memorandum and return it to the Compliance Officer.
If you have any questions about the Insider Trading Policy or insider trading laws generally or about any transaction involving the securities of the Company, please contact the Compliance Officer at compliance@solidpowerbattery.com.
Attachment(s)
Receipt and Acknowledgment
| ● | I have received and read the Insider Trading Policy. |
| ● | I have received satisfactory answers to any questions that I had regarding the Insider Trading Policy and insider trading in general. |
| ● | I understand and acknowledge that the Insider Trading Policy applies to me. |
| ● | I understand and agree to comply with the Insider Trading Policy. |
| ● | I understand that my failure to comply in all respects with the Insider Trading Policy is a basis for termination of my employment or other service relationship with the Company as well as any other appropriate discipline. |
| ● | I understand and agree that the Company may give stop transfer and other instructions to the Company’s transfer agent with respect to transactions that the Company considers to be in contravention of the Insider Trading Policy. |
SignatureDate
Print name
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:
(1)Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-277438) pertaining to the Solid Power, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan,
(2) | Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-262714) pertaining to the Solid Power, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, Solid Power, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, and Solid Power, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and |
(3)Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-261711) of Solid Power, Inc.;
of our report dated February 28, 2025, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Solid Power, Inc. included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Solid Power, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2024.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Denver, Colorado
February 28, 2025
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION
302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, John Van Scoter, certify that:
5.The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
Date: February 28, 2025
| By: | /s/ John Van Scoter |
| John Van Scoter | |
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION
302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Linda Heller, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 of Solid Power, Inc.; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 4. | The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
| (a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| (b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| (c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
| (d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. | The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| (a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
| (b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: February 28, 2025 | | |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Linda Heller |
| | Linda Heller |
| | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
| | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Solid Power, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, to the best of my knowledge, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
| 1. | The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
| 2. | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
Date: February 28, 2025 | | |
| | |
| By: | /s/ John Van Scoter |
| | John Van Scoter |
| | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | (Principal Executive Officer) |
Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Solid Power, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, to the best of my knowledge, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
| 1. | The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
| 2. | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
Date: February 28, 2025 | | |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Linda Heller |
| | Linda Heller |
| | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
| | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
Exhibit 97
SOLID POWER, INC.
POLICY ON RECOVERY OF INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
(Adopted on November 2, 2023)
A. | Introduction |
Solid Power, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), has adopted this Policy on Recovery of Incentive Compensation (this “Policy”), which provides for the recovery of compensation in certain circumstances in the event of a restatement of financial results by the Company. This Policy is intended to comply with the requirements of Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) listing standards implementing Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”).
B. | Administration |
The Human Resources and Compensation Committee (the “HRCC”) of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) administers this Policy. Any determinations made by the HRCC will be final and binding on all affected individuals. The HRCC is authorized to interpret and construe this Policy and make all determinations necessary, appropriate, or advisable for the administration of this Policy, in all cases consistent with SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards.
C. | persons covered by this policy |
This Policy applies to any current or former “executive officer,” within the meaning of Rule 10D-1(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, of the Company (each such individual, an “Executive”). This Policy shall be binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms against all Executives and their beneficiaries, executors, administrators, and other legal representatives.
D. | RECOVERY Upon Financial Restatement |
If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance by the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, including a required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that (i) is material to the previously issued financial statements or (ii) would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period (a “Financial Restatement”), the HRCC will cause the Company to recover from each Executive, as promptly as reasonably possible, any erroneously awarded Incentive-Based Compensation (as defined below).
E. | No-Fault Recovery |
Recovery under this Policy is required regardless of whether the Executive or any other person (i) was at fault or responsible for accounting errors that contributed to the need for the Financial Restatement or (ii) engaged in any misconduct.
F. | RECOVERY PERIOD |
The “Recovery Period” is (i) the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date on which the Company is required to prepare the Financial Restatement, as determined in accordance with the last sentence of this paragraph, or (ii) any transition period (that results from a change in the Company’s fiscal year) within or immediately following those three completed fiscal years, provided that a transition period between the last day of the Company’s previous fiscal year and the first day of its new fiscal year that comprises a period of nine to twelve months would be deemed a completed fiscal year. The date on which the Company is required to prepare a Financial Restatement is the earlier to occur of (i) the date the Board or a Board committee or, if Board action is not required, the authorized officers of the Company conclude(s) or reasonably should have concluded that the Company is required to prepare a Financial Restatement or (ii) the date a court, regulator, or other legally authorized body directs the Company to prepare a Financial Restatement.
G. | INCENTIVE-BASED COMPENSATION |
For purposes of this Policy, “Incentive-Based Compensation” means compensation that is granted, earned, or vested based wholly or in part upon the attainment of any financial reporting measure. A “financial reporting measure” means a measure that is determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing the Company’s financial statements, and any measure that is derived wholly or in part from such measures, whether or not presented within the Company’s financial statements or included in a filing with the SEC, including stock price and total shareholder return (“TSR”). Incentive-Based Compensation includes, for example, compensation such as performance-based cash, stock, options, or other equity-based awards.
Incentive-Based Compensation does not include, and this Policy does not apply to, compensation granted, earned, or vested based solely upon the occurrence of non-financial events, such as base salary, restricted stock, or options with time-based vesting, or a bonus awarded solely at the discretion of the Board or HRCC and not based on the attainment of any financial measure.
H. | Compensation Subject to Recovery; Enforcement |
This Policy applies to all Incentive-Based Compensation received by an Executive (i) after beginning service as an Executive, (ii) who served as an Executive at any time during the performance period for the applicable Incentive-Based Compensation, and (iii) during the Recovery Period.
In the event of a Financial Restatement, the amount of Incentive-Based Compensation to be recovered will be the excess of:
(i) | The Incentive-Based Compensation received by the Executive during the Recovery Period, based on the erroneous data and calculated, over |
(ii) | the Incentive-Based Compensation that would have been received by the Executive with respect to such period had it been calculated based on the restated financial information, as determined by the HRCC, |
in each case computed without regard to any taxes paid. For this purpose, Incentive-Based Compensation is considered to have been received by an Executive in the fiscal year during which the applicable financial reporting measure was attained, regardless of when the payment or grant of such Incentive-Based Compensation occurs.
For Incentive-Based Compensation based on stock price or TSR, where the amount of erroneously awarded Incentive-Based Compensation is not subject to mathematical recalculation directly from the information in the Financial Restatement, (i) the HRCC shall determine the amount to be recovered based on a reasonable estimate of the effect of the Financial Restatement on the stock price or TSR upon which the Incentive-Based Compensation was received and (ii) the Company shall document the determination of that estimate and provide such documentation to Nasdaq.
The Company may use any available legal or equitable remedies to recover any erroneously awarded Incentive-Based Compensation, including collecting a cash payment or shares of Company common stock from the Executive, cancelling outstanding vested or unvested equity awards to the Executive, or forfeiting any amounts the Company owes to the Executive. The Company is entitled to seek recovery of erroneously awarded Incentive-Based Compensation regardless of the terms of any release of claims or separation agreement the Executive may have signed.
I. | No Indemnification |
Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates shall indemnify any Executive against any losses incurred by such Executive under this Policy or pay or reimburse any Executive for any insurance premiums for insurance to cover any such losses.
J. | Exceptions |
Compensation subject to recovery under this Policy shall not include Incentive-Based Compensation received by an Executive (i) prior to beginning service as an Executive or (ii) if he or she did not serve as an Executive at any time during the applicable Recovery Period. In addition, the HRCC may determine not to seek recovery from an Executive in whole or part to the extent it determines that such recovery would be impracticable because (i) the direct expense paid to a third party to assist in enforcing recovery would exceed the recoverable amount, provided that, prior to determining that recovery would be impracticable, the Company shall (a) make a reasonable attempt to recover the erroneously awarded Incentive-Based Compensation, (b) document such attempt, and (c) provide corresponding documentation of such attempt to Nasdaq; (ii) recovery would violate home country law that was adopted prior to November 28, 2022, provided that, prior to determining that recovery would violate an applicable home country law, the Company shall (a) obtain an opinion of home country counsel, acceptable to Nasdaq, that recovery would result in such a violation and (b) provide such opinion to Nasdaq; or (iii) recovery would likely cause an otherwise tax-qualified retirement plan of the Company or its affiliates (such as the Company’s 401(k) plan) to fail to meet the requirements of Section 401(a)(13) or Section 411(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.
K. | Other Remedies Not Precluded |
The exercise by the HRCC of any rights pursuant to this Policy is without prejudice to any other rights or remedies that the Company, the Board, or the HRCC may have with respect to any Executive subject to this Policy.
L. | Effective Date |
This Policy shall apply to any Incentive-Based Compensation that is received by an Executive on or after October 2, 2023.
M. | amendments |
The HRCC reserves the right to amend this Policy at any time, for any reason, subject to applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and with or without notice, although it will attempt to provide notice in advance of any change. Any amendments to this Policy must be approved by the HRCC.