UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K10-K/A

(Amendment No. 1)

x

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016

ORFor the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022

¨

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROMFor the transition period from _____to _____TO _____

 Commission File Number: 001-40261

Mechanical Technology, Incorporated

 (ExactSoluna Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

__________________

New YorkNevada

000-06890

14-1462255

(State or other jurisdiction

(Commission File Number)

(IRSI.R.S. Employer

of incorporation or organization)organization

Identification No.)

 

325 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, New York12205

 (Address(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(518)218-2550

 (Registrant’s(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered

None

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

None

SLNHThe Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
9.0% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per shareSLNHPThe Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock

($0.01 par value)

Title of Class

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨Nox

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨Nox

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yesx No ¨

Indicate by checkmarkcheck mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yesx No¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “smaller reporting“emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filero

Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer

Accelerated filero

Non-accelerated filero(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company x

Emerging growth company

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes¨Nox

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 20162022 (based on the last saleclosing price of $0.84$4.07 per share for such stock reported on the over-the-counter marketNasdaq Stock Market LLC for that date) was $3,702,364.$39,047,018.

As of February 23, 2017,April 26, 2023, the Registrant had 9,020,39327,014,078 shares of common stock outstanding.

Documents incorporated by reference: Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for its 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

Audit Firm IDAuditor NameAuditor Location
1195UHY LLPAlbany, New York

 

 1


INDEX TO FORM 10-K10-
K


PART I

Explanatory Note
3

Item 1.

BusinessPART III

Page
3

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

8

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

14

Item 2.

Properties

14

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

14

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

15

PART II

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

15

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

15

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

16

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

21

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

21

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

21

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

21

Item 9B.

Other Information

22

PART III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

22

4

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

22

12

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

22

19

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

23

22

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

23

25

PART IV

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

26

24

2

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary

25

 2


 

PART I

 

Item 1: BusinessEXPLANATORY NOTE

UnlessSoluna Holdings, Inc. (“SHI,” the context requires otherwise in“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is filing this Amendment No. 1 (“Amendment”) to its Annual Report on Form 10-K the terms the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Mechanical Technology, Incorporated and “MTI Instruments” refers to MTI Instruments, Inc. Other trademarks, trade names, and service marks used in thisamend our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 31, 2023 (the “Original Form 10-K”), to include the information required by Items 10 through 14 of Part III of Form 10-K. This information was previously omitted from the Original Form 10-K in reliance on General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, which permits the information in the above-referenced items to be incorporated into an annual report on Form 10-K from a definitive proxy statement if such statement is filed no later than 120 days after the registrant’s fiscal year-end. We are filing this Amendment to provide the propertyinformation required in Part III of their respective owners.Form 10-K because the Company will not file a definitive proxy statement containing such information within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by the Original Form 10-K. Pursuant to SEC rules, Part IV, Item 15 has also been amended to contain the currently dated certifications from the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The certifications of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer are filed as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to this Amendment. Because no financial statements have been included in this Amendment and this Amendment does not contain or amend any disclosure with respect to Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K, paragraphs 3, 4, and 5 of the certifications have been omitted. Additionally, we are not including the certificates required under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as no financial statements are included in this Amendment. This Amendment does not amend any other information set forth in the Original Form 10-K, and we have not updated disclosures included therein to reflect any subsequent events. This Amendment should be read in conjunction with the Original Form 10-K and with our filings with the SEC subsequent to the Original Form 10-K.

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Mechanical Technology, Incorporated,

PART III

Item 10: Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Information About Our Directors

Set forth below is certain information regarding the directors of the Company as of April 24, 2023.

Name Age Director Since

Current Directors with Terms Expiring in 2023 (who are also Nominees for Election for a Term Expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting)

    
William Hazelip(1)(3) 44 2021
Thomas J. Marusak(1)(3) 72 2004
Michael Toporek 58 2016
Terms Expiring at the 2025 Annual Meeting    
Matthew E. Lipman(4) 44 2016
David C. Michaels(2)(5) 67 2013
Terms Expiring at the 2024 Annual Meeting    
Edward R. Hirshfield(2)(3) 51 2016
William P. Phelan(1)(2)(4) 66 2004
John Bottomley(4) 55 2021
John Belizaire 51 2021

(1)Member of the Compensation Committee.
(2)Member of the Audit Committee.
(3)Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
(4)Member of the Executive Committee.
(5)Effective April 21,2023, Mr. Michaels began service as Chief Financial Officer of the Company and resigned from the Audit Committee.

William Hazelip has served as a member of the Board since February 2021. Since 2015, he has served as Vice President of National Grid PLC, a multinational electricity and gas utility company headquartered in London, England. He has also served as National Grid PLC’s President, Global Transmission (US) from 2017 to 2019 and President of Strategic Growth for National Grid Ventures since August 2019, developing new business opportunities in electric transmission, energy storage, and renewable energy. Prior to joining National Grid, PLC, he was the Managing Director, Business Development at Duke Energy Corporation and the President of Path 15 Transmission, LLC, an independent electric transmission company in California, where he led the acquisition for Duke Energy Corporation. Mr. Hazelip also has extensive experience serving on the board of directors of companies. He currently serves as member of the board of directors of Millennium Pipeline Corporation, a multi-billion dollar natural gas pipeline company, the Vice-Chairman of the board of directors of New York corporation, was incorporatedTransco, a growing electric transmission company, and a member of the board of directors representative of Community Offshore Wind, a clean energy joint venture of RWE AG and National Grid plc. Mr. Hazelip began his career as an Area Director for CWL Investments, LLC, a Michigan investor group that owns and operates restaurant franchises including Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich Shops. Mr. Hazelip earned a Bachelor of Arts from Emory University, Atlanta, GA, and an International Master of Business Administration (IMBA) from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. Mr. Hazelip is an accomplished leader in 1961. Thethe energy industry, with deep experience in utility project development, financing, regulation, and operations, which the Board believes, particularly in light of the Company’s core business is conducted throughinvolvement with the renewable energy sector as it relates to their cryptocurrency mining subsidiary, qualifies him to serve as a director.

Thomas J. Marusak has served as a member of the Board since December 2004. Additionally, Mr. Marusak served as a member of the Board of Directors of our former subsidiary, MTI Instruments, since April 2011 and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of our subsidiary, SCI, since January 2020. Since 1986, Mr. Marusak has served as President of Comfortex Corporation, a manufacturer of window blinds and specialty shades. Mr. Marusak was a member of the Advisory Board of Directors for Key Bank of New York from 1996 through 2004 and served on the Board of Directors of the New York Energy Research and Development Authority from 1998 through 2006. In 2019, Mr. Marusak retired from the Board of Directors of the Capital District Physician’s Health Plan, Inc., in Albany, where he had served for the prior eight years and had participated as a wholly-owned subsidiary incorporatedmember of the board’s Finance, Compensation, Audit, Investment, and Executive Committees. Additionally, Mr. Marusak has served as a Board member for the following entities in the course of his professional career: Center for Economic Growth (past Chair), Dynabil Corp. (Advisory Board), and the Albany Chamber of Commerce (Executive Board). Mr. Marusak received a B.S. in Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and an M.S. in Engineering from Stanford University. Mr. Marusak brings technical development, manufacturing experience, product development and introduction, financial accounting, and human resources expertise to the Board, as well as relevant experience in committee and board service, which the Board believes qualifies him to serve as a director.

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Michael Toporek served as our Chief Executive Officer from November 2020 until May 1, 2023 when he stepped down from that position and was selected as Chairman of the Board as of that date. Mr. Toporek has served as a member of the Board since October 2016. Since 2003, Mr. Toporek has served as the Managing General Partner of Brookstone Partners, a lower middle market private equity firm based in New York and an affiliate of Brookstone XXIV. Prior to founding Brookstone Partners in 2003, Mr. Toporek was both an active principal investor and an investment banker. Mr. Toporek began his career in Chemical Bank’s Investment Banking Group, later joining Dillon, Read and Co., which became UBS Warburg Securities Ltd. during his tenure, and SG Cowen and Company. Mr. Toporek currently serves on March 8, 2000. The Company’s operations are headquartered in Albany, New York where it designs, manufactures,the Board of Trustees of Harlem Academy and markets its products globally.

The Company also owns a 47.5% interest, which ason the Board of December 31, 2016Directors of Capstone Therapeutics Corp. Mr. Toporek has a fair valueB.A. in Economics and an M.B.A. from the University of $0,Chicago in MeOH Power, Inc. (formerly MTI MicroFuel Cells, Inc.),Finance/Accounting. Mr. Toporek brings strategic and financial expertise to the Board as a result of his experience with Brookstone Partners, which the Company operatedBoard believes qualifies him to serve as a subsidiary until December 31, 2013, at which time the majority interest was transferred to one of our directors. We do not expect our current interest in MeOH Power, Inc. to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition going forward.

MTI Instruments is a supplier of precision linear displacement solutions, vibration measurement and system balancing solutions, and wafer inspection tools. These tools and solutions are developed for markets that require the precise measurements and control of products processes for the development and implementation of automated manufacturing, assembly, and consistent operation of complex machinery. 

director. As part of its strategy, MTI Instruments provides its customers with enabling sensors and sensing technologies that help advance manufacturing processes and new product development efforts. The demand for higher quality and lower cost products ranging from semiconductor chips to electronics and large items such as automobiles continues to drive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers to invest in technology and the capability to rapidly produce high quality products. The industry has moved towards flexible manufacturing doctrines around mass customization and production incorporating lean principles to reduce labor and waste, while increasing quality. Modern manufacturing advances at a very rapid pace with the helpour sale of automation controls and precision sensing technologies for operating equipment, processes in factories, and other applications with minimal or reduced human intervention. OEMs find that using automation helps them not only improve on quality, but also can save labor, energy and materials while significantly improving accuracy and precision. In some industries like semiconductors, fabrication facilities are fully automated and are aided by humans on a low frequency basis. 

Using a combination of integrated smart robotics, manufacturing lines, and a myriad of sensors that measure ongoing equipment performance, monitoring and drive controls have resulted in significant advancements in productivity and quality in manufacturing. There is no question that the world is moving from classic manufacturing and assembly towards automation and measurement.

MTI Instruments has decades of experience in working with OEMs and their subcontractors in the supply of sensor, instruments and systems technology to incorporate into OEMs’ equipment and major companies’ manufacturing processes as they develop and implement new process, quality and automation controls. The Company has moved to a customer and market-based approach by targeting leading companies in specific market segments including the industrial and consumer electronics, automotive and other precision automated manufacturing industries, turbo machinery and the research and development aspects within these markets for both product and process improvements. 

This same approach is driving the demand for engine vibration measurement and balancing. Ongoing efforts to improve engine performance and lower fuel consumption drive both military and commercial axial turbo-machinery operators to maintain their equipment at peak performance.

These market drivers are also providing opportunity and demand for MTI to enhance current and develop new products and technologies. This has become a central theme in our supporting a larger, more complex customer base. Our efforts to become more capable and competitive in operations and quality are being met by our well defined approach to lean manufacturing principles and the achievement of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO 9001:2008 certification in 2014.

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Automated Monitoring and Precision Automation Manufacturing

Automated monitoring allows companies and engineers to rectify system problems before they become costly repairs and maintenance costs. MTI’s latest system has a non-magnetic paper-thin probe that allows users to measure and monitor gaps in high power generators, wind turbines, and other auxiliary equipment. Its Ethernet interface supports remote access to this critical information. Meanwhile, MTI is also supporting the world-wide need for OEMs to drive continuous improvement efforts through use of the most innovative manufacturing and assembly techniques in products and processes. Due to the level of precision required, these products or processes are managed through automated systems (Piezo positioners, robot guide, dielectric material/LED wafer inspection, etc.) and require precise measurement, data transmission, analysis and management. 

MTI Instruments provides advanced linear displacement solutions for OEMs that can be incorporated into a tool or equipment manufactured by a company to monitor performance and/or achieve control (“in product application”) or into a process to control the manufacture of parts or measure critical parameters of parts as they enter or leave a process (“in process applications”). 

MTI Instruments is a preferred supplier for applications that require complex and extremely precise measurement of intricate targets and assemblies. MTI Instruments uses its significant track record and experience in capacitance, laser and fiber optic technologies to make products that range from basic sensors to complete, fully integrated measurement systems. Applications include precision positioning, material surface measurements, off-center vibration measurements, and pattern recognition analysis.

Listed below are selected MTI Instruments’ automated monitoring and precision automation manufacturing product offerings:

Product Model

Description

Accumeasure Series

Ultra-high precision capacitive systems offering nanometer accuracy.

Accumeasure D Series

Ultra-high precision digital capacitive systems offering sub-nanometer accuracy.

Microtrak PRO-2D

2D laser triangulation scanners that provide profile, displacement, and 3D images.

Microtrak TGS

Intuitive laser thickness systems using two single spot laser heads with digital linearization providing superb linearity.

MTI-2100 Fotonic Sensor Series

Fiber-optic based displacement sensor systems with high frequency response.

Axial Turbo Machinery

Turbo machines are categorized according to the type of flow. When the fuel and air flow is parallel to the axis of rotation, they are referred to as axial flow machines. MTI Instruments is a leader in the development and commercialization of vibration measurement and system balancing for axial type engines – typically medium and large turbo fan aircraft engines – for both military and commercial applications. In addition, we are exploring possibilities for expansion of its product offerings for a variety of applications within this market segment.

MTI Instruments designs and manufactures computer-based portable balancing systems (PBS) products which automatically collect and record engine vibration data, identifying vibration or balance trouble, and calculating a solution to the problem. These products are designed to quickly pinpoint engine vibration issues for improved fuel efficiency, lower maintenance cost and safety.

PBS products are used by major aircraft engine manufacturers, the U.S. and foreign militaries, and commercial airlines, as well as gas turbine manufacturers.

4


Listed below are selected MTI Instruments’ axial turbo machinery product offerings and technologies:

Product Model

Description

PBS-4100+ Portable Balancing System

Provides easy to follow solutions for engine vibration and trim balancing problems.

PBS-4100R+ Test Cell Vibration Analysis & Trim Balancing System

Advanced trim balancing and diagnostics for engine test cells.

TSC-4800A Tachometer Signal Conditioner

Tachometer signal conditioner detects and conditions signals for monitoring, measuring, and indicating engine speeds.

1510A Calibrator

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable signal generator that outputs voltage signals useful to test and calibrate electronic equipment.

 Industrial and Academic Research and Development (R&D)

Present-day research and process development is a core part of the modern business world; critical decisions are made from data and discoveries made through these efforts. As companies understand and profit from the benefits of organized R&D efforts, they also make further commitments and investments into new R&D cycles making internal R&D budgets reach higher and higher levels. R&D is also a tool for modern companies to proactively leapfrog competition and keep pace with trends, enhance manufacturing processes, and develop products to meet new customer demands.

MTI Instruments has a long track record of working with private sector companies as well as academic institutions on their R&D efforts. We have a dedicated line of tabletop linear displacement instruments, material testers, and wafer metrology tools that help provide valuable information to enhance products and processes. Our family of R&D related products are used widely in applications including wafer surface metrology, nano-material testing, and precision linear displacement and positioning. Our customers include testing and R&D departments in large industry and academia as well as process development laboratories focused in automotive, electronics, semiconductor, solar, and material development.

Listed below are MTI Instruments’ industrial and academic R&D product offerings and technologies:

Product Model

Description

Accumeasure Digital Series

Ultra-high precision digital capacitive systems offering sub-nanometer accuracy.

Accumeasure Analog Series

Ultra-high precision capacitive displacement systems offering nanometer accuracy.

NEW

Tensile MicroStage

Specifically designed to fit under atomic force microscopes (AFMs), these MicroTensile Testers provide high resolution tensile, compression, fatigue and bend testing of up to 450 Newton (100 lbs).

Microtrak 4

Single spot laser sensor equipped with the latest complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor technology with true digital data output.

Proforma 300i

Manual, non-contact measurement of semiconductor wafer thickness, total thickness variation and bow.

PV 1000

Manual tool for measuring thickness and bow of solar wafers.

MTI-2100 Fotonic Sensor Series

Fiber-optic based displacement sensor systems with high frequency response.

Marketing and Sales

MTI Instruments markets its products and services using selected and specific channels of distribution. In the Americas, for precision automated manufacturing and the R&D sectors, MTI Instruments uses a combination of direct sales and representatives. Overseas, particularly in Europe and Asia, MTI Instruments uses distributors and agents specific to our targeted end markets. For axial turbo machinery, MTI Instruments primarily sells directly to end users.

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To supplement these efforts, we use both commercial and industrial search engines, targeted newsletters, purchased customer lists and participation in trade shows to identify and expand our customer base.

Product Development

MTIInstruments continuously conducts research to develop new and advance existing technologies in support of its business strategy. Along with innovation as a key hallmark to its efforts, we carefully consider a number of factors including customer needs, product or technology uniqueness, market trends, costs, the competitive landscape, and creative marketing and communications plans in developing our products. We take a customer-centered approach in order to find new ways to solve customer needs, engage with customers directly, and create a loyal customer base while offering a more compelling value proposition.

In 2016, MTI Instruments introduced a paper-thin capacitance probe that is non-magnetic, a feature that allows the probe to conform and be bonded in a thin gap and also provide accurate measurement within surrounding magnetic fields. This paper-thin probe, together with the recently launched Accumeasure D, is designed to be used to measure and monitor gaps in high power generators, wind turbines, and other auxiliary equipment. In addition, its Ethernet interface supports remote access to critical information.

We launched an additional line of SEMtester products to support the growing AFM users in the R&D market. The MTI Tensile MicroStage is designed with a reduced height to fit under AFMs or other adjustable lens microscopes. This new MicroStage also uses lightweight materials to meet air table and motorized stage requirements.

We also launched, during 2016, a line of Accumeasure D capable of measuring the thickness of non-conductive materials such as glass, plastic sheet and sapphire wafer (used in white light-emitting diode (LED) manufacturing). Additionally, we continue to invest in the development of a system to measure defects in industrial tool and internal thread inspection that utilizes our Accumeasure D series of products. 

During 2015, we developed and commercialized new enhancements in our PBS 4100+ product, including the capability to measure vibration and balance a number of turbo-shaft engines for rotary wing aircraft (helicopter), which has proven effective with several commercial customers. During 2016, the PBS 4100+ has been enhanced to accommodate the latest generation of fuel-efficient aircraft engines.

With investments in research and product development, we seek to achieve a competitive position by continuously advancing our technology, producing new state-of-the-art precision measurement equipment, expanding our worldwide distribution, and providing intimate customer support. Management believes that MTI Instruments’ success depends to a large extent on identifying market requirements, innovation, and utilizing our technological expertise to develop and implement new products.

Product Manufacturing & Operations

We conduct research, product development and innovation, and manufacture our products, in the United States. While many companies in the sensor, instrument and systems markets have manufacturing operations overseas, MTI is and has always been a U.S.-based manufacturing company. Products are conceived, developed, tested, and shipped out from our headquarters in Albany, New York.

Management believes that there are inherent advantages in keeping manufacturing in the U.S., including reducing the risk of inadvertent technology transfer, the ability to control manufacturing quality, and a much more effective customer management and satisfaction process. We have long-term vendor relationships and believe that most raw materials used in our products are readily available from a variety of vendors.

To prepare for future growth, we have also made strides in bringing a more flexible approach to manufacturing. While cross-training our employees in operations in different functional areas, management has also implemented lean principles on the manufacturing floor to increase capacity, productivity and throughput, eliminate waste, and quickly adapt to larger customers’ demands while continuing to keep inventory levels under control. MTI has additional capabilities in its existing, flexible manufacturing space as production volumes increase.

In April 2014, the Company received initial ISO certification 9001:2008 and was most recently recertified in April 2016. The certifications were authorized by TÜVRheinland®,an independent agency. To obtain these certifications, we underwent a rigorous five step process including preparation, documentation, implementation, internal audit, and final certification. The ISO 9001:2008 certification confirms our commitment to an effective management system and continuous improvement, a practice management believes is important for continuous growth.  

Intellectual Property and Proprietary Rights

We rely on trade secret and copyright laws to establish and protect the proprietary rights of our products. In addition, we enter into standard confidentiality agreements with our employees and consultants and seek to control access to and distribution of our proprietary information. Even with these precautions, however, it may be possible for a third party to copy or otherwise obtain and use our products or technology without authorization or to develop similar technology independently. In addition, effective copyright and trade secret protection may be unavailable or limited in certain foreign countries. 

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Significant Customers

MTI Instruments’ largest customer is the U.S Air Force. We also have strong relationships with companies in the electronics, aircraft, aerospace, automotive, semiconductor and research industries. The U.S. Air Force accounted for 18.1% and 4.4%, respectively, of total product revenues during 2016 and 2015.The largest commercial customer in 2016 was an Asian distributor, who accounted for 8.1% and 6.8%, respectively, of total product revenue during 2016 and 2015. 

Competition

We compete with several companies, several of which are substantially larger than MTI Instruments.

In the precision automated manufacturing market, MTI Instruments faces competition from companies including Keyence, Micro Epsilon, Schmitt Industries, Capacitec, Microsense and Lion Precision Instruments.

In the axial turbo machinery market, MTI Instruments competes with companies including ACES Systems and Meggitt Sensing Systems.

In the R&D market, we compete with companies involved in material testing, include Gatan, Deben, and E+H Metrology GmbH.  Competitors in precision linear displacement include Keyence, Micro Epsilon, Schmitt Industries, Capacitec, Microsense and Lion Precision Instruments.

The primary competitive considerations in MTI Instruments’ markets are product quality, performance, price, timely delivery, responsiveness and the ability to identify, pursue and obtain new customers. MTI Instruments believes that its employees, product development skills, sales and marketing systems and reputation are competitive advantages.

Research and Development

MTI Instruments conducts research and develops technology to support its existing products and develop new products. MTI incurred research and development costs of approximately $1.2 million and $1.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. We expect to continue to invest in research and development in the future at MTI Instruments as part of our growth strategy.

Employees

As of December 31, 2016, we had 29 employees including 24 full-time employees.

Recent Developments

Adoption of Shareholder Rights Plan

On October 6, 2016 (the “Rights Dividend Declaration Date”), the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a Section 382 rights plan (the “Rights Plan”) and declared a dividend distribution of one right (the “Rights”) for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 19, 2016. Each share of common stock issued thereafter will also include one Right. Subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Plan, if the Rights become exercisable, each Right would represent the right to purchase from the Company one share of our common stock at a purchase price of $5.00 per share, subject to adjustment.

The Board adopted the Rights Plan in an effort to protect against a possible limitation on the Company’s ability to use its net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”), which totaled approximately $51.9 million as of December 31, 2016. The Company may utilize these NOLs in certain circumstances to offset future U.S. taxable income and reduce its U.S. federal income tax liability. 

For additional information about the Rights Plan and the Rights, please see the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 6, 2016.

Sale3,750,000 shares of Common Stock to Brookstone XXIV in October 2016, Brookstone XXIV has two designated directors that sit on the Board; Mr. Toporek is one such director.

Matthew E. Lipman has served as a member of the Board since October 2016. Since 2004, Mr. Lipman has served as Managing Director of Brookstone Partners, Acquisition XXIV, LLC

On October 21, 2016, the Company issueda lower middle market private equity firm based in New York and sold 3,750,000 sharesan affiliate of its common stock (the “Shares”) to Brookstone Partners Acquisition XXIV, LLC (“Brookstone”Brookstone XXIV”). Mr. Lipman’s responsibilities at Brookstone Partners include identifying and evaluating investment opportunities, performing transaction due diligence, managing the capital structure of portfolio companies, and working with management teams to implement operational and growth strategies. In addition, Mr. Lipman is responsible for executing add-on acquisitions and other portfolio company-related strategic projects. From July 2001 through June 2004, Mr. Lipman was an analyst in the mergers and acquisitions group at UBS Financial Services Inc., responsible for an aggregateformulating and executing on complex merger, acquisition, and financing strategies for Fortune 500 companies in the industrial, consumer products, and healthcare sectors. Mr. Lipman currently serves on the Board of $2,737,500, pursuantDirectors of Denison Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Advanced Disaster Recovery Inc., Totalstone, LLC, Harmattan Energy Limited and Capstone Therapeutics Corp. Mr. Lipman has a B.S. in Business Administration from Babson College. Mr. Lipman brings 20 years of experience working with companies to establish growth strategies and execute acquisitions, is proficient in reading and understanding financial statements, generally accepted accounting principles, and internal controls as a Securities Purchase Agreement between Brookstonedirect result of his investment experience evaluating companies for potential investments and the Company.  In connection therewith, wemanagement of financial reporting and capital structure for three portfolio companies, as well as relevant experience in serving on other boards of directors, which the Board believes qualifies him to serve as a director. As part of our sale of 3,750,000 shares of Common Stock to Brookstone XXIV in October 2016, Brookstone XXIV has two designated directors that sit on the Board; Mr. Lipman is one such director.

David C. Michaels has served as a member of the Board since August 2013, served as our Lead Independent Director from June 2016 until April 2023 and as our Chairman of the Board from January 2017 to January 2022. Mr. Michaels was selected as Interim Chief Financial Officer on April 24, 2023. Mr. Michaels served as the Chief Financial Officer of the American Institute for Economic Research, Inc., an internationally-recognized economics research and education organization, from October 2008 until his retirement in May 2018. Prior to that, Mr. Michaels served as Chief Financial Officer at Starfire Systems, Inc. from December 2006 to September 2008. Mr. Michaels worked at Albany International Corp. from March 1987 to December 2006 as Vice President, Treasury and Tax, and Chief Risk Officer. Mr. Michaels also appointed three designeesworked at Veeco Instruments from May 1979 to March 1987 in various roles including Controller and Tax Manager. Mr. Michaels is the Chairman of Brookstonethe Board of Directors and Chair of the Audit Committee of Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc. Mr. Michaels also serves as a member of the Board of Governors and Treasurer of the Country Club of Troy. Mr. Michaels has a Bachelor of Science degree with dual majors in Accounting and Finance and a minor in Economics from the University at Albany and completed graduate-level coursework at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University. Mr. Michaels also completed the Leadership Institute Program at the Lally School of Management & Technology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Mr. Michaels contributes more than 30 years of international financial and operating experience in a wide variety of roles in both public and private organizations to the Company’s Board, which the Board believes qualifies him to serve as a director. Effective April 21, 2023, Mr. Michaels will serve as Interim Chief Financial Officer of Directors. Immediately subsequentthe Company.

Edward R. Hirshfield has served as a member of the Board since October 2016. He served as a director of our former subsidiary, MTI Instruments, Inc. (“MTI Instruments”), from October 2016 until its sale in April 2022 and of our subsidiary, Soluna Computing, Inc., formerly known as EcoChain, Inc. (“SCI”), since its incorporation in January 2020. Since 2018, Mr. Hirshfield has served as Managing Director in the restructuring group at B. Riley FBR, Inc., a leading financial services provider, where he advises stressed and distressed companies and their constituencies. From 2015 until 2018, Mr. Hirshfield served as a partner at Steppingstone Group, LLC, a special situations private equity fund located in New York. Mr. Hirshfield’s responsibilities in this role included business development activities, conducting extensive credit analysis on target companies, as well as portfolio management. Mr. Hirshfield began his career as a loan officer at CIT Group Inc. and then became a restructuring advisor at a boutique investment bank, CDG Group. In 2003, Mr. Hirshfield moved over to the issuancebuy side and joined Longacre Fund Management, LLC, a $2.5 billion distressed debt fund. Mr. Hirshfield continued as a distressed investor at Del Mar Asset Management, LP, Ramius LLC, and most recently Apple Ridge Advisors LLC from 2010 through 2015. Mr. Hirshfield has a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Union College and an M.B.A. from Fordham University Graduate School of Business. Mr. Hirshfield brings over 20 years of experience understanding and analyzing public and private companies. He has an expertise in providing operational and investment recommendations as well as providing extensive valuation and credit analysis, which the Shares, Brookstone owned 41.7% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Board believes qualifies him to serve as a director.

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Also

William P. Phelan has served as our Chairman of the Board since January 2022 and as a member of the Board since December 2004. He also served as interim Chief Executive Officer and President of SCI from March 2020 to November 2020, and as interim Vice President of SCI from November 2020 to March 2021. Mr. Phelan is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bright Hub, Inc., a software company founded in 2005 that focuses on the development of online software for commerce. In May 1999, Mr. Phelan founded OneMade, Inc., an electronic commerce marketplace technology systems and tools provider. Mr. Phelan served as Chief Executive Officer of OneMade, Inc. from May 1999 to May 2004, including for a year after it was sold to, and remained a subsidiary of, America Online. Mr. Phelan serves on the Board of Trustees and is a Finance Committee member, an Executive Committee Member, an Investment Committee Chair and a Compensation Committee Chair for Capital District Physician’s Health Plan, Inc. Mr. Phelan also serves on the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Paradigm Mutual Fund Family. He has also held numerous executive positions at Fleet Equity Partners, Cowen & Company, First Albany Corporation, and UHY Advisors, Inc., formerly Urbach Kahn & Werlin, PC. Mr. Phelan has a B.A. in Accounting and Finance from Siena College and an M.S. in Taxation from City College of New York, and is a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Phelan contributes leadership, capital markets experience, and strategic insight as well as innovation in technology to the Board, which the Board believes qualifies him to serve as a director.

John Bottomley has served as a member of the Board since October 21,2021. Mr. Bottomley served on the Executive Committee of SCI since January 2021 prior to our acquisition of Soluna Callisto Holdings Inc., formerly known as Soluna Computing, Inc. (“Soluna Callisto”). Mr. Bottomley is the co-founder, Partner and has been Chief Development Officer of v-ridium Europe, since June 2020. Mr. Bottomley has also served as a Deputy Strategy Director at Blockchain Climate Institute, a London-based think tank, since July 2021. From August 2017 to March 2020, Mr. Bottomley served as the SVP, Global Development at Vestas Wind Systems, a market leader in the wind industry. Mr. Bottomley served various leadership roles at GE Capital EFS, from September 2014 to May 2017. He also held numerous executive positions at The AES Corporation, Verde Ventures Ltd and Enron Europe Ltd. Additionally, Mr. Bottomley served various international joint venture boards, including the boards of directors of Vestas-WEB development JV (Italy, Germany and France) from 2018 to 2020, Vestas-WKN joint venture (Poland) from 2018 to 2019, Vestas-GEO joint venture (Poland) from 2018 to 2020 Vestas EMP Holdings (Ireland, Iceland, Uganda and Ghana) from 2018 to 2020, Sowitech, a German based international renewable energy development from 2019 and 2020, GE-Advanced Power JV (U.S.) from 2015 to 2016, GE-Maintream JV (Vietnam) from 2015 to 2016, AES-Innovent (France) from 2009 to 2012, AES-WEL (UK) from 2008 to 2012, and Enron-OPET (Turkey) from 2000 to 2001. Mr. Bottomley has a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Clemson University and an MBA in Finance and International Business from NYU Stern School of Business, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

John Belizaire has served as a member of the Board and as Chief Executive Officer of SCI since October 2021 and began service as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company on May 1, 2023. Additionally, Mr. Belizaire served as the Chief Executive Officer of Soluna Callisto from June 2018 until our acquisition of Soluna Callisto in October 2021. He also serves as an Operating Advisor of Pilot Growth Equity, a technology growth equity firm, since October 2020. In addition, Mr. Belizaire serves on the Board of Directors of Center for American Entrepreneurship, since May 2020, and Brookstone entered intothe Board of Directors at BanQu Inc, since June 2018. Mr. Belizaire served as the Managing Partner of NextStage LLC, a Registration Rights Agreement, pursuantventure capital firm, from 2002 to 2016. Since June 2006, Mr. Belizaire was the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FirstBest Systems, which was acquired by Guidewire Software in September 2016, where he served as a Senior Industry Advisor until May 2017. Since January 1997, Mr. Belizaire was the Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of TheoryCenter, Inc., which was acquired by BEA Systems, Inc. in November 1999, where he served as a Senior Director, Business Development and Strategic Planning until April 2002. Mr. Belizaire has a B.S. in Computer Science and a Master of Engineering in Computer Science from Cornell University. Mr. Belizaire also attended the Executive Development Program at The Wharton School from 2001 to 2002.

There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

Board Diversity Matrix (As of April 24, 2023)
Total Number of Directors9
FemaleMaleNon-BinaryDid Not
Disclose Gender
Directors9
Number of Directors who identify in any of the Categories Below:
African American or Black1
Alaskan Native or Native American
Asian
Hispanic or Latinx
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
White8
Two or More Races or Ethnicities
LGBTQ+
Did not Disclose Demographic Background

6

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES

The Board held six official meetings during 2022. All directors attended at least 80% of all meetings of the Board and any Committee of which they were a member during 2022. The Board has no formal policy regarding attendance at our annual meeting of stockholders; directors are, however, encouraged, but not required, to attend any meetings of our stockholders. All directors, at the time of the meeting, virtually attended the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders. Also, beginning on September 2, 2022, the Board of Directors were holding weekly update calls through the end of December 31, 2022.

The Board has an Audit Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a Compensation Committee, and an Executive Committee.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee meets on a regular basis, at least quarterly and more frequently as necessary. The Audit Committee’s primary function is to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by reviewing the financial information to be provided to the stockholders and others, the system of internal controls which management has established and the audit and financial reporting process. The Audit Committee as of the date of this report consists of Messrs. Hirshfield, Phelan, Marusak (Chair) and Bottomley. The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is independent, as defined under  the applicable rules and listing standards of Nasdaq and SEC rules and regulations. In addition, the Board has determined that Mr. Phelan qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC. Mr. Phelan’s designation by the Board as an “audit committee financial expert” is not intended to be a representation that he is an expert for any purpose as a result of such designation, nor is it intended to impose on him any duties, obligations, or liability greater than the duties, obligations, or liability imposed on him as a member of the Audit Committee and the Board in the absence of such designation.

The Audit Committee met four times during 2022. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee are set forth in the charter of the Audit Committee, which was adopted by the Board and is published on our website at https://www. solunacomputing.com/investors/governance/. The Committee, among other matters, is responsible for the annual appointment of, and for compensating, retaining, overseeing and, where appropriate, replacing, the independent registered public accounting firm as the Company’s auditors, reviews the arrangements for and the results of the auditors’ examination of our books and records, and assists the Board in its oversight of the reliability and integrity of the Company’s accounting policies, financial statements and financial reporting, and disclosure practices, including its system of internal controls, and the establishment and maintenance of processes to assure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and company policies. The Audit Committee also reviews the adequacy of charter of the Audit Committee and recommends changes to the Board that it considers necessary or appropriate.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Board has adopted a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter, which is published on our website at https://www.solunacomputing.com/investors/governance/. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Messrs.. Hirshfield (Chairman), Hazelip and Marusak. The Board has determined that each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is independent, as defined under the applicable rules and listing standards of Nasdaq.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met once during 2022. The role of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is to assist the Board by: 1) reviewing, identifying, evaluating, and recommending the nomination of Board members; 2) selecting and recommending director candidates to the Board; 3) developing and recommending governance policies of the Company agreed to at any time after December 20, 2016the Board; 4) addressing governance matters; 5) making recommendations to the Board regarding Board size, composition, and uponcriteria; 6) making recommendations to the request of holders of at least 25%Board regarding existing Committees and report on the performance and effectiveness of the outstanding Shares,Committees to filethe Board;

7) periodically evaluating the performance of the Board; and 8) assisting the Board with other assigned tasks as needed.

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In appraising potential director candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee focuses on desired characteristics and qualifications of candidates, and although there are no stated minimum requirements or qualifications, preferred characteristics include business savvy and experience, concern for the best interests of our stockholders, proven success in the application of skills relating to our areas of business activities, adequate availability to participate actively in the Board’s affairs, high levels of integrity, and sensitivity to current business and corporate governance trends and legal requirements, and that candidates, when warranted, meet applicable director independence standards. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has adopted a registration statementformal policy for the consideration of director candidates recommended by stockholders. Individuals recommended by stockholders are evaluated in the same manner as other potential candidates. A stockholder wishing to submit such a recommendation should forward it in writing to our Secretary at 325 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, New York 12205. The mailing envelope should include a clear notation that the enclosure is a “Director Nominee Recommendation.” The recommending party should be identified as a stockholder and should provide a brief summary of the recommended candidate’s qualifications, taking into account the desired characteristics and qualifications considered for potential Board members mentioned above.

Compensation Committee

The Board has adopted a Compensation Committee charter, which is published on our website at https://www. solunacomputing.com/investors/governance/. The Compensation Committee as of the date of this report consists of Messrs. Phelan (Chairman), Hazelip, and Bottomley. The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is independent, as defined under the Securities Actapplicable rules and listing standards of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Nasdaq and SEC rules and regulations.

The Compensation Committee met five times during 2022. The Compensation Committee is charged with ensuring that the Company’s compensation programs are aligned with Company goals and are adequately designed to register the resaleattract, motivate, and retain executives and key employees. The role of the Shares.Compensation Committee is to assist the Board by:

For additional information about

1) regarding the Brookstone transaction, please seeoverall compensation programs, philosophy, and practices of the Company, particularly as it relates to its executive officers, key employees, and directors; 2) reviewing and evaluating Company objectives and goals regarding our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation; 3) determining the compensation program for members of the Board; 4) developing and overseeing the Chief Executive Officer’s process for evaluating the performance objectives and compensation of executive officers; 5) administering the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 21, 2016.equity compensation plans; 6) determining succession planning and management development for the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers; and 7) assisting the Board with other assigned tasks as needed.

Departure

In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Compensation Committee may delegate any or all of Directors its responsibilities to a subcommittee of the Compensation Committee and, to the extent not expressly reserved to the Compensation Committee by the Board or Certain Officers; Appointmentby applicable law, rule, or regulation, to any other committee of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangementsdirectors appointed by it.

The Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation consultant, outside counsel, or other advisers as it deems appropriate to perform its duties and responsibilities, including the authority to approve the fees payable to such counsel or advisers and any other terms of Certain Officersretention. The Compensation Committee did not engage any such consultants, counsel, or advisers during 2021.

On January 18, 2017, Kevin G. Lynch resignedThe Compensation Committee administers our executive compensation programs. This Committee is responsible for establishing the policies that govern base salaries, as Presidentwell as short- and long-term incentives, for executives and senior management. The Committee considers recommendations made by our Chief Executive Officer and certain other executives when reaching its compensation decisions, including with respect to executive and director compensation. The Committee has approval authority regarding the compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, as well as Chairmanthe Company’s other executive officers after the review of the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendation and the results of such officer’s performance review.

Executive Committee

The Board formed an Executive Committee in January 2022 and adopted an Executive Committee charter, which is published on our website at https://www.solunacomputing.com/investors/governance/. The Executive Committee as of the Company. Mr. Lynch will remain on the Company’sdate of this report consists of Messrs. Phelan (Chairman), Bottomley, Lipman, and Toporek. The Board of Directors. In conjunction with his resignation, Mr. Lynch and the Company entered into a separation agreement (dated February 1, 2017). The Company’s Board of Directors appointed Frederick W. Jones, our current Chief Financial Officer, as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Jones will remain our Chief Financial Officer as well.

For additional information about the departurehas determined that each of Mr. LynchPhelan and Mr. Bottomley are independent, as defined under the appointmentapplicable rules and listing standards of Mr. Jones, please see the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 24, 2017 and February 8, 2017.Nasdaq.

Item 1A: Risk Factors

Factors Affecting Future Results

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”). Any statements contained, or incorporated by reference, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. When we use the words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plans,” “projects,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expects,” “management believes,” “we believe,” “we intend,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “will” and similar words or phrases, we are identifying forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding:

  • anticipated growth, including in revenues and cash flows;
  • statements with respect to management’s strategy and planned initiatives;
  • management’s belief that it will have adequate resources to fund the Company’s operations and capital expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2017 and through the end of the first quarter of 2018;
  • the expected impact of recent and pending accounting standards or updates;
  • projected taxable income and the ability to use deferred tax assets (currently held at a full valuation allowance);
  • generating earnings in the future;
  • the expectation that future cost-cutting measures will be avoided;
  • future capital expenditures and spending on research and development;
  • expected funding of future cash expenditures; and
  • the expected impact of our investment in MeOH Power, Inc.

Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause these differences include the following:

  • statements with respect to management’s strategy and planned initiatives;
  • sales revenue growth may not be achieved or maintained;  
  • the dependence of our business on a small number of customers and potential loss of government contracts - particularly in light of potential cuts that may be imposed as a result of U.S. government budget appropriations;
  • our lack of long-term purchase commitments from our customers and the ability of our customers to cancel, reduce, or delay orders for our products;  
  • our inability to build and maintain relationships with our customers;  
  • our inability to develop and utilize new technologies that address the needs of our customers;  
  • our inability to obtain new credit facilities;
  • the cyclical nature of the electronics and military industries;  
  • the uncertainty of the U.S. and global economy, including as a result of the United Kingdom’s impending exit from the European Union;  
  • the impact of future exchange rate fluctuations;  
  • failure of our strategic alliances to achieve their objectives or perform as contemplated and the risk of cancellation or early termination of such alliance by either party;  
  • the loss of services of one or more of our key employees or the inability to hire, train, and retain key personnel;

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  • risks related to protection and infringement of intellectual property;  
  • our occasional dependence on sole suppliers or a limited group of suppliers;
  • our ability to generate income to realize the tax benefit of our historical net operating losses;
  • risks related to the limitation

    The Executive Committee met approximately twice per month during 2022. The purpose of the use, for tax purposes, of our net historical operating lossesExecutive Committee is to represent and assist the Board in the eventits review and approval of certain ownership changes;transactions and

  • other risks discussed below.

Except as may be requiredmatters requiring Board consideration, and to take action, where necessary, appropriate and authorized by applicable law, we do not undertake or intend to update or revise our forward-looking statements,the Board during intervals between regular and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K as a result of new information or future events or developments. Thus, assumptions should not be made that our silence over time means that actual events are bearing out as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

Risk Factors

You should consider carefully the following risks, along with other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones that may affect us. Additional risks and uncertainties also may adversely affect our business and operations including those discussed in the heading “Factors Affecting Future Results” above. Anyspecial meetings of the following events, should they actually occur, could materially and adversely affect our business and financial results.

If we are unsuccessful at addressing our business challenges, we may not achieve or maintain profitability inBoard. The Executive Committee has authority to: 1) monitor the future, our business and resultsmanagement’s performance against the approved budget of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected and our ability to invest in and grow our business could be limited. 

We have incurred significant operating and net losses since our inception. We incurred a net loss of $359 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2016 and had an accumulated deficit of $121.0 million as of such date. In order to achieve and maintainprofitability and improve liquidity, we must successfully achieve all or some combination of the following initiatives: increasing sales, developing new products, controlling operating expenses, managing our cash flows, successfully obtaining new credit facilities, improving operational efficiency and estimating and projecting accurately our liquidity and capital resources. In “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Management’s Plan, Liquidity and Capital Resources” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we made estimates regarding our cash flow and results of operations for the year ending December 31, 2017 and through the end of the first quarter of 2018. If our cash flow or results of operations are less favorable than we have estimated, we may not be able to make all of our planned operating or capital expenditures or fully execute all of our other plans. Our financial success depends in part on management’s ability to execute our growth strategy. We expect that we will depend primarily on cash generated by our operations for funds to pay our expenses and any other indebtedness we may incur. Our ability to make these payments depends on our future performance, which will be affected by financial, business, economic and other factors, many of which we cannot control. Our business may not generate sufficient cash flows from operations in the future and our currently anticipated growth in revenues and cash flows may not be realized, either or both of which could result in our being unable to repay indebtedness or to fund other liquidity needs. If we do not have enough money, we may be required to sell assets or borrow money, in each case on terms that may not be acceptable to us. In addition, the terms of any future debt agreements, including new lines of credit, may restrict us from adopting any of these alternatives. Further, any significant levels of indebtedness in the future could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that may have access to additional resources or proportionately less debt and could make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and adverse developments in our business. Any future loss incurred by the Company could have a material adverse effect on our business and our ability to generate the cash needed to operate our business. Although we generated net income in 2011, 2013 and 2014, we had a net loss during 2016 and 2015 and prior to 2011 we had generated net losses since 1998, and we may not be able to achieve or sustain profitability in the future. If we do achieve profitability in the future, the level of any profitability cannot be predicted and may vary significantly from quarter to quarter and from year to year. Failure to continue to successfully implement these initiatives could prevent us from achieving and maintaining profitability and otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business plans, liquidity, results of operations and financial condition and may result in a downsize to the business. Further, even if implemented successfully there is no guarantee that our efforts in this regard would result in sustained and improving profitability.  

We currently derive all of our product revenue from our MTI Instruments business.

All of our revenue is currently derived from our MTI Instruments business. We do not have a broad portfolio of other products we could rely on to support operations if we were to experience a substantial slowdown in our MTI Instruments business, which is subject to a number of risks, including:

  • dependence on a limited number of customers;
  • a continued slowdown or cancellation of sales to the military as a result of a potential redeployment, or sequestration, of governmental funding; 
  • our ability to maintain, improve, or expand our channels of distribution; 

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  • the potential failure to expand or maintain our business as a result of competition, a lack of brand awareness, or market saturation; and
  • an inability to launch new products as a result of intense competition, uncertainty of new technology development, or limited or unavailable resources to fund development. 

In addition, revenues from the sale of MTI Instruments’ products can vary significantly from one period to the next. We may sell a significant amount of our products to one or a few customers for various short term projects in one period, and then have markedly decreased sales in following periods as these projects end or customers have the products they require for the foreseeable future. The fact that we sell a significant amount of our products to a limited number of customers also results in a customer concentration risk. The loss of any significant portion of such customers or a material adverse change in the financial condition of any one of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, our business and our ability to generate the cash needed to operate our business. 

We may not be able to enhance our product solutions and develop new product solutions in a timely manner.

Our future operating results will depend to a significant extent on our ability to provide new products that compare favorably with alternative solutions on the basis of time to introduction, cost, performance, and end-user preferences. Our success in attracting and retaining customers and developing business will depend on various factors, including the following:

  • innovative development of new products for customers;  

  • utilization of advances in technology;  

  • maintenance of quality standards;  

  • efficient and cost-effective solutions; and  

  • timely completion of the design and introduction of new products.

Our inability to develop new product solutions on a timely basis could harm our operating results and impede our growth.

Our operating results may experience significant fluctuations.

In addition to the variability resulting from the short-term nature of our customers’ commitments, other factors contribute to significant periodic fluctuations in our results of operations. These factors include:

  • the cyclicality of the markets we serve;  

  • the timing and size of orders;  

  • the volume of orders relative to our capacity;  

  • product introductions and market acceptance of new products or new generations of products;  

  • evolution in the life cycles of our customers’ products;

  • timing of expenses in anticipation of future orders;

  • changes in product mix;

  • availability of manufacturing and assembly services;

  • changes in cost and availability of labor and components;  

  • timely delivery of product solutions to customers;

  • pricing and availability of competitive products;

  • introduction of new technologies into the markets we serve;

  • pressures on reducing selling prices;

  • our success in serving new markets; and

  • changes in economic conditions.

If we do not keep pace with technological innovations, our products may not be competitive and our revenue and operating results may suffer.

The electronic, semiconductor, solar, automotive and general industrial segments are subject to constant technological change. Our future success will depend on our ability to respond appropriately to changing technologies and changes in product function and quality. If we rely on products and technologies that are not attractive to end users, we may not be successful in capturing or retaining market share. Technological advances, the introduction of new products, and new design techniques could adversely affect our business prospects unless we are able to adapt to the changing conditions. Technological advances could render our products obsolete, and we may not be able to respond effectively to the technological requirements of evolving markets. As a result, we will be required to expend substantial funds for and commit significant resources to:

  • continue research and development activities on all product lines;  

  • hire additional engineering and other technical personnel; and  

  • record; 2) authorize mining equipment purchase advanced design tools and test equipment.

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Our business could be harmed if we are unable to develop and utilize new technologies that address the needs of our customers, or our competitors do so more effectively than we do.

Our efforts to develop new technologies may not result in commercial success and/or may result in delays in development, which could cause a decline in our revenue and could harm our business.

Our research and development efforts with respect to our technologies may not result in customer or market acceptance. Some or all of those technologies may not successfully make the transition from the research and development lab to cost-effective production as a result of technology problems, competitive cost issues, yield problems, and other factors. Even when we successfully complete a research and development effort with respect to a particular technology, our customers may decide not to introduce or may discontinue products utilizing the technology for a variety of reasons, including the following:

  • difficulties with other suppliers of components for the products;  

  • superior technologies developed by our competitors and unfavorable comparisons of our solutions with these technologies;  

  • price considerations; and  

  • lack of anticipated or actual market demand for the products.

The nature of our business will require us to make continuing investments to develop new technologies. Significant expenses relating to one or more new technologies that ultimately prove to be unsuccessful for any reason could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, any investments or acquisitions made to enhance our technologies may prove to be unsuccessful. If our efforts are unsuccessful, our business could be harmed.

Continuing uncertainty of the U.S. and global economy may have serious implications for the growth and stability of our business.

Revenue growth and continued profitability of our business will depend significantly on the overall demand for test and measurement instrumentations in key markets including research and development, automotive, semiconductor and electronics. Softening demand in these markets caused by ongoing economic uncertainty, a return to recessionary conditions, technological developments, competitive changes or other factors may result in decreased revenue or earnings levels. The U.S. and global economy has been historically cyclical and market conditions continue to be challenging, which has resulted in individuals and companies delaying or reducing expenditures. Further delays or reductions in spending could have a material adverse effect on demand for our products, and consequently on our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects, stock price, and ability to continue to operate.

Variability of customer requirements resulting in cancellations, reductions, or delays may adversely affect our operating results.

We are required to provide rapid product turnaround and respond to short lead times. A variety of conditions, both specific to individual customers and generally affecting the demand for OEMs’ products, may cause customers to cancel, reduce, or delay orders. Cancellations, reductions, or delays by a significant customer or by a group of customers could adversely affect our operating results. Conversely, if our customers unexpectedly and significantly increase product orders, we may be required to rapidly increase production, which could strain our resources and reduce our margins.

The cyclical nature of the electronics and military industries may result in fluctuations in our operating results.

The electronics and military industries have experienced significant economic downturns at various times. These downturns are characterized by diminished product demand, accelerated erosion of average selling prices, and production overcapacity. We may seek to reduce our exposure to industry downturns by providing design and production services for leading companies in rapidly expanding industry segments. We may, however, experience substantial period-to-period fluctuations in future operating results because of general industry conditions or events occurring in the general economy.

International sales risks could adversely affect our operating results. Furthermore, our operating results could be adversely affected by changes to U.S. policy and fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies.

Having a worldwide distribution network for our products exposes us to various economic, political, and other risks that could adversely affect our operations and operating results, including the following:

  • unexpected changes in regulatory requirements;

  • timing to meet regulatory requirements;  

  • tariffs, duties and other trade barrier restrictions;  

  • greater difficulty in collecting accounts receivable;  

  • the burdens and costs of compliance with a variety of foreign laws;  

  • potentially reduced protection for intellectual property rights; and  

  • political or economic instability in certain parts of the world.

 11


All of these risks associated with international sales could negatively affect our operating results.

We anticipate possible changes to current policies by the U.S. government that could affect our business, including potentially through increased import tariffs and other changes in U.S. trade relations with other countries (e.g., China). Our suppliers source some of their raw materials from foreign countries, so any tariffs imposed by the U.S. government on imports into the United States would likely increase our cost of product revenue and, as a result, decrease our gross margins, operating income and net income, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. Further, if the U.S. government imposes tariffs on imports into the United States, other countries may respond by imposing tariffs on products manufactured in the United States, which would increasetransactions; 3) authorize the price of our products in these countries and may result in our customers looking to alternative sources for our products. Further, the imposition of such tariffs, and other recent and potential actions of the U.S government with respect to other countries, may generate negative views of the United States in other countries and make persons in those countries less inclined to purchase products from U.S. companies like us.

In addition, we transact our business in U.S. dollars and bill and collect our sales in U.S. dollars. In 2016, approximately 32.3% of our revenue was from customers located outside of the United States. It is possible that U.S. policy changes and uncertainty about policy could increase market volatility and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Market volatility and currency exchange rate fluctuations could impact our results of operations and financial condition related to transactions denominated in a foreign currency. A weakening of the dollar could cause our overseas vendors to require renegotiation of either the prices or currency we pay for their goods and services. Similarly, a strengthening of the dollar could cause our products to be more expensive for our international customers,at which could impact price and margins and/or cause the demand for our products, and thus our revenue, to decline.

In the future, customers may negotiate pricing and make payments in non-U.S. currencies. If our overseas vendors or customers require us to transact business in non-U.S. currencies, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could affect our cost of goods, operating expenses, and operating margins and could result in exchange losses. In addition, currency devaluation can result in a loss to us if we hold deposits of that currency. Hedging foreign currencies can be difficult, especially if the currency is not freely traded. We cannot predict the impact that future exchange rate fluctuations may have on our operating results.

Our confidentiality agreements with employees and others may not adequately prevent disclosure of our trade secrets and other proprietary information, which could limit our ability to compete.

We rely on trade secrets to protect our proprietary technology and processes. Trade secrets are difficult to protect. We enter into confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreements with our employees, consultants, and other advisors. These agreements generally require that the other party keep confidential and not disclose to third parties confidential information developed by the party under such agreements or made known to the party by us during the course of the party’s relationship with us. However, these agreements may not be honored and enforcing a claim that a party illegally obtained and is using our trade secrets is difficult, expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. Our failure to obtain and maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive position.

We depend on key personnel who would be difficult to replace, and our business will likely be harmed if we lose their services or cannot hire additional qualified personnel.

Our success depends substantially on the efforts and abilities of our senior management and key personnel. The competition for qualified management and key personnel, especially engineers, is intense. Although we maintain non-competition and non-disclosure covenants with most of our key personnel, we do not have employment agreements with most of them. The loss of services of one or more of our key employees or the inability to hire, train, and retain key personnel, especially engineers, technical support personnel, and capable sales and customer-support employees outside the United States, could delay the development and sale of our products, disrupt our business, and interfere with our ability to execute our business plan.

Future sales of our common stock, or the perception that future sales may occur, may cause the market price of our common stock to decline, even if our business is doing well.

Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement entered into between the Company and Brookstone, the Company is obligated to register for resale the shares of common stock sold to Brookstone in October 2016. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the market after such registration, or the perception that these sales may occur, could materially and adversely affect the price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.

 12


Brookstone’s ownership of 41.6% of the outstanding shares of our common stock gives it a controlling interest in the Company.

Brookstone owns approximately 41.6% of our outstanding shares of common stock and has designated three directors that sit on our seven-member Board of Directors. Accordingly, Brookstone has the ability to exert a significant degree of influence or actual control over our management and affairs and, as a practical matter, will control corporate actions requiring shareholder approval, irrespective of how our other shareholders may vote, including the election of directors, amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and the approval of mergers and other significant corporate transactions, including a sale of substantially all of our assets, and Brookstone may vote its shares in a manner that is adverse to the interests of our minority stockholders. For example, Brookstone will be able to prevent a merger or similar transaction, including a transaction in which stockholders will receive a premium for their shares, even if our other shareholders are in favor of such transaction. This concentration of voting control could deprive our investors of an opportunity to receive a premium for their shares of our common stock as part of a sale of the Company. Further, Brookstone’s control position might adversely affect the market price of our common stock to the extent investors perceive disadvantages in owning shares of a company with a controlling shareholder.

Brookstone and their director designees may acquire interests and positions that could present potential conflicts with our and our shareholders’ interests.

Brookstone and their director designees may make investments in companies and may, from time to time, acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us. Brookstone and their director designees may also pursue, for their own accounts, acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business, and as a result, those acquisition opportunities might not be available to us. As part of our sale of the Shares to Brookstone in October 2016 and as required by Brookstone as a condition to purchasing the Shares, our Board of Directors renounced, to the extent permitted by New York law, the Company's expectancy with respect to being offered an opportunity to participate in any business opportunity that is discovered by or presented to a director designee (a “Business Opportunity”), whether in such director designee’s capacity as a directorsecurities of the Company or otherwise. Accordingly,are sold; 4) authorize the interestspayment of Brookstonedividends to holders of preferred stock of the Company; and 5) identify and assess business risks and develop and propose recommendations to management and the designated directors with respectBoard to a Business Opportunity may supersede ours, and Brookstone or its affiliates orminimize such risks. Notwithstanding anything in the Brookstone-designated directors may be involved with business in competition with us and may pursue opportunities forforegoing, the sole benefit of Brookstone and its affiliates without our involvement, for which we have limited recourse. Such actions on the part of Brookstone or its director designees could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We may become subjectExecutive Committee is not authorized to claims of infringement or misappropriation1) take any action that requires an adoption by an independent majority of the intellectual property rights of others, which could prohibit us from selling our products, require us to obtain licenses from third parties or to develop non-infringing alternatives, and subject us to substantial monetary damages and injunctive relief.

We may receive notices from third partiesBoard; 2) complete any transaction that the manufacture, use, or sale of any products we develop infringes upon one or more claims of their patents. Moreover, because patent applications can take many years to issue, there may be currently pending applications, unknown to us, that may later result in issued patents that materially and adversely affect our business. Third parties could also assert infringement or misappropriation claims against us with respect to our future product offerings, if any. We cannot be certain that we have not infringed the intellectual property rights of any third parties. Any infringement or misappropriation claim could result in significant costs, substantial damages, and our inability to manufacture, market, or sell any of our product offerings that are found to infringe another person’s patent. Even if we were to prevail in any such action, the litigation could result in substantial cost and diversion of resources that could materially and adversely affect our business. If a court determined, or if we independently discovered, that our product offerings violated third-party proprietary rights, there can be no assurance that we would be able to re-engineer our product offerings to avoid those rights or obtain a license under those rights on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. As a result, we could be prohibited from selling products that are found to infringe upon the rights of others. Even if obtaining a license were feasible, it may be costly and time-consuming. A court could also enter orders that temporarily, preliminarily, or permanently enjoin us from making, using, selling, offering to sell, or importing our products that are found to infringe on third parties’ intellectual property rights, or could enter orders mandating that we undertake certain remedial actions. Further, a court could order us to pay compensatory damages for any such infringement, plus prejudgment interest, and could in addition treble the compensatory damages and award attorneys’ fees. Any such payments could materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.

If we are unable to protect our information systems against service interruption or failure, misappropriation of data or breaches of security, our operations could be disrupted, we could be subject to costly government enforcement actions and private litigation and our reputation may be damaged.

Our business involves the collection, storage and transmission of personal, financial or other information that is entrusted to us by our customers and employees. Our information systems also contain the Company's proprietary and other confidential information related to our business. Our efforts to protect such information may be unsuccessful due to the actions of third parties, computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins, catastrophic events, employee error or malfeasance or other attempts to harm our systems. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems, change frequently and often are not recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures in time. We could also experience a loss of critical data and delays or interruptions in our ability to manage inventories or process transactions. Some of our commercial partners, such as those that help us maintain our websites, may receive or store information provided by us or our users through our websites. If these third parties fail to adopt or adhere to adequate information security practices, or fail to comply with our policies in this regard, or in the event of a breach of their networks, our customers’ information may be improperly accessed, used or disclosed.

 13


If our systems are harmed or fail to function properly, we may need to expend significant financial resources to repair or replace systems or to otherwise protect against security breaches or to address problems caused by breaches. If we experience a significant security breach or fail to detect and appropriately respond to a significant security breach, we could be exposed to costly legal actions against us in connection with such incidents, which could result in orders or judgments forcing us to pay damages or fines or to take certain actions with respect to our information systems. Any incidents involving unauthorized access to or improper use of user information, or incidents that are a violation of our online privacy could harm our brand reputation and diminish our competitive position. Any of these events could have a material and adverse effect on our business, reputation or financial results. Our insurance policies carry coverage limits, which may not be adequate to reimburse us for losses caused by security breaches.

In the future, we may experience an ownership change in the Company that would result in a limitation of tax attributes relating to the use of our net operating losses.

A corporation generally undergoes an “ownership change” when the ownership of its stock, by value, changes by more than 50 percentage points over any three-year testing period. In the event of an ownership change, Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 imposes an annual limitation on the amount of post-ownership change taxable income a corporation may offset with pre-ownership change net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards and certain recognized built-in losses.

We estimate that as of December 31, 2016, the Company and MTI Instruments have NOL carryforwards of approximately $51.9 million. Our ability to utilize these NOL carryforwards, including any future NOL carryforwards that may arise, may be limited by Section 382 if we undergo any further “ownership changes” as a result of subsequent changes in the ownership of our outstanding common stock pursuant to the exercise of MTI options outstanding, additional financings obtained, or otherwise. 

Our risk management process may not identify all risks that we are subject to and will not eliminate all risk.

Our Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) process seeks to identify and address significant risks. Our ERM process uses the most recent integrated risk framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) to assess, manage, and monitor risks. We believe that risk-taking is an inherent aspect of the pursuit of our growth and performance strategy. Our goals are to proactively manage risks in a structured approach in conjunction with strategic planning, with the intent to preserve and enhance shareowner value, and to manage prudently, rather than wholly avoiding, risks. We can mitigate risks and their impact on the Company, however, only to a limited extent, and no ERM process can identify all risks that we may face. Therefore, there may be risks that we are currently unaware of, that may develop in the future or that we currently consider immaterial. Further, our management of risks may prove inadequate. The emergence of risks of which we were unaware or are unable to manage could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospectus, financial condition and results of operations.

Item 1B: Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

Item 2: Properties

We lease approximately 17,400 square feet of office, manufacturing and research and development space at 325 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, NY 12205. The current lease agreement expires on November 30, 2019. We believe our facilities are generally well maintained and adequate for our current needs and for expansion, if required.

Item 3: Legal Proceedings

At any point in time, we may be involved in various lawsuits or other legal proceedings. Such lawsuits could arise from the sale of products or services or from other matters relating to our regular business activities, compliance with various governmental regulations and requirements, or other transactions or circumstances. We do not believe there are any such proceedings presently pending that could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements; or 3) complete any transaction that qualifies as a related party transaction.

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

The Board executes its oversight responsibility for risk management directly and through its Committees, as follows:

The Audit Committee has primary responsibility for overseeing the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting risk by reviewing: (i) the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures; (ii) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls; (iii) any fraud material or otherwise; (iv) the use of judgments in management’s preparation of the financial statements; and (v) through consultation with Company’s independent registered public accounting firm on the above items. The Board is kept abreast of the Committee’s risk oversight and other activities via reports of the Committee Chairman to the full Board.
The Compensation Committee oversees the risks associated with our compensation policies and practices, with respect to both executive compensation and compensation generally. The Board is kept abreast of the Committee’s risk oversight and other activities via reports of the Committee Chairman to the full Board.
The Executive Committee is responsible for identifying and assessing business risks and proposing recommendations to management and the full Board. The Board is kept abreast of the Committee’s risk oversight and other activities via reports of the Committee Chairman to the full Board.
The Board considers specific risk topics, including risks associated with our strategic plan, our capital structure, and our development activities. In addition, the Board receives detailed regular reports from the heads of our principal business and corporate functions that include discussions of the risks and exposures involved in their respective areas of responsibility. These reports are provided in connection with every regular Board meeting and are discussed, as necessary, at Board meetings. Further, the Board is routinely informed of developments at the Company that could affect our risk profile or other aspects of our business.

We do not believe that the Board’s role in risk oversight has any impact on its leadership structure, as discussed below.

Executive Sessions of Directors

Executive sessions, or meetings of outside (non-management) directors without management present, are held periodically throughout the year. At these executive sessions, the outside directors review, among other things, the criteria upon which the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers is based, the performance of the Chief Executive Officer against such criteria, and the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers. Meetings are held from time to time with the Chief Executive Officer to discuss relevant subjects.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board recognizes that one of its key responsibilities is to evaluate and determine its optimal leadership structure so as to provide independent oversight of management. The Board understands that there is no single, generally accepted approach to providing Board leadership and that given the dynamic and competitive environment in which we operate, the right Board leadership structure may vary as circumstances warrant. As of the date of this report, Michael Toporek will serve as Executive Chairman of the Board and William Phelan will serve as our business, financial condition or resultsLead Independent Director. The Board recognizes that it is important to determine an optimal board leadership structure to ensure the independent oversight of operations.management as the Company continues to grow. Michael Toporek had served as our Chief Executive Officer since October 2020, and effective May 1, 2023, John Belizaire began service as Chief Executive Officer and Michael Toporek serves as Executive Chairman. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the Company and the day-to-day leadership and performance of the Company, while the Chairman of the Board provides guidance to the Chief Executive Officer and presides over meetings of the full Board and the Lead Independent Director coordinates the activities of the other independent directors and performs such other duties and responsibilities as the Board may determine. We believe that this separation of responsibilities also provides a balanced approach to managing the Board and overseeing the Company.

 14

9

 

Item 4: Mine Safety DisclosuresIn considering its leadership structure, the Board has taken a number of factors into account. The Board, which consists of directors who are highly qualified and experienced, eight of whom are independent directors, exercises a strong, independent oversight function. This oversight function is enhanced by the fact that the Board’s three of the four standing committees – the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee – are comprised solely of independent directors and the Executive Committee, is comprised of a majority of independent directors.

Board Membership

To fulfill its responsibility to recruit and recommend to the full Board nominees for election as directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews the size and composition of the Board to determine the qualifications and areas of expertise needed to further enhance the composition of the Board and works with management in attracting candidates with those qualifications. The goal of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and the Board as a whole, is to achieve a Board that, as a whole, provides effective oversight of the management and business of the Company, through the appropriate diversity of experience, expertise, skills, specialized knowledge, and other qualifications and attributes of the individual directors. Important criteria for Board membership include the following:

Members of the Board should be individuals of high integrity and independence, substantial accomplishments, and have prior or current associations with institutions noted for their excellence.
Members of the Board should have demonstrated leadership ability, with broad experience, diverse perspectives, and the ability to exercise sound business judgment.
The background and experience of members of the Board should be in areas important to the operations of the Company such as business, education, finance, government, law, science, blockchain, energy, and cryptocurrency.
The composition of the Board should reflect the benefits of diversity as to gender, ethnic background, and experience.

The satisfaction of these criteria is implemented and assessed through ongoing consideration of directors and nominees by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board. Based upon these activities and its review of the current composition of the Board, the Committee and the Board believe that most of these criteria have been satisfied, and is actively pursuing the addition of at least one additional director that would help the Board in meeting the diversity goals noted above.

In addition, in accordance with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter, the Committee considers the number of boards of directors of other public companies on which a candidate serves. Moreover, directors are expected to act ethically at all times and adhere to the Company’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board believe that each of the nominees for election at the Annual Meeting brings a strong and unique set of attributes, experiences, and skills and provides the Board as a whole with an optimal balance of experience, leadership, competencies, qualifications, and skills in areas of importance to the Company.

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5: Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

Our common stock is quotedIn accordance with the Committee’s charter, as published on the OTC Markets Group quotation system (OTCQB: MKTY) onCompany’s website at https://www. solunacomputing.com/investors/governance, management has the OTCQB venture stage marketplace for early stage and developing U.S. and international companies. We are current in our reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process.  Investors can find Real-Time quotes and market informationprimary responsibility for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com.Company’s financial statements and the financial reporting process, including maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting. The following table sets forthCompany’s independent registered public accounting firm reports directly to the highAudit Committee and low bid informationis responsible for our common stock as reported on the OTC Market Group quotation system for the periods indicated:

 

High

     

Low

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

       First Quarter

$

1.40

 

$

0.67

       Second Quarter

 

0.95

 

 

0.55

       Third Quarter

 

1.41

 

 

0.35

       Fourth Quarter

 

1.60

 

 

0.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

       First Quarter

$

1.20

 

$

0.70

       Second Quarter

 

1.49

 

 

0.86

       Third Quarter

 

1.36

 

 

1.06

       Fourth Quarter

 

1.29

 

 

0.20

Holders

We have one class of common stock, par value $.01, and are authorized to issue 75,000,000 shares of common stock. Each shareperforming an independent audit of the Company’s common stockconsolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The Audit Committee, among other matters, is entitledresponsible for appointing the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, evaluating such independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, independence, and performance, determining the compensation for such independent registered public accounting firm, and pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services provided to one vote on all matters submitted to stockholders.  As of December 31, 2016, there were 9,010,643 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. As of February 16, 2017, there were approximately 211 shareholders of recordthe Company. Additionally, the Audit Committee is responsible for oversight of the Company’s common stock.accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of the Company’s financial statements, including the work of the independent registered public accounting firm. The number of shareholders of record does not reflect the number of persons whose shares are held in nominee or “street” name accounts through brokers.

Dividends

We have never declared or paid dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate or contemplate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to use all available funds to develop our business. We can give no assurances that we will ever have excess funds available to pay dividends. Any future determination asAudit Committee reports to the payment of dividends will depend upon critical requirements and limitations imposed by our credit agreements, if any, and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider.with regard to:

the scope of the annual audit;
fees to be paid to the independent registered public accounting firm:
the performance of the independent registered public accounting firm;
compliance with accounting and financial policies and financial statement presentation; and
the procedures and policies relative to the adequacy of internal accounting controls.

Item 6: Selected Financial Data

Not applicable.

 15


Item 7: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements, which involve risk and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those discussed in Item 1A: “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report.

Overview

MTI’s core business is conducted through our wholly-owned subsidiary MTI Instruments, Inc.MTI Instruments is a supplier of precision linear displacement sensors, instruments and system solutions, vibration measurement and system balancing solutions, precision tensile measurement systems and wafer inspection tools, serving markets that require 1) the precise measurements and control of products and processes in automated manufacturing, assembly, and consistent operation of complex machinery, 2) engine balancing and vibration analysis systems for both military and commercial aircraft, 3) metrology tools for semiconductor and solar wafer characterization, and 4) tensile stage systems for materials testing and precision linear displacement gauges all for use in academic and industrial research and development settings.

Recent Developments

On July 1, 2016, the Company entered into a follow-on, multi-year contract with the U.S. Air Force to purchase new PBS4100+ and PBS4100R+ vibration measurement and balancing systems and corresponding maintenance of previously deployed systems and accessories. The total contract, if fully executed, has a value of $9.35 million, with the initial basic one-year term of the contract having an estimated value of approximately $1.8 million.  

In addition to the basic term of the contract, the contract includes four option periods that the U.S. Air Force may exercise on or before the last day of the previous basic contract period or option period. Each option period covers the U.S. Air Force’s option to purchase the Company’s products set forth in the contract with respect to that specific option. Option I (concurrent with the initial basic one-year term) may be exercised at any time, from time-to-time, through June 30, 2017, Option II may be exercised at any time, from time-to-time, through June 30, 2018, Option III may be exercised at any time, from time-to-time, through June 30, 2019, and Option IV may be exercised at any time, from time-to-time, through June 30, 2020. Within this schedule, the U.S. Air Force may exercise multiple option periods simultaneously. The contract provides the U.S. Air Force with an option to extend the term of the contract, but no such extension will be beyond June 30, 2021. 

Results of Operations

Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2016 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2015. 

The following table summarizes changes in the various components of our net loss during the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015.

(Dollars in thousands)

Year Ended

December 31,

2016

     

Year Ended

December 31,

2015

     

 

 

$

Change

 

 

 

%

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product revenue

$

7,056

 

 

$

6,330

 

 

$

726

 

 

11.5%

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product revenue

$

2,722

 

 

$

2,475

 

 

$

247

 

 

10.0% 

    Research and product development expenses

$

1,243

 

 

$

1,546

 

 

$

(303

)

 

(19.6)%

Selling, general and administrative expenses

$

3,452

 

 

$

3,779

 

 

$

(327

)

 

(8.7)%

Operating loss

$

(361

)

 

$

(1,470

)

 

$

1,109

 

 

75.4% 

Other expense, net

$

(7

)

 

$

(2

)

 

$

(5

)

 

(250.0)% 

Loss before income taxes

$

(368

)

 

$

(1,472

)

 

$

1,104

 

 

75.0% 

Income tax benefit (expense)

$

9

 

 

$

(1,360

)

 

$

1,369

 

 

100.7% 

Net loss

$

(359

)

 

$

(2,832

)

 

$

2,473

 

 

87.3%

10

 16


 

Product Revenue: Product revenue consists of revenue recognized from the MTI Instruments’ product lines.

The $726 thousand increase in product revenue during the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to 2015 was driven by activity under the new U.S. Air Force contract, which offset declines in commercial engine vibration analysis system sales. The U.S. Air Force was the largest government customer for the years ended December 31, 2016Audit Committee reviewed and 2015,discussed with Company management and accounted for 18.1% and 4.4%UHY LLP (“UHY”), respectively, of our annual product revenue. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the largest commercial customer was an Asian distributor of our general instrumentation products, which accounted for 8.1% and 6.8%, respectively, of our annual product revenue.

Information regarding government contracts included in product revenue is as follows:

 (Dollars in thousands) 

 

 

 

 

Revenues for the

Year Ended

 

Contract Revenues

to Date

Date

 

Total Contract

Orders Received

To Date

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

Contract(1) 

Expiration

     

2016

     

2015

     

2016

     

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$9.35 million U.S. Air Force Systems, Accessories and Maintenance

06/30/2021

(2)

 

$

1,093

 

$

__

 

$

1,093

 

$

1,097

$6.5 million U.S. Air Force Maintenance   

09/27/2014

(3)

 

$

__

 

$

5

 

$

5,006

 

$

5,006

____________________

(1)

Contract values represent maximum potential values at time of contract placement and may not be representative of actual results.

(2)

Date represents expiration of contract, including the exercise of option extensions.

(3)

Date represents expiration of contract, including the exercise of option extensions. No additional orders are expected under any of these specific contracts.

Cost of Product Revenue; Gross Margin:Cost of product revenue includes the direct material and labor cost as well as an allocation of overhead costs that relate to the manufacturing of products we sell. In addition, cost of product revenue also includes the labor and material costs incurred for product maintenance, replacement parts and service under our contractual obligations.

Cost of product revenue during the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to 2015increased by $247 thousand, or 10.0%, to $2.7 million from $2.5 million. Gross profit, as a percentage of product revenue, rose from 60.9% during the year ended December 31, 2015 to 61.4% during the year ended December 31, 2016. The improvement in gross profit during 2016 was attributable to lower material costs due to the change in product mix, combined with lower overhead costs from reduced staffing. This gross profit, while improved, was diminished by a $350 thousand charge to inventory for excessive inventory amounts built in advance of an order that did not materialize in 2016. The increase in the cost of product revenue was attributable to the increased sales during 2016 as discussed above under Product Revenue, partially offset by the lower material and overhead costs responsible for the improvements in the profit margins.

Research and Product Development Expenses: Research and product development expenses includes the costs of materials to build development and prototype units, cash and non-cash compensation and benefits for the engineering and related staff, expenses for contract engineers, fees paid to outside suppliers for subcontracted components and services, fees paid to consultants for services provided, materials and supplies consumed, facility related costs such as computer and network services, and other general overhead costs associated with our research and development activities, to the extent not reimbursed by our customers.

Research and product development expenses decreased $303 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to 2015 due to reduced staffing and decreased material spending on current development projects.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:Selling, general and administrative expenses includes cash and non-cash compensation, benefits and related costs in support of our general corporate functions, including general management, finance and accounting, human resources, selling and marketing, information technology and legal services.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 decreased by $327 thousand, or 8.7%, to $3.5 million in 2016 from $3.8 million in 2015. This decrease is the result of reduced staffing and travel, lower sales commissions and a $37 thousand reduction to prior year incentive compensation accruals compared to 2015. This decrease was partially offset by $90 thousand in legal and advisory fees related to the adoption of the Shareholder Rights Plan and an increase of $271 thousand in non-cash stock based compensation expense relating to the immediate vesting of options granted under the Mechanical Technology Incorporated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan in conjunction with the change in control (as defined in the Plan) as a result of the Brookstone investment.

 17


Operating Loss: Operating loss was $361 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to $1.5 million in 2015.The improvement was a result of the factors noted above, that is, the increased sales and improvement in the gross margin, combined with decreased research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses. 

Other Expense:Other expense was $7 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to $2 thousand in 2015.The expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 primarily related to a $6 thousand loss recorded on the disposal of equipment in the first quarter.

Income Tax Benefit (Expense):Income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $9 thousand and primarily relates to a refund received from our year ended December 31, 2015 consolidated federal income tax return. Our effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2016 was (2)%. Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $1.4 million and primarily related to the increase in the valuation allowance against the previously-recognized $1.3 million deferred tax asset. Our effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2015 was 92%.

Net Loss:Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $359 thousand compared to $2.8 million in 2015.The decrease in net loss during 2016 was attributable to increased sales and improvements in the gross margin and the decreased research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses, as discussed above, as well as the increase in the valuation allowance against the previously-recognized $1.3 million deferred tax asset during 2015, which heavily contributed to the unusually large net loss in 2015.

Management’s Plan, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Several key indicators of our liquidity are summarized in the following table:

(Dollars in thousands)

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

2016

     

2015

     

Cash

$

3,381

 

 

$

462

 

 

Working capital

 

3,990

 

 

 

1,413

 

 

Net loss

 

(359

)

 

 

(2,832

)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

522

 

 

 

(1,426

)

 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 

(136

)

 

 

(55

)

 

The Company has historically incurred significant losses (the majority, until 2012, stemming from the direct methanol fuel cell product development and commercialization programs of its former subsidiary, MeOH Power, Inc.) and had a consolidated accumulated deficit of $121.0 million as of December 31, 2016. Management believes that the Company currently has adequate resources to avoid future cost-cutting measures that could adversely affect its business. As of December 31, 2016, we had no debt, no outstanding commitments for capital expenditures and approximately $3.4 million of cash available to fund our operations.

Based on business developments, including changes in production levels, staffing requirements and network infrastructure improvements, additional capital equipment may be required in the foreseeable future. We expect to spend approximately $75 thousand on capital equipment and $1.4 million in research and development on MTI Instruments’ products during 2017. We expect to finance any future expenditures and continue funding our operations from our current cash position and our projected 2017 cash flows pursuant to management’s plans. We may also seek to supplement our resources by obtaining credit facilities to fund operational working capital and capital expenditure requirements. Any additional financing, if required, may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all.

While it cannot be assured, management believes that, due in part to our current working capital level, recent realignment in sales and operations and stabilized spending, the Company will have adequate resources to fund operations and capital expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2017 and through the end of the first quarter of 2018. However, if our revenue estimates are off either in timing or amount, the Company may need to implement additional steps to ensure liquidity including, but not limited to, the deferral of planned capital spending and/or delaying existing or pending product development initiatives. Such steps, if required, could potentially have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Debt

During the first quarter of 2016, we entered into discussions with Bank of America, N.A. (the Bank) to strengthen our then-existing lines of credit with the Bank and re-align their terms to be more consistent with our current business plan. During such discussions, the Bank informed the Company that based on its results for 2015 it was not in compliance with certain financial covenants of the lines. Since an agreement on new covenants could not be reached, the Company decided that the lines of credit could not be utilized and therefore terminated them on March 24, 2016. There were no amounts outstanding under the credit facilities at the time of cancellation.

 18


Backlog, Inventory and Accounts Receivable

At December 31, 2016, the Company’s order backlog was $349 thousand, compared to $234 thousand at December 31, 2015. The increase in backlog was due to a large order for capacitance systems that we receivedindependent registered accounting firm during 2022, the fourth quarter of 2016, with scheduled deliveries through the first half of 2017. 

Our inventory turnover ratios and average accounts receivable days outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and their changes are as follows:

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2016

     

2015

     

Change

Inventory turnover

2.3

 

2.6

 

 

(0.3)

Average accounts receivable days outstanding

35

 

53

 

 

 

(18)

The decrease in inventory turns is due to a 17% increase in average inventory balances in anticipation of orders from Asia.  

The average accounts receivable days’ outstanding decreased 18 days during 2016 compared to the prior year due to a proportionate increase in U.S. government sales, as commercial customers take a longer period to pay than the U.S. government.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off balance sheet arrangements.

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

The prior discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon ourCompany’s 2022 annual consolidated financial statements, which have beenincluding management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s management has represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Note 2

The Audit Committee has discussed with UHY the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Consolidated Financial StatementsPublic Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC, which includes, among other items, matters related to the conduct of the audit of the annual consolidated financial statements. The Audit Committee has also discussed the critical accounting policies used in the preparation of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements, alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that UHY discussed with management, the ramifications of using such alternative treatments, and other written communications between UHY and management.

The Audit Committee has received from UHY the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountant required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with UHY their independence. The Audit Committee has also concluded that UHY’s performance of non-audit services is compatible with UHY’s independence.

The Audit Committee also discussed with UHY the overall scope and plans for its audit and has met with UHY, with and without management present, to discuss the results of its audit and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting. The Audit Committee also discussed with UHY whether there were any audit problems or difficulties, and management’s response.

Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board, and the Board has approved, that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in thisthe Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K includes a summary of our most significant accounting policies. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses, and related disclosure of assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, inventories, income taxes and share-based compensation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Periodically, our management reviews our critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

The significant accounting policies that we believe are most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our consolidated financial statements include the following:

Revenue Recognition. We recognize product revenue when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, delivery of the product to the customer or distributor has occurred, at which time title generally is passed to the customer or distributor, and we have determined that collection of a fixed fee is probable, all of which occur upon shipment of the product. If the product requires that we provide installation, all revenue related to the product is deferred and recognized upon the completion of the installation. 

Inventory. Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or the current estimated market value of the inventory. We periodically review inventory quantities on hand and record a provision for excess or obsolete inventory based primarily on our estimated forecast of product demand, as well as based on historical usage. Demand and usage for products and materials can fluctuate significantly. A significant decrease in demand for our products could result in a short-term increase in the cost of inventory purchases and an increase of excess inventory quantities on hand. Therefore, although we make every effort to assure the accuracy of our forecasts of future product demand, any significant unanticipated changes in demand could have a significant impact on the value of our inventory and our reported operating results. If changes in market conditions result in reductions in the estimated net realizable value of our inventory below our previous estimate, we would increase our reserve in the period in which we made such a determination and record a charge to cost of product revenue.

Share-Based Payments. We grant options to purchase our common stock and award restricted stock to our employees and directors under our equity incentive plans. The benefits provided under these plans are share-based payments subject to the appropriate accounting provisions regarding Share-Based Payments. We use the fair value method of accounting with the modified prospective application, which provides for certain changes to the method for valuing share-based compensation. The valuation provisions apply to new awards and to awards that are outstanding on the effective date and subsequently modified. Under the modified prospective application, prior periods are not revised for comparative purposes.

 19


We estimate the fair value of share-based awards on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The determination of the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by our stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables include our expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends.

If factors change and we employ different assumptions for the accounting methodology during future periods, the compensation expense that we record may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period. Therefore, we believe it is important for investors to be aware of the high degree of subjectivity involved when using option-pricing models to estimate share-based compensation. Option-pricing models were developed for use in estimating the value of traded options that have no vesting or hedging restrictions, are fully transferable and do not cause dilution. Because our share-based payments have characteristics significantly different from those of freely traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect our estimates of fair values, in our opinion, existing valuation models, including the Black-Scholes Option Pricing model, may not provide reliable measures of the fair values of our share-based compensation. Consequently, there is a risk that our estimates of the fair values of our share-based compensation awards on the grant dates may bear little resemblance to the intrinsic values realized upon the exercise, expiration, cancellation, or forfeiture of those share-based payments in the future. Certain share-based payments, such as employee stock options, may expire worthless or otherwise result in zero intrinsic value as compared to the fair values originally estimated on the grant date and expensed in our financial statements. Alternatively, value may be realized from these instruments that are significantly in excess of the fair values originally estimated on the grant date and expensed in our financial statements. There currently is neither a market-based mechanism nor other practical application to verify the reliability and accuracy of the estimates stemming from these valuation models, nor a way to compare and adjust the estimates to actual values. Although the fair value of employee share-based awards is determined using a qualified option-pricing model, that value may not be indicative of the fair value observed in a willing buyer/willing seller market transaction. Estimates of share-based compensation expenses are significant to our financial statements, but these expenses are based on the aforementioned option valuation model and will never result in our payment of cash.

Theoretical valuation models and market-based methods are evolving and may result in lower or higher fair value estimates for share-based compensation. The timing, readiness, adoption, general acceptance, reliability, and testing of these methods is uncertain. Sophisticated mathematical models may require voluminous historical information, modeling expertise, financial analyses, correlation analyses, integrated software and databases, consulting fees, customization, and testing for adequacy of internal controls.

For purposes of estimating the fair value of stock options granted during the twelve monthsyear ended December 31, 2016 using the Black-Scholes model, we used the historical volatility of our stock2022, for the expected volatility assumption input to the Black-Scholes model, consistentfiling with the accounting guidance. The risk-free interest rateSEC. This report is based onprovided by the risk-free zero-coupon rate for a period consistent withfollowing directors, who constitute the expected option term atCommittee.

Audit Committee:

Mr. David C. Michaels (Chairman)*

Mr. Edward R. Hirshfield

Mr. William P. Phelan

Mr. Thomas Marusak

Mr. John Bottomley

* At the time of grant. We do not currently pay nor do we anticipate paying dividends, but we are required to assume a dividend yield as an input to the Black-Scholes model. As such, we use a zero dividend rate. The expected option term is calculated as an average time to forfeiture for all grants.

Income Taxes. As partissuance of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we calculate income taxes for each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This involves estimating actual current taxes due together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment for tax and accounting purposes that are recorded as deferred tax assets and liabilities. We periodically evaluate deferred tax assets, net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards to determine their recoverability based primarily on our ability to generate future taxable income.

Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities, and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets. We considered all available evidence, both positive and negative, such as historical levels of income and future forecasts of taxable income amongst other items in determining our valuation allowance. In addition, our assessment requires us to schedule future taxable income in accordance with accounting standards that address income taxes to assess the appropriateness of a valuation allowance, which further requires the exercise of significant management judgment.

We account for taxes in accordance with the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, we must recognize 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 tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution. The impact of our reassessment of our tax positions for these standards did not have a material impact on our results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.

 20


Recent Accounting Pronouncements

A discussion of recently adopted and new accounting pronouncements is included in Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of thisCompany’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.10K filed on March 31, 2023, Mr. Michaels was Chairman of the Audit Committee. On April 24, 2022 he resigned from the Audit Committee to assume the role of Interim Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Marusak has as of the date of this report, assumed the role of Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Not applicable.

Jessica L. Thomas

Item 8: Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements begin on page F-1 and are incorporated in this Item 8 by reference.

Item 9: Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Not applicable.

Item 9A: Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with, age 49, joined the participation ofCompany as our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer evaluatedin July 2020 through July 2022 and currently serves as the effectivenessCompany’s Chief Accounting Officer beginning in August 2022. Ms. Thomas supervises the Company’s financial reporting, treasury, human resources, and risk management. Prior to her employment with the Company, Ms. Thomas served as Director of MTI’s disclosure controlsOptimization for Pregis, LLC, a provider of protective packaging materials, from 2014 through July 2020, where she was responsible for operations, system, and proceduresfinancial optimization. From 2009 through 2014, Ms. Thomas worked at Plasan NA as Manager of Budget & Control and Financial Planning & Analysis and was also responsible for compliance with government contracting, including monitoring compliance with Defense Contract Audit Agency and Federal Acquisition Regulations. From 2007 to 2009, Ms. Thomas was a Senior Staff Auditor at Cruden & Company, CPA’s PLLC. Ms. Thomas has also held positions in the banking industry as an officer at Key Bank and a Bank Branch Manager at M&T Bank. Ms. Thomas received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Siena College and an M.B.A. in Finance & International Finance from Northeastern University. Ms. Thomas obtained her Certified Public Accountant license in May 2009, has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) since 2005, and holds the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation.

11

Mary O’Reilly, age 46, joined the Company as our Chief People Officer in September 2021. Ms. O’Reilly oversees the operations and initiatives that affect employee experience and company culture. Ms. O’Reilly has a long tenure as a Human Resource executive in various tech startups and large public organizations such as Viacom, Inc., CBS Corp., Alloy Media & Marketing. She has experience in organization design, employment law, risk management, benefits and payroll management, conflict resolution and employee relations. Over the past several years, Ms. O’Reilly worked as VP of Human Resources for Viacom, Inc. from June 2017 to December 31, 2016. The term “disclosure controls2020, Farm Sanctuary as Chief Operating Officer from January 2020 to December 2020, and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e)Founder of SHINE People from 2008 through 2021.

Our executive officers are elected or appointed by the Board and 15d-15(e) underhold their respective offices until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal.

Delinquent Section 16(A) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, means controlsrequires our directors, our executive officers, and persons who beneficially own of more than 10% of the Common Stock to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership of the Common Stock and other procedures ofequity securities on a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarizedForm 3 and reported, within the time periods specified in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. We recognize that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and we necessarily apply our judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2016, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

(b) Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management of our Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as that term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed 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.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate becausereport of changes in conditions,such ownership on a Form 4 or thatForm 5. Officers, directors, and 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To our knowledge, based solely on a review of all Forms 3, 4, and 5 and amendments thereto furnished to us during the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Under the supervisionmost recent fiscal year and with the participation of our management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting using the criteria set forth in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013 version) issuedwritten representations by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation using the criteria set forth in Internal Control—Integrated Framework, Management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2016. 

This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Our report was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC that permit us to provide only Management’s Report in this annual report.

/s/ Frederick W. Jones

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer )

 21


(c) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, during our fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonable likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B: Other Information

No information waspersons required to be disclosed in a current Report on Form 8-K during the fourth quarterfile such reports, all filing requirements of theSection 16(a) were satisfied with respect to our most recent fiscal year coveredexcept as follows: one Form 4 were filed late by this Annual Report on Form 10-K that has not been reported.each Mr. Michaels, Mr. Hirshfield, Mr. Marusak, Mr. Bottomley, Mr. Phelan, Mr. Lipman, and Mr. Hazelip.

PART III

Item 10: Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Code of Ethics: We have adopted a Conduct and Ethics

Code of Conduct and Ethics for employees, officers and directors. A copy of the Code of Conduct and Ethics is available on our website at http:https://www.mechtech.com under Governance, Governance Documents.www.solunacomputing.com/investors/governance.

The remaining information required by this Item 10 is incorporated herein by reference to the information appearing under the captions “Information about our Directors,” “Executive Officers,” “Board of Director Meetings and Committees – Audit Committee” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC on or before May 1, 2017.

Item 11: Executive Compensation

Compensation Philosophy

The information required by this Item 11primary objectives of our compensation policies are to attract, retain, motivate, develop, and reward our management team for executing our strategic business plan, thereby enhancing stockholder value, while recognizing and rewarding individual and Company performance. These compensation policies include: (i) an overall management compensation program that is incorporated herein by reference to the information appearing under the caption “Executive Compensation”competitive with companies of similar size or within our industries and (ii) long-term incentive compensation in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statementform of stock-based compensation that is aimed towards encouraging management to continue to focus on stockholder returns. Our executive compensation program ties a substantial portion of our executives’ overall compensation to key strategic, financial, and operational goals, including: establishing and maintaining customer relationships; signing original equipment manufacturer agreements; meeting revenue targets and profit and expense targets; introducing new products; progressing products towards manufacturing; and improving operational efficiency.

We believe that potential equity ownership in the Company is important to provide executive officers with incentives to build value for our 2017 Annual Meetingstockholders. We believe that equity awards provide executives with a strong link to our short-term and long-term performance while creating an ownership culture to maintain the alignment of Stockholders to be filed withinterests between our executives and our stockholders. When implemented responsibly, we also believe these equity incentives can function as a powerful executive retention tool.

The Compensation Committee of the SEC on or before May 1, 2017.

Item 12: Security OwnershipBoard, consisting entirely of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Equity Compensation Plans

As of December 31, 2016, we have three equityindependent directors, administers our compensation plans eachand policies, including the establishment of which was originally approved bypolicies that govern base salary as well as short-term and long-term incentives for our stockholders; the Mechanical Technology Incorporated 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”), the Mechanical Technology Incorporated 2012 Equity Incentive Planexecutive management team.

12

Summary of Cash and the Mechanical Technology Incorporated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (collectively, the “Plans”). The 2006 Plan was amended and restated and approved by our Board of Directors in 2011 and 2009. See Note 11 of our Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of the Plans.Other Compensation

The following table presents information regarding these plans as ofsets forth the total compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to, for services rendered in all capacities to the Company during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016:2022 and December 31, 2021, our “named executive officers,” as defined in SEC rules. 

 

 

     

 

 

     

Number of Securities Remaining 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available for Future Issuance 

 

Number of Securities To Be 

 

 

 

 

Under 

 

Issued Upon Exercise of 

 

  Weighted Average Exercise 

 

Equity Compensation Plans 

 

Outstanding 

 

  Price of Outstanding 

 

(excluding securities reflected in 

 

Options, Warrants, Rights(1) 

 

  Options, Warrants, Rights 

 

column (a)) (2) 

                   Plan Category 

(a) 

 

  (b) 

 

(c) 

Equity compensation plans 

 

 

 

 

 

 

approved by security holders 

1,051,750

 

$

0.76

 

45,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity compensation plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

not approved by security holders(3)

90,589

 

 

0.73

 

-0-

 ____________________

Summary Compensation Table

Name and Principal

    

 

 

Salary

  

 

 

Bonus

  

 

 

Stock Awards

  

 

 

Option Awards

  

Non-Equity Incentive Plan

Compensation

  

Nonqualified deferred compensation

earnings

  

 

All Other

Compensation

  Total 
Position Year  ($)  ($)  ($)(1)  ($)(1)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($) 
                                                      
Michael Toporek  2022   313,846                        313,846 
Chief Executive Officer  2021   240,423   125,000       3,420,000(2)              3,785,423 
                                     
John Belizaire  2022   350,000                           350,000 
Chief Executive Officer of Soluna Computing Inc.  2021   47,115   29,167   1,057,583(5)                  1,133,865 
                                     

Jessica L. Thomas

  2022   250,000       11,200(4)                  261,200 
Chief Accounting Officer and Former Chief Financial Officer  2021   233,482   50,000   347,250(3)                  630,732 
                                     
Philip Patman, Jr.  2022   121,154       129,659(6)                  250,813 
Chief Financial Officer (6)                                    
                                     
Mary O’Reilly  2022   285,000       13,440(7)        

      298,440 
Chief People Officer  2021   65,769   15,346   180,784(8)               261,899 

(1)

The securities available underAmounts shown are the Planscompensation cost for issuance and issuablethe award recognized by us for financial reporting purposes pursuant to exercises of outstanding options may be adjustedFinancial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, “Compensation—Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). Please see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements in the event of a change in outstanding stock by reason of stock dividend, stock splits, reverse stock splits, etc.

(2)

No awards can currently be made out of the 2006 Plan.

(3)

Includes options outstanding under the 2006 Plan, which was amended by our Board of Directors without stockholder approval in 2009 and 2011 to increase the number of shares available for issuance thereunder. Under the 2006 Plan, the Board of Directors is authorized to issue stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, and other stock-based incentives to officers, employees and others. See Note 11 of our Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a further description of this Plan.

 22


The remaining information required by this Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference to information appearing under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC on or before May 1, 2017.

Item 13: Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information required by this Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference to the information appearing under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Information about our Directors” in our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC on or before May 1, 2017.

Item 14: Principal Accounting Fees and Services

The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference to the information appearing under the caption “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC on or before May 1, 2017.

 23


PART IV

Item 15: Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

15(a) (1) Financial Statements: The financial statements filed herewith are set forth on the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1 of the separate financial section which accompanies this Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

15(a) (2) Financial Statement Schedules: Financial statement schedules not listed have been omitted because they are either not required, not applicable, or the information has been included elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

15(a) (3)

Exhibits: The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index below are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Exhibit

Number

Description

3.1

Certificate of Incorporation of the registrant, as amended and restated (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2007).

2022 for details on assumptions used to determine grant date fair value of the awards.

(2)

Mr. Toporek was granted 500,000 stock options with an exercise price of $6.84 per share. The stock options vest in equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of May 13, 2021, so long as Mr. Toporek remains in the service of the Company on each such anniversary and expire five years after each applicable vesting date.

3.2

(3)

Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of the registrant (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed May 15, 2008).

Ms. Thomas was granted 25,000 restricted stock units on November 23, 2021.

(4)

Ms. Thomas was granted 10,000 restricted stock units on November 1, 2022

3.3

(5)

Certificate of Correction of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Mechanical Technology, Incorporated as of October 17, 2016Mr. Belizaire was granted 84,171 restricted stock awards and Certificate of Correction of Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of Mechanical Technology Incorporated, as of October 17, 2016 (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 21, 2016).

3,026 restricted stock units on November 1, 2021.

(6)

Mr. Patman, Jr. was hired as Chief Financial Officer effective August 16, 2022. Mr. Patman, Jr. was granted 38,820 of restricted stock units on August 25, 2022. Mr. Patman, Jr. resigned on April 21, 2023, however his restricted stock units were approved from the Compensation Committee for acceleration prior to original vesting date.

3.4

(7)

Amended and Restated By-Laws of the registrant (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed December 14, 2007).

Ms. O’Reilly was granted 12,000 restricted stock units on November 1, 2022.

(8)

Ms. O’Reilly was granted 14,782 restricted stock units on November 1, 2021.

4.1

13

Rights Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2016, between Mechanical Technology, Incorporated and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 6, 2016).

4.2

Amendment No. 1 dated as of October 20, 2016, to the Rights Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2016, between Mechanical Technology, Incorporated and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 21, 2016).

10.1

Mechanical Technology, Incorporated Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.*

10.2

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement for Mechanical Technology, Incorporated Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed July 11, 2011).*

10.3

Mechanical Technology, Incorporated Amended and Restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan.*

10.4

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement Notice for Board of Directors and Employees for Mechanical Technology, Incorporated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2012).*

10.5

Form of Incentive Stock Option Notice for Employees for Mechanical Technology, Incorporated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2012).*

10.6

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Notice for Employees for Mechanical Technology, Incorporated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2012).*

10.7

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Notice for Board of Directors for Mechanical Technology, Incorporated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2012).*

10.8

Mechanical Technology, Incorporated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A tothe Registrant’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission on April 25, 2014). *

10.9

Form of Restricted Stock Grant Agreement under the Mechanical Technology, Incorporated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Registration Statement on FormS-8 (File No. 333-196989) filed with theCommission on June 24, 2014). *

10.10

Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Grant Agreement under the Mechanical Technology, Incorporated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-196989) filed with the Commission on June 24, 2014). *

10.11

Form of Incentive Stock Option Grant Agreement under the Mechanical Technology, Incorporated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-196989) filed with the Commission on June 24, 2014). *

 24


 

10.12

Lease dated August 10, 1999 between Carl E. Touhey and Mechanical Technology, Inc. (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.38 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999).

10.13

Amendment No. 1 to Lease Agreement Between Mechanical Technology Inc. and Carl E. Touhey dated September 29, 2009 (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.166 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2009).

10.14

Amendment No. 2 to Lease Agreement Between MTI Instruments Inc. and Carl E. Touhey dated May 2, 2014 (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2014).

10.15#

Contract dated July 1, 2016 between Mechanical Technology, Incorporated and the U.S. Air Force (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1# of the Company’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2016).

10.16

Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of October 21, 2016, by and between Mechanical Technology, Incorporated and Brookstone Partners Acquisition XXIV, LLC (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.22 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 21, 2016).

10.17

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of October 21, 2016, by and between Mechanical Technology, Incorporated and Brookstone Partners Acquisition XXIV, LLC (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.23 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 21, 2016).

10.18

Form of Option Exercise and Stock Transfer Restriction Agreement between the Company and its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Non-Employee Directors (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.24 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 21, 2016).

21

Subsidiaries of the Registrant (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 21 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2015).

23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – UHY LLP.

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

101.INS

XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

All exhibits for which no other filing information is given are filed herewith.Base Salary and Cash Incentives of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

# Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted based upon a request for confidential treatment. The omitted portions have been filedAs further described below, pursuant to his employment agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuantCompany, Mr. Toporek is entitled to our application for confidential treatment. The items are identified in the exhibit with “**”.

*              Represents management contractreceive an annual base salary of $300,000 or compensation plan or arrangement.

Item 16: Form 10-K Summary

None.

 25


Signatures

Pursuantsuch higher figure as may be agreed upon from time 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 behalftime by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY, INCORPORATED

Date:  March 2, 2017

By: 

/s/ Frederick W. Jones

Frederick W. Jones

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

PursuantBoard. Mr. Toporek is also eligible to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

Title

Date

/s/ Frederick W. Jones

Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

Frederick W. Jones

(Principal Executive, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 March 2, 2017

/s/ David C. Michaels

Chairman

David C. Michaels

 March 2, 2017

/s/ Edward R. Hirshfield

Director 

Edward R. Hirshfield

 March 2, 2017 

/s/ Matthew E. Lipman

Director 

Matthew E. Lipman

 March 2, 2017 

/s/ Kevin G. Lynch

Director 

Kevin G. Lynch

March 2, 2017 

/s/ Thomas J. Marusak

Director 

Thomas J. Marusak 

 March 2, 2017

/s/ William P. Phelan

Director 

William P. Phelan 

March 2, 2017

/s/ Michael Toporek

Director 

Michael Toporek

 March 2, 2017

 26


MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

 INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Page 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

F-2

Consolidated Financial Statements: 

Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 

F-3

Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 

F-4

Statements of Changes in Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

F-5

Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 

F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

F-7 to F-22

F-1


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and

Stockholders of Mechanical Technology, Incorporated

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Mechanical Technology, Incorporated as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2016. The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to expressreceive an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our auditsannual bonus in accordance with our executive bonus program, which is established annually by the standards ofBoard at its sole discretion, and, at our sole discretion, an additional, discretionary bonus in connection with his annual evaluation by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the auditBoard. Mr. Toporek is also eligible to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, 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. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Mechanical Technology, Incorporated as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2016 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ UHY LLP

Albany, New York

March 2, 2017

A member of UHY International, a network of independent accounting and consulting firms

F-2


MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 December 31, 2016 and 2015

(Dollars in thousands, except per share)

December 31,

 

2016

     

2015

Assets

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

$

3,381

 

 

$

462

 

Accounts receivable – less allowances of $0 in 2016 and $56 in 2015

 

881

 

 

 

931

 

Inventories

 

676

 

 

 

1,006

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

82

 

 

 

72

 

Total Current Assets

 

5,020

 

 

 

2,471

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

160

 

 

 

115

 

Total Assets

$

5,180

 

 

$

2,586

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

124

 

 

$

152

 

Accrued liabilities

 

906

 

 

 

907

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

1,030

 

 

 

1,059

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, authorized 75,000,000;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,026,136 issued in 2016 and 6,263,975 issued in 2015

 

100

 

 

 

63

 

Additional paid-in-capital

 

138,794

 

 

 

135,839

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(120,980

)

 

 

(120,621

)

Common stock in treasury, at cost, 1,015,493 shares in 2016 and 1,005,092

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

shares in 2015

 

(13,764

)

 

 

(13,754

)

Total Stockholders’ Equity

 

4,150

 

 

 

1,527

 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

$

5,180

 

 

$

2,586

 

         

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 F-3


MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 For the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

(Dollars in thousands, except per share)

Year Ended
December 31,
2016

     

Year Ended
December 31,
2015

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product revenue

$

7,056

 

 

$

6,330

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product revenue

 

2,722

 

 

 

2,475

 

 

Research and product development expenses

 

1,243

 

 

 

1,546

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

3,452

 

 

 

3,779

 

 

Operating loss

 

(361

)

 

 

(1,470

)

 

Other expense, net

 

(7

)

 

 

(2

)

 

Loss before income taxes

 

(368

)

 

 

(1,472

)

 

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

9

 

 

 

(1,360

)

 

Net loss

$

(359

)

 

$

(2,832

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per share (Basic and Diluted)

$

(0.06

)

 

$

(0.54

)

 

Weighted average shares outstanding (Basic and Diluted)

 

5,988,545

 

 

 

5,258,883

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

F-4


MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

  For the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

 

Common Stock

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

 

Amount

 

 

Additional Paid-

in Capital

 

 

Accumulated

Deficit

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

 

Amount

 

Total
Stockholders’
Equity (Deficit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2015

6,263,975

$

63

$

135,698

 

$

(117,789

)

1,005,092

$

(13,754

)

$

4,218

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

(2,832

)

-

 

-

 

 

(2,832

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock based compensation

-

 

-

 

141

 

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

141

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2015

6,263,975

$

63

$

135,839

 

$

(120,621

)

1,005,092

$

(13,754

)

$

1,527

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

(359

)

-

 

-

 

 

(359

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock based compensation

-

 

-

 

449

 

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

449

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of shares – stock
purchase

3,750,000

 

37

 

2,700

 

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

2,737

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of stock purchase

 

 

 

 

(201

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(201

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of shares – option
exercises

12,161

 

-

 

7

 

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of common stock
for treasury

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

10,401

 

(10

)

 

(10

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2016

10,026,136

$

100

$

138,794

 

$

(120,980

)

1,015,493

$

(13,764

)

$

4,150

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 F-5


MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 For the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

 (Dollars in thousands)

Year Ended
December 31,

2016

     

Year Ended
December 31,
2015

     

Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$

(359

)

 

$

(2,832

)

 

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

85

 

 

 

80

 

 

(Bad debt recovery) provision for bad debts

 

(21

)

 

 

56

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

 

1,335

 

 

Stock based compensation

 

449

 

 

 

141

 

 

Provision for excess and obsolete inventories

 

365

 

 

 

83

 

 

Loss on disposal of equipment

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

71

 

 

 

209

 

 

Inventories

 

(35

)

 

 

(316

)

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(10

)

 

 

20

 

 

Accounts payable

 

(28

)

 

 

(64

)

 

Accrued liabilities

 

(1

)

 

 

(138

)

 

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities

 

522

 

 

 

(1,426

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of equipment

 

(136

 

 

(55

 

Principle payments from notes receivable – related party

 

 

 

 

20

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(136

 

 

(35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from stock option exercises

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from stock purchase

 

2,737

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of stock purchase

 

(201

)

 

 

 

 

Purchases of common stock for treasury

 

(10

)

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

2,533

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash

 

2,919

 

 

 

(1,461

)

 

Cash - beginning of period

 

462

 

 

 

1,923

 

 

Cash - end of period

$

3,381

 

 

$

462

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

F-6


MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Nature of Operations

Description of Business

Mechanical Technology, Incorporated (MTI or the Company), a New York corporation, was incorporated in 1961. The Company’s core business is conducted through MTI Instruments, Inc. (MTI Instruments), its wholly-owned subsidiary.

MTI Instruments was incorporated in New York on March 8, 2000 and is a supplier of precision linear displacement solutions, vibration measurement and system balancing systems, and wafer inspection tools, consisting of electronic gauging instruments for position, displacement and vibration application within the industrial manufacturing/production markets, as well as the research, design and process development market; tensile stage systems for materials testing at academic and industrial research settings; and engine vibration analysis systems for both military and commercial aircraft. These tools, systems and solutions are developed for markets and applications that require the precise measurements and control of products, processes, and the development and implementation of automated manufacturing, assembly, and consistent operation of complex machinery.

Liquidity

The Company has historically incurred significant losses primarily due to its past efforts to fund direct methanol fuel cell product development and commercialization programs, and had a consolidated accumulated deficit of approximately $121.0 million as of December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2016, we had working capital of approximately $4.0 million, no debt, no outstanding commitments for capital expenditures, and approximately $3.4 million of cash available to fund our operations. 

Based on the Company’s projected cash requirements for operations and capital expenditures, its current available cash of approximately $3.4 million and our projected 2017 cash flow pursuant to management’s plans, management believes it will have adequate resources to fund operations and capital expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2017 and through the end of the first quarter of 2018. If cash generated from operations is insufficient to satisfy the Company’s operational working capital and capital expenditure requirements, the Company may be required to obtain credit facilities, if available, to fund these initiatives. The Company has no other formal commitments for funding future needs of the organization at this time and any additional financing during 2017, if required, may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all.

2. Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, MTI Instruments. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

The Company records its investment in MeOH Power, Inc. using the equity method of accounting. The fair value of the Company’s interest in MeOH Power, Inc. has been determined to be $0 as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, based on MeOH Power, Inc.’s net position and expected cash flows. As of December 31, 2016, the Company retained its equity ownership of approximately 47.5% of MeOH Power, Inc.’s outstanding common stock, or 75,049,937 shares. The Company previously held warrantsreceive options to purchase 31,904,136 shares of common stock of MeOH Power, Inc., which expired in December 2016.  

Use of Estimates

The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with United States of America Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP), which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable. The estimated fair values of these financial instruments approximate their carrying values at December 31, 2016 and 2015. The estimated fair values have been determined through information obtained from market sources, where available.

F-7


Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade accounts receivable are stated at the invoiced amount billed to customers and do not bear interest. An allowance for doubtful accounts, if necessary, represents the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in its existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience and current exposures identified. The Company reviews its allowance for doubtful accounts monthly. Past due balances over 90 days and over a specified amount are reviewed individually for collectability. AllCommon Stock or other balances are reviewed on a pooled basis by type of receivable. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company believes it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. The Company does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. The Company provides estimated inventory allowances for excess, slow moving and obsolete inventory as well as inventory whose carrying value is in excess of net realizable value.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as follows:

Leasehold improvements 

Lesser of the life of the lease or the useful life of the improvement  

Computers and related software 

3 to 5 years 

Machinery and equipment 

3 to 10 years 

Office furniture, equipment and fixtures 

2 to 10 years 

Significant additions or improvements extending assets’ useful lives are capitalized; normal maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. The costs of fully depreciated assets remaining in use are included in the respective asset and accumulated depreciation accounts. When items are sold or retired, related gains or losses are included in net (loss) income.

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences between financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities, loss carryforwards, and tax credit carryforwards, for which income tax benefits are expected to be realized in future years. A valuation allowance has been established to reduce deferred tax assets, if it is more likely than not that all, or some portion, of such deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with accounting standards that address income taxes. The Company must recognize in its financial statements the impact of a tax position, if that position is more likely than not to be sustained on an audit, based on the technical merits of the position.

Equity Method Investments

The Company’s consolidated net income (loss) will include our proportionate share, if any, of the net income or loss ofequity awards under our equity method investee. When the Company records its proportionate share of net income, it increases equity income (loss), netincentive plans in our consolidated statements of operations and our carrying value in that investment. Conversely, when the Company records its proportionate share of a net loss, it decreases equity income (loss), net in our consolidated statements of operations and our carrying value in that investment. The Company’s proportionate share of the net income or loss of our equity method investee includes significant operating and non-operating items recorded by our equity method investee.  These items can have a significant impact on the amount of equity income (loss), net in our consolidated statements of operations and our carrying value in that investment. The carrying value of our equity method investment is also impacted by our proportionate share of items impacting the equity investee’s accumulated other comprehensive income, if any. When the Company’s carrying value in an equity method investee company has been reduced to zero, no further losses are recorded in the Company’s financial statements unless the Company guaranteed obligations of the investee company or has committed additional funding. When the investee company subsequently reports income, the Company will not record its share of such income until it equals the amount of its share of losses not previously recognized.

Fair Value Measurement

The estimated fair value of certain financial instruments, including cash and short-term debt approximates their carrying value due to their short maturities and varying interest rates.  “Fair value” is the price that would be received to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Based on the observability of the inputs used in the valuation methods, the Company is required to provide the following information according to the fair value accounting standards.  These standards established a fair value hierarchy as specified that ranks the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values.  Financial assets and liabilities are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

F-8


Level 1:

Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities, which includes listed equities.

Level 2:

Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. These items are typically priced using models or other valuation techniques. These models are primarily financial industry-standard models that consider various assumptions, including the time value of money, yield curves, volatility factors, as well as other relevant economic measures.

Level 3:

These use unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data. These values are generally estimated based upon methodologies utilizing significant inputs that are generally less observable from objective sources.

Product Revenue

Product revenue is recognized when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the collection of a fixed fee is probable or determinable, and delivery of the product to the customer or distributor has occurred, at which time title generally is passed to the customer or distributor. All of these generally occur upon shipment of the product. If the product requires specific customer acceptance criteria, such as on-site customer acceptance and/or acceptance after install, then revenue is deferred until customer acceptance occurs or the acceptance provisions lapse, unless the Company can objectively and reliably demonstrate that the criteria specified in the acceptance provisions is satisfied.

MTI Instruments currently has distributor agreements in place for the international sale of general instrument and semiconductor products in certain global regions. Such agreements grant a distributor the right of first refusal to act as distributor for such products in the distributor’s territory. In return, the distributor agrees to not market other products which are considered by MTI Instruments to be in direct competition with MTI Instruments’ products. The distributor is allowed to purchase MTI Instruments’ equipment at a price which is discounted off the published domestic/international list prices. Such list prices can be adjusted by MTI Instruments during the term of the distributor agreement. Generally, payment terms with the distributor are standard net 30 days; however, on occasion, extended payment terms have been granted. Title and risk of loss of the product passes to the distributor upon delivery to the independent carrier (standard “free-on-board” factory), and the distributor is responsible for any required training and/or service with the end-user. The sale (and subsequent payment) between MTI Instruments and the distributor is not contingent upon the successful resale of the product by the distributor. Distributor sales are covered by MTI Instruments’ standard one-year warranty and there are no special return policies for distributors.

Cost of Product Revenue

Cost of product revenue includes material, labor, overhead and shipping and handling costs.

Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenue consists of billings to customers in advance of services performed, completed installation or customer acceptance. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had no deferred revenue.

Warranty

The Company accrues a warranty liability at the time product revenue is recorded based on historical experience. The liability is reviewed during the year and is adjusted, if appropriate, to reflect new product offerings or changes in experience. Actual warranty claims are tracked by product line. Warranty liability was $14 thousand and $16 thousand at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Warranty expense was $5 thousand and $13 thousand for 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company accounts for impairment or disposal of long-lived assets in accordance with accounting standards that address the financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, specify how impairment will be measured, and how impaired assets will be classified in the consolidated financial statements. On a quarterly basis, the Company analyzes the status of its long-lived assets at each subsidiary for potential impairment. As of December 31, 2016, the Company does not believe that any of its long-lived assets have suffered any type of impairment that would require an adjustment to that asset’s recorded value.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid short-term investments with original maturities of less than three months.

F-9


Net Income (Loss) per Share

The Company computes basic income (loss) per common share by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted income (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution, if any, computed by dividing income (loss) by the combination of dilutive common share equivalents, comprised of shares issuable under outstanding investment rights, warrants and the Company’s share-based compensation plans, and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Dilutive common share equivalents include the dilutive effect of in-the-money stock options, which are calculated based on the average share price for each period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the exercise price of a stock option, the amount of compensation cost, if any, for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, and the amount of windfall tax benefits that would be recorded in additional paid-in capital, if any, when the stock option is exercised are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current period.

Share-Based Payments

The Company accounts for stock based awards exchanged for employee service in accordance with the share-based payment accounting guidance. Stock-based compensation represents the cost related to stock-based awards granted to employees and directors. The Company measures stock-based compensation cost at grant date based on the estimated fair value of the award, and recognizes the cost as expense on a straight-line basis in accordance with the vesting of the options (net of estimated forfeitures) over the option’s requisite service period. The Company estimates the fair value of stock-based awards using a Black Scholes valuation model. Stock-based compensation expense is recorded in the lines titled “Cost of product revenue,” “Selling, general and administrative expenses” and “Research and product development expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations based on the employees’ respective functions.

The Company records deferred tax assets for awards that potentially can result in deductions on the Company’s income tax returns based on the amount of compensation cost that would be recognized upon issuance of the award and the Company’s statutory tax rate. Differences between the deferred tax assets recognized for financial reporting purposes and the actual tax deduction reported on the Company’s income tax return are recorded in Additional Paid-In Capital (if the tax deduction exceeds the deferred tax asset) or in the Consolidated Statement of Operations (if the deferred tax asset exceeds the tax deduction and no historical pool of windfall tax benefits exists). Since the adoption of the revised accounting standard on share-based payments, no tax benefits have been recognized related to share-based compensation since the Company has established a full valuation allowance to offset all potential tax benefits associated with these deferred tax assets.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk principally consist of cash equivalents and trade accounts receivable. The Company’s trade accounts receivable are primarily from sales to commercial customers, the U.S. government and state agencies. The Company does not require collateral and has not historically experienced significant credit losses related to receivables from individual customers or groups of customers in any particular industry or geographic area. In 2016 and 2015, approximately 32.3% and 34.6%, respectively, of our product revenues was from customers outside of the United States.

The Company has cash deposits in excess of federally insured limits, but does not believe them to be at risk.

Research and Development Costs

The Company expenses research and development costs as incurred. The Company incurred research and development costs of approximately $1.2 million and $1.5 million, which was entirely related to MTI Instruments, for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. The Company incurred advertising costs of approximately $22 and $127 thousand, which was entirely related to MTI Instruments, for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Other Comprehensive Income

The Company had no other comprehensive income (loss) items for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

Effect of Recent Accounting Standards or Updates Not Yet Effective

Changes to U.S. GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the FASB) in the form of accounting standard updates (ASUs) to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification (ASC). The Company considered the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not mentioned below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

F-10


In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers) toclarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard for GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The standard is principles-based and provides a five-step model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle is that a company should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps: Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer. Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract. Step 3: Determine the transaction price. Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract. Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. This standard also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. This standard, as amended, will be effective for the Company for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. This standard may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than calendar 2017. This standard could impact the timing and amounts of revenue recognized. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements. The Company has not yet selected a transition method and in preparation for our adoption of the new standard in our 2018 fiscal year, we are obtaining representative samples of contracts and other forms of agreements with our customers in the U.S. and international locations and are evaluating the provisions contained therein in light of the five-step model specified by this standard.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11 (Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory), which applies to inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost. Under the updated guidance, an entity should measure inventory that is within scope at the lower of cost and net realizable value, which is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory that is measured using last-in, last-out (LIFO). This standard will be effective for the Company for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and should be applied prospectively with early adoption permitted at the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company plans to adopt this new standard in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017 on a prospective basis and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements. In accordance with the ASU, the Company intends to disclose the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle in its first periodic report in which the Company adopts the standard.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17 (Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes) as part of its ongoing simplification initiative, with the objective of reducing complexity in accounting standards. The amendments in this standard require entities that present a classified balance sheet to classify all deferred tax liabilities and assets as a noncurrent amount. The current requirement that deferred tax liabilities and assets of a tax-paying component of an entity be offset and presented as a single amount is not affected by the amendments in this standard. Additionally, the amendments in this standard align the deferred income tax presentation with the requirements in International Accounting Standards (IAS) 1 (Presentation of Financial Statements.) This standard will be effective for the Company for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016. The Company plans to adopt this new standard in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017 on a prospective basis and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements as its deferred tax assets and liabilities are currently in a full valuation allowance. In accordance with the ASU, the Company intends to disclose the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle and a statement that prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted in its first periodic report in which the Company adopts the standard.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 (Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities) the main objective of which is to enhance the reporting model for financial instruments to provide users of financial statements with more decision-useful information and address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. This standard will be effective for the Company for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard but we do not expect the adoption of it to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 (Leases (Topic 842)), which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on their balance sheet for virtually all of their leases (other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease). The lease liability will be equal to the present value of lease payments and the right-of-use asset will be based on the lease liability, subject to adjustment such as for initial direct costs. For income statement purposes, this standard retains a dual model similar to ASC 840, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance. For lessees, operating leases will result in straight-line expense (similar to current accounting by lessees for operating leases under ASC 840) while finance leases will result in a front-loaded expense pattern (similar to current accounting by lessees for capital leases under ASC 840). While this standard maintains similar accounting for lessors as under ASC 840, this standard reflects updates to, among other things, align with certain changes to the lessee model. This standard will be effective for the Company for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2018, and early adoption is permitted. Although we have not completed our assessment, we believe adoption of this standard may have a significant impact on our consolidated balance sheets. However, we do not expect the adoption to change the recognition, measurement or presentation of lease expense within our consolidated statements of operations or the consolidated statements of cash flows. Information about our undiscounted future lease payments and the timing of those payments is in Note 12, Commitments and Contingencies.

F-11


In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09 (Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting),which simplifies several aspects related to the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions. This standard addresses several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including: (a) income tax consequences; (b) classification of awards as either equity or liabilities; and (c) classification on the statement of cash flows. This standard requires all income tax effects of awards, including excess tax benefits, to be recorded as income tax expense (or benefit) in the income statement when it arises, subject to the normal valuation allowance considerations. All tax-related cash flows resulting from share-based payments are required to be reported as operating activities in the statement of cash flows. The updates relating to the income tax effects of the share-based payments including the cash flow presentation must be adopted either prospectively or retrospectively. This standard also allows companies to make an accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures when they occur. If an election is made, the change to recognize forfeitures as they occur must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach with a cumulative effect adjustment recorded to opening retained earnings. This standard will be effective for the Company for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and early adoption is permitted. The Company plans to adopt this new standard in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017. The Company expects the adoption of this standard to impact our provision for income taxes, the amount of which depends on the vesting activity of our share-based compensation awards in any given period, and to eliminate the presentation of excess tax benefits as a financing inflow on our statement of cash flows. Further, we expect to make an accounting policy election to account for forfeitures of share-based compensation awards based on an estimate, consistent with our current practice. The Company has $1.3 million in tax benefits that were not previously recognized because the related tax deduction had not reduced taxes payable so there will be a cumulative effect adjustment of the change on retained earnings at the time of the adoption. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have any other material impacts on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures. The Company expects that the adoption of this new guidance in fiscal 2017 will impact our reported income taxes and cash flows from operating activities, but the amounts of which are dependent upon the underlying vesting or exercise activity and related future stock prices. In accordance with the ASU, the Company intends to disclose the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle in its first periodic report in which the Company adopts the standard.

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing),which clarifies the identification of performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance. This standard is expected to reduce the cost and complexity of applying the guidance on identifying promised goods or services. This standard will be effective for the Company for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15 (Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments), which clarifies the treatment of several cash flow categories. In addition, ASU 2016-15 clarifies that when cash receipts and cash payments have aspects of more than one class of cash flows and cannot be separated, classification will depend on the predominant source or use. This standard will be effective for the Company for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption permitted. This standard should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-20 (Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers), which clarifies the treatment of ASU 2014-09 over 13 different issues. This standard will be effective for the Company for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-03 (Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (Topic 250) and Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323); Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the September 22, 2016 and November 17, 2016 Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Meetings (SEC Update)), which amends certain topics of the ASC as defined in this ASU and also adds an SEC paragraph and amends other topics pursuant to an SEC Staff Announcement made at the September 22, 2016 EITF meeting. The Company will adopt this standard in fiscal 2017 and does not expect the adoption of it to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements other than financial statement disclosure.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15 (Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern), which requires management to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and provide related footnote disclosures. This standard is effective for the Company for annual and interim reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted this standard on December 31, 2016. The adoption of this standard had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements (see Note 1).

F-12


In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02 (Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis), which changes the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2106. The adoption of this standard had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

3. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivables consist of the following at December 31:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

U.S. and State Government

$

103

 

$

15

 

Commercial

 

778

 

 

972

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

 

(56

)

Total

$

881

 

$

931

 

4. Inventories

Inventories consist of the following at December 31:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Finished goods

$

244

 

$

412

 

Work in process

 

143

 

 

240

 

Raw materials

 

289

 

 

354

 

Total

$

676

 

$

1,006

 

5. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consist of the following at December 31:

(dollars in thousands) 

 

2016

     

 

2015

 

Leasehold improvements

$

39

 

$

39

 

Computers and related software

 

1,068

 

 

1,052

 

Machinery and equipment

 

892

 

 

853

 

Office furniture and fixtures

 

25

 

 

61

 

 

 

2,024

 

 

2,005

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation

 

1,864

 

 

1,890

 

 

$

160

 

$

115

 

Depreciation expense was $85 thousand and $80 thousand for 2016 and 2015, respectively. Repairs and maintenance expense was $14 thousand and $13 thousand for 2016 and 2015, respectively.  

6. Income Taxes

Income tax benefit (expense) for each of the years ended December 31 consists of the following:

 (dollars in thousands)

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

Federal

$

10

 

 

$

(20

State

 

(1

)

 

 

(5

)

Deferred

 

 

 

 

(1,335

)

Total

$

9

 

 

$

(1,360

)

F-13


The significant components of deferred income tax (expense) benefit from operations for each of the years ended December 31 consists of the following:

 (dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

        

Deferred tax benefit (expense)

$

240

 

 

$

50

 

Net operating loss carry forward

 

(120

 

 

370

 

Valuation allowance

 

(120

)

 

 

(1,755

)

 

$

 

 

$

(1,335

)

        

The Company’s effective income tax rate from operations differed from the Federal statutory rate for each of the years ended December 31 as follows:

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

Federal statutory tax rate

 

(34

) %

 

 

(34

) %

Change in valuation allowance

 

33

 

 

 

119

 

State research and development credits

 

 

 

 

 

Expiration of stock option

 

2

 

 

 

1

 

Prior year tax adjustments and other

 

(4

)

 

 

5

 

Other, net

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

Tax rate

 

(2

) %

 

 

92

%

Pre-tax loss was $368 thousand and $1.5 million for 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Deferred Tax Assets:

Deferred tax assets are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities as measured by the enacted tax rates. Temporary differences, net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards that give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities are summarized as follows as of December 31:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

2016

 

2015

        

Current deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inventory valuation

$

225

 

 

$

99

 

Inventory capitalization

 

2

 

 

 

 

Vacation pay

 

29

 

 

 

29

 

Warranty and other sale obligations

 

5

 

 

 

5

 

Allowance for accounts receivable

 

 

 

 

19

 

Allowance for related party note receivable

 

95

 

 

 

92

 

Other reserves and accruals

 

24

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

380

 

 

 

270

 

Valuation allowance – current

 

(380

)

 

 

(270

)

Net current deferred tax assets

$

 

 

$

 

Noncurrent deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss

$

17,464

 

 

$

17,583

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

(17

 

 

3

 

Stock options

 

269

 

 

 

120

 

Research and development tax credit

 

450

 

 

 

450

 

Alternative minimum tax credit

 

54

 

 

 

54

 

 

 

18,220

 

 

 

18,210

 

Valuation allowance – noncurrent

 

(18,220

)

 

 

(18,210

)

Non-current net deferred tax assets

$

 

 

$

 

As of December 31, 2016, the Company has approximately $450 thousand of research and development tax credit carry forwards, which begin to expire in 2018, and approximately $54 thousand of alternative minimum tax credit carry forwards, which have no expiration date.

F-14


Valuation Allowance:

The Company provides for recognition of deferred tax assets if the realization of such assets is more likely than not to occur in accordance with accounting standards that address income taxes. Significant management judgment is required in determining the period in which the reversal of a valuation allowance should occur. The Company has considered all available evidence, both positive and negative, such as historical levels of income and future forecasts of taxable income amongst other items, in determining its valuation allowance. In addition, the Company’s assessment requires us to schedule future taxable income in accordance with accounting standards that address income taxes to assess the appropriateness of a valuation allowance which further requires the exercise of significant management judgment.

The Company decided to re-establish a full valuation allowance at December 31, 2015 for its deferred tax assets. This decision was based upon actual results differing from estimates used as a basis for the previous partial valuation of the deferred tax asset. As a result, the Company incurred a one-time, $1.3 million, non-cash expense in 2015 to eliminate the partial valuation allowance which was established in 2011. Although the Company expects to generate levels of pre-tax earnings in the future, it believes that it is appropriate to have a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets at December 31, 2016 as well. We will continue to evaluate the ability to realize our deferred tax assets and related valuation allowance on a quarterly basis.

The valuation allowance at December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $18.6 million and $18.5 million, respectively.  Activity in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is as follows as of December 31:

 

(dollars in thousands) 

 

2016

     

 

2015

 

 

Valuation allowance, beginning of year

$

18,480

 

 

$

16,725

 

Increase resulting in income tax expense

 

 

 

 

1,335

 

Allowance for accounts receivable

 

 

 

 

19

 

Allowance for related party note receivable

 

(16

)

 

 

3

 

Inventory

 

128

 

 

 

 

25

 

 

Net operating income (loss)

 

(120

)

 

 

373

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

(20

)

 

 

6

 

Stock options

 

149

 

 

 

43

 

Other reserves and accruals

 

(1

)

 

 

(49

)

Valuation allowance, end of year

$

18,600

 

 

$

18,480

 

Net operating losses:

At December 31, 2016, the Company has unused Federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $51.9 million. Of these, $1.1 million will expire in 2020, with the remainder expiring through 2036. Of the Company’s carryforwards, $1.3 million represents windfall tax benefits from stock option transactions, the tax effect of which are not included in the Company’s net deferred tax assets.

The Company's and/or its subsidiaries’ ability to utilize their net operating loss carryforwards may be significantly limited by Section 382 of the IRC of 1986, as amended, if the Company or any of its subsidiaries undergoes an “ownership change” as a result of changes in the ownership of the Company's or its subsidiaries’ outstanding stock pursuant to the exercise of the warrants or otherwise.

Unrecognized tax benefits:

The unrecognized tax benefits in accordance with accounting standards that address income taxes at December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $1.2 million. These unrecognized tax benefits relate to former subsidiaries of the Company and a prior investment in a partnership. 

In future periods, if $1.2 million of these unrecognized benefits become supportable, the Company may not recognize a change in its effective tax rate as long as it remains in a partial valuation allowance position. Additionally, the Company does not have uncertain tax positions that it expects will increase or decrease within twelve months of this reporting date. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of tax expense. The Company did not recognize any interest or penalties in 2016 and 2015.

The Company files income tax returns, including returns for its subsidiaries, with federal and state jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to IRS or NYS examinations for its federal and state returns for any periods prior to 2009, although carryforward attributes that were generated prior to 2009 may still be adjusted upon examination by the IRS if they either have been or will be used in a future period. 

F-15


7. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of the following at December 31:

 

(dollars in thousands) 

 

2016

     

 

2015

 

 

Salaries, wages and related expenses

$

223

 

$

237

Liability to shareholders for previous acquisition

 

363

 

 

363

Legal and professional fees

 

128

 

 

86

Warranty and other sale obligations

 

14

 

 

16

Commissions

 

27

 

 

36

Other

 

151

 

 

169

 

$

906

 

$

907

8. Stockholders’ Equity

Common Stock

The Company has one class of common stock, par value $.01.  Each share of the Company’s common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to stockholders.  As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 there were 9,010,643 and 5,258,883 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, respectively.

Reservation of Shares

The Company has reserved common shares for future issuance as follows as of December 31, 2016:

Stock options outstanding

1,142,339

Common stock available for future equity awards or issuance of options

45,500

Number of common shares reserved

1,187,839

9. Retirement Plan

The Company maintains a voluntary savings and retirement plan under IRC Section 401(k) covering substantially all employees. Employees must complete six months of service and have attained the age of twenty-one prior to becoming eligible for participation in the plan. The Company plan allows eligible employees to contribute a percentage of their compensation on a pre-tax basis and the Company matches employee contributions dollar for dollar up to a discretionary amount, currently 4%, of the employee’s salary, subject to annual tax deduction limitations. Company matching contributions vest at a rate of 25% annually for each year of service completed. Company matching contributions were $97 thousand and $119 thousand for 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company may also make additional discretionary contributions in amounts as determined by management and the Board, and is entitled to such employee benefits, if any, as are generally provided to our full-time employees.

In May 2021, the Compensation Committee approved a cash bonus in an aggregate amount of Directors. There were no additional discretionary contributionsup to $100,000 based on the satisfaction of certain financial goals to be proposed by Mr. Toporek and approved by the Company forCompensation Committee. Further, the years 2016 or 2015.

10. (Loss) Income per Share

The following table sets forth the reconciliationCompensation Committee approved a one-time grant of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted per share computations for continuing operations for the years ended December 31:

 

(dollars in thousands, except shares) 

 

 

  

2016

  

2015

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(359

)

 $

(2,832

)

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares outstanding, beginning of period

 

5,258,883

 

 

5,258,883

 

Weighted average common shares issued during the period

 

729,662

 

 

 

Denominator for basic earnings per common shares —

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares

 

5,988,545

 

 

5,258,883

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares outstanding, beginning of period

 

5,258,883

 

 

5,258,883

 

Common stock equivalents – options

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares issued during the period   

 

729,662

 

 

 

Denominator for diluted earnings per common shares -

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares

 

5,988,545

 

 

5,258,883

 

F-16


Not included in the computation of earnings per share-assuming dilution for the year ended December 31, 2016 werestock options to purchase 1,142,339500,000 shares of Common Stock. The stock options vest in equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of May 13, 2021, so long as Mr. Toporek remains in the service of the Company on each anniversary. The stock options expire five years after each applicable vesting date.

On June 9, 2021, the Compensation Committee approved an increase in the base compensation payable to Ms. Thomas from $159,650 to $200,000 per year, in her role as Chief Financial Officer in fiscal year 2021. On September 20, 2021, the Compensation Committee approved an increase in the base compensation payable to Ms. Thomas from $200,000 to $250,000 per year in her role as Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Thomas’s base salary did not change when she resigned as Chief Financial Officer in August 2022 and became the Company’s Chief Accounting Officer.

In addition to base salary compensation, we consider short-term cash incentives to be an important tool in motivating and rewarding near-term performance against established short-term goals. We do not utilize a specific formula, but executive management is eligible for cash awards contingent upon achievement of individual, financial, or Company-wide performance criteria. The criteria are established to ensure that a reasonable portion of an executive’s total annual compensation is performance-based.

We believe that the higher an executive’s level of responsibility, the greater the portion of that executive’s total earnings potential should be tied to the achievement of critical technological, operational, and financial goals. We believe that this strategy places the desired proportionate level of risk and reward on performance by the executive officers.

While performance targets are established at levels that are intended to be achievable, we believe that we have structured these incentives so that maximum bonus payouts would require a substantial level of both individual and Company performance.

Employment Agreements

Michael Toporek

In connection with the employment of Michael Toporek as our Chief Executive Officer, effective as of January 14, 2022, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Michael Toporek (the “Toporek Employment Agreement”), which was approved by the Compensation Committee.

Pursuant to the Toporek Employment Agreement, Mr. Toporek agreed to continue to serve as our Chief Executive Officer for an initial term of three years, to be extended automatically for successive one-year periods, in consideration for an annual cash salary of $300,000, which will be subject to annual review by the Board or the Compensation Committee and may be increased from time to time by the Board or the Compensation Committee (“Toporek Base Salary”). The Toporek Employment Agreement provides for (i) annual performance bonuses based on attainment of one or more individual or business performance goals proposed by Mr. Toporek and approved by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion (the “Annual Performance Bonus” and such target Annual Performance Bonus for a given calendar year, the “Target Performance Bonus”); (ii) a one-time option previously granted by the Compensation Committee on May 13, 2021, to purchase 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock.These potentially dilutive items were excluded becauseCommon Stock at a per -share exercise price equal to $6.84 per share, subject to vesting over a three-year period after the Company incurred a loss during the periodsgrant date and their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

Not included in the computation of earnings per share-assuming dilution for the year ended December 31, 2015 were options to purchase 926,565 sharesall of the Company’s common stock.These potentially dilutive items were excluded because the Company incurred a loss during the periodsother terms and their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

11. Stock Based Compensation

Stock-based incentive awards are provided to employees and directors under the termsconditions of the Company’s 2006 Equity Incentive2021 Plan (2006 Plan), which was amended and restated effective June 30, 2011, September 16, 2009 and October 20, 2016, 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2012 Plan), which was amended and restated as of October 20, 2016, and 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2014 Plan) (collectively, the Plans). Awards under the Plans have generally included at-the-money options and restricted stock grants.

Stock options are awards which allow holders to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a fixed price. Stock options issued to employees and non-employee members of the MTI Board of Directors generally vest at a rate of 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of the award. Certain options granted may be fully or partially exercisable immediately, may vest on other than a four year schedule or vest upon attainment of specific performance criteria. Restricted stock awards generally vest one year after the date of grant; however, certain awards may vest immediately or vest upon attainment of specific performance criteria. Option exercise prices are generally equivalent to the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Unexercised options generally terminate either seven or ten years after date of grant.

The 2006 Plan was adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors on March 16, 2006 and approved by stockholders on May 18, 2006. The 2006 Plan was amended and restated by the Board of Directors effective September 16, 2009, June 30, 2011 and October 20, 2016. The September 16, 2009 amendment increased the initial aggregate number of 250,000 shares of common stock that may be awarded or issued to 600,000, the June 30, 2011 amendment increased the aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be awarded or issued under the 2006 Plan to 1,200,000, and the October 2016 amendment allowed for thean individual award agreement or another agreement entered into between the Company and Mr. Toporek; (iii) future outperformance awards upon attainment of each Market Capitalization Growth Target (as defined in the award granteeToporek Employment Agreement) which will be fully vested upon grant and delivered subject to varycertain conditions as set forth in the methodToporek Employment Agreement; and (iv) eligibility for employee benefit plans in effect until Mr. Toporek’s employment with the Company is terminated.

14

Pursuant to the Toporek Employment Agreement, if Mr. Toporek is terminated for any reason other than termination without cause or resignation for good reason, he is entitled to receive (i) a lump sum payment in the amount equal to the sum of exerciseMr. Toporek’s earned but unpaid Toporek Base Salary through the date of options issuedtermination, (ii) his earned but unpaid Annual Performance Bonus for the calendar year preceding the date of termination, (iii) his accrued but unused vacation days as of the date of termination, (iv) reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses incurred through the date of termination, and (v) any other benefits or rights Mr. Toporek will have accrued or earned through his date of termination under the 2006terms of any employee benefit plan. Additionally, if Mr. Toporek is terminated without cause or he resigns for good reason, subject to satisfaction of certain release conditions, he will also be entitled to coverage under any health insurance plan covering Mr. Toporek for 12 months after the termination of his employment, one year of his then-current Toporek Base Salary and the Target Performance Bonus for the calendar year containing the date of termination, both paid in a single lump sum in cash on the first regular Company payroll date next following the 60th calendar day following the date of termination.

Effective May 1, 2023, Mr. Toporek stepped down from the role of Chief Executive Officer and assumed the role of Executive Chairman of the Board.

Consulting Agreement

Effective as of April 24, 2023, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with David Michaels, a director of the Company, to serve as interim chief financial officer. The agreement provides for a four month term providing for consulting fees of $25,000 per month.

Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation

Equity awards typically take the form of stock options, restricted stock grants, or restricted stock units under our equity compensation plans. Authority to make equity awards to executive officers rests with the Compensation Committee. In determining the size of awards for new or current executives, the Compensation Committee consider the competitive market, strategic plan performance, contribution to future initiatives, benchmarking of comparative equity ownership for executives in comparable positions at similar companies, individual option history, and recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman.

We generally base our criteria for performance-based equity awards on one or more of the following long-term measurements:

procurement and maintenance of original equipment manufacturer alliance/strategic agreements;
manufacturing readiness;
financing targets;
gross revenue and profit goals;
operating expense improvements; and
product launches, new product introductions, or improvements to existing products or product-intent prototypes.

15

These performance measurements support various initiatives identified by the Board as critical to our future success, and are either expressed as absolute in terms of success or failure or will be measured in more qualitative terms.

The timing of all equity awards for our named executive officers have coincided with either employment anniversary dates or our annual meeting dates, or such equity awards are granted at the next scheduled meeting of the Compensation Committee following the completion or assignment of the applicable objectives. We do not time equity grants to our executives in coordination with the release of material non-public information, nor do we impose any equity ownership guidelines on our executives.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

The following table provides information as to equity awards granted by the Company and held by Michael Toporek, John Belizaire, Jessica Thomas, Philip Patman, Jr., and Mary O’Reilly outstanding as of December 31, 2022.

  Option Awards  Stock Awards 
Name Option
Grant
Date
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
  Option
Exercise
Price ($)
  Option
Expiration
Date
  Number of
shares or
units of
stock that
have not
vested
(#)
  Market
value of
shares or
units of
stock that
have not
vested
(#)
  Equity incentive plan awards: # of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested
(#)
  Equity incentive plan awards: Market or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have noted vested
($)
 
Michael Toporek  12/12/2018   7,500      0.90   12/12/2028             
    05/13/2021   166,667(1)  333,333(1)       05/13/2027             
                                     
Jessica L. Thomas  07/01/2020      12,500   0.70   07/01/2030         30,731   273,493 
                                     
John Belizaire                       53,776   657,680 
                                     
Philip Patman, Jr. (2)                       38,820(2)  129,659 
                                     
Mary O’Reilly                       20,937   122,740 

(1)

The stock options are scheduled to vest in equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of May 13, 2021, so long as Mr. Toporek remains in the service of the Company on each such anniversary.

(2)Mr. Patman, Jr. resigned from the Company effective, April 21, 2023, however, his restricted stock units were approved by the Compensation Committee for acceleration prior to the original vesting date.

16

Director Compensation for Fiscal Year 2022

On December 20, 2021, the Board’s Compensation Committee authorized non-employee directors to receive cash compensation of $6,250 per quarter and 20,500 restricted stock units vesting over three years with 37% vesting in 12 months, an additional 33% vesting in 24 months and the final 30% vesting from the date of the grant, with additional consideration for the Chairman of the Board of $7,500 per quarter and 40,000 restricted stock units with a three year vesting similar to above. In addition any member of the Board serving as a chairperson of any committee of the Board will receive cash compensation of $3,750 per quarter and 20,500 restricted stock units with a three year vesting similar to above, and each member of the Executive Committee will receive a cash consideration of $3,750 per quarter and 20,500 restricted stock units vesting over three years similar to the terms above. On January 14, 2022, the Board approved (a) payment of annual cash compensation to the members of the Board, as follows: (i) $60,000 per annum and 60,500 restricted stock units to the director then serving as the chairperson of the Board, (ii) $50,000 per annum and 41,000 restricted stock units to each director then serving as a chairperson of any of the committees of the Board, (iii) $35,000 per annum and 20,500 restricted stock units to each other director then serving as member of the Board, and (iv) $15,000 per annum and 20,500 to each member of the Executive Committee. On November 22, 2022, the Board of Board of Directors approved in lieu of quarterly cash payments for the Board for September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2022, the Board has deemed to grant non-qualified stock options to purchase an aggregate of up to 539,064 shares of the Company’s common stock, in which 50% was vested immediately and 50% on December 31, 2022. Future director compensation will be determined by the Compensation Committee. Directors who are also our employees, in particular Mr. Toporek and Mr. Belizaire, are not compensated for serving on the Board.

The following table details the total compensation of the directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 for service as a director.

Name Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash (1)
  Stock
Award ($)(2)(3)
  Stock
Options ($) (4)
  Total 
Edward R. Hirshfield $17,500  $221,195  $51,954  $290,649 
Matthew E. Lipman $25,000  $412,050  $74,219  $511,269 
Thomas J. Marusak $25,000  $442,390  $74,219  $541,609 
David C. Michaels $25,000  $442,390  $74,219  $541,609 
William P. Phelan $37,500  $843,650  $111,329  $992,479 
John Bottomley $25,000  $412,050  $74,219  $511,269 
William Hazelip $17,500  $221,195  $51,954  $290,649 

(1)The amounts reported in the Fees Earned or Paid in Cash column reflect the cash fees earned by the directors in 2022, consisting of a $8,750 quarterly cash fee, $6,250 for each quarter for Mr. Phelan for service as the Chairman of the Board, $3,750 for each quarter for Mr. Michaels, Mr. Hirshfield and Mr. Marusak for serving as the Chair of Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Compensation Committee, and $3,750 for each quarter for Mr. Lipman, Mr. Phelan, and Mr. Bottomly for serving on the Executive Committee, respectively. Mr. Toporek and Mr. Belizaire were not compensated for serving on the Board because they were employees of the Company. In the third and fourth quarter of 2022, in lieu of cash payments, the Board members received stock options for their services on the Board and respected committee assignments.
(2)The amount equals 20,500 shares of restricted stock units for Mr. Hirshfield, Mr. Hazelip, and Mr. Bottomley, 41,000 shares of restricted stock units for Mr. Marusak, Mr. Michaels, and Mr. Lipman, and 60,500 shares of restricted stock units for Mr. Phelan multiplied by the closing price of such shares on January 14, 2022, the award date. In addition, 20,500 shares of restricted stock units for Mr. Lipman, Mr. Phelan, and Mr. Bottomley were awarded on January 26, 2022 in which also get added to the stock awards calculation. Amounts shown are also the compensation cost for the award recognized by us for financial reporting purposes pursuant to ASC 718 (which equals the closing price of the shares on the award date, multiplied by the number of shares subject to the award). No assumptions were used in this calculation. All shares of restricted stock awards and units vest in three equal annual installments beginning on January 14, 2023 and January 26, 2023, which is the first anniversary of the date on which the awards were granted.
(3)Mr. Toporek and Mr. Belizaire were not compensated for serving on the Board because they were employees of the Company.
(4)On November 22, 2022, the Board of Board of Directors approved in lieu of quarterly cash payments for the Board for September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2022, the Board has deemed to grant non-qualified stock options to purchase an aggregate of up to 539,064 shares of the Company’s common stock, in which 50% was vested immediately and 50% on December 31, 2022.. Each grant was priced based on a 25% premium to the closing market stock price of SLNH on grant date, and determined based on quarterly cash compensation per each member of the Board.

Summary of the Company’s Equity Incentive Plans

General Plan Information

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had three equity compensation plans pursuant to which equity awards could be granted or under which equity awards were outstanding – the Amended and Restated 2012 Plan (the “2012 Plan”), the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”), and the Amended and Restated 2021 Plan (together with the 2012 Plan and the provisions governing expiration of options or other awards under2014 Plan, the 2006 Plan following termination of“Plans”).

Additionally, the award recipient. The number of shares that may be awarded underCompany’s stockholders approved the 2006Third Amended and Restated 2021 Plan and awards outstanding has been adjusted for stock splitsthe Company’s 2023 Stock Incentive Plan at a special meeting of stockholders on March 10, 2023 (the “2023 Plan” and, other similar events. Under the 2006 Plan, the Board of Directors is authorized to issue stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, and other stock-based incentives to officers, employees and others.  In connectiontogether with seeking stockholder approval of the 2012 Plan, the Company agreed not to make further awards under2014 Plan and the 2006 Plan. 2021 Plan, the “Plans”). The Third Amended and Restated 2021 Plan and the 2023 Plan were adopted by the Board on February 10, 2023 and approved by our stockholders on March 10, 2023.

17

 

2012 Plan

The 2012 Plan, was adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors on April 14, 2012 and approved by itsour stockholders on June 14, 2012. The 2012 Plan was amended and restated by the Board of Directors effective October 20, 2016. The October 2016 amendment allowed forto (i) permit the award agreement or another agreement entered into between the Company and the award grantee to vary the method of exercise of options issued under the 2012 Plan and an(ii) permit another agreement entered into between the Company and the award grantee, in addition to the award agreement, to vary the provisions governing expiration of options or other awards under the 2012 Plan following termination of the award recipient.recipient’s service with the Company. The 2012 Plan provides that an initial aggregate number of 600,000 shares of common stock thatCommon Stock may be awarded or issued.issued pursuant to the 2012 Plan. The number of shares of Common Stock that may be awarded under the 2012 Plan and awards outstanding may be subject to adjustment on account of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, and other dilutive changes in our common stock.the Common Stock. Under the 2012 Plan, the Board of Directors is authorized to issue stock options (incentive and nonqualified), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and other stock-based awards to employees, officers, directors, consultants, and advisors of the Company and its subsidiaries. Incentive stock options may only be granted to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2022, options to purchase 61,875 shares of Common Stock were outstanding under the 2012 Plan, of which 61,875 were exercisable.

2014 Plan

The 2014 Plan was adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors on March 12, 2014 and approved by itsour stockholders on June 11, 2014. The 2014 Plan provides an initial aggregate number of 500,000 shares of common stockCommon Stock that may be awarded or issued.issued under the 2014 Plan. The number of shares that may be awarded under the 2014 Plan and awards outstanding may be subject to adjustment on account of any stock dividend, spin-off, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, recapitalization, reclassification, reorganization, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, liquidation, business combination, exchange of shares, or the like. Under the 2014 Plan, the Board-appointed administrator of the 2014 Plan is authorized to issue stock options (incentive and nonqualified), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, phantom stock, performance awards, and other stock-based awards to employees, officers, and directors of, and other individuals providing bona fide services to or for, the Company or any affiliate of the Company. Incentive stock options may only be granted to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2022, options to purchase 36,751 shares of Common Stock were outstanding under the 2014 Plan, of which 21,750 were exercisable.

F-172021 Plan


In connection withThe 2021 Plan was adopted by the saleBoard on February 12, 2021, and approved by the stockholders on March 25, 2021. The 2021 Plan was amended and restated effective as of October 29, 2021, and May 27, 2022, respectively. The 2021 Plan authorizes the Company to issue shares of common stock to Brookstone,upon the Company entered into an Option Exerciseexercise of stock options, the grant of restricted stock awards, and Stock Transfer Restriction Agreementthe conversion of restricted stock units (collectively, the Option and Transfer Agreements) with its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer and each of its non-employee directors (collectively, the Insiders)“Awards”). The Option and Transfer Agreements amend the stock option grant agreements between the Company and each Insider with respectCompensation Committee has full authority, subject to an option granted under, and modify the terms of any optionthe 2021 Plan, to purchase Common Stock held by each such Insider (collectively, Options) granted under,interpret the Plans. The Option2021 Plan and Transfer Agreements restrictestablish rules and regulations for the aggregate amountproper administration of shares of Common Stock for which the Insiders may exercise Options during calendar years 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, and provide for a modified procedure for exercising Options in order2021 Plan. Subject to ensure the limit on the aggregate amount of Options that may be exercised in any such year is not exceeded. Such amendments and modifications also operate to, except with respect to the termination of Options in connection with an Insider’s termination of employment or service in connection with misconductcertain adjustments as describedprovided in the Option and Transfer Agreements, (i) remove all references to an expiration2021 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of the exercisability of such Options within a special, delineated time period following the termination of service to or employment by the Company, and (ii) provide that all vested Options are exercisable by the Insider until default expiration under the applicable Plan (i.e., ten years from the date of grant). If an Option and Transfer Agreement is terminated, the limitations on Option exercises described above will terminate, but the exercisability of the Insider’s vested Options until default expiration under the applicable Plan and stock option agreement (i.e., ten years from the date of grant) will survive indefinitely. 

During 2016, the Company granted options to purchase 261,000 shares of the Company’s common stock that may be issued under the 2021 Plan (i) pursuant to the exercise of options, (ii) as shares or restricted stock and (iii) in settlement of RSUs shall be limited to (A) during the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 (the “2021 Fiscal Year”), 1,460,191 Shares, (B) for the period from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022, fifteen percent (15%) of the 2014 Plan,number of Shares outstanding on January 3, 2022, which generally vest 25% on eachwas the first trading day of 2022, and (C) beginning with the third quarter of the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 (the “2022 Fiscal Year”), fifteen percent (15%) of the number of Shares outstanding as of the first four anniversariestrading day of each quarter, net of any Shares awarded in the previous quarter(s). Subject to certain adjustments as provided in the 2021 Plan, (i) shares subject to the 2021 Plan shall include shares reverted back to the Company pursuant the 2021 Plan in a prior year or quarter, as applicable, as provided herein and (ii) the number of shares that may be issued under the 2021 Plan may never be less than the number of shares that are then outstanding under (or available to settle existing) Awards. As of December 31, 2022, options and restricted stock to purchase 2,041,753 shares of Common Stock were outstanding under the 2021 Plan, of which 870,331 were exercisable, with 114,725 shares reserved for future grants of equity awards under the 2021 Plan.

On March 10, 2023, at the Special Shareholder Meeting, the Third Amended and Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan was approved. The Third Amended and Restated 2021 Plan will, among other things, (a) increase the number of shares of our Common Stock reserved for issuance thereunder, on a quarterly basis, to 18.75% of the shares of our Common Stock outstanding on the measurement date and (b) allow us to grant awards of shares of our 9.0% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”) (with and without restrictions). Subject to certain adjustments as provided in the Third Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares of our Common Stock that may be issued under the Third Amended and Restated 2021 Plan (excluding the number of shares of our Common Stock subject to Specified Awards (as defined below)) (i) pursuant to the exercise of stock options, (ii) as unrestricted or restricted Common Stock, and (iii) in settlement of RSUs shall be limited to, beginning with the first quarter of our fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 (or January 1, 2023), 18.75% of the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of the first trading day of each quarter. Subject to certain adjustments as provided in the Third Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares of our Series A Preferred Stock that may be issued under the Third Amended and Restated 2021 Plan as unrestricted or restricted Series A Preferred Stock shall equal $3,600,000 valued as of the effective date of the award. The exerciseThird Amended and Restated 2021 Plan as determined at the lower of the closing price of these options is $0.78 per shareour Series A Preferred Stock on Nasdaq on such date or the average of the daily volume weighted average price of our Series A Preferred Stock on Nasdaq as reported by Bloomberg L.P. for a period of five (5) consecutive trading days ending on such date. Subject to certain adjustments as provided in the Third Amended and was basedRestated 2021 Plan, (i) shares of our Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, subject to the Third Amended and Restated 2021 Plan shall include shares of our Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, which revert back to the Third Amended and Restated 2021 Plan in a prior quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, pursuant to the paragraph below, and (ii) the number of shares of our Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, that may be issued under the Third Amended and Restated 2021 Plan may never be less than the number of shares of our Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, as applicable, that are then outstanding under (or available to settle existing) 2021 Plan Award grants.

18

For purposes of the Third Amended and Restated 2021 Plan, “Specified Awards” means (i) 2021 Plan Awards issued to Eligible Persons who are not employed or engaged by us or any of our subsidiaries as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and (ii) 2021 Plan Awards that have a grant date at least three (3) years prior to the last day of any fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023. The exclusion of Specified Awards from the determination of the maximum aggregate number of shares of our Common Stock available for issuance under the Third Amended and Restated 2021 Plan could have material effect on the closing market pricenumber of shares of our Common Stock available for issuance thereunder and could have a material dilutive effect on our stockholders.

2023 Plan

The 2023 Plan was adopted by the Board on February 10, 2023, and approved by the stockholders on March 10, 2023. The 2023 Plan sets the number of shares of our Common Stock reserved for issuance thereunder, on a quarterly basis, to 9.75% of the Company’s common stockshares of our Common Stock outstanding on the datemeasurement date. Subject to certain adjustments as provided in the 2023 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of grant. Using a Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model, the weighted average fair value of these options is $0.74 per share and was estimated at the date of grant. 

During 2016, the Company granted options to purchase 2,000 shares of our Common Stock that may be issued under the Company’s common2023 Plan (excluding the number of shares of our Common Stock subject to Specified Awards (as defined below)) (i) pursuant to the exercise of stock fromoptions, (ii) as unrestricted or restricted Common Stock, and (iii) in settlement of RSUs shall be limited to, beginning with the 2012 Plan, which generally vest 25% on eachfirst quarter of our fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 (or January 1, 2023), 9.75% of the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of the first four anniversariestrading day of each quarter. Subject to certain adjustments as provided in the 2023 Plan, (i) shares of our Common Stock subject to the 2023 Plan shall include shares of our Common Stock which revert back to the 2023 Plan in a prior quarter pursuant to the paragraph below, and (ii) the number of shares of our Common Stock that may be issued under the 2023 Plan may never be less than the number of shares of our Common that are then outstanding under (or available to settle existing) 2023 Plan Award grants.

For purposes of the date2023 Plan, “Specified Awards” means (i) 2023 Plan Awards issued to Eligible Persons who are not employed or engaged by us or any of our subsidiaries as of the award.last day of any fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, and (ii) 2023 Plan Awards that have a grant date at least three (3) years prior to the last day of any fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023. The exercise priceexclusion of these options is $0.78 per share and was basedSpecified Awards from the determination of the maximum aggregate number of shares of our Common Stock available for issuance under the 2023 Plan could have material effect on the closing market pricenumber of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Using a Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model, the weighted average fair value of these options is $0.74 per share and was estimated at the date of grant. 

During 2015, the Company granted options to purchase 140,000 shares of our Common Stock available for issuance thereunder and could have a material dilutive effect on our stockholders.

Prerequisites and Other Benefits

Our executive officers are eligible to participate in similar benefit plans available to all our other employees including medical, dental, vision, group life, disability, accidental death and dismemberment, paid time off, and 401(k) plan benefits.

We also maintain a standard directors and officers liability insurance policy with coverage similar to the Company’s common stock from the 2014 Plan, which generally vest 25% oncoverage typically provided by other small publicly-held technology companies.

Item 12: Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Equity Compensation Plans

As of December 31, 2022, we had three equity compensation plans, each of the first four anniversaries of the date of the award. The exercise price of these options is $1.20 per share andwhich was based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Using a Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model, the weighted average fair value of these options is $1.14 per share and was estimated at the date of grant. 

Stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was generated from stock option awards. Stock options are awards that allow holders to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a fixed price. Under the 2014 and 2012 Plans, stock options issued to employees generally vest 25% over four years. Options issued to non-employee members of the MTI Board of Directors generally vest 25% over four years. Certain options granted may be fully or partially exercisable immediately, may vest on other than a four year schedule or vest upon attainment of specific performance criteria. Restricted stock awards generally vest one year after the date of grant, although certain awards may vest immediately or vest upon attainment of specific performance criteria. Option exercise prices are generally equivalent to the closing market value price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Unexercised options generally terminate ten years after date of grant.

The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using a Black-Scholes valuation model. Key inputs and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options include the grant price of the award, the expected option term, volatility of the Company’s stock, an appropriate risk-free rate, and the Company’s dividend yield. Estimates of fair value are not intended to predict actual future events or the value ultimately realizedoriginally approved by employees who receive equity awards, and subsequent events are not indicative of the reasonableness of the original estimates of fair value made by the Company. The Company’s estimate of an expected option term was calculated in accordance with the simplified method for calculating the expected term assumption.

our shareholders. The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used for options granted under the 2014 Plan:

 

 

2016

    

 

 

2015

Option term (years)

 

5.05

 

 

 

4.25

 

Volatility 

 

171.91

%

 

 

191.97

%

Risk-free interest rate

 

1.52

%

 

 

1.57

%

Dividend yield

 

0

%

 

 

0

%

Weighted-average fair value per option granted

$

0.74

 

 

$

1.14

 

F-18


The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used for options granted under the 2012 Plan:

 

 

2016

    

Option term (years)

 

5.05

 

 

Volatility 

 

171.91

%

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

1.52

%

 

Dividend yield

 

0

%

 

Weighted-average fair value per option granted

$

0.74

 

 

Share-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, therefore, awards are reduced for estimated forfeitures. The revised accounting standard requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

Total share-based compensation expense, related to all of the Company’s share-based awards, recognized for the years ended December 31, was comprised as follows:

 

 

2016

    

 

2015

(dollars in thousands, except eps)

 

Cost of product revenue

$

3

 

 

$

2

 

Research and product development

 

45

 

 

 

9

 

Selling, general and administrative 

 

401

 

 

 

130

 

Share-based compensation expense 

$

449

 

 

$

141

 

Impact on basic and diluted EPS 

$

0.08

 

 

$

0.03

 

Total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested awards as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 is $49 thousand and $307 thousand, respectively, and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average remaining vesting period of approximately 1.04 years and 2.56 years, respectively.

Presented below is a summary of the Company’s stock option plans’ activity for the years ended December 31:

 

2016

    

 

2015

Shares under option, beginning

 

926,565

 

 

 

802,908

 

Granted

 

263,000

 

 

 

140,000

 

Exercised

 

(12,161

)

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

(19,436

)

 

 

(11,061

)

Expired/canceled

 

(15,629

)

 

 

(5,282

)

Shares under option, ending

 

1,142,339

 

 

 

926,565

 

Options exercisable

 

1,043,214

 

 

 

456,400

 

Remaining shares available for granting of options

 

 

45,500

 

 

 

280,436

 

The weighted average exercise price for the Plans is as follows for each of the years ended December 31:

 

2016

 

    

2015

Shares under option, beginning

$ 0.77

  

 

$ 0.72

 

Granted

$ 0.78

  

 

$ 1.20

 

Exercised

$ 0.57

  

 

$    —

 

Forfeited

$ 0.89

  

 

$ 0.72

 

Expired/canceled

$ 1.69

  

 

$ 4.54

 

Shares under option, ending

$ 0.76

  

 

$ 0.77

 

Options exercisable, ending

$ 0.75

  

 

$ 0.63

 

F-19


The following table summarizes information for options outstanding and exercisable forregarding the Plans as of December 31, 2016:2022:

  Number of
Securities To
Be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants,
Rights(1)
  Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants, Rights
  Number of Securities
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation
Plans (excluding
securities reflected
in column (a))
 
Plan Category (a)  (b)  (c) 
Equity compensation plans            
approved by security holders  2,140,379  $2.52   114,725 

 

Outstanding Options

 

Options Exercisable

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

Exercise

 

 

Remaining

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

Price Range

Number

    

Contractual Life

    

Exercise Price

    

Number 

    

Exercise Price

$0.29 - $1.15

986,339

 

7.03

 

$

0.69

 

887,214

 

$

0.66

$1.16 - $1.40

156,000

 

7.63

 

$

1.22

 

156,000

 

$

1.22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,142,339

 

7.11

 

$

0.76

 

1,043,214

 

$

0.75

(1)The securities available under the Plans for issuance and issuable pursuant to exercises of outstanding options may be adjusted in the event of a change in outstanding stock by reason of stock dividend, stock splits, reverse stock splits, etc.

19

 

Security Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management And Related Stockholder Matters

The aggregate intrinsic value (i.e. the difference between the closing stock price and the pricefollowing table sets forth certain information regarding shares of Common Stock beneficially owned as of April 24, 2023, for (i) each stockholder known to be paid by the option holderbeneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) each named executive officer and director, and (iii) all executive officers and directors as a group. A person is considered to exercise the option) is $788 thousand for the Company’sbeneficially own any shares over which such person, directly or indirectly, exercises sole or shared voting or investment power.

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(2) Number(2)  Percent of Class(1) 

Executive Officers

 

 

   
Michael Toporek(5)(10)  4,111,301   15.7%
John Belizaire(15)  90,322   * 
Jessica L. Thomas(3)(18)  47,927   * 
Philip F. Patman, Jr.(14)(20)  138,820   * 
Mary Jennifer O’Reilly(16)  32,787   * 
         
Non-Employee Directors        
Matthew E. Lipman(7)(10)  3,891,495   14.9%
William P. Phelan(13)  432,415   1.7%
David C. Michaels(4)(9)  278,372   1.1%
Thomas J. Marusak(8)  344,420   1.3%
Edward R. Hirshfield(6)  103,873   * 
William Hazelip(12)  109,873   * 
John Bottomley(11)  101,295   * 
         
All current directors and executive officer as a
group (12 persons)
  5,932,900   22.7%
Persons or Groups Holding More than 5% of the Common Stock        
        

Brookstone Partners Acquisition XXIV, LLC(10)
232 Madison Avenue, Suite 600

New York, NY 10016

  3,750,000   14.3%

Justin R. Dopieral and related entity:

DOMO Capital Management, LLC (17)

N112 W.16298 Mequon Rd., Suite No. 111, Germantown Wisconsin, 53022

  1,714,144   6.7%

Alpha Capital Anstalt (19)

Altenbach 8, FL-9490 Vaduz, Lietchenstein.

  2,217,450   8.5%

*Less than 1%

20

(1)Based on 26,163,481 shares of Common Stock outstanding on April 24, 2023, and, with respect to each individual holder, rights to acquire shares of Common Stock exercisable within 60 days of April 24, 2023.
(2)Unless otherwise indicated, each of the stockholders has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the stockholder.
(3)Includes 7,500 shares of restricted Common Stock held by Ms. Thomas that are subject to forfeiture and 12,500 exercised shares of restricted Common Stock issued to Ms. Thomas, including 6,969 shares of restricted Common Stock withheld to satisfy Ms. Thomas’s tax obligation upon the exercise of 12,500 stock options granted to Ms. Thomas. Includes 8,854 restricted stock units that vested as of April 24, 2023 and 26,042 restricted stock units that will vest within 60 days of April 24, 2023. Excludes 15,104 restricted stock units that will vest on a monthly basis for three years, and 10,000 restricted stock units that will vest in two equal installments of 50% on December 1, 2023 and December 1, 2024, in each case subject to the reporting person remaining in the service of our company on each such vesting date.
(4)Serving as Interim Chief Financial Officer effective August 21, 2023.
(5)Includes 7,500 shares of restricted Common Stock held by Mr. Toporek that are subject to forfeiture, of which 3,366 were withheld to satisfy Mr. Toporek’s tax obligation upon the vesting of the 7,500 restricted stock units, and 174,167 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Toporek upon exercise of stock options exercisable as of April 24, 2023, and 166,667 stock options exercisable that will vest within 60 days of April 24, 2023. Also includes 3,750,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Toporek indirectly pursuant to his position with Brookstone XXIV and/or its affiliates.
(6)Excludes 12,915 of 20,500 restricted stock units representing shares of Common Stock, which shall vest as follows: 37% vest 12 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2023, 33% vest 24 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2024, and 30% vest 36 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2025, in each case subject to Mr. Hirshfield remaining in the service of our company on each such vesting date. Includes 88,788 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Hirshfield upon exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 24, 2023.
(7)Excludes 12,915 of 20,500 restricted stock units representing shares of Common Stock, which shall vest as follows: 37% vest 12 months from the date of the grant, or January 14, 2023, 33% vest 24 months from the date of the grant, or January 14, 2024, and 30% vest 36 months from the date of the grant, or January 14, 2025, in each case subject to Mr. Lipman remaining in the service of our company on each such vesting date. Excludes 12,915 of 20,500 restricted stock units , which shall vest as follows: 37% vest 12 months from the grant date, or January 26, 2023, 33% vest 24 months from the grant date, or January 26, 2024, and 30% vest 36 months from the grant date, or January 26, 2025, in each case subject to Mr. Lipman remaining in the service of our company on each such vesting date. Includes 7,500 shares of restricted Common Stock held by Mr. Lipman that are subject to forfeiture, and 112,225 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Lipman upon exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 24, 2023. Also includes 3,750,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Lipman indirectly pursuant to his position with Brookstone Partners XXIV and/or its affiliates.
(8)Excludes 25,830 of 41,000 restricted stock units representing shares of Common Stock, which shall vest 12 months from the date of the grant, or January 14, 2023, 33% vest 24 months from the date of the grant, or January 14, 2024, and 30% vest 36 months from the date of the grant, or January 14, 2025, in each case subject to Mr. Marusak remaining in the service of our company on each such vesting date. Includes 15,233 shares of restricted Common Stock held by Mr. Marusak that are subject to forfeiture and 107,850 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Marusak upon exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 24, 2023.
(9)Excludes 25,830 of 41,000 restricted stock units representing shares of Common Stock, which shall vest as follows: 37% vest 12 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2023, 33% vest 24 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2024, and 30% vest 36 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2025, in each case subject to Mr. Michaels remaining in the service of our company on each such vesting date. Includes 17,733 shares of restricted Common Stock held by Mr. Michaels that are subject to forfeiture and 147,725 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Michaels upon exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 24, 2023.
(10)Representatives of Brookstone XXIV have provided us the following information: As the Manager of Brookstone XXIV, Brookstone Partners I.A.C. may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock owned directly by Brookstone XXIV. Michael Toporek is President of Brookstone Partners I.A.C. and Matthew Lipman is Secretary of Brookstone Partners I.A.C. and share voting and dispositive power over the shares of Common Stock owned by Brookstone XXIV. As a result of the foregoing, in computing the beneficial ownership of all executive officers and directors, as a group, the 3,750,000 shares of Common Stock owned indirectly by each of Mr. Toporek and Mr. Lipman, as a result of their interests in Brookstone XXIV and/or its affiliates, is only counted once. The address of each of Brookstone XXIV, Brookstone Partners I.A.C., Michael Toporek, and Matthew Lipman is 232 Madison Avenue, Suite 600, New York, New York 10016.
(11)Excludes 12,915 of 20,500 restricted stock units representing shares of Common Stock, which shall vest as follows: 37% vest 12 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2023, 33% vest 24 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2024, and 30% vest 36 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2025, in each case subject to Mr. Bottomley remaining in the service of our company on each such vesting date. Excludes 12,915 of 20,500 restricted stock units representing shares of Common Stock, which shall vest as follows: 37% vest 12 months from the grant date, or January 26, 2023, 33% vest 24 months from the grant date, or January 26, 2024, and 30% vest 36 months from the grant date, or January 26, 2025, in each case subject to Mr. Bottomley remaining in the service of our company on each such vesting date. Includes 78,125 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Bottomley upon exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 24, 2023.
(12)Excludes 12,915 of 20,500 restricted stock units representing shares of Common Stock, which shall vest as follows: 37% vest 12 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2023, 33% vest 24 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2024, and 30% vest 36 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2025, in each case subject to Mr. Hazelip remaining in the service of our company on each such vesting date. Excludes 2,500 of 7,500 restricted stock units which shall vest as follows: 1/3rd on March 25, 2022, 1/3rd on March 25, 2023, and 1/3rd on March 25, 2024. Includes 91,288 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Hazelip upon exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 24, 2023.

21

(13)

Excludes 38,115 of 60,05 restricted stock units representing shares of Common Stock, which shall vest as follows: 37% vest 12 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2023, 33% vests 24 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2024, and 30% vest 36 months from the grant date, or January 14, 2025, in each case subject to Mr. Phelan remaining in the service of our company on each such vesting date. Excludes 12,915 of 20,500 restricted stock units representing shares of Common Stock, which shall vest as follows: 37% vest 12 months from the grant date, or January 26, 2023, 33% vest 24 months from the grant date, or January 26, 2024, and 30% vest 36 months from the grant date, or January 26, 2025, in each case subject to Mr. Phelan remaining in the service of our company on each such vesting date. Includes 25,000 shares of restricted Common Stock held by Mr. Phelan that are subject to forfeiture and 150,038 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Phelan upon exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 24, 2023.
(14)Mr. Patman. resigned from the Company effective April 21, 2023, however, the balance includes 138,820 restricted stock units in which the Compensation Committee approved for acceleration prior to the original vesting date.
(15)Includes 84,171 shares of restricted Common Stock held by Mr. Belizaire that are subject to forfeiture.
(16)Excludes 7,392 of 14,782 restricted stock units representing shares of Common Stock, which shall vest as follows: 25% vest six months from the grant date, or May 1, 2022, the remaining restricted stock units vest ratably over the succeeding 36 month period, with one-thirty-sixth of such restricted stock units vesting on the last day of each such complete calendar month. Includes 25,616 restricted stock units that will vest within 60 days of April 24, 2023.
(17)The information was based upon Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 24, 2023 by DOMO Capital Management, LLC and Mr. Dopierala. Both DOMO Capital Management, LLC and Mr. Dopierala may be deemed to beneficially own 1,682,923 of the reported shares as a result of the direct or indirect power to vote or dispose of such shares. DOMO Capital Management, LLC and Mr. Dopierala have shared voting power over 1,682,923 shares of Common Stock, and shared dispositive power over 1,682,923 shares of Common Stock. Mr. Dopierala has sole voting power over 34,211 shares of Common Stock and sole dispositive power over 28,000 shares of Common Stock.
(18)No longer serving as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective as of August 16, 2022, and is currently serving as Chief Accounting Officer.
(19)The information was based upon Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on March 30 2023 by Alpha Capital Anstalt. Alpha Capital Alstalt may be deemed to beneficially own 2,217,450 of the reported shares as a result of the direct or indirect power to vote or dispose of such shares. Alpha Capital Anstalt has sole voting power over 2,217,450 shares of Common Stock.
(20)Serving as Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of the Company, effective as of August 16, 2022 until April 21, 2023.

Item 13: Certain Relationships and $735 thousand for the exercisable options as of December 31, 2016. The amounts are based on the Company’s closing stock price of $1.45 as of December 31, 2016.Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

There were no unvested restricted stock grants forReview and Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons

We have adopted a written policy requiring that all related person transactions be reported to our executive management and/or the year ended December 31, 2016Board and 2015.

Non-vested options activity is as follows forapproved or ratified by the year ended December 31:

 

 

2016

Options

 

 

2016 Weighted
Average Exercise
Price

 

Non-vested options balance, beginning January 1

470,165

 

 

$0.91

 

Non-vested options granted

263,000

 

 

$0.78

 

Vested options

(614,604

)

 

$0.85

 

Non-vested options forfeited

(19,436

 

$0.89

 

Non-vested options balance, ending December 31

99,125

 

 

$0.92

 

12. Commitments and Contingencies

Contingencies:

Legal

We are subject to legal proceedings, claims and liabilities which ariseAudit Committee. In completing its review of proposed related person transactions, the Audit Committee considers the aggregate value of the transaction, whether the transaction was undertaken in the ordinary course of business. When applicable, we accrue for losses associatedbusiness, the nature of the relationships involved, and whether the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s length dealings with legal claims when such lossesan unrelated third party.

We believe the terms of any transactions with related persons are probable and can be reasonably estimated. These accruals are adjusted as additional information becomes available or circumstances change. Legal fees are chargedfair to expenseus as they are incurred.those obtainable from unaffiliated third parties.

Commitments:

Leases

The following is a summary of transactions between the Company and its subsidiary lease certain manufacturing, laboratoryrelated persons, as required to be disclosed under applicable SEC rules, that occurred since January 1, 2022, and office facilities. The lease provides for the Company to pay its allocated share of insurance, taxes, maintenance and other costs of the leased property. MTI Instruments did not execute its option under the agreement to terminate the lease as of December 1, 2016.any ongoing related relationships with related persons:

Future minimum rental payments required under non-cancelable operating leases (with initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one year) as of December 31, 2016 are: $221 thousand in 2017, $221 thousand in 2018 and $207 thousand in 2019. Rent expense under all leases was $231 thousand for both 2016 and 2015.

Employment Agreement

The Company has an employment agreement with one employee that provides certain payments upon termination of employment under certain circumstances, as defined in the agreement. As of December 31, 2016, the Company’s potential minimum obligation to this employee was approximately $73 thousand.

F-20


13. Related Party Transactions

MeOH Power, Inc.Inc.

As of December 31, 2016, the Company owned an aggregate of approximately 47.5% of MeOH Power, Inc.’s outstanding common stock, or 75,049,937 shares. The number of shares of MeOH Power, Inc.’s common stock authorized for issuance is 240,000,000 as of December 31, 2016.

On December 18, 2013, MeOH Power, Inc. and the Company executed a Senior Demand Promissory Note (the Note)“Note”) in the amount of $380 thousand to secure the intercompany amounts due to the Company from MeOH Power, Inc. upon the deconsolidation of MeOH Power, Inc. Interest accrues on the Note at the Prime Rate in effect on the first business day of the month, as published in the Wall Street Journal. At the Company’s option, all or part of the principal and interest due on this Note may be converted to shares of common stock of MeOH Power, Inc. at a rate of $0.07 per share. Interest began accruing on January 1, 2014. At December 31, 2013, theThe Company recorded a full allowance against the Note. In 2014, $115 thousand was received from MeOH Power, Inc. in principle and interest and an additional $20 thousand was released from the allowance in advance of a January 2015 payment from MeOH Power, Inc.As of December 31, 20162022 and December 31, 2015, $2752021, $341 thousand and $266$329 thousand, respectively, of principal and interest are available to convert into shares of common stock of MeOH Power, Inc.Inc. Any adjustments to the allowance are recorded as miscellaneous expense during the period incurred.

Legal Services

 

During the yearyears ended December 31, 2016,2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company paid $80incurred $22 thousand and $19 thousand, respectively, to Couch White, LLP for legal services associated with contract review. A partner at Couch White, LLP is an immediate family member of one member of our BoardDirectors.

22

HEL Transactions

On January 8, 2020, the Company formed SCI as a wholly-owned subsidiary to pursue a new business line focused on cryptocurrency and the blockchain ecosystem. In connection with this new business line, SCI established a facility to mine cryptocurrencies and integrate with the blockchain network. Pursuant to an Operating and Management Agreement dated January 13, 2020, by and between SCI and HEL, HEL assisted the Company, and later SCI, in developing, and is now operating, the cryptocurrency mining facility. The Operating and Management Agreement required, among other things, that HEL provide project sourcing services to SCI, including acquisition negotiations and establishing an operating model, investments/financing timeline, and a project development path, as well as developmental and operational services, as directed by SCI, with respect to the applicable cryptocurrency mining facility in exchange for SCI’s payment to HEL of Directors.a one-time management fee ranging from $65,000 to $350,000 and profit-based success payments in the event that SCI achieved explicit profitability thresholds. These agreements also provided that once aggregate earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of the applicable mine exceeded the total amount of funding provided by SCI to HEL (whether pursuant to the applicable agreement or otherwise) for the purposes of creating, developing, assembling, and constructing the mine, HEL was entitled to ongoing success payments of 20.0% of the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of the mine. $237 thousand of payments were made for fiscal year 2021, as certain thresholds pursuant to the Operating and Management Agreement were achieved.

14. GeographicPursuant to the Operating and Segment InformationManagement Agreement, during the developmental phase of the cryptocurrency mining facility, which ended on March 14, 2020, HEL gathered and analyzed information with respect to SCI’s cryptocurrency mining efforts and produced budgets, financial models, and technical and operational plans, including a detailed business plan, that it delivered to SCI in March 2020 (the “Deliverables”), all of which was designed to assist with the efficient implementation of a cryptocurrency mine. The agreement provided that, following SCI’s acceptance of the Deliverables, which occurred on March 23, 2020, HEL, on behalf of SCI, would commence operations of the cryptocurrency mine in a manner that would allow SCI to mine and sell cryptocurrency. In that regard, on May 21, 2020, SCI acquired the intellectual property of GigaWatt, Inc. (“GigaWatt”) and certain other property and rights of GigaWatt associated with GigaWatt’s operation of a crypto-mining operation located in Washington State. The acquired assets formed the beginning of SCI’s cryptocurrency mining operation. SCI sells all cryptocurrency it mines for U.S. dollars and is not in the business of accumulating cryptocurrency on the Company’s balance sheet for speculative gains. On October 22, 2020, SCI loaned HEL $112 thousand to acquire additional assets from the bankruptcy trustee for GigaWatt’s assets. On the same day, HEL transferred title of the assets to SCI, which under the terms thereof paid off the note.

On November 19, 2020, SCI and HEL entered into a second Operating and Management Agreement related to a potential location for a cryptocurrency mine in the southeast United States. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, which are consistent with the first Operating and Management Agreement noted above, HEL was entitled to ongoing success payments of 20.0% of the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of the mine. SCI paid HEL $221 thousand for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 related to the one-time fees.

On December 1, 2020, SCI and HEL entered into a third Operating and Management Agreement with respect to a potential location for a cryptocurrency mine in the Southwestern United States. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, which are consistent with the first Operating and Management agreement noted above, HEL is entitled to ongoing success payments of 20.0% of the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of the mine. SCI did not make any payments in 2021 as this target location did not meet the business requirements to continue pursuing the potential acquisition, and as a result SCI did not make any further payments to HEL under this agreement.

On February 8, 2021, SCI and HEL entered into a fourth Operating and Management Agreement related to a potential location for a cryptocurrency mine in the Southeast United States. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, which are consistent with the first Operating and Management agreement noted above, HEL is entitled to ongoing success payments of 20.0% of the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of the mine. SCI paid HEL $544 thousand for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 in relation to the one-time fees.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Company paid $245 thousand in expense reimbursements and other related fees in addition to the Operating and Management payments.

Each Operating and Management Agreement, all of which were terminated effective November 5, 2021, pursuant to the Termination Agreement, among other things, required that HEL provide project sourcing services to SCI, including acquisition negotiations and establishing an operating model, investments/financing timeline, and project development path. The Company sellsmade one final payment to HEL in the first quarter of 2022 of $50 thousand to settle all final Operating and Management Agreements.

Simultaneously with entering into the initial Operating and Management Agreement with HEL, the Company, pursuant to a purchase agreement it entered into with HEL, made a strategic investment in HEL by purchasing 158,730 Class A Preferred Shares of HEL for an aggregate purchase price of $500 thousand on January 13, 2020. After acceptance of the Deliverables, as required by the terms of the purchase agreement, on March 23, 2020, the Company purchased an additional 79,365 Class A Preferred Shares of HEL for an aggregate purchase price of $250 thousand. The Company also has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase additional equity securities of HEL and its productssubsidiaries (including additional Class A Preferred Shares of HEL) if HEL secured certain levels or types of project financing with respect to its own wind power generation facilities. Each preferred share may be converted at any time and without payment of additional consideration, into Common shares. The Company additionally entered into a Side Letter Agreement, dated January 13, 2020, with HEL Technologies Investment I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that owns, on a worldwidefully diluted basis, with its principal markets listed57.9% of HEL and is controlled by a Brookstone Partners-affiliated director of the Company. The Side Letter Agreement provides for the transfer to the Company, without the payment of any consideration by the Company, of additional Class A Preferred Shares of HEL in the tableevent HEL issues additional equity below where informationagreed-upon valuation thresholds.

23

On October 29, 2021, we completed the Soluna Callisto acquisition pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The purpose of the transaction was for SCI to acquire substantially all of the assets (other than those assets physically located in Morocco) formerly held by HEL, which assets consisted of SCI’s existing pipeline of certain cryptocurrency mining projects that HEL previously transferred to SCI, which was formed expressly for this purpose, and to provide SCI with the opportunity to directly employ or retain the services of four individuals whose services it had retained through HEL prior to the merger. As a result of the merger, each share of common stock of Soluna Callisto issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, other than shares owned by the Company or any of our subsidiaries, was cancelled and converted into the right to receive a proportionate share of the Merger Consideration.

In connection with the Soluna Callisto acquisition, effective as of October 29, 2021, upon and subject to the terms and conditions of the Termination Agreement, on product revenueNovember 5, 2021: (1) the existing Operating and Management Agreements between HEL and SCI were terminated in all respects; and (2)(A) SCI paid HEL $725,000, (B) SHI issued to HEL the Termination Shares, and (C) HEL and SHI entered into an Amended and Restated Contingent Rights Agreement that, among other things, amended the existing Contingent Rights Agreement by and between HEL and SHI, dated January 13, 2020, to provide SHI the right to invest directly in certain cryptocurrency mining opportunities being pursued by HEL. SHI filed a registration statement with the SEC to register the resale of the Termination Shares on February 14, 2022.

Several of HEL’s equity holders are affiliated with Brookstone Partners, the investment firm that holds an equity interest in the Company through Brookstone Partners Acquisition XXIV, LLC. The Company’s two Brookstone-affiliated directors also serve as directors and, in one case, as an officer, of HEL and also have ownership interest in HEL. In light of these relationships, the various transactions by and between the Company and SCI, on the one hand, and HEL, on the other hand, were negotiated on behalf of the Company and SCI via an independent investment committee of the Board and separate legal representation. The transactions were subsequently unanimously approved by both the independent investment committee and the full Board.

Five of the Company’s directors have various affiliations with HEL.

Michael Toporek, the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, owns (i) 90% of the equity of Soluna Technologies Investment I, LLC, which owns 57.9% of HEL and (ii) 100% of the equity of MJT Park Investors, Inc., which owns 3.1% of HEL, in each case, on a fully-diluted basis. Mr. Toporek does not own directly, or indirectly, any equity interest in Tera Joule, LLC, which owns 9.2% of HEL; however, as a result of his 100% ownership of Brookstone IAC, Inc., which is summarized by geographic areathe manager of Tera Joule, LLC, he has dispositive power over the equity interests that Tera Joule owns in HEL.

In addition, one of the Company’s directors, Matthew E. Lipman, serves as a director and currently acting as President of HEL. Mr. Lipman does not directly own any equity interest in Tera Joule, LLC, which owns 9.2% of HEL; however, as a result of his position as a director and officer of Brookstone IAC, Inc., which is the manager of Tera Joule, LLC, he has dispositive power over the equity interests that Tera Joule owns in HEL. As a result, the approximate dollar value of the amount of Mr. Toporek’s and Mr. Lipman’s interest in the Company’s transactions with HEL for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $0 and $0.

John Belizaire and John Bottomley, who were elected to the Board upon the effective time of SCI’s acquisition of Soluna Callisto, serve as directors of HEL. In addition, Mr. Belizaire is the beneficial owner of 1,317,567 shares of common stock of HEL and 102,380 Class Seed Preferred shares, which are convertible into 86,763 shares of common stock of HEL. These interests give Mr. Belizaire an ownership of 10.54% in HEL. Mr. Belizaire also owns an interest in HEL indirectly through his 5.0139% interest of Tera Joule, LLC’s 965,945 Class Seed Preferred shares, which are convertible into 818,596 shares of common stock of HEL. Mr. Bottomley is the beneficial owner of 96,189, or approximately 0.72%, of the outstanding shares of common stock of HEL.

Finally, William P. Phelan, Chairman of the Board, served as an observer on HEL’s board of directors on behalf of the Company through March 2021.

The Company’s investment in HEL was initially carried at the cost of investment and was $750 thousand. Based on evaluation of projections for the Company’s investment in HEL, the Company fully impaired the equity investment of $750 thousand as of December 31, 2022, writing it down to $0.

The Company owned approximately 1.79% of HEL, calculated on a whole for eachconverted fully-diluted basis, as of December 31, 2022. The Company may enter into additional transactions with HEL in the future.

Director Independence

The Board has determined that Messrs. Hazelip, Hirshfield, Marusak, Michaels,   and Phelan are “independent directors,” as defined by the rules and listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. In making this determination, the Board considered the transactions and relationships disclosed above.

24

Item 14: Principal Accounting Fees and Services

UHY served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm during the years ended December 31:31, 2022 and 2021. The following sets forth fees billed by UHY for the audit of our annual financial statements and other services rendered during each of those years(1):

  Year Ended  Year Ended 
  December 31,  December 31, 
  2022�� 2021 
Audit Fees $600,000  $475,500 
Audit-Related Fees      
Tax Fees  21,115    
All Other Fees  ––    
Total $621,115  $475,500 

(1)The aggregate amounts included in Audit Fees and Tax Fees are classified by the related fiscal periods for the audit of our annual financial statements and review of financial statements and statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. The aggregate fees included in each of the other categories are fees billed or to be billed during those fiscal periods.

Audit Fees

Audit fees for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, were for professional services rendered for the annual financial statements audit and related audit procedures, the audit of internal control over financial reporting, work performed in connection with any registration statements, including comfort letters, and any applicable Current Reports on Form 8-K and the review of any of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Tax Fees

Tax fees during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 were for services related to tax compliance, including the preparation of tax returns and claims for refunds, and tax planning and tax advice, including advice related to proposed transactions.

The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of the non-audit services above is compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence, and has concluded that it is.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee has adopted the following policies and procedures under which frequently-utilized audit and non-audit services are pre-approved by the Audit Committee and the authority to authorize the independent registered public accountants to perform such services is delegated to a single committee member or executive officer.

a)Annual audit, quarterly review, and annual tax return services will be pre-approved upon review and acceptance of the tax and audit engagement letters submitted by the independent registered public accountants to the Audit Committee.
b)Additional audit and non-audit services related to the resolution of accounting issues or the adoption of new accounting standards, audits by tax authorities, or reviews of public filings by the SEC must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee and the authority to authorize the independent registered public accounting firm to perform such services is delegated to the Chairman of the Audit Committee for fees up to $5,000, and for fees above $5,000 entire Committee approval is required.
c)Additional audit and non-audit services related to tax savings strategies, tax issues arising during the preparation of tax returns, tax estimates, and tax code interpretations must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee and the authority to authorize the independent registered public accounting firm to perform such services is delegated to the Chairman of the Audit Committee for fees up to $5,000, and for fees above $5,000 entire Committee approval is required.
d)Additional audit and non-audit services related to the tax and accounting treatments of proposed business transactions must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee and the authority to authorize the independent registered public accountants to perform such services is delegated to the Chairman of the Audit Committee for fees up to $5,000, and for fees above $5,000 entire Committee approval is required.
e)Quarterly and annually, a detailed analysis of audit and non-audit services will be provided to and reviewed with the Audit Committee.

All of the 2022 services described under the captions “Audit Fees,” and “Tax Fees” were approved by the Audit Committee.

25

Item 15: Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

15(a) (1) Financial Statements: The financial statements filed herewith are set forth on the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1 of the separate financial section which accompanies this Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

15(a) (2) Financial Statement Schedules: Financial statement schedules not listed have been omitted because they are either not required, not applicable, or the information has been included elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

15(a) (3) Exhibits: The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index below are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Exhibit
NumberDescription
2.1

Agreement and Plan of Merger dated August 11, 2021, by and among Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, SCI Merger Sub, Inc., and Soluna Callisto Holdings Inc., formerly known as Soluna Computing, Inc. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed August 12, 2021).

3.1

Articles of Incorporation of Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2020).

3.2

Articles of Merger filed with the Secretary of State of Nevada (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.3 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2020).

3.3

Certificate of Merger filed with the Department of State of New York (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.4 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2020).

3.4

Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of Nevada dated June 9, 2021 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed June 15, 2021).

3.5

Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of Nevada on November 2, 2021 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed November 4, 2021).

3.6

Bylaws of the Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2020).

3.7Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of 9.0% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on August 18, 2021 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on August 19, 2021).
3.8Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of 9.0% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on December 22, 2021 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed with the SEC on December 29, 2021).
3.9Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of 9.0% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on April 21, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed with the SEC on April 27, 2022).
3.10Certificate of Designation of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, filed with the Nevada Secretary of State on July 20, 2022.
4.1

Form of Common Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed April 12, 2021).

26

4.2

Form of Underwriters’ Warrant (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed April 12, 2021).

4.3

Form of Warrant Agent Agreement between Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed April 29, 2021).

4.4

Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of 9.0% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on August 18, 2021 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-A filed August 19, 2021).

4.5

Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of 9.0% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on December 22, 2021 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed December 29, 2021).

4.6

Form of 9.0% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed August 23, 2021).

4.7

Form of Secured Convertible Note issued by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of October 20, 2021 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 25, 2021).

4.8

Form of Class A Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of October 20, 2021 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 25, 2021).

4.9

Form of Class B Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of October 20, 2021 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 25, 2021).

4.10

Form of Class C Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of October 20, 2021 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 25, 2021).

4.11

Form of Representative’s Warrant (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed December 29, 2021).

4.12Form of Class D Common Stock Purchase Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 14, 2022).
4.13Form of Class E Common Stock Purchase Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 14, 2022).
4.14Form of Class F Common Stock Purchase Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 14, 2022).
4.15Form of Class G Common Stock Purchase Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 14, 2022).
4.16Description of Securities (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.13 of the Company’s Form 10-K as of December 31, 2021 filed March 31, 2022)
10.1+

Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, Amended and Restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2016).

10.2+

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement Notice for Board of Directors and Employees for Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2012).

10.3+

Form of Incentive Stock Option Notice for Employees for Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2012).

10.4+

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Notice for Employees for Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2012).

27

 

10.5+

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Notice for Board of Directors for Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2012).

10.6+

Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, Amended and Restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.8 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed March 4, 2020).

10.7+

Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Registrant’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission on April 25, 2014).

10.8+

Form of Restricted Stock Grant Agreement under the Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.10 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed March 4, 2020).

10.9+

Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Grant Agreement under the Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-196989) filed with the Commission on June 24, 2014).

10.10+

Form of Incentive Stock Option Grant Agreement under the Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-196989) filed with the Commission on June 24, 2014).

10.11+

Amended and Restated Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Registrant’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission on October 7, 2021)

10.12+

Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Amended and Restated Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.11 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2021.)

10.13+

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under the Amended and Restated Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.13 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2021.)

10.14+

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Amended and Restated Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.14 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2021.)

10.15+Second Amended And Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 1, 2022).
10.16+Form of Option Agreement for the Second Amended And Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 15, 2022).
10.17+Form of Restricted Stock Agreement for the Second Amended And Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan  (Incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 15, 2022).
10.18+

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for the Second Amended And Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 15, 2022).

10.19

Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of October 21, 2016, by and between Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, and Brookstone Partners Acquisition XXIV, LLC (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.22 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 21, 2016).

10.20

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of October 21, 2016, by and between Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, and Brookstone Partners Acquisition XXIV, LLC (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.23 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 21, 2016).

(dollars in thousands) 

2016

    

2015

    

 

 

Product revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

$

4,774

 

$

4,139

 

Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

 

1,368

 

 

1,421

 

Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

 

659

 

 

650

 

North America

 

205

 

 

106

 

South America

 

50

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total product revenue

$

7,056

 

$

6,330

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28

10.21

Form of Option Exercise and Stock Transfer Restriction Agreement between Soluna Holdings, Inc. and its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Non-Employee Directors (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.24 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 21, 2016).

10.22

Class A Preferred Share Purchase Agreement dated January 13, 2020, among Harmattan Energy, Ltd., formerly known as Soluna Technologies, Ltd., Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, and the other investors set forth on Exhibit A thereto (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.21 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed March 4, 2020).

10.23

Amended and Restated Contingent Rights Agreement dated November 5, 2021, by and between Harmattan Energy, Ltd. and Soluna Holdings, Inc. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.26 of the Company’s 10-K as of December 31, 2021)

10.24

Side Letter Agreement dated January 13, 2020, by and between Harmattan Energy, Ltd., formerly known as Soluna Technologies, Ltd., and Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.23 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed March 4, 2020).

10.25

Sale Order dated May 18, 2020, by and between GigaWatt, Inc. and the United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Washington (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.32 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed September 30, 2020).

10.26

Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement dated May 20, 2020, by and between Mark D. Waldron, as Chapter 11 Trustee and Soluna Computing, Inc., formerly known as EcoChain, Inc (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.35 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed September 30, 2020).

10.27

Assignment of Lease Agreements dated February 4, 2020, by and between, on the one hand, David M. Carlson, Dorrinda M. Carlson, Enterprise Focus, Inc. and, on the other hand, Mark D. Waldron, in his capacity as the Chapter 11 Trustee (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.37 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed September 30, 2020).

10.28

Commercial Lease dated August 1, 2018, by and between TNT Business Complexes, LLC and Enterprise Focus, Inc. and Dave Carlson (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.38 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed September 30, 2020).

10.29

Commercial Lease dated November 14, 2014, by and between TNT Business Complexes, LLC and Dave Carlson /Enterprise Focus, Inc. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.39 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed September 30, 2020).

10.30

October 21, 2019 Certified Letter Regarding Option to Extend Commercial Lease dated November 14, 2014, by and between TNT Business Complexes, LLC and Dave Carlson /Enterprise Focus, Inc (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.40 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed September 30, 2020).

10.31Amendment of Commercial Lease Agreement dated January 28, 2020, by and between Mark Waldron, as Chapter 11 Trustee and TNT Business Complexes, LLC (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.41 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed September 30, 2020).
10.32Industrial Power Contract dated February 22, 2021, by and between Soluna SW LLC, formerly known as EcoChain Wind, LLC, and a West Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative Collaboration (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2021)
10.33Form of Purchase Agreement dated as of April 11, 2021, by and between Soluna MC LLC, formerly known as EcoChain Block, LLC, and Seller (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed April 12, 2021).
10.34Form of Power Supply Agreement dated as of May 3, 2021, by and between Soluna MC LLC, formerly known as EcoChain Block, LLC, and a power-providing cooperative (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed May 4, 2021).

29

10.35Form of Transition Services Agreement dated as of May 3, 2021, by and between Soluna MC LLC, formerly known as EcoChain Block, LLC, and a power-providing cooperative (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed May 4, 2021).
10.36Form of Guaranty of Rent dated as of May 3, 2021, by and between Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, and a power-providing cooperative (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed May 4, 2021).
10.37Termination Agreement dated August 11, 2021, by and among Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, Soluna Computing, Inc., formerly known as EcoChain, Inc., and Harmattan Energy, Ltd. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed August 12, 2021).
10.38Securities Purchase Agreement dated October 20, 2021, by and between Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, and accredited investors (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 25, 2021).
10.39Registration Rights Agreement dated October 25, 2021, by and between the Company and accredited investors (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 25, 2021).
10.40

Security Agreement dated October 25, 2021, by and among the Company, MTI Instruments and Soluna Computing, Inc., formerly known as EcoChain, Inc., Soluna MC LLC, formerly known as EcoChain Block LLC, and Soluna SW LLC, formerly known as EcoChain Wind LLC, and Collateral Services LLC (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed October 25, 2021).

10.41

Master Equipment Finance Agreement, dated as of December 30, 2021 by and between Soluna MC Borrowing 2021-1 LLC and NYDIG ABL LLC (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed January 18, 2022).

10.42Digital Asset Account Control Agreement, effective as of December 30, 2021 by and among Soluna MC Borrowing 2021-1 LLC, NYDIG ABL LLC and NYDIG Trust Company LLC (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed January 18, 2022).
10.43Guaranty Agreement, dated as of December 30, 2021 by Soluna MC LLC, in favor of NYDIG ABL LLC (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed January 18, 2022).
10.44Consent and Waiver Agreement, dated January 13, 2022, by and among the Company and the purchasers signatory to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 20, 2021 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed January 18, 2022).
10.45+Employment Agreement, by and between Soluna Holdings, Inc. and Michael Toporek, dated as of January 14, 2022 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Report filed January 21, 2022).
10.46

Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 11, 2022, by and between Soluna Holdings, Inc. and NKX Acquiror, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K Report filed with the SEC on April 15, 2022).

10.47Form of Note by and between Soluna Holdings, Inc. and certain institutional lenders (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.53 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed on March 31, 2022.)
10.48

Commercial Security Agreement, by and between Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, and KeyBank National Association, dated September 15, 2021 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.54 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed on March 31, 2022).

10.49

Promissory Note, by and between Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, and KeyBank National Association, dated September 15, 2021 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.55 of the Company’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed on March 31, 2022).

10.50Underwriting Agreement, by and between the Company and Univest Securities, LLC, dated October 24, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 26, 2022).
10.51

Form of Underwriter’s Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 26, 2022).

30

 

Revenues

10.52+Employment Agreement, by and between Soluna Holdings, Inc. and Philip F. Patman, Jr, dated as of July 29, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K Report filed with the SEC on August 3, 2022).
10.53Form of Addendum by and between the Company, Collateral Agent, and each purchaser identified on Schedule A hereto (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 20, 2022).
10.54Form of Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the purchasers signatory thereto (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 20, 2022).
10.55

Form of Leak-Out Agreement by and between the Company and the signatory thereto (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 20, 2022).

10.56

At-the-Market Issuance Sales Agreement, dated June 9, 2022, by and between the Company and the Univest Securities, LLC (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 9, 2022).

10.57Contribution Agreement by and between Soluna Holdings, Inc., Soluna SLC Fund I Projects Holdco, LLC, Soluna DV Devco, LLC, and Soluna DVSL ComputeCo, LLC, dated as of August 5, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 11, 2022).
10.58Form of Addendum Amendment by and Between the Company and the signatories thereof, dated September 13, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 14, 2022).
10.59Form of Series B Consent by and between the Company and the signatory thereof, dated September 13, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 14, 2022).
10.60Form of Securities Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and the purchasers named therein, dated December 5, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 5, 2022).
10.61Form of Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 5, 2022).
10.62+Soluna Holdings, Inc. Third Amended and Restated 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2023)
10.63+Soluna Holdings, Inc. 2023 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2023)
10.64Purchase of Membership Interests of Soluna DVSL Computeco LLC dated March 10, 2023 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. on March 31, 2023)
10.65Fourth Amended and Restated LLC Agreement Soluna DVSL Computeco LLC (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. on March 31, 2023)
10.66Data Facility Lease (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. on March 31, 2023)
10.67Amended and Restated Contribution Agreement dated March 10, 2023 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. on March 31, 2023)
10.68Power Purchase Agreement with Lighthouse Electric Cooperative, Inc. dated February 24, 2023 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. on March 31, 2023)

31

10.69Second Addendum Amendment dated as of March 3, 2023 with Convertible Noteholders (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. on March 31, 2023)
10.70Consulting Agreement with David Michaels providing his service as Chief Financial Officer
21

Subsidiaries of Soluna Holdings, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. on March 31, 2023)

23.1Consent of UHY LLP. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. on March 31, 2023)
31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. on March 31, 2023)

32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. on March 31, 2023)

101.INS

Inline XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

104Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

# Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted based upon a request for confidential treatment. The omitted portions have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to our application for confidential treatment. The items are attributedidentified in the exhibit with “**”.

+ Represents management contract or compensation plan or arrangement.

32

Signatures

Pursuant to regions based on the locationrequirements of customers.  In 2016 and 2015, approximately 32.3% and 34.6%, respectively, of our product revenues was from customers outsideSection 13 or 15(d) of the United States.

Long-lived assetsSecurities Exchange Act of $160 thousand and $115 thousand at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively consist of property, plant and equipment all located within1934, the United States.

At MTI Instruments, the largest commercial customer in 2016 and 2015 was an Asian distributor of our general instrumentation products, who accounted for 8.1% and 6.8% of total product revenue in 2016 and 2015, respectively. The U.S. Air Force continuesregistrant has duly caused this report to be the largest government customer, accounting for 18.1% and 4.4% of total product revenue in 2016 and 2015, respectively. 

The Company operates in one segment and therefore segment information is not presented.

F-21


15. Debt

During the first quarter of 2016, we entered into discussions with Bank of America, N.A. (the Bank) to strengthen the Company’s then-existing lines of credit and re-align their terms to be more consistent with our current business plan. During such discussions, the Bank informed the Company that basedsigned on its results for 2015 it was not in compliance with certain financial covenants ofbehalf by the lines. Since an agreement on new covenants could not be reached, the Company decided that the lines of credit could not be utilized and therefore terminated them on March 24, 2016. There were no amounts outstanding under the credit facilities at the time of cancellation.undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

SOLUNA HOLDINGS, INC.
Date: May 1, 2023By: /s/ John Belizaire
John Belizaire
Chief Executive Officer

Date: May 1, 2023By:/s/ David C. Michaels
David C. Michaels
Chief Financial Officer

33

F-22