XML 23 R7.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.23.1
Nature of Operations
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Nature of Operations

1. Nature of Operations

 

Description of Business

 

Unless the context requires otherwise in these notes to the consolidated financial statements, the terms “SHI,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Soluna Holdings, Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “SCI” refers to Soluna Computing, Inc., formerly known as EcoChain, Inc., and “MTI Instruments” refers to MTI Instruments, Inc..

 

Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as Mechanical Technology, Incorporated was incorporated in Nevada on March 24, 2021, and is the successor to Mechanical Technology, Inc., which was incorporated in the State of New York in 1961, as a result of a merger which became effective on March 29, 2021, and is headquartered in Albany, New York. Effective November 2, 2021, the Company changed its name from “Mechanical Technology, Incorporated” to “Soluna Holdings, Inc.”

 

SHI currently conducts our business through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Soluna Computing, Inc. (“SCI”). SCI is engaged in mining of cryptocurrency through data centers that can be powered by renewable energy sources. Recently, SCI has built modular data centers that are used for cryptocurrency mining though proprietary mining and hosting business models. SCI intends to continue to develop and build, modular data centers that use wasted renewable energy for cryptocurrency mining and in the future can be used for intensive, batchable computing applications, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, with the goal of providing a cost-effective alternative to battery storage or transmission lines. Headquartered in Albany, New York, the Company uses technology and intentional design to solve complex, real-world challenges.

 

SCI was incorporated in Delaware on January 8, 2020 as EcoChain, Inc., which operates cryptocurrency mining facilities that performs proprietary mining and data hosting services that integrates with the cryptocurrency blockchain network. Through the October 2021 acquisition by EcoChain, Inc. of an entity at the time named Soluna Computing, Inc., SCI also has a pipeline of certain cryptocurrency mining projects previously owned by Harmattan Energy, Ltd. (“HEL”) (formerly known as Soluna Technologies, Ltd.), a Canadian corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Colombia that develops vertically-integrated, utility-scale computing facilities focused on cryptocurrency mining and cutting-edge blockchain applications. Following such acquisition, on November 15, 2021, SCI completed its conversion and redomicile to Nevada and changed its name from “EcoChain, Inc.” to “Soluna Computing, Inc.”. The following day, the acquired entity, Soluna Computing, Inc., changed its name to “Soluna Callisto Holdings Inc.” (“Soluna Callisto”). We earn revenue from this business as the mined cryptocurrencies are converted into U.S. dollars. In fiscal year 2021, SCI began mining operations in Murray, Kentucky, (“Project Sophie”) and Calvert City, Kentucky, (“Project Marie”). Project Marie had performed hosting services and proprietary mining in which 10 megawatts were used for hosting services and 10 megawatts was used for proprietary mining through the end of February 2023, at which time the facility had shut down. As of March 31, 2023, Project Sophie operated fully on proprietary mining with a capacity of 25 megawatts. On April 6, 2023, Project Sophie entered into a 25 MW hosting contract with a Bitcoin miner, in which will shift the Company’s business model at the Company’s modular data centers at Project Sophie from proprietary mining to hosting Bitcoin miners for the customer. The Company plans to sell its existing Bitcoin miners at the Project Sophie site and redeploy capital. On September 17, 2022, SCI sold specified assets consisting mainly of mining equipment and other general equipment items to a buyer at its Wenatchee, Washington location, (“Project Edith”). Soluna has committed to providing certain facilities contracts at cost plus a markup to facilitate the continued operations for the sold mining assets, on behalf of the new ownership. We have a development site in Texas (“Project Dorothy”) for a potential of up to 100 megawatts to be built at a wind farm with initial energization of 50 megawatts, in which the Company has obtained approval from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (“ERCOT”) and expects to begin energization in fiscal year 2023. The Company as of March 31, 2023, has a 15% ownership interest in Soluna DVSL ComputeCo, LLC (“DVSL”) in which is included within the Project Dorothy site, as discussed further in Note 16.

 

Until the Sale (as defined below), we also operated though our wholly owned subsidiary, MTI Instruments, an instruments business engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of vibration measurement and system balancing solutions, precision linear displacement sensors, instruments and system solutions, and wafer inspection tools. MTI Instruments was incorporated in New York on March 8, 2000. MTI Instruments’ products consisted of engine vibration analysis systems for both military and commercial aircraft and electronic gauging instruments for position, displacement and vibration application within the industrial manufacturing markets, as well as in the research, design and process development markets. These systems, tools and solutions were developed for markets and applications that require consistent operation of complex machinery and the precise measurements and control of products, processes, and the development and implementation of automated manufacturing and assembly. On December 17, 2021, we announced that we had entered into a non-binding letter of intent with a potential buyer (the “Buyer”) regarding the potential sale of MTI Instruments (the “LOI”) to an unrelated third party. Pursuant to the LOI, the Buyer would acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock of MTI Instruments. As a result of the foregoing, the MTI Instruments business was reported as discontinued operations in our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2022, and prior periods included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023 (the “Annual Report”). On April 11, 2022, we consummated the Sale, MTI Instruments ceased to be our wholly-owned subsidiary and, as a result, we have exited the instruments business. See Note 14 for additional information on the Sale.

 

 

On April 11, 2022, SHI entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) with NKX Acquiror, Inc. (the “Purchaser”), pursuant to which the Company sold on such date all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of its wholly-owned subsidiary, MTI Instruments, for approximately $9.4 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments as set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Sale”). The consideration paid by the Purchaser to the Company was based on an aggregate enterprise value of approximately $10.75 million. The Company recognized a gain on sale of approximately $7.8 million.

 

Going Concern and Liquidity

 

The Company’s condensed financial statements as of March 31, 2023 have been prepared using generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business. As shown in the accompanying condensed financial statements, the Company did not generate sufficient revenue to generate net income and has negative working capital as of March 31, 2023. In addition, the Company has ceased operations for Project Marie in February 2023 due to the termination of the Management and Hosting Services agreement with CC Metals and Alloys, LLC (“CCMA”) and repossession of collateral for miners as discussed further below. These factors, among others indicate that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after issuance of these condensed unaudited financial statements as of March 31, 2023, or May 15, 2023.

 

Soluna MC Borrowing 2021-1, received a Notice of Acceleration and Repossession (the “NYDIG Notice”) from NYDIG ABL LLC (“NYDIG”) with respect to the Master Equipment Finance Agreement, dated as of December 30, 2021 (the “MEFA”), by and between Borrower and NYDIG. The NYDIG Notice states that (a) Borrower failed to observe or perform certain covenants, conditions or agreements contained in the MEFA and such failure continued unremedied for a period of ten days after Borrower’s knowledge of such breach, which resulted in an event of default under the MEFA, and (b) Borrower defaulted under the guaranty, collateral agreement, or other support agreement, which resulted in an event of default under the MEFA. In addition, the NYDIG Notice states that Borrower failed to pay certain payments of principal and interest under the MEFA when due, which failure also constituted an event of default under the MEFA. As a result of the foregoing events of default, and pursuant to the MEFA, NYDIG (x) declared the principal amount of all loans due and owing under the MEFA and all accompanying Loan Documents (as defined in the MEFA) to be due and immediately payable, (y) imposed a default rate of interest on any outstanding principal amount of each loan (together with all then unpaid interest accruing thereon) and all other obligations under the MEFA and the Loan Documents, and (z) demanded the return of all equipment subject to the MEFA and the Loan Documents. The obligations of Borrower under the MEFA and reflected in the NYDIG Notice were ring-fenced to Borrower and its direct parent company, Soluna MC LLC. On February 23, 2023, NYDIG proceeded to foreclose on all of the collateral securing the MEFA, which resulted in a reportable disposition of all of the Company’s mining assets at the site and certain of the operating assets of Project Marie. The total net book value of the collateralized assets that were repossessed totaled $3.4 million. Additionally, NDYIG has stated its intention to pursue SCI, the parent company of Guarantor, under a piercing of the corporate veil claim relating to Defendants’ debts and liabilities under the loan documents. SCI denies any such liability and has filed a complaint for a declaratory judgment against NYDIG in the Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County, Nevada on March 16, 2023, seeking a declaratory judgment as to such matter.

 

The ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the Company generating profitable operations in the future and/or obtaining the necessary financing to meet its obligations and repay its liabilities arising from normal business operations when they come due. In the near term, management is evaluating and implementing different strategies to obtain financing to fund the Company’s expenses and growth to achieve a level of revenue adequate to support the Company’s current cost structure. Financing strategies may include, but are not limited to, stock issuances, project level equity, debt borrowings, partnerships and/or collaborations. If the Company is unable to meet its financial obligations, it could be forced to restructure or refinance, seek additional equity capital or sell its assets. The Company might then be unable to obtain such financing or capital or sell its assets on satisfactory terms. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available to the Company when needed or, if available, that it can be obtained on commercially reasonable terms. If the Company is not able to obtain the additional financing on a timely basis, if and when it is needed, it will be forced to delay or scale down some or all of its development activities or perhaps even cease the operation of its business.

 

To further implement management’s strategy, in May 2022, SCI entered into a structural understanding with Soluna SLC Fund I Projects Holdco LLC (“Spring Lane”), a Delaware limited liability company, pursuant to which Spring Lane agreed to provide up to $35.0 million in project financing subject to various milestones and conditions precedent and in August 2022, the Company entered into an agreement with Spring Lane for an initial funding of up to $12.5 million from the previously agreed-upon $35.0 million commitment from Spring Lane for Project Dorothy for a 32% ownership as of year-end. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had received approximately $4.8 million worth of contributions from Spring Lane. In February and concluding on March 10, 2023, the Company entered into a series of Purchase and Sale Agreements with Spring Lane for a total purchase price of $7.5 million for the sale of Series B membership interests owned by SHI. The capital was funded and used to help complete the substation interconnection and the final stages of Project Dorothy, Soluna’s flagship project in West Texas, and corporate operations and general expenses of Soluna. In this series of transactions, Spring Lane increased its stake in Soluna DVSL ComputeCo from approximately 32% to 85% and reduced SHI’s ownership from 68% to 15%.

 

In addition, on May 9, 2023, the Company’s indirect subsidiary Soluna DV ComputeCo, LLC (“DV”) completed a strategic partnership and financing with a special purpose vehicle, Navitas West Texas Investments SPV, LLC, (“Navitas”) organized by Navitas Global, to complete the second phase of the Dorothy Project (“Dorothy 1B”). Under a Contribution Agreement among the parties, the Company owned a substantially complete 25MW data center under construction, in which the Company had contributed capital expenditures for the data center. Navitas has initially contributed the initial installment of $4.5 million of a $10.8 cash commitment for the primary purpose of purchasing proprietary cryptocurrency miners and equipment necessary to put the Dorothy 1B Project into service.  As a result of the initial contribution, the Company owns 73.5% of DV and Navitas owns 26.5% of DV.  The Company expects Navitas to contribute the balance of the committed funds by the end of May 2023. At the completion of funding, Navitas will have a 49% membership interest in DV, and the Company will have a 51% membership interest in DV.  

 

 

During the first quarter of 2023, the Company has entered into six separate promissory notes for a total of $900 thousand at an interest rate of 15%. In March 2023, we retired two of these promissory notes for a total of $300 thousand, and an additional $325 thousand was retired in April of 2023 leaving $275 thousand still outstanding, using proceeds from a subsequent placement of the December 5th Securities Purchase Agreement Offering.

 

For the first three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company has sold under-utilized miners and equipment, and continues to evaluate opportunities to sell more miners and equipment for fiscal year 2023. In addition to the proceeds from the foregoing transactions and together with the Company’s cash on hand for available use of approximately $4.6 million as of March 31, 2023, the Company will need additional capital raising activities, to meet its outstanding commitments relating to capital expenditures as of March 31, 2023 of $0.2 million and other operational needs, as well as additional needs during 2023 and management continues to evaluate different strategies to obtain financing to fund operations. However, management cannot provide any assurances that the Company will be successful in accomplishing additional financing or any of its other plans. These financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

The COVID-19 global pandemic has been unprecedented and unpredictable, and the impact is likely to continue to result in significant national and global economic disruption, which may adversely affect our business. Although the Company has experienced some minor impacts to the Project Dorothy builds due to disruptions in the global supply chain, the Company does not expect any material impact on our long-term strategic plans, our operations, or our liquidity due to the impacts of COVID-19. Further, various macroeconomic factors could adversely affect our business and the results of our operations and financial condition, including changes in inflation, interest rates and overall economic conditions. For instance, inflation could negatively impact the Company by increasing our labor costs, through higher wages and higher interest rates. If inflation or other factors were to significantly increase our business costs, our ability to develop our current projects may be negatively affected. Interest rates, the liquidity of the credit markets and the volatility of the capital markets could also affect the operation of our business and our ability to raise capital in order to fund our operations. However, the Company is actively monitoring this situation and the possible effects on our financial condition, liquidity, operations, suppliers, and the industry.