Contact:

Lightbridge Corporation:
Ogilvy Public Relations:
Gerry Pascale
Greg Jawski
(571) 730-1213
212-880-5353
ir@Ltbridge.com
greg.jawski@ogilvypr.com

Linda Byus
(571) 730-1218
lbyus@ltbridge.com
 
Lightbridge Corporation Reports 2010 First Quarter Financial Results
 
MCLEAN, VA,  May 13, 2010 – Lightbridge Corporation (NASDAQ: LTBR), a developer of proprietary nuclear fuel technologies and a leading provider of nuclear energy consulting services to commercial and governmental entities, today reported  revenue of $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $2.9 million in the comparable period a year ago.   Operating loss for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased slightly to $1.7 million, compared to $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009.  Excluding the impact of non-cash items, adjusted net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2010 would have been $0.8 million compared to adjusted net income of $0.2 million for the same period in 2009 (see “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” near the end of this release).
 
Seth Grae, Lightbridge Chief Executive Officer, commented, “While our revenue reflects year-to-year variation, we continue to make progress on both sides of our business.  On the nuclear consulting services side, we recently entered into a new agreement with another foreign government to evaluate the feasibility of developing and deploying a civil nuclear power program.  Our nuclear fuel development business remains on schedule and we expect to expand our work with AREVA this year. As we’ve indicated previously, in 2010 we plan to address what we believe will be the last significant technical risk until testing and demonstration of fuel bundles in commercial power reactors with the fabrication of a full-length 3-meter metal seed rod.  We anticipate having results from that study in the second half of the year.”
 
 
 

 
 
Mr. Grae added, “The level of activity on the legislative front, including the introduction of the Reid-Hatch legislation in the US Senate earlier this year, and ongoing dialogue with foreign countries and leading global energy companies on both sides of our business are key, longer-term developments for Lightbridge.   As these business trends intersect with our fuel development timeline and a growing demand for nuclear expertise, we believe that we’re well positioned to capitalize over the longer-term.”
 
Discussion of Revenue and Cash Flow
 
The Company’s operating revenues are derived primarily from the Company’s consulting and strategic advisory services for foreign governments planning to create or expand electricity generation capabilities using nuclear power plants and are used to help fund the continued development of the Company’s nuclear fuel design technology.  Revenues are primarily generated from the five-year consulting contracts in place in the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) with two separate entities, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (“ENEC”) and the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (“FANR”).

As of March 31, 2010, the company had approximately $2.0 million of cash and cash equivalents and approximately $4.4 million of working capital. As of December 31, 2009, the company had approximately $4.5 million of working capital.
 
About Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 
This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures for earnings that exclude non-cash items. Net income excluding non-cash items is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). The Company believes the presentation of net income excluding non-cash expense is relevant and useful by enhancing the readers’ ability to understand the Company’s operating performance. The Company’s management utilizes net income excluding non-cash expense as a means to measure operating performance. The table below reconciles adjusted net income (loss) excluding non-cash expense, a non-GAAP measure, to GAAP net income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009 (Expressed in Thousands of US Dollars).
 
 
 

 
 
     
Three Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
     
31-March-10
   
31-March 09
GAAP Net Income (Loss)
 
$
(1,684)
   
$
(1,522)
 
Adjustments:
               
Expense - non-cash employee compensation
   
860
     
1,273
 
Expense - depreciation
   
7
     
6
 
Adjusted Net Income (Loss)
 
$
(817)
   
$
(243)
 
 
About Lightbridge Corporation
 
Lightbridge is a U.S. nuclear energy company based in McLean, VA with operations in Abu Dhabi, Moscow and London. The Company develops non-proliferative nuclear fuel technology and provides comprehensive advisory services for established and emerging nuclear programs based on a philosophy of transparency, non-proliferation, safety and operational excellence. Lightbridge's breakthrough fuel technology is establishing new global standards for peaceful nuclear power and leading the way towards a sustainable energy future. Lightbridge consultants provide integrated strategic advice and expertise across a range of disciplines including regulatory affairs, nuclear reactor procurement and deployment, reactor and fuel technology and international relations. The Company leverages those broad and integrated capabilities by offering services to commercial entities and governments with a need to establish or expand nuclear industry capabilities and infrastructure.
 
Conference Call
 
Lightbridge Corporation will host a conference call at 10 a.m. (EST) on Thursday, May 13, 2010.  The call will be available on the Company’s website at www.Ltbridge.com, or by calling (877) 892-6834 for U.S. callers, or +1 (702) 643-9738 for international callers, and entering conference ID: 74619970.
 
 
 

 
 
Lightbridge Corporation
 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
             
Current Assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 2,000,134     $ 3,028,791  
Restricted cash
    652,174       652,174  
Accounts receivable - project revenue and reimbursable project costs
    2,647,233       2,421,088  
Prepaid expenses & other current assets
    675,523       574,095  
Total Current Assets
    5,975,064       6,676,148  
                 
Property Plant and Equipment -net
    90,608       97,559  
                 
Other Assets
               
Patent costs - net
    241,845       241,845  
Security deposits
    120,487       120,486  
Total Other Assets
    362,332       362,331  
                 
Total Assets
  $ 6,428,004     $ 7,136,038  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
               
                 
Current Liabilities
               
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  $ 1,575,718     $ 2,162,221  
                 
Total Liabilities
    1,575,718       2,162,221  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
Stockholders' Equity
               
                 
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares, no shares issued and outstanding
    -       -  
                 
Common stock, $0.001par value, 500,000,000 authorized, 10,168,412 shares issued and outstanding at  March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009
    10,168       10,168  
                 
Additional paid in capital - stock and stock equivalents
    54,836,265       54,108,685  
                 
Deficit
    (50,407,044 )     (48,723,286 )
                 
Common stock reserved for issuance, 135,318 and 5,721 shares at March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively
    1,134,264       34,750  
                 
Deferred stock compensation
    (721,367 )     (456,500 )
Total Stockholders' Equity
    4,852,286       4,973,817  
                 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
  $ 6,428,004     $ 7,136,038  

 
 

 
 
Lightbridge Corporation
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March, 31
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Revenue:
           
             
Consulting Revenue
  $ 2,399,132     $ 2,944,053  
                 
Cost of  Consulting Services Provided
    1,505,490       1,748,518  
                 
Gross Margin
    893,642       1,195,535  
                 
Operating Expenses
               
General and administrative
    2,372,263       2,262,681  
Research and development expenses
    204,743       453,805  
Total Operating Expenses
    2,577,006       2,716,486  
                 
Operating loss
    (1,683,364 )     (1,520,951 )
                 
Other Income and (Expenses)
               
Interest income
    152       3,028  
Other
    (546 )     (4,538 )
Realized gain on marketable securities
    0          
Total Other Income and Expenses
    (394 )     (1,510 )
                 
Net  loss before income taxes
    (1,683,758 )     (1,522,461 )
                 
Income taxes
    0       0  
                 
Net  loss
  $ (1,683,758 )   $ (1,522,461 )
                 
                 
Net Loss Per Common Share, Basic and diluted
  $ (0.17 )   $ (0.15 )
Weighted Average Number of shares outstanding for the period used to compute per share data - (prior reporting period restated to reflect 1 for 30 reverse stock split)
    10,168,412       10,055,580  
 
 
 

 
 
LIGHTBRIDGE CORPORATION
  UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Operating Activities:
           
Net Loss
  $ (1,683,758 )   $ (1,522,461 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from operations to net cash used in operating activities:
               
Stock based compensation
    859,576       1,272,971  
Depreciation and amortization
    6,951       6,004  
Changes in non-cash operating working capital items:
               
Accounts receivable - fees and reimburseable project costs
    (226,145 )     1,038,592  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (101,428 )     (387,189 )
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other current liabilities
    116,147       (1,596,398 )
Net Cash Used In Operating Activities
    (1,028,657 )     (1,188,481 )
                 
Investing Activities:
               
Patent costs
    0       (16,402 )
Net Cash Used In Investing Activities
    0       (16,402 )
                 
Financing Activities:
                     
Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Financing Activities
    0       0  
                 
Net Decrease In Cash and Cash Equivalents
    (1,028,657 )     (1,204,883 )
                 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period
    3,028,791       5,580,244  
                 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period
  $ 2,000,134     $ 4,375,361  
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
               
Cash paid during the year:
               
Interest paid
  $ 0     $ 0  
Income taxes paid
  $ 0     $ 266,000  
                 
Non-Cash Financing Activity
               
Grant of Common Stock for Payment of Accrued Liabilities
  $ 703,651     $ 0