Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Lightbridge Corporation and its subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, including the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, including a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies, have been condensed or omitted from these statements pursuant to such rules and regulations and, accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes necessary for comprehensive consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

In the opinion of the management of the Company, all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the three month period have been made. Results for the interim period presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that might be expected for the entire fiscal year. When used in these notes, the terms "Company,” "we,” "us" or "our" mean Lightbridge Corporation and all entities included in our consolidated financial statements.

The Company was formed on October 6, 2006, when Thorium Power, Ltd. merged with Thorium Power, Inc., (“TPI”), which had been formed in the State of Delaware on January 8, 1992. On September 29, 2009, we changed our name from Thorium Power, Ltd. to Lightbridge Corporation (subsequently referred to as “we” or the “Company”). We are engaged in two operating business segments: our Technology Business Segment and our Consulting Business Segment (see Note 7-Business Segment Results). 

Going Concern and Liquidity

We have incurred recurring losses since inception and expect to continue to incur losses as a result of costs and expenses related to our research and continued development of our nuclear fuel and our corporate general and administrative expenses. At March 31, 2017, we had $5.3 million in cash and restricted cash. We have expended substantial funds on the research and development of our fuel technology and expect to increase our spending on research and development expenditures if we are able to execute on a potential joint venture with AREVA NP. Our net losses incurred for the three months ended March 31, 2017 amounted to $(1.7) million and working capital was approximately $4.9 million at March 31, 2017. As a result, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. In the event that we are unable to generate sufficient cash from our operating activities or raise additional funds, we may be required to delay, reduce or severely curtail our operations or otherwise impede our on-going business efforts, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition and long-term prospects. The Company expects to seek to obtain additional funding through future equity issuances. There can be no assurance as to the availability or terms upon which such financing and capital might be available. 

On June 11, 2015, the Company entered into an at-the-market issuance (“ATM”) sales agreement with MLV & Co. LLC ("MLV") (see Note 6), pursuant to which the Company may issue and sell shares of its common stock from time to time through MLV as the Company's sales agent. On September 1, 2015, MLV was acquired by FBR & Co. We raised approximately $2.8 million, net of financing costs, from our ATM with MLV for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The Company registered the sale of up to $5.8 million of common stock under this ATM sales agreement and has raised the entire $5.8 million amount of common stock registered as of the date of this filing. As the Company’s public float was less than $75.0 million as of March 31, 2017, the Company’s usage of its S-3 shelf registration statement is limited. The Company still maintains the ability to raise funds through other means, such as through the filing of a registration statement on Form S-1 or in private placements. The rules and regulations of the SEC or any other regulatory agencies may restrict the Company’s ability to conduct certain types of financing activities, or may affect the timing of and amounts it can raise by undertaking such activities. 

Reverse Stock Split

Effective July 20, 2016, we conducted a one for five reverse stock-split of our issued and outstanding common stock and have retroactively adjusted our common shares outstanding, options and warrants amounts outstanding. We have presented our share data for and as of all periods presented on this basis. Our authorized capital of 500,000,000 shares of common stock and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, each with a par value of $0.001, was changed to 100,000,000 shares of common stock authorized and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized with a par value of $0.001. The par value was not adjusted as a result of the one for five reverse stock split.

Technology Business Segment

Our primary business segment, based on future revenue potential, is to develop and commercialize innovative, proprietary nuclear fuel designs which we expect will significantly enhance the nuclear power industry’s economics due to higher power output and improve safety margins.

We are currently focusing our development efforts primarily on the metallic fuel with a power uprate of up to 10% and a 24-month operating cycle in existing Westinghouse-type four-loop pressurized water reactors. Those reactors represent the largest segment of our global target market. Our metallic fuel could also be adapted for use in other types of water-cooled commercial power reactors, such as boiling water reactors, CANDU heavy water reactors, as well as water-cooled small and modular reactors.

Lightbridge will seek patent validation in key countries that either currently operate or are expected to build and operate a large number of suitable nuclear power reactors.

Consulting Business Segment

The purpose of our Consulting Business Segment is to generate a positive profit margin that can provide internal cash resources to help defray a portion of the costs associated with our research and development activities and corporate overhead. Through our Consulting Business, we provide consulting and strategic advisory services to companies and governments planning to create or expand electricity generation capabilities using nuclear power plants. We opportunistically seek new consulting work that can generate acceptable profit margins.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Going Concern — In August 2014, FASB issued guidance that requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued. An entity must provide certain disclosures if conditions or events raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The updated accounting guidance was effective for the Company on December 31, 2016 and we have implemented this new accounting standard and updated our liquidity disclosures as necessary.

Deferred Taxes – During November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes”, which simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes. This ASU requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified on a net basis as non-current in a statement of financial position. Early adoption of this ASU did not have an effect on our deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. 

Debt Issuance Costs - In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs”. The new standard will more closely align the presentation of debt issuance costs under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles with the presentation under comparable IFRS standards. Debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability will be presented on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the debt liability, similar to the presentation of debt discounts. The cost of issuing debt will no longer be recorded as a separate asset, except when incurred before receipt of the funding from the associated debt liability. Under current U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, debt issuance costs are reported on the balance sheet as assets and amortized as interest expense. The costs will continue to be amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method. Subsequent to the issuance of ASU 2015-03 the Securities and Exchange Commission staff made an announcement regarding the presentation of debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements, which was codified by the FASB in ASU 2015-15. This guidance, which clarifies the exclusion of line-of-credit arrangements from the scope of ASU 2015-03, is effective upon adoption of ASU 2015-03. ASU 2015-03 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  

Stock Compensation - In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which will simplify the income tax consequences, accounting for forfeitures and classification on the Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows. This standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. This new pronouncement has been adopted on January 1, 2017 and did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Statement of Cash Flows - In 2016 the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” and ASU 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash”. ASU 2016-15 addresses the presentation and classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is intended to reduce diversity in the presentation of restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the cash flows statement. The statement requires that restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to be included as components of total cash and cash equivalents as presented on the statement of cash flows. These pronouncements go into effect for periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company does not believe the adoption of these pronouncements will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Leases – In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 which amends existing lease accounting guidance, and requires recognition of most lease arrangements on the balance sheet. The adoption of this standard will result in the Company recognizing a right-of-use asset representing its rights to use the underlying asset for the lease term with an offsetting lease liability. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this accounting pronouncement to its consolidated financial statements. This new pronouncement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Revenue Recognition — In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance on revenue from contracts with customers that will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. Other major provisions include capitalization of certain contract costs, consideration of time value of money in the transaction price, and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations”. ASU 2016-08 clarifies implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations in ASU 2014-09. ASU 2016-10 was issued to clarify ASC Topic 606 related to (i) identifying performance obligations; and (ii) the licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients”, to clarify certain narrow aspects of Topic 606 such as assessing the collectability criterion, presentation of sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from customers, noncash consideration, contract modifications at transition, completed contracts at transition, and technical correction. The guidance is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017 (early adoption is permitted but not sooner than the annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016). The guidance permits the use of either a retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is in the initial stages of evaluating its various contracts subject to these updates but has not completed its assessment and therefore has not yet concluded on whether the adoption of this pronouncement will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.