and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. ASC Topic 820 clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants.
Earnings (loss) per share:
The Company reports loss per share in accordance with ASC 260-10, Earnings Per Share, which provides for calculation of “basic” and “diluted” earnings per share. Basic earnings per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing net income or loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of an entity. The calculation of diluted net earnings (loss) per share gives effect to ordinary shares equivalents; however, potential common shares are excluded if their effect is anti-dilutive.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the number of shares excluded from the diluted net earnings (loss) per share included outstanding warrants to purchase 280,735 ADS or 280,735 Ordinary Shares and 25,595 in outstanding stock options as their inclusion in the denominator would be anti-dilutive.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the number of shares excluded from the diluted net earnings (loss) per share included outstanding warrants to purchase 11,440 ADS or 11,440 Ordinary Shares and warrants to purchase 104,810 ADS or 104,810 Ordinary Shares issuable pursuant to Primary Financing as their inclusion in the denominator would be anti-dilutive.
NOTE 4 – CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE
On October 2, 2020, Quoin Inc. commenced an offering of promissory notes (the “2020 Notes” or “Convertible Notes Payable”) and warrants.Based upon the terms agreed to in March 2021 in the Primary Financing (see Note 5), the 2020 Notes were mandatorily convertible into 432 ADSs in the Primary Financing, subject to adjustment. Such notes were converted to equity in 2021.
The holders also received warrants exercisable at any time after the issuance date for 2,449 ADSs at an initial exercise price of $597 per ADS. At the time of grant, the Company determined that these warrants met the criteria to be recorded as a liability instrument. Effective March 13, 2022, each holder agreed to exchange these warrants for warrants on the substantially same terms as the Investor Exchange Warrants (See Note 5) with the same number of shares issuable upon the exercise of an Exchange Warrant as upon the exercise of the original warrant and the same exercise price with a contractual term of 5 years (the “Noteholder Warrants”).
The Noteholder Warrants have been determined to have equity classification. The change in the fair value of the warrants through the exchange date was included in other income (expense) in the accompanying statement of operations, and then reclassified from liability to additional paid in capital. On July 14, 2022, as a result of the Altium Agreement (see Note 5), the exercise price of the Noteholder Warrants was reduced to $0 and the 2020 Noteholders subsequently exercised all of their warrants. The change in the exercise price of the Noteholder Warrants resulted in a deemed dividend of approximately $65,000 recorded during the year ended December 31, 2022.
The ADSs issued to the 2020 Noteholders did not include the accrued interest which was estimated to be approximately $744,000 at December 31, 2021 of which $312,000 was paid to two of the five 2020 Noteholders during the year ended December 31, 2022. Based on the terms of the cash settlement with these two 2020 Noteholders, the Company’s estimate of the liability to the remaining three 2020 Noteholders was increased to $1,146,000.
Interest expense, at the stated interest rate, recognized in the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was approximately $-0- and $202,000, respectively.
NOTE 5 – BRIDGE FINANCING AND SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (Primary Financing)
Bridge Financing
In connection with the Merger Agreement and the Securities Purchase Agreement (described below), Quoin Inc. entered into a “Bridge Purchase Agreement” on March 24, 2021 with the Investor, pursuant to which the Investor agreed to purchase notes (the “Bridge Notes”) in the aggregate principal amount of up to $5,000,000 in exchange for an aggregate purchase price of up to $3,800,000 together with warrants. The Bridge Notes were purchased in three closings: (i) the first purchase of $2,000,000 on March 25, 2021 (proceeds of $1,500,000); (ii) the second purchase of $1,700,000 in April 2021 (proceeds of $1,250,000); and (iii) a third purchase of $1,300,000 in May 2021 (proceeds of $1,000,000).