UCLE US Nuclear Corporation (QB)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

(Mark One)

☒ ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

☐ TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ______________ to ______________

Commission file number 000-54617

US NUCLEAR CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

c/o Robert I. Goldstein

7051 Eton Avenue

Canoga Park, CA 91303

(Address of principal executive offices)

(818) 883-7043

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

None.

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share

(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 ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes  ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act 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. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§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). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of 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. ☐

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

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. ☐

If the securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐ 

Indicate by check mark whether the issuer is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐  No ☒ 

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrants most recently completed second fiscal quarter. $3,093,191 as of June 30, 2023.

The number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding as of May 9, 2024, was 44,391,778. 

US NUCLEAR CORP.

FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Information included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements may contain the words “believes,” “project,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “strategy,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions, and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Additionally, statements relating to implementation of business strategy, future financial performance, acquisition strategies, capital raising transactions, performance of contractual obligations, and similar statements may contain forward-looking statements.  In evaluating such statements, prospective investors and shareholders should carefully review various risks and uncertainties identified in this Report, including the matters set forth under the captions “Risk Factors” and in the Company’s other SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or publicly announce revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.

Although forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K reflect the good faith judgment of our management, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known by us. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in or anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences in results and outcomes include, without limitation, those specifically addressed under the heading “Risk Factors Related to Our Business” below, as well as those discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). You can read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F. Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain additional information about the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us.

We disclaim any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made throughout the entirety of this Annual Report, which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Corporate History

US Nuclear Corp f/k/a APEX 3 Inc., was incorporated in the State of Delaware on February 14, 2012, and has since amended its name to US Nuclear Corp., (“US Nuclear”) on May 4, 2012 with the State of Delaware. US Nuclear Corp was formed as a vehicle to pursue a business combination with an operating company that would have perceived benefits of becoming a publicly traded corporation. Optron Scientific was incorporated in the State of California in 1971 and is the operating company of US Nuclear Corp with two divisions, Optron Scientific Company, Inc., doing business as (“DBA”) Technical Associates and Overhoff Technology Corporation, both of which design, manufacture and market detection and monitor systems that are used to detect and identify radioactive material, leaks, waste, contamination, biohazards, nuclear material, as well as products used in airports, cargo, screening as ports and borders, government buildings, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure, as well as by the military and emergency responder services The company uses a wide range of technologies including x-ray, trace detection, millimeter-wave, infra-red, tritium detection, and diagnostics in its product applications.

US Nuclear Corp is a smaller reporting company under SEC Rule 405 because it has a public float of less than $250 million and has annual revenues of less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available.  As a smaller reporting company, pursuant to Rule 8-01 of Regulation S-X, the Company is only required to produce financial statements as follows: (a) audited balance sheet as of the end of each of the most recent two fiscal years, or as of a date within 135 days if the issuer has existed for a period of less than one fiscal year, (b) audited statements of income, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for each of the two fiscal years preceding the date of the most recent audited balance sheet (or such shorter period as the registrant has been in business), and (c) interim reviewed financial statements for the current period if the filing is more than 135 days after the end of your fiscal year.  Any and all amendments shall include updated interim or audited financial statements if the financial statements in the prior filing are more than 135 days old.

On October 15, 2013, US Nuclear Corp f/k/a APEX 3 Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger between the Company, Robert I. Goldstein, US Nuclear Acquisition Corp (“Merger Sub”), a California corporation and Optron Scientific Company, Inc. dba Technical Associates, (“Optron Scientific”) a California corporation and the parent company of Overhoff Technology Corp. The Agreement and Plan of Merger provided for the acquisition by the Company of all of the outstanding shares of Optron Scientific through a reverse merger of Merger Sub into Optron Scientific, the surviving corporation. We have filed the Agreement and Plan of Merger as Exhibits 3.4 and 2.1 with this statement and with the State of California.

As part of the Agreement and Plan of Merger with Optron Scientific the parties agreed to an exchange of shares, in which all of the 98,372 issued and outstanding shares of Optron Scientific were exchanged for 9,150,000 shares of the Company.

Prior to the share exchange, Mr. Goldstein was the sole owner of 98,372 shares of Optron Scientific Company, Inc., which represented all of the outstanding shares of Optron Scientific Company, Inc. Mr. Goldstein was the owner of 9,150,000 shares of US Nuclear Corp prior to the merger, and 9,150,000 shares of US Nuclear Corp were issued to him as a result of the merger in exchange for 98,372 shares of Optron Scientific Company, Inc.

In conjunction with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, US Nuclear Corp, Optron Scientific and Robert I. Goldstein entered into a Cancellation Agreement which provided for the cancellation of 9,150,000 shares of US Nuclear Corp held by Robert I. Goldstein, in consideration of his entering into the Agreement and Plan of Merger, which provided for his right to acquire 9,150,000 shares of US Nuclear Corp after it had the value of the ownership of Optron Scientific. As part of the consideration for the merger transaction, the share value of Mr. Goldstein’s shares of the Company prior to the merger was estimated at the par value of the shares, or 9,150,000 times the par value of .0001 per share. After the merger, the newly issued 9,150,000 shares of the Company held by Mr. Goldstein had a value of 85.51 percent of the total value of the outstanding stock of the Company after its acquisition of all of the stock of Optron Scientific. The Agreement and Plan of Merger was signed by Mr. Goldstein in his individual capacity and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Optron Scientific, and of Merger Sub. The Cancellation Agreement was signed by Mr. Goldstein in his individual capacity and as President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and of Optron Scientific. The Corporate Secretary of each of the companies, Darian B. Andersen, also signed on behalf of each of the companies. The remaining 1,550,000 outstanding shares of US Nuclear Corp, which are held by Richard Chiang, were unaffected by the Cancellation Agreement. 

Following the merger, we began to provide a full line of radiation detection equipment and services to clients’ industries that range from nuclear reactor plants, universities, local and state hospitals, government agencies, and emergency medical technicians or EMT/first responders. The Company’s nuclear radiation safety detection equipment company has its roots from the famous Manhattan Project of the 1940s. In 1971, Allen Goldstein, the father to our current President and CEO, Robert Goldstein, acquired the assets of Technical Associates and incorporated the company. The Company designed and built the first industrial grade radiation monitors and continues to innovate its legacy with new product engineering for radiation measurement and safety instruments. The Company designs and manufactures nuclear radiation detection and safety equipment, survey meters, air and water monitors, port security equipment and tritium air monitors. The Company’s customers are diverse groups such as Homeland Security, Lawrence Livermore Labs, Los Alamos National Labs, Department of Defense, FBI, CIA, US Navy, Chevron Corporation, Bechtel Corporation, Biotechnology Laboratories, Hospitals, Universities, and Civil Emergency Management departments such as Fire, Paramedics and Law Enforcement. The Company is headquartered in Canoga Park, California and the Company can be accessed through its websites on the Internet at usnuclearcorp.com, tech-associates.com and overhoff.com.

The Company’s four divisions consisting of Optron Scientific Company Inc., DBA Technical Associates, Overhoff Technology Corporation, Electronic Control Concepts, and Cali From Above, offer over 200 products that service and address the nuclear power industry, domestically and internationally. Technical Associates specializes in the design and manufacture of radiation detection equipment monitors and hand-held devices. Overhoff Technology Corporation specializes in the design and manufacture of tritium air monitors and water monitors. Electronic Control Concepts specializes in test and maintenance meters for x-ray machines for both medical and industrial users. Cali From Above offers specialized inspection services from height and difficult-to-access locations with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Technology and Products

The Company designs and develops both technologies in-house by its CEO, Robert I. Goldstein as well as offers products from other manufacturers. Mr. Goldstein’s extensive experience of over forty years in the field of nuclear radiation detection has allowed the Company to achieve significant recognition that has been approved by US Federal standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The Company has complete ownership of all of its technology and there are no licenses held by any outside party. No persons, company, vendor, distributor or contractor holds any title or claim to any of the Company’s work or technology. The Company believes that its technology and business is defensible due to the fact that the barriers of entry are high and technically complex. The Company has sought out niche markets in its business by becoming a leading category player in devices such as Tritium equipment. The Company’s products consist of radiation water monitors, tritium monitors, air and water monitors, nano-second x-ray monitors, and vehicle, personnel, exit and room monitors. The Company also offers handheld survey meters/dosimeters, and port security equipment, along with supporting software and services.

Radiation Water Monitors

US Nuclear Corp’s radiation water monitors allow detection of radioactive materials in drinking water, ground water, rainfall, rivers, and lakes. In order to detect radioactive materials, the emitted radiation must travel from the radiation emitter to the detector. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Neutron radiation moves well through air, but poorly through water. The complexity of detecting radiation in water and developing an efficient monitor has given the Company’s monitors a reasonable edge against competitors, and for this reason, has limited competition in the water monitor business. The Company has invested more than ten years developing highly sensitive detectors for this market, giving it a clear advantage over competitors. The Company’s radiation water monitors are used to check for radioactive materials being released as liquid effluent in drain pipes by universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, oil and gas extraction facilities, industrial chemical plants, and nuclear reactor plants.

Tritium Monitors

US Nuclear Corp is one of very few companies that currently operate within the tritium space. The Company’s Overhoff Technology Corp unit is a leading manufacturer of tritium detection and monitors. The demand for tritium detection and monitors are steadily increasing as countries develop solutions to their energy needs.  In addition to CANDU reactors (Canada Deuterium Uranium), the next generation of nuclear reactors called Molten Salt Reactors, (MSR) and Liquid-Fluoride Thorium Reactors (LFTR) utilize fuels other than traditional uranium and plutonium sources. Thorium, which is more significantly abundant than uranium, is very difficult to use to create nuclear weapons, is favored by many governments, and as a source of conventional energy it has been proven to be highly effective. By way of energy production, MSR and LFTRs produce high amounts of tritium which need to be constantly monitored for detection. Additionally, the waste products of LFTR reactors are less hazardous than the current light-water uranium-plutonium reactors, and thus, LFTR reactors provide higher level of safety and security against terrorist threats. The Company expects that a significant portion of its future sales and business strategy is tied to the growth of MSR and LFTRs, as well as from CANDU reactors.

Tritium is produced naturally in the upper atmosphere when cosmic rays strike nitrogen molecules in the air. More commonly, tritium is produced during nuclear weapons explosions, and as a byproduct in reactors producing electricity.  Generally, tritium has several important uses; its most significant contribution is its use as a component in the triggering mechanism in thermonuclear weapons. Very large quantities of required for the maintenance of nuclear weapons capabilities. Tritium is also produced commercially in nuclear reactors, as well as used in various self-luminescent devices, such as exit signs in buildings, aircraft dials, gauges, luminous paints, and wristwatches. In the mid-1950s and early 1960s, tritium was widely dispersed during above-ground testing of nuclear weapons. Today, sources of tritium come from commercial nuclear reactors, research reactors, and government weapons production plants. Tritium may also be released as steam from these facilities or may leak into the underlying soil and ground water. Additionally, self-luminescent devices illegally disposed in municipal landfills come into contact with water which pass through water ways, carrying dangerous levels of tritium. Tritium holds a very dangerous health risk and high levels of exposure to tritium increases risk of developing cancer. To combat tritium leaks and to maintain acceptable levels, the Company has developed several tritium monitors to gauge tritium in water and in the air. 

Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Tritium Monitors

US Nuclear Corp’s radiation water monitors allow detection of radioactive materials in drinking water, ground water, rainfall, rivers, and lakes. In order to detect radioactive materials, the emitted radiation must travel from the radiation emitter to the detector. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Neutron radiation moves well through air, but poorly through water. The complexity of detecting radiation in water and developing an efficient monitor has given the Company’s monitors a reasonable edge against competitors, and for this reason, has limited competition in the water monitor business. The Company has invested more than ten years developing highly sensitive detectors for this market, giving it a clear advantage over competitors. The Company’s radiation water monitors are used to check for radioactive materials being released as liquid effluent in drain pipes by universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, oil and gas extraction facilities, industrial chemical plants, and nuclear reactor plants.

For the past 20 years, Overhoff Technology has been devoted exclusively to the design, manufacturing and servicing of Tritium monitors. Overhoff Technology has leading control over market share in the Tritium monitor space as the top maker of Tritium monitors. Tritium monitors are a highly delicate process and are particularly dependent on the selection of the finest materials such as Teflon for low leakage insulators and nafion membranes for separation of noble gas from Tritium. The Company’s Overhoff DC amplifiers called “electrometers” are stable with the ability to register small currents down to the femto-ampere level, 10^-13 to 10^-15ampre range. The Overhoff electrometer also has the unique ability to reject false counts from Radon gas. Because Tritium is a radioactive material, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”) regulations and state health agencies require Tritium to be measured at every nuclear power plant, all national laboratories, in the nuclear-powered Navies of the United States, France and the United Kingdom, at weapons facilities, at pharmaceutical and pesticide research facilities, and at Fusion Power research sites.

DroneRAD Aerial Radiation Detection

US Nuclear Corp has partnered with FlyCam UAV (a drone manufacturer). The two companies have married their two technologies with the NEO, an all-weather UAV octocopter capable of carrying a number of radiation and chemical detection sensors. With the advent of merging FlyCam UAV’s NEO and US Nuclear Corp sensor technology aerial radiation and chemical detection is now a reality. The DroneSensor system (the first of its kind) uses state-of-the-art industrial grade drones carrying radiation & chemical sensors. Wireless transmission to ground station provides real-time data. Having these UAV mounted sensors quickly and efficiently surveying large areas for contamination eliminates risk to human life.

Air and Water Monitors

The Company’s Overhoff Air Monitors come in both hand-held portables and mid-to large-sized air and stack monitors. These are classified as Dual Ion Chamber style detectors or Dual Proportional Detectors. The sample flows into one chamber where ionization current is measured, and at the same time a sealed background detector of the same volume measures the ionization current due to any external gamma emitters plus the addition of background from radioactive minerals in the soil with cosmic rays. The current from the background chamber is subtracted from the current in the main sample chamber to give the net tritium level without distortion from radon or gamma in the background. In nuclear power plants, radioactive noble gases are also in the air stream in small or large quantities. Overhoff combats this problem using Dow Chemical Nafion® tubing which physically separates the noble gases from the tritium oxide prior to measurement. The Company is currently expecting a large number of its users and larger numbers of its competitor’s customers will need to replace or supplement their current air and stack monitors to combat the two biggest pollution nuclides now coming out of nuclear power plants, tritium and C-14. As of today, only US Nuclear Corp offers these full-service monitors.

Vehicle Monitors, Personnel Monitors, Exit Monitors and Room Monitors

The Company’s suite of radiation monitors can be used in various scenarios where humans may come into contact with radiation contamination. The Company’s Vehicle Monitors, Personnel Monitors, Exit Monitors and Room Monitors are effective tools in detection of radiation in hospitals where radioactivity is used in many departments such as nuclear medicine, oncology, blood labs, and imaging. Since radiation is also used in diagnosing and treating cancer, and since some cancers can develop in any organ, each department in a hospital becomes involved, from ophthalmology to thoracic medicine. Additionally, the Company’s monitors are used to check hospital laundry to detect any radiation on clothes as well as in trash bins before they are picked up by the applicable waste management team. Lastly, the Company’s monitors can be placed in the entrance of hospitals in case there is an incident at a nearby nuclear power plant. These monitors are the first line of defense against further contamination, by providing early warning detection; doctors can provide treatment without placing other patients and staff in direct contact with patients who are contaminated with radiation.

Radon Air Monitors and Radon Switch Products

The Company produces a full line of radon air monitors and switches that are used to determine the radon content in the air in basements, mills, mines, buildings, or anywhere that radon concentration is a concern. The radon switch products activate and controls radon mitigation fans. These switches have a built-in computer storage with data storage. The Company also makes a radon tritium monitor that is a portable instrument used for detection and measurement of airborne Vadose zone, between the top of the ground surface to the water table.

Handheld Survey Meters and Personal Dosimeters, Pocket Micro-R Meters

The Company’s survey meters are light-weight, hand-held radiation detectors. They function as general-purpose radiation survey meters, but also serve as special purpose survey meters. For example, the Company’s radon monitors are used in mines where workers are at risk for breathing radon gas along with air. The Company’s surface monitors are used in hospitals, research labs, even in high school chemistry and physics labs to check for radioactive contamination on lab benches. Friskers are used to check if worker’s hands or shoe bottoms have picked up any radiation contamination and the Company’s Gamma survey meter check packages at post offices or airports for radiation, along with scrap metals at collection points and again before it is accepted for processing. 

Port Security Equipment

Due to increased terror threats from IED (Improvised Explosive Devices), dirty bombs and potential radioactive materials following 9/11 at shipping ports, we began utilizing passive detectors to review radiation emanating from inside containers. While other port security scanners generally use radioactive materials or x-ray generating machines to check everything from shipping containers, Federal Express, USPS (United States Postal Service) packages, and luggage for contraband, our scanner solutions do not use radiation, allowing for safe usage by investigators. We were approached by the FDA after the events of 9/11, and we designed our P-8Neon Quick-Scan X-ray detector to provide complete scanning without releasing any harmful radiation in the process. Our RAD-CANSCAN machines can measure which shipping containers hold radioactive materials by mapping inside the container so that TSA personnel will know the results without having to open each container. Additionally, our TBM-6SPE is a multi-detector system that lets an investigator check specifically for each of the four main emissions of radiation, Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Neutrons.

Software

The Company’s Overhoff Overview software program provides centralized radiation and environmental monitoring for entire facilities within one building or several square miles allowing monitoring of a nuclear power plant or subway station. Overview accepts data from networked radiation detectors, environmental monitors and webcams, and allows the user to view and generate reports on the data, as well as track maintenance due on instruments. Additionally, Overview lets the user see real-time monitoring for differential pressure on containment boxes or rooms. Our software measures gamma and neutron radiation levels, airborne radioactivity levels, temperature and humidity in the facility, status of security doors, wind speed and direction, and barometric pressure.

Risk Factors

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

Our business is intensely competitive and our revenues are unpredictable as a small company.

We compete with a formidable group of competitors in our business, many of which have greater resources and capabilities than our company. There are numerous companies that have established businesses and command larger market share such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Canberra Industries, and Mirion Technologies, Ludlum Measurements, Smiths Detection and Lab Impex Systems Ltd. Many of these companies have products and services that compete directly with ours and many of them are supported with larger marketing budgets and sales staff that can provide stronger sales coverage and support to customers than our capabilities. Furthermore, competitors may have technological advantages and may be able to implement new technologies more rapidly than our Company. Additionally, to the extent of our bookings, we cannot accurately predict to a large degree of certainty what annual revenues and income outlook may be. Due to our relatively small size, many factors may contribute to differences in the future and therefore cannot be assured in any manner. The market for nuclear radiation safety equipment is dependent upon a number of factors beyond the Company’s control, which cannot be accurately predicted. Some of these factors include pricing, competition from new entrants, newer technologies, market regulation and government policy, as well as overall market demand. Other factors include fossil fuel energy prices that may have an effect upon nuclear energy demand. Lower oil, natural gas, and coal prices may result in less favorable decisions to pursue nuclear energy as a source of energy.  

We rely heavily on our international customers for business and expect to continue to rely on international customers in the future.

Our international revenues were 11.43% of our total revenue in 2023. This was a decrease of 15.14% from 2022 and was a result of management’s inability to field new orders and inquires and engage new customers overseas due to political and economic reasons. We believe that South Korea and China will likely be larger contributors to revenue within the next few years. While we maintain steady growth domestically, the international side of our business may be a larger component as nuclear technology and rapid development for clean energy grows abroad. There can be no assurances as to our growth projections and our risk profile as we depend upon increased foreign customers for business.

Government Regulation

Although the sales of our equipment are not generally regulated by any local or federal government agency, the nuclear power industry itself is highly regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. As an independent agency of the United States government, the NRC is responsible for overseeing reactor safety, security, reactor licensing, renewal, radioactive material safety, and spent fuel disposal. The effects of the NRC’s policies therefore have an effect on our business. The impact of any negative decision in the nuclear power industry will ultimately affect us. We may also be affected by foreign government policy and regulation not covered by the NRC.

Nuclear Power, Fossil Fuel and Renewal Energy

While the conventional Fission based nuclear power industry is a key component in the context of energy supply in the world today there are other competing energy sources that carry less potential risk hazards. Competing energy sources such as fossil fuels, solar, wind and water are strong threats to nuclear power. Each one has its benefits and conversely a negative side. The current landscape of nuclear power according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or NRC, states that as of May 2023, there were 32 countries worldwide operating 436 nuclear reactors in operation in the world, with 57 new reactors under construction in 11 countries. Within the United States, there are 93 nuclear power plants providing 19% of the country’s total electric energy generation. Additionally, 28 of the 50 US states generate electricity from nuclear power plants, and four states, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Connecticut, and Illinois rely on nuclear power for more than 50 percent of their electricity.

The United States produced approximately 30% of the world’s gross nuclear-generated electricity in 2023 with France at 18%, China 16%, Japan 9% Russia 8%, South Korea 7%, and the rest of the world at 11%. However, only two conventional nuclear power plants were under construction in 2023, the Vogtle Plants, in eastern Georgia. As of 2023, about 30 countries are considering, planning, or starting nuclear power programs. These range from sophisticated economies to developing nations. Bangladesh, Egypt and Turkey are all constructing their first nuclear power plants. In July 2022, the European Parliament endorsed labeling all nuclear energy projects “green”, allowing them access to loans and subsidies. In the context of emissions, nuclear power is considered to be green and clean. It produces zero carbon emissions and does not produce other noxious greenhouse gases. It is difficult to predict if these plans domestically and internationally will materialize or be postponed indefinitely were negative market forces to develop.

Nuclear Fusion Power Research and Prototypes

While it will be some years before commercial fusion power plants will be supplying electricity, already in 2023, the US Department of energy (DOE) lists 124 active fusion power laboratories working to make energy by fusing Tritium and Deuterium, resulting a growing market for Tritium detection equipment.

Opponents to Nuclear Energy are formidable due to concerns over safety.

Maintaining the demand for our products and future growth in demand will depend in part upon continued acceptance of nuclear technology as a means of generating electricity. In many cases, countries have embraced nuclear technology because alternate means of energy have either been at a high cost with heavy pollution, or other means have not been practical. However, incidents involving nuclear energy production, such as overheating reactors, radiation leaks and reactor melt-downs, can cause a significant decrease in public acceptance of nuclear technology. Events at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex in Japan on March 11, 2011 may have adverse long-term effects in some countries decision to either continue using nuclear power or suspend its nuclear power program. While the long-term impact is unclear, several countries have suspended operations at existing nuclear power plants. Specifically, on May 30, 2011, Germany announced that in addition to the permanent closure of eight reactors and with only three nuclear power plants left with a license to operate at full capacity, the nuclear phase out in Germany is almost complete. Switzerland has made a policy decision to phase out of their 5 reactors by 2034. Italy, while not having any operating reactors, has implemented a moratorium on nuclear power. The ultimate results of these safety reviews and/or public resistance to nuclear technology may lead to suspension or cancellation of permitting and development activities, license extensions of existing nuclear facilities, and possibly even the closure of operating nuclear facilities by one or more countries. Lack of public acceptance of nuclear technology would adversely affect the demand for nuclear power and therefore demand for radiation detection equipment. 

Continued growth of CANDU reactors and rapid development of next generation Molten Salt (MSR) and Liquid-Fluoride Thorium Reactors (LFTR).

The Company relies on continued growth and orders from CANDU reactors (Canada Deuterium Uranium), and rapid development of the next generation of nuclear reactors called Molten Salt Reactors, (MSR) and Liquid-Fluoride Thorium Reactors (LFTR), for its tritium-based equipment. MSR and LFTR are new types of reactors that utilize thorium as a fuel rather than traditional uranium or plutonium. Thorium is a more abundant element than uranium. Many countries with heavy energy needs such as China have begun to adopt MSR and LFTR programs. However, the numbers of these types of reactors are still small in numbers and there can be no assurances that they will ever reach large numbers capable of sustaining rapid growth and development for nuclear-radiation safety products such as our tritium equipment. If CANDU reactors experience adverse events such as long-term inactivity due to political or environmental concerns, or economic issues, and if MSR and LFTR reactors fail to develop beyond its current growth forecasts worldwide, the Company will experience lower demand for its products which would have an adverse effect on the Company’s sales and profitability.

Failure to make accretive acquisitions and successfully integrate them could adversely affect our future financial results.

As part of our growth strategy, we plan to seek, when management deems advantageous to the Company, to acquire complementary (including competitive) businesses, facilities or technologies and enter into joint ventures.  Our goal is to make such acquisitions, integrate these acquired assets into our operations and reduce operating expenses.  The process of integrating these acquired assets into our operations may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures and may absorb significant management attention that would otherwise be available for the ongoing development of our business.  We cannot assure you that the anticipated benefits of any acquisitions will be realized.  In addition, future acquisitions by us could result in potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, the incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities and amortization expenses related to goodwill and other intangible assets, any of which can materially and adversely affect our operating results and financial position.  Acquisitions also involve other risks, including entering geographic markets in which we have no or limited prior experience and the potential loss of key employees.

We have filed a provisional patent for our product based on our tritium products but hold no current patents on our products, and our business employs proprietary technology and information which may be difficult to protect and may infringe on the intellectual property rights of third parties.

In general, we rely primarily on a combination of trade secrets, copyright and trademark laws, and confidentiality procedures to protect our technology. Due to the technological change that characterizes our business, we believe that the improvement of existing products, reliance upon trade secrets and unpatented proprietary know-how and the development of new products are generally as important as patent protection in establishing and maintaining a competitive advantage.

We have currently filed a provisional utility-type patent on our tritium products to protect our intellectual property, but currently rely on trade secrets, proprietary know-how and technology that we seek to protect, in part, by confidentiality agreements with prospective joint venture partners, employees and consultants.  We cannot assure you that these agreements will not be breached, that we will have adequate remedies for any breach, or that our trade secrets and proprietary know-how will not otherwise become known or be independently discovered by others. Other than the provisional patent, we currently do not hold patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office on any of our products we manufacture. Our success depends, in part, on our ability to keep competitors from reverse engineering our products, maintain trade secrecy and operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of third parties.  We cannot assure you that the patents of others will not have an adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business, that any of our trade secrets and applications will be protected, that we will develop additional proprietary technology that is defensible against theft or will provide us with competitive advantages or will not be challenged by third parties.  Further, we cannot assure you that others will not independently develop similar or superior technologies, duplicate elements of our technology or design around it.

It is possible that we may need to acquire licenses to, or to contest the validity of, issued or pending patents or claims of third parties.  We cannot assure you that any license acquired under such patents would be made available to us on acceptable terms, if at all, or that we would prevail in any such contest.  In addition, we could incur substantial costs in defending ourselves in suits brought against us for alleged infringement of another party’s patents or in defending the validity or enforceability of any patents we may seek in the future, or in bringing patent infringement suits against other parties.

In December, 2013, we were granted a registered trademark of the US Nuclear Corp name and logo from the United States Patent and Trademark Office and consider it important to the protection of our US Nuclear Corp brands. We have not been, nor are we currently involved in or aware of any litigation regarding any of our intellectual property.

Our failure to obtain capital may significantly restrict our proposed operations.

We will need to raise more capital to expand our business. It is anticipated that we will require an additional capital raise of $5 million dollars over the next twelve months to fund our business plans. Future sources of capital may not be available to us when we need it or may be available only on unacceptable terms. 

We are subject to the risk that certain key personnel, including key employees named below, on whom we depend, in part, for our operations, will cease to be involved with us.  The loss of any these individuals would adversely affect our financial condition and the results of our operations.

We are dependent on the experience, knowledge, skill and expertise of our President and CEO Robert I. Goldstein. We are also in large part dependent on current CFO, Michael Hastings. The loss of any of the key personnel listed above could materially and adversely affect our future business efforts. Our success depends in substantial part upon the services, efforts and abilities of Robert I. Goldstein, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, due to his experience, history and knowledge of the nuclear radiation industry and his overall insight into our business direction. The loss or our failure to retain Mr. Goldstein, or to attract and retain additional qualified personnel, could adversely affect our operations.  We do not currently carry key-man life insurance on Mr. Goldstein or any of our officers and have no present plans to obtain this insurance.  See “Management.” 

The loss of any of our executive officers could adversely affect our business.

We depend to a large extent on the efforts and continued employment of our executive officers. The loss of any executive officer could adversely disrupt our operations.

Competition from other radiation detection or related companies could result in a decrease of our business and a decrease in our financial performance.

We operate in a highly competitive industry. Many of our current and potential competitors, including larger multinational companies, domestic manufacturing companies with multiple product lines in radiation detection products have existed longer and have larger customer bases, greater brand recognition and significantly greater financial, marketing, personnel, technical and other resources than US Nuclear Corp. In addition, many of these competitors may be able to devote significantly greater resources to:

Regulations, including those contained in and issued under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOX”) and the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank”), increase the cost of doing business and may make it difficult for us to retain or attract qualified officers and directors, which could adversely affect the management of our business and our ability to obtain or retain listing of our Common Stock.

We are a public company.  The current regulatory climate for public companies, even smaller reporting companies such as ours, may make it difficult or prohibitively expensive to attract and retain qualified officers, directors and members of board committees required to provide for our effective management in compliance with the rules and regulations which govern publicly-held companies, including, but not limited to, certifications from executive officers and requirements for financial experts on boards of directors. The perceived increased personal risk associated with these changes may deter qualified individuals from accepting these roles.  For example, the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has resulted in the issuance of a series of rules and regulations and the strengthening of existing rules and regulations by the SEC.  Further, proposed regulations under Dodd-Frank heighten the requirements for board or committee membership, particularly with respect to an individual’s independence from the corporation and level of experience in finance and accounting matters.  We may have difficulty attracting and retaining directors with the requisite qualifications. If we are unable to attract and retain qualified officers and directors, the management of our business could be adversely affected.

Limitations on director and officer liability and our indemnification of our officers and directors may discourage stockholders from bringing suit against a director.  

Our Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws provide, with certain exceptions as permitted by Delaware corporation law, that a director or officer shall not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or knowing violation of law, or unlawful payments of dividends. These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing suit against a director for breach of fiduciary duty and may reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation brought by stockholders on our behalf against a director. In addition, our Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws provide for mandatory indemnification of directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by governing state law.   

We may incur a variety of costs to engage in future acquisitions of companies, products or technologies, to grow our business, to expand into new markets, or to provide new services.  As such, the anticipated benefits of those acquisitions may never be realized.

It is management’s intention to acquire other businesses to grow our customer base, to expand into new markets, and to provide new product lines.  We may make acquisitions of, or significant investments in, complementary companies, products or technologies, although no additional material acquisitions or investments are currently pending.  Acquisitions may be accompanied by risks such as: 

We must attract and retain skilled personnel.  If we are unable to hire and retain technical, sales and marketing, and operational employees, our business could be harmed.

Our revenues are generated by the sales of our radiation detection products from our direct sales, sales to catalogs, distributors and to a lesser extent, our website. Our ability to manage our growth will be particularly dependent on our ability to develop and retain an effective sales force and qualified technical and managerial personnel. We intend to hire additional employees, including engineers, sales and marketing employees and operational employees.  The competition for engineers, qualified sales, technical, and managerial personnel in the technology and manufacturing community, is intense, and we may not be able to hire and retain sufficient qualified personnel.  In addition, we may not be able to maintain the quality of our operations, control our costs, maintain compliance with all applicable regulations, and expand our internal management, technical, information and accounting systems in order to support our desired growth, which could have an adverse impact on our operations. 

Our failure to manage growth effectively could harm our ability to attract and retain key personnel and adversely impact our operating results.

There can be no assurance that we will be able to manage our expansion through acquisitions effectively. Our current and planned personnel, systems, procedures and controls may not be adequate to support and effectively manage our future operations, especially as we employ personnel in multiple geographic locations. We may not be able to hire, train, retain, motivate and manage required personnel, which may limit our growth, damage our reputation and negatively affect our financial performance and harm our business. 

If we obtain financing, existing shareholder interests may be diluted.

If we raise additional funds by issuing equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of our shareholders will be diluted. In addition, any new securities could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of our common stock. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that additional financing will be available when and to the extent we require or that, if available, it will be on acceptable terms.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

Our stock price may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance, and the price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly.

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, most of which we cannot control, including:

These and other factors may lower the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.

The stock markets and trading facilities, including the OTC Bulletin Board, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities in many companies. In the past, stockholders of some companies have instituted securities class action litigation following periods of market volatility. If we were involved in securities litigation, we could incur substantial costs and our resources and the attention of management could be diverted from our business.

Our Common Stock is subject to risks arising from restrictions on reliance on Rule 144 by shell companies or former shell companies.

Under a regulation of the SEC known as “Rule 144,” a person who has beneficially owned restricted securities of an issuer and who is not an affiliate of that issuer may sell them without registration under the Securities Act provided that certain conditions have been met. One of these conditions is that such person has held the restricted securities for a prescribed period, which will be 6 months or 1 year, depending on various factors. The holding period for our common stock would be 1 year if our common stock could be sold under Rule 144. However, Rule 144 is unavailable for the resale of securities issued by an issuer that is a shell company (other than a business combination related shell company) or that has been at any time previously a shell company. The SEC defines a shell company as a company that has (a) no or nominal operations and (b) either (i) no or nominal assets, (ii) assets consisting solely of cash and cash equivalents; or (iii) assets consisting of any amount of cash and cash equivalents and nominal other assets. Until the merger, we were a shell company.

The SEC has provided an exception to this unavailability if and for as long as the following conditions are met:

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If no securities or industry analysts commence coverage of our company, the trading price for our common stock would be negatively impacted. If we obtain securities or industry analyst coverage and if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrades our common stock or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our common stock could decrease, which could cause our stock price and trading volume to decline.

Our management and other affiliates have significant control of our Common Stock and could control our actions in a manner that conflicts with the interests of other stockholders.

Our executive officers, directors and their affiliated entities together will beneficially own approximately 37.3% of our Common Stock. As a result, these stockholders, acting together, will be able to exercise considerable influence over matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors, and may not always act in the best interests of other stockholders. Such a concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in our control, including transactions in which our stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over then current market prices.

Penny Stock Considerations

Our shares likely will be “penny stocks” as that term is generally defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to mean equity securities with a price of less than $5.00. Our shares thus will be subject to rules that impose sales practice and disclosure requirements on broker-dealers who engage in certain transactions involving a penny stock.

Under the penny stock regulations, a broker-dealer selling a penny stock to anyone other than an established customer or accredited investor must make a special suitability determination regarding the purchaser and must receive the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to the sale. Generally, an individual with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000 individually or $300,000 together with his or her spouse is considered an accredited investor. In addition, under the penny stock regulations the broker-dealer is required to:

Failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. In addition, current and potential stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which could have an adverse effect on our stock price.

Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud.  If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our operating results could be harmed.

During the course of our testing, we may identify deficiencies which we may not be able to remediate in time to meet the deadline imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for compliance with the requirements of Section 404.  In addition, if we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal accounting controls, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404.  Failure to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment could cause us to face regulatory action and also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, either of which could have an adverse effect on our stock price.

We do not expect to pay any cash dividends for the foreseeable future.

The continued operation and growth of our business will require substantial cash. Accordingly, we do not anticipate that we will pay any cash dividends on shares of our Common Stock for the foreseeable future. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions relating to indebtedness we may incur, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant. Accordingly, if you purchase shares in this offering, realization of a gain on your investment will depend on the appreciation of the price of our Common Stock, which may never occur. Investors seeking cash dividends in the foreseeable future should not purchase our Common Stock.

OTC Bulletin Board Qualification for Quotation

On February 6, 2015, we were issued our ticker symbol, UCLE on the OTC Bulletin Board from FINRA. On March 20, 2015, we were approved for DTC eligibility by the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation,) (“DTCC”).

Holders

As of the date of this 10-K, we had 51 holders of record of our Common Stock.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We have entered into derivative financial instruments such as futures contracts, options and swaps, forward foreign exchange contracts or interest rate swaps and futures. In 2022, we entered into two convertible debt instruments that included stock purchase warrants. Though there were no derivatives associated with the Notes, the instruments are affected by changes in market interest rates. We believe that adequate controls are in place to monitor any hedging activities. While we do have significant sales outside the United States, all of our sales are settled with US currency, and we do not currently own assets and operate facilities in countries outside the United States and, consequently, we are not affected by foreign currency fluctuations or exchange rate changes.  Overall, we believe that our exposure to interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange rate changes is not material to our financial condition or results of operations.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

Critical Accounting Policies

On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, reduce certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. As a “smaller reporting company,” we have the option to delay adoption of new or revised accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies, until the earlier of the date that (i) we are no longer a smaller reporting company or (ii) we affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period for complying with such new or revised accounting standards. We have elected to opt out of this extended transition period. As noted, this election is irrevocable.  

Our financial statements and related public financial information are based on the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”). US GAAP requires the use of estimates; assumptions, judgments and subjective interpretations of accounting principles that have an impact on the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses amounts reported. These estimates can also affect supplemental information contained in our external disclosures including information regarding contingencies, risk and financial condition. We believe our use of estimates and underlying accounting assumptions adhere to GAAP and are consistently and conservatively applied. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We continue to monitor significant estimates made during the preparation of our financial statements.

We suggest that our significant accounting policies, as described in our financial statements in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, be read in conjunction with this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” ASC 740 requires a company to use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes, whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences, and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all of, the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.

Under ASC 740, a tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. The adoption had no effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 was issued to improve financial reporting by requiring earlier recognition of credit losses on financing receivables and other financial assets in scope. The new standard represents significant changes to accounting for credit losses.  Full lifetime expected credit losses will be recognized upon initial recognition of an asset in scope.  The current incurred loss impairment model that recognizes losses when a probable threshold is met will be replaced with the expected credit loss impairment method without recognition threshold.  The expected credit losses estimate will be based upon historical information, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.  This ASU as amended by ASU 2019-10, is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022.  The Company has determined that this ASU does not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)—Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. ASU 2020-06 reduces the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock. For convertible instruments with conversion features that are not required to be accounted for as derivatives under Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or that do not result in substantial premiums accounted for as paid-in capital, the embedded conversion features no longer are separated from the host contract. ASU 2020-06 also removes certain conditions that should be considered in the derivatives scope exception evaluation under Subtopic 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity, and clarify the scope and certain requirements under Subtopic 815-40. In addition, ASU 2020-06 improves the guidance related to the disclosures and earnings-per-share (EPS) for convertible instruments and contract in entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 is effective for public business entities that meet the definition of a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filer, excluding entities eligible to be smaller reporting companies as defined by the SEC, for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Board specified that an entity should adopt the guidance as of the beginning of its annual fiscal year. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (ASU 2023-07). ASU 2023-07 is intended to improve reportable segment disclosures, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The main provisions of ASU 2023-07 require a public entity to disclose on an annual and interim basis: (i) significant segment expenses provided to the chief operating decision maker, (ii) an amount representing the difference between segment revenue less segment expenses disclosed under the significant segment expense principle and each reported measure of segment profit or loss and a description of its composition, (iii) provide all annual disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets currently required under Topic 280 in interim periods, (iv) clarify that if the chief operating decision maker uses more than one measure of a segment’s profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources, a public entity may report one or more of those additional measures of segment profit, (v) the title and position of the chief operating decision maker and an explanation of how the chief operating decision maker uses the reported measure of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources, and (vi) all disclosures required by ASU 2023-07 and all existing segment disclosures under Topic 280 for an entity with a single reportable segment. The new guidance is effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is still evaluating the impact ASU 2023-07 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statement disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The main provisions of ASU 2023-09 require a public entity to disclose on an annual basis (i) specific prescribed categories in the rate reconciliation, (ii) additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold, (iii) the amount of income taxes paid, net of refunds received, disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign taxes, (iv) the amount of income taxes paid, net of refunds received, disaggregated by individual jurisdictions in which income taxes paid is equal to greater than 5 percent of total income taxes paid, (v) income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit disaggregated between domestic and foreign, and (vi) income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign. ASU 2023-09 also removes certain disclosure requirements related to unrecognized tax benefits and cumulative unrecognized temporary differences. The new guidance is effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is still evaluating the impact ASU 2023-09 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statement disclosures.

Authorization of Preferred Stock

Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock with designations, rights and preferences determined from time to time by its Board of Directors. Accordingly, our Board of Directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting, or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the common stock. In the event of issuance, the preferred stock could be utilized, under certain circumstances, as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company. Although we have no present intention to issue any shares of its authorized preferred stock, there can be no assurance that we will not do so in the future.

Control by Management

As of December 31, 2023, management currently owns 37.1% of all the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company. Consequently, management has the ability to control the operations of the Company and will have the ability to control substantially all matters submitted to stockholders for approval, including:

This Report Contains Forward-Looking Statements and Information Relating to Us, Our Industry and To Other Businesses.

ITEM 1B- UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

Not applicable.

ITEM 1C- CYBERSECURITY

We have a cross-departmental approach to addressing cybersecurity risk, including input from employees and our Board of Directors (the "Board"). The Board and senior management are devoting resources to cybersecurity and risk management processes to adapt to the changing cybersecurity landscape to respond to emerging threats in a timely and effective manner. Our cybersecurity risk management program will leverage the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) framework, which organizes cybersecurity risks into five categories: identify, protect, detect, respond and recover. Our IT security reviews such as policies related to encryption standards, antivirus protection, remote access, multifactor authentication, confidential information and the use of the internet, social media, email and wireless devices go through an internal review process and are approved by appropriate members of management. In addition to assessing our own cybersecurity preparedness, we also consider and evaluate cybersecurity risks associated with the use of third-party service providers. The internal business owners of hosted applications are required to document user access reviews at least annually and provide from the vendor a System and Organization Controls (SOC) 1 or SOC 2 report. If a third-party vendor is not able to provide a SOC 1 or SOC 2 report, we take additional steps to assess their cybersecurity preparedness and assess our relationship on that basis. Our assessment of risks associated with the use of third-party providers is part of our overall cybersecurity risk management framework. We face a number of cybersecurity risks in connection with our business. Although such risks have not materially affected us, including our business strategy, results of operations or financial condition, to date, we have, from time to time, experienced threats to our data and systems, including malware and computer virus attacks.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

US Nuclear Corp is headquartered in Canoga Park, CA, and occupies a 6,000-square foot leased facility and 8,000 square foot leased facility in Milford, Ohio. The office is divided among the Company’s various disciplines: management, finance, sales, marketing and customer service, with 25% of the available space dedicated to inventory. Each location has a bookkeeper, production manager, assembly supervisor, production workers, and customer service staff.

The Company’s executive offices are located in Canoga Park, CA, at 7051 Eton Avenue, Canoga Park, California 91303. Per the Company’s lease agreement, the lease payment increased to $7,000 on August 1, 2016. Robert I. Goldstein, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors also maintains a position as President of Gold Team Inc., a Delaware company that invests in industrial real estate properties for investment purposes. He holds an 8% interest in Gold Team Inc. The Company leases its current facilities from Gold Team Inc. which owns both the Canoga Park, CA and Milford, Ohio properties. The following table lists the locations of all its current locations.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

Not applicable.

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Market Information

We have already been approved by FINRA for the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (“OTCBB”) trading and additionally have also been approved with the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation or (“DTCC”) for DTC eligibility. Our stock ticker symbol is UCLE on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board. For information on shareholders who owns 5% or more of our common stock, as well as the ownership of our officers and directors, please see “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management”.

Authorized Capital Stock

The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, (the “Common Stock”) and 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, (the “Preferred Stock”) par value $0.0001 per share, of which none have been designated or issued. As of December 31, 2023, we had (i) 40,173,778 shares of common stock outstanding, held of record by 51 shareholders, and (ii) no shares of preferred stock outstanding. As of April 15, 2024, there are 44,391,778 shares of common stock outstanding, held of record by 51 shareholders.  

Description of Capital Stock

The following is a summary of the rights of our capital stock and certain provisions of our articles of organization, as amended, and by-laws.  For more detailed information, please see our articles of organization, as amended, and by-laws filed as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 10-K. Each holder of the Company’s Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders and do not have cumulative voting rights.  An election of directors by our shareholders shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the shareholders entitled to vote on the election.  The holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive pro rata dividends, when and as declared by the Board of Directors in its discretion, out of funds legally available therefore, but only if all dividends on the Preferred Stock have been paid in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Stock and there exists no deficiency in any sinking fund for the Preferred Stock.

Dividends on the Common Stock are declared by the Board of Directors. The payment of dividends on the Common Stock in the future, if any, will be subordinate to the Preferred Stock and will be determined by the Board of Directors. In addition, the payment of such dividends will depend on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant.  The Company has heretofore never paid any dividends and the Board has no plans for the payment of future dividends.  The Board presently plans for any future surplus income to be reinvested into growing the Company through additional investment.

Preferred Stock

The Board of Directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in series and, by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of Delaware, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof without any further vote or action by the shareholders. Any shares of preferred stock so issued would have priority over the common stock with respect to dividend or liquidation rights. Any future issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our Company without further action by the shareholders and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of common stock. At present, we have no plans to neither issue any preferred stock nor adopt any series, preferences or other classification of preferred stock.

The issuance of shares of preferred stock, or the issuance of rights to purchase such shares, could be used to discourage an unsolicited acquisition proposal. For instance, the issuance of a series of preferred stock might impede a business combination by including class voting rights that would enable the holder to block such a transaction, or facilitate a business combination by including voting rights that would provide a required percentage vote of the stockholders. In addition, under certain circumstances, the issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of the common stock. Although the Board of Directors is required to make any determination to issue such stock based on its judgment as to the best interests of our stockholders, the Board of Directors could act in a manner that would discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority, of the stockholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which stockholders might receive a premium for their stock over the then market price of such stock. The Board of Directors does not at present intend to seek stockholder approval prior to any issuance of currently authorized stock, unless otherwise required by law or stock exchange rules. We have no present plans to issue any preferred stock.

The description of certain matters relating to the securities of the Company is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, copies of which have been filed as exhibits to the Company’s Form 10 filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on March 2, 2012, as updated by the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on October 15, 2013.

Dividends

We have not paid any dividends on our common stock and do not presently intend to pay cash dividends prior to the consummation of a business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future, if any, will be contingent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to consummation of a business combination, if any. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination, if any, will be within the discretion of our then existing board of directors. It is the present intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, the board of directors does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

The Company does not have any equity compensation plans or any individual compensation arrangements with respect to its common stock or preferred stock. The issuance of any of our common or preferred stock is within the discretion of our Board of Directors, which has the power to issue any or all of our authorized but unissued shares without stockholder approval.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued:

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

None.

ITEM 6. [Reserved]

As a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, the Company is not required to provide this information.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to help the reader understand US Nuclear Corp, our operations and our present business environment. MD&A is provided as a supplement to—and should be read in conjunction with—our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto contained in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

We were incorporated in Delaware on February 14, 2012, and on March 2, 2012, we filed a registration statement on Form 10 to register with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a public company.  We were originally organized as a vehicle to investigate and, if such investigation warrants, acquire a target company or business seeking the perceived advantages of being a publicly held corporation.

On April 18, 2012, Richard Chiang, then our sole director and shareholder, entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement whereby Mr. Goldstein of US Nuclear Corp purchased 10,000,000 shares of our common stock from Mr. Chiang, which constituted 100% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock. Mr. Chiang then resigned from all positions. Subsequently, on May 18, 2012, the Registrant appointed Mr. Chiang to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. He resigned from this position on March 31, 2013.

Since our acquisition of Overhoff Technology in 2006, we have had discussions with other companies in our industry for an acquisition. While we targeted Overhoff due to its unique position in the tritium market, we had not commenced an acquisition since our Overhoff Technology acquisition; we believe in part the reason was due to lack of additional capital, our status as a privately-held entity at the time, and focus on developing our own products. We will seek out companies whom our management believes will provide value to our customers and will complement our business. We will focus on diversifying our product line into a larger range so that our customers and vendors may have a more expansive experience in type, choice, options, price and selection. We also believe that with a more diverse product line we will become more competitive as our industry is intensely competitive.

Generally, our product concentration places a heavy reliance on our Overhoff Technology division. In 2023, we derived 50.81% of our total revenues from sales made by Overhoff to three customers. We expect to encounter a continuation of this trend unless we are successful in diversifying our client base, executing our acquisition strategy and experience increases in business from our Technical Associates division.

Our international revenues were 12.8% of our total revenue in 2023. We expect this to increase over time as we continue to field new orders, inquires, and engage new customers overseas and recover post-pandemic. We believe that South Korea and China will likely be a larger contributor to revenue within the next few years. While we maintain steady growth domestically, the international side of our business may be a larger component as nuclear technology and rapid development for clean energy grows abroad. Additionally, the Company relies on continued growth and orders from CANDU reactors (Canada Deuterium Uranium), and rapid development of the next generation of nuclear reactors called Molten Salt Reactors, (MSR) and Liquid-Fluoride Thorium Reactors (LFTR), all of which purchase tritium detection and monitor products. There can be no assurances as to our growth projections and our risk profile as we depend upon increased foreign customers for business.

Robert I. Goldstein, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors also maintains a position as President of Gold Team Inc., a Delaware company that invests in industrial real estate properties for investment purposes. He holds an 8% interest in Gold Team Inc. and spends approximately 5 hours per week with affairs related to Gold Team Inc. The Company leases its current facilities from Gold Team Inc. which owns both the Canoga Park, CA and Milford, Ohio properties at an expense of $7,000 for each facility per month. 

On May 31, 2016, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Electronic Control Concepts (“ECC”) whereby the Company purchased certain tangible and intangible assets of ECC. ECC is a small manufacturer of test and maintenance meters for x-ray machines both medical and industrial. We acquired ECC to give a boost to our current x-ray related product and hospital/medical product sales. 

On March 3, 2023, the Company divested itself of its wholly owned subsidiary, Cali From Above, through a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement with the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Goldstein. Consideration received by the Company was 65,000,000 shares of Averox, Inc. (OTC:AVRI), resulting in the Company owning 26% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of AVRI. The Company and Cali From Above also signed a Cooperation Agreement whereby the Company holds exclusive sourcing and manufacturing rights for Cali From Above products, thus making Cali From Above a new customer of the Company.

Results of Operations

For the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $2,231,095 compared to $2,091,366 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase of $139,729 or 6.68% is considered by management to be indicative of improving post-Coronavirus pandemic economic conditions, however growth was slowed in 2022 due to political and economic uncertainties. The revenue breakdown for the year ended December 31, 2023, is as follows:

North America 88.58%

Asia (including Japan) 7.72%

Other 3.70%

Our gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2023, was 41.43% as compared to 37.68% for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in gross margin is due to a slight increase in the sales of certain products with higher gross margins.

Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023, increased by $281,851 or 12.34% to $2,565,950; up from $2,284,099 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase is largely attributed to payroll costs and an increase in professional fees.

Other expense for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $1,792,160, an increase of $1,245,396 from $546,764 for 2022. Other expense in 2023 consists of interest expense, amortization of debt discount, equity loss in investment, loss on deconsolidation, loss on an investment deposit, loss on extinguishment of debt, loss on conversion of stock, and gain on debt forgiveness. In 2022, other expense consisted of interest expense and amortization of debt discounts. The increase in 2023 was largely due to interest expense and additional debt discounts recorded related to the down round provisions of our convertible notes payable.

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $3,433,804 compared to net loss of $2,042,795 for the year ended December 31, 2022.  

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our operations have historically been financed by our majority stockholder. As funds were needed for working capital purposes, our majority stockholder would loan us the needed funds. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s majority shareholder loaned $403,600 to the Company and was repaid $58,000. We anticipate meeting our capital needs through the sale of our common stock and loans from our majority stockholder, if necessary.

At December 31, 2023, total assets decreased by $251,861 or 8.10% from $3,108,737 at December 31, 2022, primarily due to a decrease in inventory.

At December 31, 2023, total liabilities increased by 39.99% to $4,839,495 from $3,457,041 at December 31, 2022 due to an increase in accrued liabilities, accounts payable, accrued compensation paid to officers, note payable to shareholder, and an increase in our line of credit balances.

Cash Flow

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated below:

Cash Used in Operating Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, cash used in operating activities of $263,444 and $1,324,059, respectively, primarily reflected our net income for the period, adjusted by non-cash charges such as depreciation, common stock issued for services, debt discounts and financing costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, loss on conversion of stock, as well as changes in accounts receivable, prepaids, deposits, accounts payable, and accrued expenses.

Cash Used by Investing Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2023, cash used in investing activities was $24,546, which consisted of the purchase of office equipment, cash paid for an investment, and a note receivable. During the year ended December 31, 2022, no cash was used in investing activities.

Cash Provided by Financing Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2023, cash provided by financing activities was $314,721, which consisted of net borrowings from lines of credit, shareholder debt, notes payable, offset by repayments on our convertible notes. During the year ended December 31, 2022, cash provided by financing activities was $1,203,851, which primarily consisted of net borrowings from lines of credit, shareholder debt, and convertible notes.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our financial statements and related public financial information are based on the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”). US GAAP requires the use of estimates; assumptions, judgments and subjective interpretations of accounting principles that have an impact on the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses amounts reported. These estimates can also affect supplemental information contained in our external disclosures including information regarding contingencies, risk and financial condition. We believe our use of estimates and underlying accounting assumptions adhere to GAAP and are consistently and conservatively applied. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We continue to monitor significant estimates made during the preparation of our financial statements.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” ASC 740 requires a company to use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes, whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences, and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all of, the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.

Under ASC 740, a tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. The adoption had no effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

Contractual Obligations

As a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, the Company is not required to provide this information.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

As a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, the Company is not required to provide this information.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

Please see the financial statements beginning on page F-1 located elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. The disclosure controls and procedures ensure that all information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is: (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rule and forms; and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, these disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial reporting. Our Officers are responsible to design or supervise a process that provides reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The policies and procedures include:

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period December 31, 2023. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO-2017”) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the fiscal year December 31, 2023, our internal controls over financial reporting were not effective due to the following.

Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

Our management has determined that there were no changes made in the implementation of our internal controls over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2023.

Attestation Report of Independent Public Accounting Firm

This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting because as a smaller reporting company we are not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable

ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS

Not applicable

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 

On June 30, 2022, US Nuclear Corp, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) received notice of resignation by its Chief Financial Officer, Rachel Boulds. Ms. Boulds’ resignation did not result from any disagreement with the Company.

On the same day, the Company appointed its Chief Operating Officer, Richard Landry, to serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective as of June 30, 2022. On August 12, 2023, Mr. Landry’s resigned his position as CFO. Mr. Landry’s resignation did not result from any disagreement with the Company.

On August 12, 2023, the Board appointed Michael Hastings as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Hastings remains a member of the Board of Directors.

Effective October 6, 2023, Michael Pope was appointed as a director of the Company. On the same day, Dell Williamson’s position on the Board of Directors was changed to Board Observor.

The following table contains information concerning our directors and executive officers through the date of filing of this report.

Officers and Directors

Robert I. Goldstein –President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors: Mr. Goldstein entered the radiation detection industry in 1972 as an applications engineer, production manager, and then general manager for Optron Scientific Company, Inc. DBA, Technical Associates. Mr. Goldstein is a physicist and an award- winning specialist in the nuclear radiation detection industry and has more than 30 years of experience in the field. He has authored more than 20 white papers and abstract presentations on industrial research use of radiation measurement equipment and instruments. His work has been approved by US Federal standards set by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission). Mr. Goldstein has also worked closely with and continues ongoing joint development programs with Los Alamos National Lab and Jefferson National Lab. He was instrumental in the acquisition of Overhoff Technology Corp, at the time, the world’s only tritium detection company, in 2006. His experience in the field of radiation detection ranges from development of instrumentation to design and development for air, water and surface applications. He is also an accomplished inventor having invented miniature radiation detectors for use during surgery. Mr. Goldstein graduated from MIT with a BS in Physics and from Stanford University with an MS in Mechanical Engineering. Mr. Goldstein is affiliated with the following scientific groups: Health Physics Society, American Nuclear Society, DOE (US Department of Energy) Tritium Focus Group, Air Monitoring User’s Group and Health Physics Instrument Committee.

Michael Hastings– Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Board of Directors: Mr. Hastings has been a corporate finance officer for over thirty years in the medical device industry with C.R. Bard, Inc. (predecessor to Becton Dickinson), and in the industrial battery industry with EnerSys, Inc. (NYSE: ENS). Mr. Hastings retired from EnerSys in 2011 as its Vice President and Treasurer with company revenue of $2 billion and operations in all parts of the world. His responsibilities included global treasury operations including debt and capital transactions; corporate tax; hedging of currencies, interest rate exposures and the price of raw materials; credit management; pension plan investments; and investor relations. He participated fully in due diligence, valuation and negotiation of numerous acquisitions. Mr. Hastings was also a member of the Board of Directors and Chief Financial Officer of MegaGraphite, Inc. - a private graphite exploration company in Canada between 2011 and when it was sold in 2014. Mr. Hastings was a member of the Board of Directors of Organic Transit, Inc., a private solar electric vehicle company in the United States, from 2018 until the company was sold in 2020. Mr. Hastings has no prior business relationship with the Company.

Michael Pope – Member of the Board of Directors: Mr. Pope serves as the CEO and Chairman at Boxlight Corporation (Nasdaq:BOXL), a global provider of interactive technology solutions, where he has been an executive since July 2015 and director since September 2014. Mr. Pope has led Boxlight through eleven acquisitions from 2016 to 2022, a Nasdaq IPO in November 2017, and revenue growth to over $200 million. Mr. Pope previously served as Managing Director at Vert Capital, a private equity and advisory firm from October 2011 to October 2016, managing portfolio holdings in the education, consumer products, technology, and digital media sectors. Prior to joining Vert Capital, from May 2008 to October 2011, Mr. Pope was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for the Taylor Family in Salt Lake City, managing family investment holdings in consumer products, professional services, real estate, and education. He also held positions including senior SEC reporting at Omniture (previously listed on Nasdaq and acquired by Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) in 2009) and Assurance Associate at Grant Thornton. Mr. Pope holds an active CPA license and serves on the boards of various organizations including Boxlight (NASDAQ:BOXL), Novo Integrated Sciences (NASDAQ:NVOS) and Focus Universal (NASDAQ:FCUV). He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting from Brigham Young University with academic honors. Mr. Pope has no prior business relationship with the Company.

In particular,

The Board of Directors and Committees

As of the date of this Report, we had one independent director. We anticipate appointing additional independent directors as required in the future.  

Audit Committee

As of the date of this Report, we did not have a standing Audit Committee.  We intend to establish an Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which will consist of independent directors, of which at least one director will qualify as a qualified financial expert as defined in the regulations of the SEC. The Audit Committee’s duties would be to recommend to our Board of Directors the engagement of independent auditors to audit our consolidated financial statements and to review our accounting and auditing principles.  The Audit Committee would review the scope, timing and fees for the annual audit and the results of audit examinations performed by the internal auditors, if any, and independent public accountants, including their recommendations to improve the system of accounting and internal control.  The Audit Committee would at all times be composed exclusively of directors who are, in the opinion of our Board of Directors, free from any relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment as a committee member and who possess an understanding of financial statements and generally accepted accounting principles.  As of the date of this Report, we did not have an audit committee financial expert, in light of our size, although we intend to review this issue as the Company grows, especially as the Company implements a standing Audit Committee.

Compensation Committee

As of the date of this Report, we did not have a standing Compensation Committee.  We intend to establish a Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.  The Compensation Committee would review and approve our salary and benefits policies, including compensation of executive officers.  The Compensation Committee would also administer any stock option plans that we may adopt and recommend and approve grants of stock options under such plans.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee 

As of the date of this Report, we did not have a standing Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.  We intend to establish a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors to assist in the selection of director nominees, approve director nominations to be presented for stockholder approval at our annual meeting of stockholders and fill any vacancies on our Board of Directors, consider any nominations of director candidates validly made by stockholders, and review and consider developments in corporate governance practices.

Compliance with Section 16(A) of the Securities Exchange Act Of 1934

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Section 16(a)”), requires our Directors and executive officers, and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities (collectively, “Section 16 reporting persons”), to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our Common Stock and other equity securities. Section 16 reporting persons 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 the copies of any such reports furnished to us, none of the Section 16 reporting persons failed to file on a timely basis reports required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to our most recent fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Code of Ethics

As of the date of this Report, we had not adopted a formal, written code of conduct (“Code of Ethics”) within the specific guidelines promulgated by the SEC, although we intend to adopt a Code of Ethics. 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Executive Compensation

Our President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Robert I. Goldstein is compensated for their services to the Company; no other officer receives compensation from the Company. Until the Company acquires additional capital, it is not anticipated that any other officer other than these three individuals will receive compensation from the Company other than reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Company.

The Company has no stock option, retirement, pension, or profit-sharing programs for the benefit of directors, officers or other employees, but our officers and directors may recommend adoption of one or more such programs in the future.

Employment Agreements and Compensation

On November 4, 2014, we entered into a five-year Employment Agreement with our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Robert I. Goldstein. The Agreement calls for a salary of $100,000 per year, with his compensation beginning in fiscal 2015 and payable in January 2016. Mr. Goldstein later agreed to temporarily reduce his compensation to $50,000 for 2015. Compensation for 2016 increased to $100,000 as authorized by the Board of Directors and has remained $100,000 through December 31, 2023.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table provides information regarding the compensation of our named executive officers for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022. 

Equity Incentive Plan

As of the date of this Report, the Registrant has not entered into any Equity Incentive Plans.

Option Grants in the Last Fiscal Year

No Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) or options to purchase our stock were granted to the Named Executive Officers during fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Retirement Plan

We do not currently have any retirement plan, but we expect to adopt one in the near term.

Director Compensation

The following table provides information concerning the compensation of the directors of the Company for the past fiscal year:

Audit Committee Financial Expert

The Company does not have an audit committee financial expert.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

As of the date of this Report, there were 44,391,778 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of the outstanding shares as of the date of this Report, (i) each of our executive officers and directors; and (ii) all of our executive officers and directors as a group.

Except as otherwise indicated, each such person has investment and voting power with respect to such shares, subject to community property laws where applicable. The address for all individuals for whom an address is not otherwise indicated is 7051 Eton Avenue, Canoga Park, CA 91303.

Significant Employees

We are dependent on the experience, knowledge, skill and expertise of our President and CEO Robert I. Goldstein. We are also in large part dependent on Dell Williamson, Manager of the Overhoff Division, and Ivan Mitev, our Chief Engineer at the Overhoff Division, Ian Embry in sales, and Rowena Paredes in accounting. The loss of any of the key personnel listed above could materially and adversely affect our future business efforts. Our success depends in substantial part upon the services, efforts and abilities of Robert I. Goldstein, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, due to his experience, history and knowledge of the nuclear radiation industry and his overall insight into our business direction. The loss or our failure to retain Mr. Goldstein, or to attract and retain additional qualified personnel, could adversely affect our operations.  We do not currently carry key-man life insurance on Mr. Goldstein or any of our officers and have no present plans to obtain this insurance.

Family Relationships

There are no family relationships among directors, executive officers, or persons nominated or chosen by the issuer to become directors or executive officers.

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

There have been no events under any bankruptcy act, no criminal proceedings and no judgments, injunctions, orders or decrees material to the evaluation of the ability and integrity of any director, executive officer, promoter or control person of Registrant during the past five years.

Meetings of the Board of Directors

Mr. Goldstein was elected director by the former sole stockholder of the Company in April 18, 2012.  On March 28, 2014, Dr. Gerald Entine was elected to serve on the Board of Directors. On May 22, 2018, Gerald Entine died, leaving a vacancy on the Board of Directors for the Company. In order to fill the vacancy resulting from Mr. Entine’s death, the Board of Directors consented in lieu of a meeting to nominate Dell Williamson for appointment to the Board of Directors following receipt and review from Mr. Williamson, his Confidential Bad Actor Disqualifying Event Statement confirming no “disqualifying event,” as defined under Rule 506(e) of Regulation D under the 1933 Securities Act and confirmation of receipt of the Company’s Insider Trading Policy and related memorandum regarding the same (as disclosed in prior filings). In addition, pursuant to Article IV of the Company’s Bylaws, as amended, the Board of Directors nominated Michael G. Hastings to serve as a director on the Board of Directors following receipt and review of the same disclosures and documents produced by Mr. Williamson, as identified herein. By signing the consent resolution, Mr. Williamson and Mr. Hastings accepted appointment as directors on the Board of Directors. On October 6, the Board of Directors nominated Michael Pope to serve as a director on the Board of Directors, following receipt and review of disclosure documents produced by Mr. Pope. The Board establishes policy and provides strategic direction, oversight, and control of the Company.  As of the date of this Form 10-K, the Board of Directors had no standing audit, compensation, nominating or other committees, although the Board intends to establish such committees in the future.  

Nominating Committee

We have not adopted any procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors.

Retirement Plan

We do not currently have any retirement plan, but we expect to adopt one in the near term.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

As stated in our Item 2, Properties disclosure on this Form 10-K, the Company’s executive offices are located in Canoga Park, CA, at 7051 Eton Avenue, Canoga Park, California 91303. The lease payment for each facility was $6,000, paid monthly through July 31, 2016. Per the Company’s lease agreement, the lease payment increased to $7,000 on August 1, 2016. Robert I. Goldstein, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors also maintains a position as President of Gold Team Inc., a Delaware company that invests in industrial real estate properties for investment purposes. Mr. Goldstein holds an 8% interest in Gold Team Inc. The Company leases its current facilities from Gold Team Inc. which owns both the Canoga Park, CA and Milford, Ohio properties.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s majority shareholder loaned the Company a net of $345,600. The amounts due to Mr. Goldstein are $1,220,279 and $874,679 as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Audit Fees 

The aggregate fees billed by the Company’s current auditor Fruci & Associates II, PLLC, for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of our quarterly financial statements or services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings were $78,955 and $83,958 for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively.

Audit Related Fees

There were no fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, or 2022.

Tax Fees

The aggregate fees billed for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice, tax planning for the year December 31, 2023, and 2022 was $0 and 0, respectively.

All Other Fees

There were no fees billed for other products and services for the year ended December 31, 2023, or 2022.

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

15(a)(1). Financial Statements

The following consolidated financial statements, and related notes and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are filed as part of this Annual Report:

US Nuclear Corp. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Financial Statements

For The Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and board of directors of US Nuclear Corp.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of US Nuclear Corp. and Subsidiaries (“the Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Going Concern

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has an accumulated deficit and net losses. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, 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.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Beneficial Conversion Features on Convertible Notes Payable

Description of Critical Audit Matter

As discussed in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company records beneficial conversion features associated with their convertible debt, which include down-round provisions. The valuation of such embedded derivative features requires a high degree of subjectivity and judgement.

Auditing management's valuations of such beneficial conversion features and down-round triggering events is complex and highly judgmental due to the significant estimation required to determine the fair value of the beneficial conversion to significant assumptions, such as the Company’s exercise price on revalue dates.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to evaluating the Company’s accounting for beneficial conversion features associated with convertible debt included the following, among others:

Fruci & Associates II, PLLC – PCAOB ID #05525

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.

Spokane, Washington

May 10, 2024  

US NUCLEAR CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2023 AND 2022

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

US NUCLEAR CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 AND 2022

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

US NUCLEAR CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 AND 2022

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

US NUCLEAR CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 AND 2022

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

US NUCLEAR CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 and 2022

US NUCLEAR CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 and 2022

US NUCLEAR CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 and 2022

US NUCLEAR CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 and 2022

US NUCLEAR CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 and 2022

US NUCLEAR CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 and 2022

US NUCLEAR CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 and 2022

US NUCLEAR CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 and 2022

US NUCLEAR CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 and 2022