UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

ý      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020

OR

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                to                
Commission file number 001-33133
YIELD10 BIOSCIENCE, INC.
Delaware
 
04-3158289
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
19 Presidential Way
Woburn, MA
 
01801
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
(617) 583-1700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock
YTEN
The Nasdaq Capital Market
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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 ý  No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ý  No o
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.
Large accelerated filer
o
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
ý
Smaller reporting company
ý
Emerging growth company
o
 
 
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. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o  No ý

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of August 7, 2020 was 1,976,487.
 

1



Yield10 Bioscience, Inc.
Form 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended June 30, 2020

Table of Contents

 
 
Page
3
 
 
 
Item
 
 
1.
3
 
3
 
4
 
5
 
6
 
7
 
9
2.
24
3.
31
4.
31
 
 
 
31
 
 
 
Item
 
 
1.
31
1A.
31
2.
31
3.
31
4.
32
5.
32
6.
32
 
 
 
33

2



PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YIELD10 BIOSCIENCE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
UNAUDITED
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 
June 30,
2020

December 31,
2019
Assets
 
 
 
Current Assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
3,290

 
$
5,417

Short-term investments
5,211

 
5,700

Accounts receivable
13

 
72

Unbilled receivables
59

 
20

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
417

 
475

Total current assets
8,990

 
11,684

Restricted cash
254

 
332

Property and equipment, net
978

 
1,243

Right-of-use assets
2,879

 
3,141

Other assets
265

 
318

Total assets
$
13,366

 
$
16,718

 
 
 
 
Liabilities, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
 
 
 
Current Liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
150

 
$
279

Accrued expenses
882

 
1,326

Lease liabilities
430

 
602

Total current liabilities
1,462

 
2,207

Lease liabilities, net of current portion
3,400

 
3,619

Warrant liability

 
14,977

Other long-term liabilities
17

 

Total liabilities
4,879

 
20,803

Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)

 

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock ($0.01 par value per share); 0 and 5,750 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively

 

Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit):
 
 
 
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock ($0.01 par value per share); 0 shares and 796 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively

 

Common stock ($0.01 par value per share); 60,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019; 1,972,798 and 933,423 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively
20

 
9

Additional paid-in capital
378,924

 
360,926

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(167
)
 
(126
)
Accumulated deficit
(370,290
)
 
(364,894
)
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)
8,487

 
(4,085
)
Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ equity (deficit)
$
13,366

 
$
16,718


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

3



YIELD10 BIOSCIENCE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
UNAUDITED
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grant revenue
$
221

 
$
318

 
$
400

 
$
442

Total revenue
221

 
318

 
400

 
442

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Research and development
1,179

 
1,191

 
2,639

 
2,414

General and administrative
1,179

 
1,025

 
2,566

 
2,211

Total expenses
2,358

 
2,216

 
5,205

 
4,625

Loss from operations
(2,137
)
 
(1,898
)
 
(4,805
)
 
(4,183
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other income (expense):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in fair value of warrants

 

 
(957
)
 

Loan forgiveness income (Note 9)
333

 

 
333

 

Other income (expense), net
15

 
27

 
48

 
52

Total other income (expense)
348

 
27

 
(576
)
 
52

Net loss before income tax expense
(1,789
)
 
(1,871
)
 
(5,381
)
 
(4,131
)
Income tax expense
(7
)
 

 
(15
)
 

Net loss
$
(1,796
)
 
$
(1,871
)
 
$
(5,396
)
 
$
(4,131
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted net loss per share
$
(0.92
)
 
$
(5.99
)
 
$
(2.95
)
 
$
(14.36
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of shares used in per share calculations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted
1,957,927

 
312,342

 
1,827,526

 
287,592


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

4



YIELD10 BIOSCIENCE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
UNAUDITED
(in thousands)

 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
   June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
2020
 
2019
Net loss:
$
(1,796
)
 
$
(1,871
)
$
(5,396
)
 
$
(4,131
)
Other comprehensive loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments
(15
)
 

7

 

Change in foreign currency translation adjustment
7

 
(3
)
(48
)
 
(8
)
Total other comprehensive loss
(8
)
 
(3
)
(41
)
 
(8
)
Comprehensive loss
$
(1,804
)
 
$
(1,874
)
$
(5,437
)
 
$
(4,139
)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

5



YIELD10 BIOSCIENCE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
UNAUDITED
(in thousands)


Six Months Ended
   June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
Net loss
$
(5,396
)
 
$
(4,131
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation
91

 
100

Change in fair value of warrants
957

 

Loss on disposal of fixed assets
206

 

Charge for 401(k) company common stock match
66

 
49

Stock-based compensation
297

 
275

Non-cash lease expense
262

 
299

Deferred tax provision
27

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
59

 
(54
)
Unbilled receivables
(39
)
 
(37
)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
84

 
(10
)
Accounts payable
(129
)
 
(62
)
Accrued expenses
(390
)
 
(102
)
Lease liabilities
(391
)
 
(404
)
Other liabilities
17

 

Net cash used for operating activities
(4,279
)
 
(4,077
)


 

Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
Purchase of property and equipment
(42
)
 
(13
)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
10

 

Purchase of short-term investments
(503
)
 
(998
)
Proceeds from the sale and maturity of short-term investments
999

 
2,746

Net cash provided by investing activities
464

 
1,735



 

Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
Proceeds from warrants exercised (Note 12)
1,658

 

Proceeds from registered direct offering, net of issuance costs

 
2,583

Taxes paid on employees' behalf related to vesting of stock awards

 
(4
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
1,658

 
2,579



 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(48
)
 
(8
)


 

Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(2,205
)
 
229

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
5,749

 
3,355

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
3,544

 
$
3,584


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

6



YIELD10 BIOSCIENCE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SERIES B CONVERTIBLE STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' (DEFICIT) EQUITY
UNAUDITED
(In thousands, except share amounts)
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2020
 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
 
Common Stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares
 
Par Value
Shares
 
Par Value
 
Shares
 
Par Value
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Accumulated Deficit
 
Total Stockholders' Equity
Balance, March 31, 2020

 
$

296

 
$

 
1,923,184

 
$
19

 
$
377,963

 
$
(159
)
 
$
(368,494
)
 
$
9,329

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense

 


 

 

 

 
194

 

 

 
194

Issuance of common stock for 401(k) match

 


 

 
10,114

 

 
38

 

 

 
38

Issuance of common stock for warrant exercise (Note 12)

 


 

 
2,500

 

 
730

 
 
 
 
 
730

Issuance of common stock upon conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

 

(296
)
 

 
37,000

 
1

 
(1
)
 

 

 

Effect of foreign currency translation and unrealized loss on investments

 


 

 

 

 

 
(8
)
 

 
(8
)
Net loss

 


 

 

 

 

 

 
(1,796
)
 
(1,796
)
Balance, June 30, 2020

 
$


 
$

 
1,972,798

 
$
20

 
$
378,924

 
$
(167
)
 
$
(370,290
)
 
$
8,487


 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
 
Common Stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares
 
Par Value
Shares
 
Par Value
 
Shares
 
Par Value
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Accumulated other Comprehensive Loss
 
Accumulated Deficit
 
Total Stockholders' Equity
Balance, March 31, 2019

 
$


 
$

 
311,690

 
$
3

 
$
360,505

 
$
(115
)
 
$
(354,198
)
 
$
6,195

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense

 


 

 

 

 
113

 

 

 
113

Issuance of common stock for 401(k) match

 


 

 
546

 

 
24

 

 

 
24

Issuance of common stock for restricted unit release, net of 2,449 shares withheld for employee taxes

 


 

 
116

 

 
(4
)
 

 

 
(4
)
Effect of foreign currency translation and unrealized loss on investments

 


 

 

 

 

 
(3
)
 

 
(3
)
Net loss

 


 

 

 

 

 

 
(1,871
)
 
(1,871
)
Balance, June 30, 2019

 
$


 
$

 
312,352

 
$
3

 
$
360,638

 
$
(118
)
 
$
(356,069
)
 
$
4,454


7



 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2020
 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
 
Common Stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares
 
Par Value
Shares
 
Par Value
 
Shares
 
Par Value
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Accumulated Deficit
 
Total Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
Balance, December 31, 2019
5,750

 
$

796

 
$

 
933,423

 
$
9

 
$
360,926

 
$
(126
)
 
$
(364,894
)
 
$
(4,085
)
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense

 


 

 

 

 
354

 

 

 
354

Issuance of common stock for 401(k) match

 


 

 
13,829

 

 
63

 

 

 
63

Issuance of common stock for warrant exercise

 


 

 
207,296

 
2

 
1,656

 

 

 
1,658

Issuance of common stock upon conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

 

(796
)
 

 
99,500

 
2

 
(2
)
 

 

 

Issuance of common stock upon conversion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(5,750
)
 


 

 
718,750

 
7

 
(7
)
 

 

 

Reclassification of warrant liability to equity

 


 

 

 

 
15,934

 

 

 
15,934

Effect of foreign currency translation and unrealized loss on investments

 


 

 

 

 

 
(41
)
 

 
(41
)
Net loss

 


 

 

 

 

 

 
(5,396
)
 
(5,396
)
Balance, June 30, 2020

 
$


 
$

 
1,972,798

 
$
20

 
$
378,924

 
$
(167
)
 
$
(370,290
)
 
$
8,487


 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
 
Common Stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares
 
Par Value
Shares
 
Par Value
 
Shares
 
Par Value
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Accumulated other Comprehensive Loss
 
Accumulated Deficit
 
Total Stockholders' Equity
Balance, December 31, 2018

 
$


 
$

 
250,631

 
$
3

 
$
357,743

 
$
(110
)
 
$
(351,938
)
 
$
5,698

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense

 


 

 

 

 
275

 

 

 
275

Issuance of common stock for 401(k) match

 


 

 
1,064

 

 
41

 

 

 
41

Issuance of stock for restricted stock unit vesting, net of 2,449 shares withheld for employee taxes

 


 

 
116

 

 
(4
)
 

 

 
(4
)
Issuance of common stock for registered direct offering , net of $349 offering costs

 


 

 
60,541

 

 
2,583

 

 

 
2,583

Effect of foreign currency translation and unrealized loss on investments

 


 

 

 

 

 
(8
)
 

 
(8
)
Net loss

 


 

 

 

 

 

 
(4,131
)
 
(4,131
)
Balance, June 30, 2019

 
$


 
$

 
312,352

 
$
3

 
$
360,638

 
$
(118
)
 
$
(356,069
)
 
$
4,454

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

8



YIELD10 BIOSCIENCE, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
UNAUDITED

(All dollar amounts, except share and per share amounts, are stated in thousands)
1. NATURE OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. is an agricultural bioscience company that uses its "Trait Factory" and the Camelina oilseed “Fast Field Testing” system to develop high value seed traits for the agriculture and food industries. The Company's goal is to efficiently develop superior gene traits for the major crops including corn, soybean, canola, and other crops to enable step-change increases in crop yield of at least 10-20 percent. The “Trait Factory” encompasses discovery of gene targets using the GRAIN (“Gene Ranking Artificial Intelligence Network”) big data mining platform, deployment of trait gene targets in the oilseed Camelina and generation of field performance data. The “Trait Factory” enables two complementary commercial opportunities with different paths to market. The first is trait licensing to the major seed companies for corn, soybean, canola and other crops. Data from the Company's trait field testing in Camelina has enabled Yield10 to establish research license agreements with leading seed companies including Bayer, Forage Genetics and Simplot. These companies are progressing the development of Yield10 traits in soybean, forage sorghum, and potato, respectively. The second is to improve the performance and value of Camelina as a platform to develop a commercial crop product business producing nutritional oils and PHA biomaterials. Using this approach, Yield10 can leverage the resources of the major seed companies to efficiently develop superior gene traits for the major crops and focus internal resources on trait gene discovery and the commercial development of Camelina products.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, are unaudited, and have been prepared by Yield10 in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The condensed consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for fair statements of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019.
The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for any future period or the entire fiscal year. These interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, which are contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 25, 2020.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a basis which assumes that the Company will continue as a going concern and which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. Except for a single year, the Company has recorded losses since its initial founding, including the three and six months ended June 30, 2020.
As of June 30, 2020, the Company held unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $8,501. The Company follows the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern, in order to determine whether there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern for one year after the date its financial statements are issued. Based on its current cash forecast, management expects that the Company's present capital resources will be sufficient to fund its planned operations and meet its obligations into the second quarter of 2021. This forecast of cash resources is forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties, and the actual amount of expenses could vary materially and adversely as a result of a number of factors. The Company's ability to continue operations after its current cash resources are exhausted depends on its ability to obtain additional financing through, among other sources, public or private equity financing, secured or unsecured debt financing, equity or debt bridge financing, warrant holders' ability and willingness to exercise the Company's outstanding warrants, additional government grants or collaborative arrangements with third parties, as to which no assurance can be given. Management does not know whether additional financing will be available on terms favorable or acceptable to the Company when needed, if at all. If adequate additional funds are not available when required, management may be forced to curtail the Company's research efforts, explore strategic alternatives and/or wind down its operations and pursue options for liquidating its remaining assets, including intellectual property. Based on its cash forecast, management has determined that the Company's present capital resources will not be sufficient to fund its planned operations for the twelve months from the date that these interim financial statements are filed, which raises substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

9



If the Company issues equity or debt securities to raise additional funds, (i) the Company may incur fees associated with such issuance, (ii) its existing stockholders may experience dilution from the issuance of new equity securities, (iii) the
Company may incur ongoing interest expense and be required to grant a security interest in Company assets in connection with any debt issuance, and (iv) the new equity or debt securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of the Company’s existing stockholders. In addition, utilization of the Company’s net operating loss and research and development credit carryforwards may be subject to significant annual limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Internal Revenue Code") due to ownership changes resulting from equity financing transactions. If the Company raises additional funds through collaboration, licensing or other similar arrangements, it may be necessary to relinquish valuable rights to its potential products or proprietary technologies or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to the Company.
2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation
The Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions were eliminated, including transactions with its Canadian subsidiary, Metabolix Oilseeds, Inc.
Reverse Stock Split
On January 15, 2020, the Company effected a 1-for-40 reverse stock split of its common stock. Unless otherwise indicated, all share amounts, per share data, share prices, and conversion rates set forth in these notes and the accompanying financial statements have, where applicable, been adjusted retroactively to reflect this reverse stock split.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity date of ninety days or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the Company's Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets included herein:
 
June 30,
2020
 
December 31,
2019
Cash and cash equivalents
$
3,290

 
$
5,417

Restricted cash
254

 
332

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
3,544

 
$
5,749

Amounts included in restricted cash represent those required to be set aside by contractual agreement. Restricted cash of $254 at June 30, 2020 and $332 at December 31, 2019 consists primarily of funds held in connection with the Company's lease agreement for its Woburn, Massachusetts facility.
Investments
The Company considers all investments purchased with an original maturity date of more than ninety days at the date of purchase and a maturity date of one year or less at the balance sheet date to be short-term investments. All other investments are classified as long-term.
Other-than-temporary impairments of equity investments are recognized in the Company's statements of operations if the Company has experienced a credit loss and has the intent to sell the investment or if it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the investment before recovery of the amortized cost basis. Realized gains and losses, dividends, interest income and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary credit losses are included in other income (expense). Any premium or discount arising at purchase is amortized and/or accreted to interest income.

10



Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of grant revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Foreign Currency Translation
Foreign denominated assets and liabilities of the Company's wholly owned foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Any resulting translation gains or losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated balance sheet. When the Company dissolves, sells or substantially sells all of the assets of a consolidated foreign subsidiary, the cumulative translation gain or loss of that subsidiary is released from comprehensive income (loss) and included within its consolidated statement of operations during the fiscal period when the dissolution or sale occurs.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of net income (loss) and certain changes in stockholders' equity that are excluded from net income (loss). The Company includes unrealized gains and losses on debt securities and foreign currency translation adjustments in other comprehensive income (loss).
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements or in the Company's tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the deferred tax asset to a level which, more likely than not, will be realized.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk primarily consist of cash, cash equivalents and investments. The Company has historically invested its cash in highly rated money market funds, corporate debt, federal agency notes and U.S. treasury notes. Investments, when purchased, are acquired in accordance with the Company’s investment policy which establishes a concentration limit per issuer.
At June 30, 2020, 100% of the Company's total accounts and unbilled receivables are due from U.S. and Canadian government grants.

Fair Value Measurements
The carrying amounts of the Company's financial instruments as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, which include cash equivalents, accounts receivable, unbilled receivables, accounts payable, and accrued expenses, approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. See Note 5 for further discussion on fair value measurements.
Segment Information
The accounting guidance for segment reporting establishes standards for reporting information on operating segments in financial statements. The Company is an agricultural bioscience company operating in one segment, which is the development of new technologies to enable step-change increases in crop yield to enhance global food security and production of specialty oils and niche crops.  The Company's chief operating decision-maker does not manage any part of the Company separately, and the allocation of resources and assessment of performance are based on the Company's consolidated operating results.

11



Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Repairs and maintenance are charged to operating expense as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets once they are placed in service as follows:
Asset Description
 
Estimated Useful Life (years)
Equipment
 
3
Furniture and fixtures
 
5
Software
 
3
Leasehold improvements
 
Shorter of useful life or term of lease
Right-of-Use Assets
The Company’s right-of-use assets consist of leased assets recognized in accordance with ASC 842, Leases, ("ASC 842") which requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and a corresponding lease asset for long-term lease contracts. Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease, both of which are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate in calculating the present value of future lease payments when interest rates are not implicit in the lease. Leases with terms of 12 months or less at inception are expensed as costs are incurred and not capitalized under ASC 842.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Accounting guidance further requires that companies recognize an impairment loss only if the carrying amount of a long-lived asset is not recoverable based on its undiscounted future cash flows and measure an impairment loss as the difference between the carrying amount and fair value of the asset.
Grant Revenue
The Company's source of continuing revenue is from its government research grants, in which it serves as either the primary contractor or as a subcontractor. These grants are considered an ongoing major and central operation of the Company's business. Revenue is earned as research expenses related to the grants are incurred. Revenue earned on government grants, but not yet invoiced as of the balance sheet date, are recorded as unbilled receivables in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. Funds received from government grants in advance of work being performed, if any, are recorded as deferred revenue until earned.
Research and Development
All costs associated with internal research and development are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses include, among others, direct costs for salaries, employee benefits, subcontractors, product trials, facility related expenses, depreciation, and stock-based compensation. Costs incurred in connection with government research grants are recorded as research and development expenses.
General and Administrative Expenses
The Company's general and administrative expense includes costs for salaries, employee benefits, facilities expenses, consulting and professional service fees, travel expenses, depreciation expenses and office related expenses incurred to support the administrative operations of the Company.
Intellectual Property Costs
The Company includes all costs associated with the prosecution and maintenance of patents within general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations.

12



Stock-Based Compensation
All share-based payments to employees, members of the Board of Directors and non-employees are recognized within operating expense based on the straight-line recognition of their grant date fair value over the period during which the recipient is required to provide service in exchange for the award. See Note 7 for a description of the types of stock-based awards granted, the compensation expense related to such awards and detail of equity-based awards outstanding.
Recent Accounting Standards
From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") or other standard setting bodies that the Company adopts as of the specified effective date. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company adopted the following new accounting guidance.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This standard modifies certain disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. This standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2020 and did not have a material impact on its disclosures.
In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-18, Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808): Clarifying the Interaction between Topic 808 and Topic 606. This standard makes targeted improvements for collaborative arrangements as follows:
Clarifies that certain transactions between collaborative arrangement participants should be accounted for as revenue under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, when the collaborative arrangement participant is a customer in the context of a unit of account. In those situations, the guidance in ASC 606 should be applied, including recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements;
Adds unit-of-account guidance to ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements, to align with the guidance in ASC 606 (that is, a distinct good or service) when an entity is assessing whether the collaborative arrangement or a part of the arrangement is within the scope of ASC 606; and
Precludes a company from presenting transactions with collaborative arrangement participants that are not directly related to sales to third parties with revenue recognized under ASC 606 if the collaborative arrangement participant is not a customer.
This standard became effective on January 1, 2020. However, since the Company is not currently participating in any collaborative arrangements, the new standard does not impact its financial statements.
The following new pronouncement is not yet effective but may impact the Company's financial statements in the future.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost.  It also eliminates the concept of other-than-temporary impairment and requires credit losses related to available-for-sale debt securities to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a reduction in the amortized cost basis of the securities. These changes will result in more timely recognition of credit losses. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022 for SEC filers that are eligible to be smaller reporting companies under the SEC’s definition, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
3. BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE
Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted shares outstanding is calculated by adding to the weighted shares outstanding any potential (unissued) shares of common stock from outstanding stock options and warrants based on the treasury stock method, as well as weighted shares outstanding of any potential (unissued) shares of common stock from restricted stock units. In periods when a net loss is reported, all common stock equivalents are excluded from the calculation because they would have an anti-dilutive effect, meaning the loss per share would be reduced. Therefore, in periods when a loss is reported, basic and dilutive loss per share are the same. Common stock equivalents include stock options, restricted stock awards and warrants.

13



The number of shares of potentially dilutive common stock presented on a weighted average basis, related to options, restricted stock units and warrants (prior to consideration of the treasury stock method) that were excluded from the calculation of dilutive shares since the inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019, respectively, are shown below. Issued and outstanding warrants shown in the table below are described in greater detail in Note 12, contained herein.
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
   June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
2020
 
2019
Options
162,822

 
50,707

115,427

 
46,883

Restricted Stock Awards
17,000

 

13,170

 
85

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
12,166

 

25,613

 

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

 

63,187

 

Warrants
2,843,699

 
175,995

2,843,699

 
175,995

Total
3,035,687

 
226,702

3,061,096

 
222,963

4. INVESTMENTS
Investments consist of the following at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:
 
Accumulated Cost at June 30, 2020
 
Unrealized
 
Market Value at June 30, 2020
 
 
Gain
 
(Loss)
 
Short-term investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Government securities
$
5,204

 
$
7

 
$

 
$
5,211

          Total
$
5,204

 
$
7

 
$

 
$
5,211

 
Accumulated Cost at December 31, 2019
 
Unrealized
 
Market Value at December 31, 2019
 
 
Gain
 
(Loss)
 
Short-term investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Government securities
$
5,700

 
$

 
$

 
$
5,700

          Total
$
5,700

 
$

 
$

 
$
5,700

All short-term investments are classified as available for sale as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The Company held no long-term investments at June 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019.
5. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company has certain financial assets recorded at fair value which have been classified as Level 1 and Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy as described in the accounting standards for fair value measurements. In addition, during November 2019, the Company issued Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants in two concurrent securities offerings. At the time of issuance, the Company determined that all of the Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants should be classified as a warrant liability in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and recognized at fair value due to the insufficiency of common shares available to permit their exercise. At December 31, 2019, the warrant liability met Level 3 classification criteria for classification within the fair value hierarchy. Fair value is the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or the price paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between independent market participants at the measurement date. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize observable data such as quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs utilize unobservable data points in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions. The fair value hierarchy level is determined by the lowest level of significant input.
The Company’s financial assets classified as Level 2 at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were initially valued at the transaction price and subsequently valued utilizing third-party pricing services. Because the Company’s investment

14



portfolio may include securities that do not always trade daily, the pricing services use many observable market inputs to determine value including reportable trades, benchmark yields and benchmarking of like securities. The Company validates the prices provided by the third-party pricing services by reviewing their pricing methods and obtaining market values from other pricing sources. After completing the validation procedures, the Company did not adjust or override any fair value measurements provided by these pricing services as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
The $14,977 fair value of the Series A and Series B Warrant liability at December 31, 2019 was determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The expected volatility and the risk free discount rate used in the Black-Scholes model were determined based on the Company's historical market price published on the Nasdaq Capital Market and from published U.S. Treasury yield curves, respectively, for a period matched to the contractual term of each warrant series.
At December 31, 2019
Series A Warrants
 
Series B Warrants
Fair market value of common stock (per share)
$6.86
 
$6.86
Expected term (years)
2.3
 
7.3
Risk free rate
1.62%
 
1.83%
Volatility
127%
 
115%
On January 15, 2020, the Company filed an amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation with the State of Delaware to effect a 1-for-40 reverse stock split. As a result of the reverse stock split, the Company's number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock increased significantly and the Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants issued under the offerings completed in November 2019 became eligible for exercise. Prior to reclassification as equity, the Company adjusted the warrant liability to its $15,934 fair value using the assumptions below, recording a loss on the adjustment to fair value of $957 during the six months ended June 30, 2020.
At January 15, 2020
Series A Warrants
 
Series B Warrants
Fair market value of common stock (per share)
$3.77
 
$3.77
Expected term (years)
2.3
 
7.3
Risk free rate
1.62%
 
1.83%
Volatility
127%
 
115%
The tables below present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized to determine such fair value.
 
Fair value measurements at reporting date using
 
 
 
Quoted prices in active markets for  identical
assets
 
Significant other
observable inputs
 
Significant
unobservable  inputs
 
Balance as of
Description
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
 
June 30, 2020
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
$
2,438

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,438

Short-term investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency securities

 
5,211

 

 
5,211

Total assets
$
2,438

 
$
5,211

 
$

 
$
7,649



15



 
Fair value measurements at reporting date using
 
 
 
Quoted prices in active markets for  identical
assets
 
Significant other
observable inputs
 
Significant
unobservable  inputs
 
Balance as of
Description
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
 
December 31, 2019
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
$
2,622

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,622

U.S. government and agency securities

 
1,750

 

 
1,750

Short-term investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency securities

 
5,700

 

 
5,700

Total assets
$
2,622

 
$
7,450

 
$

 
$
10,072

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Warrant liability
$

 
$

 
$
14,977

 
$
14,977

Total liabilities
$

 
$

 
$
14,977

 
$
14,977

There were no transfers of financial assets or liabilities between category levels for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2019.
The Company owns 648,149 shares of Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock of Tepha, Inc. ("Tepha"), a privately held medical device company located in Lexington, Massachusetts, that is engaged in the development of medical device products that restore, maintain, or improve tissue function. The Company received the preferred shares from Tepha during 2002 in connection with a technology sublicense agreement that was later terminated during 2016. The preferred shares owned by the Company represent less than one percent of Tepha's current outstanding common shares on a fully diluted basis and were fully written off through an impairment charge during 2005 prior to Tepha initiating commercial product sales.
6. ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accrued expenses consisted of the following at:
 
June 30,
2020
 
December 31,
2019
Employee compensation and benefits
$
517

 
$
669

Leased facilities
54

 
51

Professional services
151

 
327

Other
160

 
279

Total accrued expenses
$
882

 
$
1,326

7. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Expense Information for Employee and Non-Employee Stock Awards
The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock awards, including awards to non-employees and members of the Board of Directors of $160 and $297 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and $113 and $275 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. At June 30, 2020, there was approximately $2,356 of pre-tax stock-based compensation expense related to unvested awards not yet recognized.
The compensation expense related to unvested stock options is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted average period of 3.62 years.

16



Stock Options
A summary of option activity for the six months ended June 30, 2020 is as follows:
 
Number of
Shares
 
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2019
62,065

 
$
178.95

Granted
261,992

 
$
5.91

Exercised

 
$

Forfeited
(721
)
 
$
48.40

Expired
(615
)
 
$
2,318.91

Outstanding at June 30, 2020
322,721

 
$
34.68

 
 
 
 
Vested and expected to vest at June 30, 2020
322,721

 
$
34.68

Options exercisable at June 30, 2020
46,233

 
$
183.33

       
Restricted Stock Units
The Company records stock compensation expense for restricted stock units ("RSUs") on a straight-line basis over their requisite service period, which approximates the vesting period, based on each RSU's award date market value. As RSUs vest, the Company withholds a number of shares from its employees with an aggregate fair market value equal to the minimum tax withholding amount (unless the employee makes other arrangements for payment of the tax withholding) from the common stock issuable at the vest date. The Company then pays the minimum required income tax for the employees. During the six months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019, the Company paid $0 and $4 for income tax withholdings associated with RSUs.
A summary of RSU activity for the six months ended June 30, 2020 is as follows:
 
Number of RSUs
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2019

 
Awarded
17,000

 
Common stock issued upon vesting

 
Forfeited

 
Outstanding at June 30, 2020
17,000

0.62
8. LEASES
Lease Accounting
The Company follows the lease accounting guidance codified in ASC 842. Under ASC 842, a lease is classified as a finance lease if any of five criteria described in the guidance apply to the lease. Any lease not classified as a finance lease is classified as an operating lease with expense recognition occurring on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The Company's existing lease arrangements meet the standards for operating lease classification.
Under ASC 842, a lease liability is recorded on the commencement date of a lease and is calculated as the present value of the remaining lease payments, using the interest rate implicit in the lease, or if that rate is not readily determinable, using the lessee's incremental borrowing rate. A right-of-use asset equal to the lease liability is also recorded with adjustments made, as necessary, for lease prepayments, lease accruals, initial direct costs and lessor lease incentives that may be present within the terms of the lease. The Company has adopted the short-term lease exception that permits lessees to omit leases with terms of twelve months or less from the accounting requirements of ASC 842.

17



Maturity Analysis of Lease Liabilities
At June 30, 2020, the Company's lease liabilities will mature as follows:
Year ended December 31,
Undiscounted Cash Flows
2020 (July to December)
$
346

2021
704

2022
726

2023
749

2024
771

Thereafter
1,540

Total undiscounted future lease payments
4,836

Discount
(1,006
)
Total lease liabilities
$
3,830

     Short-term lease liability
$
430

     Long-term lease liability
$
3,400

At June 30, 2020, the Woburn, Massachusetts facility is the only remaining lease included in the Company's right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities.
Quantitative Disclosure of Lease Costs (unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
   June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
  June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Lease cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating lease cost
$
183

 
$
257

 
$
386

 
$
516

Short-term lease cost
123

 
108

 
306

 
254

Sublease income
(142
)
 
(134
)
 
(279
)
 
(258
)
Total lease cost, net
$
164

 
$
231

 
$
413

 
$
512

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other information as of:
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
 
 
 
 
6.4
 
6.7
Weighted-average discount rate
 
 
 
 
7.25%
 
7.24%
Real Estate Leases
During 2016, the Company entered into a lease agreement for its headquarters, pursuant to which the Company leased approximately 29,622 square feet of office and research and development space located at 19 Presidential Way, Woburn, Massachusetts. The lease began on June 1, 2016 and will end on November 30, 2026. The lease agreement does not include any options for an early termination or for an extension of the lease. Pursuant to the lease, the Company is required to pay certain taxes and operating costs associated with the premises throughout the term of the lease. During the buildout of the rented space, the landlord paid $889 for tenant improvements to the facility and an additional $444 for tenant improvements that result in increased rental payments by the Company. Upon adopting ASC 842 these improvements were recorded as a reduction in the valuation of the right-of-use asset.
In November 2019, the Company entered into a modification agreement to the Woburn lease in which Yield10 returned 7,409 square feet of underutilized space to the landlord for the remaining term of the lease. In exchange for returning the space, the landlord agreed to fund modifications and upgrades to the office space retained by the Company. The modifications were completed in February 2020, and after that point the Company has no further financial obligations for the vacated space, including lease rental charges, utilities, maintenance and real estate tax charges. The Company's security deposit was also reduced from $307 to $229. During the six months ending June 30, 2020, the Company wrote off $206 in leasehold improvements and office furniture, net of proceeds, associated with the returned space.

18



In October 2016, the Company entered into a sublease agreement with a subsidiary of CJ CheilJedang Corporation ("CJ") with respect to CJ's sublease of approximately 9,874 square feet of its leased facility located in Woburn, Massachusetts. The sublease space was determined to be in excess of the Company's needs. The CJ sublease is unaffected by the Company's recent lease modification with the landlord and it remains coterminous with the Company's master lease. CJ will pay pro rata rent and operating expenses equal to the amounts payable to the landlord by the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms of the master lease. Future CJ sublease payments have not been presented as an offset to total undiscounted future lease payments of $4,836 shown in the lease maturity analysis table above. CJ provided the Company with a security deposit of $103 in the form of an irrevocable letter of credit.
Through May 2020, the Company leased approximately 13,702 square feet of unused office and laboratory space in Lowell, Massachusetts. The lease terminated in accordance with the terms of the lease agreement and the facility has been returned to the landlord. No further expenses are anticipated under this lease.
The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Metabolix Oilseeds, Inc. ("MOI"), located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, leases approximately 6,900 square feet of office, laboratory and greenhouse space located within Innovation Place at 410 Downey Road and within the research facility of National Research Council Canada located at 110 Gymnasium Place. None of the leases contain renewal or early termination options. MOI's leases for these facilities expire on various dates through May 2021.
9. CARES ACT LOAN
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was enacted on March 27, 2020 and subsequently amended by the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (the "Flexibility Act") on June 5, 2020, in order to provide relief from the economic impacts of COVID-19. During April 2020, the Company received $333 in loan proceeds from the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”), established pursuant to the CARES Act and administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The unsecured loan (the “PPP Loan”) is evidenced by a promissory note of the Company dated April 19, 2020 in the principal amount of $333, issued to a third-party lender (the "lender"). The PPP Loan was amended as a result of the changes made by the Flexibility Act.
Under the CARES Act and the PPP, the Company may apply for and be granted forgiveness for all or part of the PPP Loan. The amount of loan proceeds eligible for forgiveness is based on a formula that takes into account a number of factors, including the amount of loan proceeds used by the Company during the twenty-four-week period after the loan origination for certain purposes including payroll costs, rent payments on certain leases, and certain qualified utility payments. At least 60% of the loan amount must be used for eligible payroll costs; maintaining or rehiring employees and maintaining salaries at certain levels; and other factors.
Under the terms of the PPP Loan, as amended, interest will accrue on the outstanding principal at the rate of 1.0% per annum. The term of the PPP Loan is two years from the date the loan proceeds were received, though it may be payable sooner in connection with an event of default under the terms of the PPP Loan. To the extent the loan amount is not forgiven under the PPP, the Company is obligated to make equal monthly payments of principal and interest, beginning ten months from the date of the PPP Loan, until the maturity date.
The PPP Loan may be prepaid in part or in full, at any time, without penalty. The PPP Loan provides for certain customary events of default, including, but not limited to, failing to make a payment when due under the loan, failure to take actions required by the loan, the Company defaulting under certain agreements in favor of any third party, making false statements, the Company’s insolvency, and the commencement of creditor or forfeiture proceedings against the Company. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the lender has customary remedies and may, among other things, require immediate payment of all amounts owed under the PPP Loan, collect all amounts owed from the Company, and file suit and obtain judgment against the Company.
During the three months ended June 30, 2020, Yield10 utilized the entire PPP Loan amount for qualifying expenses and management of the Company considers it reasonably certain that it will meet the conditions for loan forgiveness. As such, the Company has recorded the full amount of the loan, or $333, within other income (expense) in its condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2020.

19



10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation
From time to time, the Company may be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. The Company is not currently aware of any such proceedings or claims that it believes will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations.
Guarantees
As of June 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, the Company did not have significant liabilities recorded for guarantees.
The Company enters into indemnification provisions under various agreements with other companies in the ordinary course of business, typically with business partners and contractors. Under these provisions, the Company generally indemnifies and holds harmless the indemnified party for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party as a result of its activities. These indemnification provisions generally survive termination of the underlying agreement. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification provisions is unlimited. However, to date Yield10 Bioscience has not incurred material costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification provisions. As a result, the estimated fair value of the indemnifications under these agreements is believed to be minimal. Accordingly, the Company has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
11. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
The geographic distribution of the Company’s grant revenues and long-lived assets are summarized in the tables below:
 
U.S.
 
Canada
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Three Months Ended June 30, 2020:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grant revenue from external customers
$
154

 
$
67

 
$

 
$
221

Inter-geographic revenues

 
373

 
(373
)
 

Revenues
$
154

 
$
440

 
$
(373
)
 
$
221

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grant revenue from external customers
$
318

 
$

 
$

 
$
318

Inter-geographic revenues

 
499

 
(499
)
 

Revenues
$
318

 
$
499

 
$
(499
)
 
$
318

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2020:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenues from external customers
$
333

 
$
67

 
$

 
$
400

Inter-geographic revenues

 
777

 
(777
)
 

Net revenues
$
333

 
$
844

 
$
(777
)
 
$
400

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenues from external customers
$
442

 
$

 
$

 
$
442

Inter-geographic revenues

 
836

 
(836
)
 

Net revenues
$
442

 
$
836

 
$
(836
)
 
$
442


Foreign revenue is based on the country in which the Company’s subsidiary that earned the revenue is domiciled. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, revenue earned from the Company's Michigan State University sub-award represented 69.7% and 83.3%, respectively, of total government grant revenue for each period.
The geographic distribution of the Company’s long-lived assets is summarized as follows:
 
U.S.
 
Canada
 
Eliminations
 
Total
June 30, 2020
$
932

 
$
46

 
$

 
$
978

December 31, 2019
$
1,186

 
$
57

 
$

 
$
1,243


20



12. CAPITAL STOCK AND WARRANTS

Common Stock
Shelf Registration
On April 1, 2020, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-237539) with the SEC, which was declared effective on April 10, 2020 (the “Shelf Registration Statement”). The Shelf Registration Statement contained a prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by the Company of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $25.0 million of the Company's common stock, preferred stock, warrants and subscription rights, which securities may be sold either individually or in units.
Reverse Stock Split
On January 15, 2020, the Company completed a 1-for-40 reverse stock split ("Reverse Stock Split") of its common stock by filing a certificate of amendment (the "Charter Amendment") with the State of Delaware to amend its certificate of incorporation. The ratio for the Reverse Stock Split was determined by the Company's board of directors following approval by stockholders at the Company's special meeting held on January 9, 2020. The Reverse Stock Split had the effect of increasing the Company's common shares available for issuance by reducing issued and outstanding common shares by a divisible factor of 40 while its authorized shares remained at the current 60 million shares. Proportional adjustments were made to the Company's outstanding stock options and to the number of shares issued and issuable under the Company's equity compensation plans.
November 2019 Concurrent Securities Offerings
On November 19, 2019, the Company closed on concurrent public and private securities offerings, receiving combined gross cash proceeds of $11,500, before issuance costs of $1,254.
The public portion of the offering included sales of Class A Units and Class B Units as follows:
405,750 Class A Units priced at a public offering price of $8.00 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, Series A Warrants to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $8.00 per share, expiring two and one-half-years from the closing date of the offering, and Series B Warrants to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $8.00 per share, expiring seven and one-half-years from the closing date of the offering. The 405,750 Class A Units sold include the full exercise of the underwriter's over-allotment option of 93,750 Class A Units.
2,504 Class B Units, priced at a public offering price of $1,000 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, convertible at any time at the holder's option into 125 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, Series A Warrants to purchase 125 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $8.00 per share, expiring two and one-half-years from the closing date of the offering, and Series B Warrants to purchase 125 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $8.00 per share, expiring seven and one-half-years from the closing date of the offering. The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was convertible into shares of common stock at any time using a conversion ratio of $8.00 per share. As of June 30, 2020, all of the shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock had converted to 313,000 shares of the Company's common stock.
Gross proceeds from the sale of Class A Units and Class B Units totaled $5,750.
In the concurrent private placement, certain existing shareholders purchased the following securities:
5,750 Units, priced at $1,000 per unit, each unit consisting of one share of the Company's Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, contingently convertible into 125 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $8.00, Series A Warrants to purchase 125 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at an exercise price of $8.00 per share, expiring two and one-half-years from the closing date of the offering, and Series B Warrants to purchase 125 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $8.00 per share, expiring seven and one-half-years from the closing date of the offering.
Gross proceeds from the private placement also totaled $5,750.

21



As of the November 19, 2019 closing date of the two offerings, the Company did not have sufficient authorized and available shares of common stock to permit conversion of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock sold in the private placement or to permit the exercise of the 2,875,000 combined Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants issued under both the public and the private offerings. The Series B Convertible Preferred Shares and the Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants were not convertible or exercisable until more shares of common stock became available for issuance through the Company's filing of the Charter Amendment for the Reverse Stock Split. Upon the filing of the Charter Amendment on January 15, 2020, all of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock sold in the private placement automatically converted into 718,750 shares of common stock and the Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants issued under both offerings became eligible for exercise.
Until their conversion to common stock, the Company recorded the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock as permanent equity within the Company's balance sheet. The contingent redemption rights of the Series B Convertible Preferred stockholders were judged to be outside of the Company's control and resulted in their classification as temporary equity within the Company's balance sheet until their automatic conversion to common shares in January 2020.
The Series A and Series B Warrants are free standing financial instruments, legally detachable and separately exercisable from the common and preferred shares issued in the concurrent offerings. At the time of their issuance, the Company determined that all of the warrants should be classified as a warrant liability and recorded at an inception date fair value of $24,518 due to the insufficiency of common shares available to permit their exercise. As the proceeds from the offerings were less than the fair value of their respective warrants, the warrants were recorded at their full fair value and the difference between the fair value and the cash proceeds of $13,018 was recorded to other income (expense) in the Company's consolidated statement of operations during the year ended December 31, 2019. No residual offering proceeds remained to be allocated to the common and preferred shares sold in the offerings.
The Company re-measured the fair value of the warrants on December 31, 2019 and again on January 15, 2020 (the date of filing the Charter Amendment to increase available shares of common stock), resulting in, respectively, the recognition of a gain of $9,541 followed by a loss of $957, due to the change in fair value at each valuation date. By filing the Charter Amendment and enacting the 1-for-40 Reverse Stock Split, the Company's outstanding common shares were reduced by a divisible factor of 40 while authorized common shares remained at the current 60 million shares. As a result of this corporate action, sufficient shares of authorized, but unissued shares of common stock became available for Series A and Series B warrant holders to exercise their warrants resulting in their reclassification from warrant liability to equity in the Company's consolidated balance sheet.
At closing, the proceeds of the combined offerings were allocated solely to the liability classified warrants, and as a consequence, the offering costs of $1,254 were immediately expensed to other income (expense) in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 in accordance with accounting guidance.
March 2019 Registered Direct Offering
On March 18, 2019, the Company completed a registered direct offering of its common stock. Proceeds from the transaction were $2,932 before issuance costs of $349. Investors participating in the transaction purchased a total of 60,541 shares of common stock at a price of $48.40 per share.
Preferred Stock
The Company's Certificate of Incorporation authorizes it to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of $0.01 par value preferred stock.
Description of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
The November 2019 concurrent offerings of the Company's securities included the issuance of 2,504 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. Each Series A Convertible Preferred Share was convertible into 125 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $8.00 per share. As of June 30, 2020, all 2,504 shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock had converted to 313,000 shares of common stock.
Description of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
The November 2019 concurrent offerings of the Company's securities included the issuance of 5,750 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. Each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was convertible into 125 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $8.00 per share. All of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock automatically converted to 718,750 shares of common stock on January 15, 2020, upon the Company's filing of a Charter Amendment for the reverse stock split described above.

22



When converted, the shares of Series A and B Convertible Preferred Stock were restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock, subject to reissuance by the Company's board of directors.
Warrants
The following table summarizes information regarding outstanding warrants to purchase common stock as of June 30, 2020:
Issuance
 
Number of Shares Issuable Upon Exercise of Outstanding Warrants
 
Exercise Price Per Share of Common Stock
 
Expiration Date
November 2019 Public Offering - Series A
 
580,727

 
$
8.00

 
May 19, 2022
November 2019 Public Offering - Series B
 
649,477

 
$
8.00

 
May 19, 2027
November 2019 Private Placement - Series A
 
718,750

 
$
8.00

 
May 19, 2022
November 2019 Private Placement - Series B
 
718,750

 
$
8.00

 
May 19, 2027
December 2017 Public Offering - Series A
 
160,975

 
$
90.00

 
December 21, 2022
July 2017 Registered Direct Offering
 
14,270

 
$
201.60

 
January 7, 2024
Consultant
 
750

 
$
116.00

 
September 11, 2024
Total
 
2,843,699

 
 
 
 
February 2020 Warrant Exercises
In connection with the Company’s public securities offering that closed on November 19, 2019, the Company issued Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. The warrants were issued, and are held, in book-entry form through The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). During the six months ended June 30, 2020, warrants equal to a total of 207,296 shares of the Company's common stock were exercised, generating cash proceeds of $1,658. In May 2020, Yield10 was informed by DTCC and its warrant agent that the exercise price of each warrant issued in the November 2019 public securities offering had been proportionately adjusted in accordance with the Company's 1-for-40 reverse stock split completed in January 2020, but that the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of each warrant had not been proportionately adjusted following the stock split within the records of DTCC. Based on DTCC's notification, the Company believed that up to 88,762 shares of common stock may have been incorrectly issued and up to $710 in proceeds may have been incorrectly collected for certain warrants exercised during February 2020. Following a thorough review with the warrant agent, DTCC and brokers for certain warrant holders who exercised these warrants, the Company determined that the number of shares of common stock issued and the amount of cash collected from the exercises were in fact correct, but that DTCC’s records did not accurately reflect the number of warrants remaining in the affected warrant holders’ accounts following their exercises. As of June 30, 2020, the issue has been resolved by adjusting the DTCC accounts of the warrant holders. Accordingly, the Company will not be required to return cash proceeds and the warrant holders will not be required to return any of the common shares issued from the exercises.  In its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, the Company recorded $710 within accrued expenses for the cash proceeds from the February 2020 warrant exercises that the Company previously expected to be returned to warrant holders. That accrual was relieved and reclassified to equity during the quarter ending June 30, 2020.
Reserved Shares
The following shares of common stock were reserved for future issuance upon exercise of stock options, vesting of RSUs and conversion of warrants:
 
June 30,
2020
 
December 31,
2019
Stock Options
322,721

 
62,065

RSUs
17,000

 

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock - November 2019 Public Offering

 
99,500

Warrants
2,843,699

 
175,995

Total number of common shares reserved for future issuance
3,183,420

 
337,560


23



ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

(All dollar amounts are stated in thousands)
Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). These statements relate to our future plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipate,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believe,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” and “continue,” or similar words.
Although we believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the limits of our knowledge of our business and operations, these forward-looking statements contained in this document are neither promises nor guarantees. Our business is subject to significant risk and uncertainties and there can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially from our expectations. These forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning our business plans and strategies; expected future financial results and cash requirements; statements related to the coronavirus pandemic and its potential adverse impacts; plans for obtaining additional funding; plans and expectations that depend on our ability to continue as a going concern; and plans for development and commercialization of our Yield10 technologies. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated including, without limitation, risks related to our limited cash resources, uncertainty about our ability to secure additional funding, risks related to the execution of our business plans and strategies, risks associated with the protection and enforcement of our intellectual property rights, as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A, of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in our other filings with the SEC, including in Part II, Item 1A of this Report on Form 10-Q.
The forward-looking statements and risk factors presented in this document are made only as of the date hereof and we do not intend to update any of these risk factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of our forward-looking statements other than as required under the federal securities laws.
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to "Yield10 Bioscience," "Yield10," "we," "our," "us," "our company" or "the company" refer to Yield10 Bioscience, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries.
Overview
Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. is an agricultural bioscience company that uses its "Trait Factory" and the Camelina oilseed “Fast Field Testing” system to develop high value seed traits for the agriculture and food industries. Our goal is to efficiently develop superior gene traits for the major crops including corn, soybean, canola, and other crops to enable step-change increases in crop yield of at least 10-20 percent. Our “Trait Factory” encompasses discovery of gene targets using our Gene Ranking Artificial Intelligence Network ("GRAIN") big data mining platform, deployment of trait gene targets in the oilseed Camelina and generation of field performance data. The “Trait Factory” enables two complementary commercial opportunities with different paths to market. The first is trait licensing to the major seed companies for corn, soybean, canola and other crops. Data from our trait field testing in Camelina has enabled Yield10 to establish research license agreements with leading seed companies. These companies are progressing the development of Yield10 traits in soybean, forage sorghum, and potato, respectively. The second commercial opportunity is to improve the performance and value of Camelina as a platform to develop a commercial crop product business producing nutritional oils and PHA biomaterials. Using this approach, Yield10 can leverage the resources of the major seed companies to efficiently develop superior gene traits for the major crops and focus internal resources on trait gene discovery and the commercial development of Camelina products. Yield10 Bioscience is headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts and has an Oilseed Center of Excellence in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
As of June 30, 2020, we held unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $8,501. We follow the guidance of ASC Topic 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern, in order to determine whether there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for one year after the date our financial statements are issued. Based on our current cash forecast, we expect that our present capital resources will be sufficient to fund our planned operations and meet our obligations into the second quarter of 2021. Our ability to continue operations after our current cash resources are exhausted depends on our ability to obtain additional financing through, among other sources, public or private equity financing, secured or unsecured debt financing, equity or debt bridge financing, additional government research grants or collaborative arrangements with third parties, as to which no assurances can be given. We do not know whether additional

24



financing will be available on terms favorable or acceptable to us when needed, if at all. If adequate additional funds are not available when required, we may be forced to curtail our research efforts, explore strategic alternatives and/or wind down our operations and pursue options for liquidating our remaining assets, including intellectual property and equipment. We have determined, based on our cash forecast, that our present capital resources will not be sufficient to fund our planned operations for the twelve months from the date that these interim financial statements are filed, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
If we issue equity or debt securities to raise additional funds in the future, (i) we may incur fees associated with such issuances, (ii) our existing stockholders may experience dilution from the issuance of new equity securities, (iii) we may incur ongoing interest expense and be required to grant a security interest in our assets in connection with any debt issuance, and (iv) the new equity or debt securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of our existing stockholders. In addition, utilization of our net operating loss and research and development credit carryforwards may be subject to significant annual limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code due to ownership changes resulting from equity financing transactions. If we raise additional funds through collaboration, licensing or other similar arrangements, it may be necessary to relinquish valuable rights to our potential products or proprietary technologies or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.
Government Grants
On May 20, 2020, Metabolix Oilseeds, Inc. (“MOI”), the Company’s wholly-owned Canadian research subsidiary, received a research grant through the Industrial Research Assistance Program administered by National Research Council Canada ("NRC"). The objective of the grant is to provide financial research assistance to innovative, early-stage small and medium-sized enterprises. Under the terms of the agreement, NRC agreed to contribute up to a maximum of $67 for payroll costs incurred by MOI during the period April 1, 2020 - June 24, 2020. During the three months ended June 30, 2020, MOI submitted claims for eligible payroll costs and recognized revenue for the full amount of the award.
During 2018, we entered into a sub-award with Michigan State University ("MSU") to support a Department of Energy ("DOE") funded grant entitled "A Systems Approach to Increasing Carbon Flux to Seed Oil." Our participation under this projected five-year grant will be awarded on an annual basis with the first year commencing September 15, 2017. Although our funding under this sub-award has been appropriated through September 2020 for $1,698, we anticipate that each additional option year will be awarded annually to Yield10 through September 14, 2022 for total sub-award funding of $2,957, provided the U.S. Congress continues to appropriate funds for the program, we are able to make progress towards meeting grant objectives and we remain in compliance with other terms and conditions of the sub-award.
As of June 30, 2020, proceeds of $140 remain to be recognized through the end of the third year under our MSU sub-award as shown in the table below. This includes amounts for reimbursement to our subcontractors, as well as reimbursement for our employees’ time, benefits and other expenses related to future performance.
 
Program Title
 
Funding
Agency
 
Total Government Funded Appropriations
 
Total revenue recognized through June 30, 2020
 
Remaining amount to be recognized as of June 30, 2020
 
Contract/Grant
Expiration
 
 
Subcontract from Michigan State University project funded by DOE entitled "A Systems Approach to Increasing Carbon Flux to Seed Oil"
 
Department of Energy
 
$
1,698

 
$
1,558

 
$
140

 
September 2020
 
Funding from National Research Council Canada through its Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) entitled "Innovation Assistance Program"
 
National Research Council Canada
 
67

 
67

 

 
June 2020
 
Total
 
 
 
$
1,765

 
$
1,625

 
$
140

 
 

25



Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, stock-based and performance-based compensation, measurement of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, the recognition of lease expense and income taxes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The critical accounting policies and the significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, are consistent with those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, in the section captioned “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments.”
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 and 2019
Revenue 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
Change
Grant revenue
$
221

 
$
318

 
$
(97
)
Grant revenue was $221 and $318 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019, respectively.  Grant revenue recorded during each of these periods was derived primarily from the Company's sub-award with MSU. During the three months ended June 30, 2020, we also recognized the full $67 awarded by NRC to MOI for general research support.
We anticipate that MSU grant revenue will fluctuate over the next twelve months as a result of varying annual budget appropriations awarded under the MSU sub-award. Our forecast related to grant revenue is subject to change, should we receive new grants or if our ability to earn revenue from our existing grant is negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Expenses
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
Change
Research and development expenses
$
1,179

 
$
1,191

 
$
(12
)
General and administrative expenses
1,179

 
1,025

 
154

Total expenses
$
2,358

 
$
2,216

 
$
142

Research and Development Expenses
Total research and development expenses remained consistent at $1,179 and $1,191 during the three months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019, respectively. However, compensation and benefits increased by $92 from $642 during the three months ended June 30, 2019 to $733 during the three months ended June 30, 2020, primarily as a result of annual merit increases that became effective on January 1, 2020, and the Company's pro rata accrual for 2020 estimated performance bonuses expected to be paid in early 2021. We did not accrue for 2019 employee bonuses during the three months ended June 30, 2019. Facilities related expenses decreased by $82 during the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2019. In November 2019, we amended our Woburn lease and returned 7,409 square feet of underutilized space to the landlord for the remaining term of the lease.
Based on our current financial forecast, we expect research and development expenses will continue to remain consistent during the remainder of 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have delayed a small number of planned 2020 increases in research personnel. Our forecasts related to research and development expense are subject to change due to the

26



potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or as new collaborative opportunities arise that alter our business plans.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019 increased by $154 from $1,025 to $1,179. The 15 percent increase is primarily due to an increase in compensation and benefits of $83 and an increase in professional fees of $70. Compensation and benefits increased as a result of 2020 annual merit increases and the recording of pro rata estimated 2020 bonus expenses and professional fees increased due to legal and accounting work performed in connection with the Company's securities registration filings with the SEC. We did not accrue for 2019 employee bonuses during the three months ended June 30, 2019.
We expect our general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020, will remain at a level consistent with 2019. Note, however, that our forecasts related to general and administrative expense are subject to change due to the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or as new collaborative opportunities arise that alter our business plans.
Other Income (Expense), Net 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
Change
Loan forgiveness income
$
333

 
$

 
$
333

Other income (expense), net
15

 
27

 
(12
)
Total other income (expense), net
$
348

 
$
27

 
$
321

Loan Forgiveness Income
During April 2020, we received $333 in loan proceeds from the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”), established pursuant to the CARES Act. Under the CARES Act and the PPP, we may apply for and be granted forgiveness for all or part of the PPP loan. Subject to certain requirements and limitations on loan forgiveness, only loan proceeds spent on payroll and other eligible costs during a twenty-four-week period will qualify for forgiveness. During the three months ended June 30, 2020, we utilized the entire PPP loan amount for qualifying expenses and consider it reasonably certain that we will meet the conditions for loan forgiveness. As such, we have recorded the full amount of the loan, or $333, within other income (expense) in our condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2020. See Note 9.
Other Income (Expense), net
Other income (expense) for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019 was derived primarily from investment income earned from the Company's cash equivalents and short-term investments.
Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 and 2019
Revenue 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
Change
Grant revenue
$
400

 
$
442

 
$
(42
)
Grant revenue was $400 and $442 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019, respectively.  Grant revenue for each of these periods was derived primarily from the Company's sub-award with MSU. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we also recognized the full $67 awarded by NRC to MOI for general research support.

27



Expenses
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
Change
Research and development expenses
$
2,639

 
$
2,414

 
$
225

General and administrative expenses
2,566

 
2,211

 
355

Total expenses
$
5,205

 
$
4,625

 
$
580

Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019 were $2,639 and $2,414, respectively. The $225, or 9 percent, increase is primarily due to a $192 increase in compensation and benefits and our recording a loss on disposal of fixed assets. Compensation and benefits increased from $1,323 during the six months ended June 30, 2019 to $1,515 during the six months ended June 30, 2020, as a result of annual merit increases that became effective on January 1, 2020, and as a result of the Company's pro rata six-month accrual for 2020 estimated performance bonuses expected to be paid in early 2021. We did not accrue for 2019 employee bonuses during the six months ended June 30, 2019. In November 2019, we entered into a modification agreement to our Woburn lease in which we returned 7,409 square feet of underutilized space to the landlord for the remaining term of the lease. As a result of this lease modification, during the six months ended June 30, 2020 we wrote off $141 in leasehold improvements and office furniture previously utilized in our research and development activities. Our facilities expenses decreased by $70 during the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2019, as a result of returning the underutilized space in our Woburn facility to the landlord.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019 increased by $355 from $2,211 to $2,566. The 16 percent increase is due to an increase in compensation and benefits of $140 as a result of 2020 annual merit increases and recording estimated bonus expenses. We did not accrue for 2019 employee bonuses during the six months ended June 30, 2019. Professional fees also increased by $210 from $372 during the six months ended June 30, 2019 to $581 during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and is primarily related to legal and accounting work performed in connection with our securities registration filings with the SEC.
Other Income (Expense), Net 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
 
2020
 
2019
 
Change
Change in fair value of warrants
$
(957
)
 
$

 
$
(957
)
Loan forgiveness income
333

 

 
$
333

Other income (expense), net
48

 
52

 
(4
)
Total other income (expense), net
$
(576
)
 
$
52

 
$
(628
)
Change in Fair Value of Warrants
On November 19, 2019, we closed on concurrent securities offerings that included a total of 2,875,000 warrants that received liability classification on their date of issuance. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, the fair value of the warrants was recalculated as of the Company's December 31, 2019 fiscal year-end balance sheet date and again on January 15, 2020, in connection with the Company's filing of a Charter Amendment to effect a 1-for-40 reverse stock split. The reverse stock split increased the number of shares of common stock available for issuance resulting in reclassification of the warrants from a liability to equity. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we recorded a loss from the change in fair value of the warrants of $957 as a result of the January 2020 revaluation. See Note 12 - Capital Stock and Warrants, in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.
Loan Forgiveness Income
During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we utilized the entire PPP loan amount for qualifying expenses and consider it reasonably certain that we will meet the conditions for loan forgiveness. As such, we have recorded the full amount

28



of the loan, or $333, within other income (expense) in our condensed consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2020.
Other Income (Expense), net
Other income (expense) for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019 was derived primarily from investment income earned from the Company's cash equivalents and short-term investments.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Currently, we require cash to fund our working capital needs, to purchase capital assets, to pay our operating lease obligations and other operating costs. The primary sources of our liquidity have historically included equity financings, government research grants and income earned on cash and short-term investments.
Since our inception, we have incurred significant expenses related to our research, development and commercialization efforts. Except for 2012, when we recognized deferred revenue from a terminated joint venture, we have recorded losses since our initial founding, including the three and six months ended June 30, 2020. As of June 30, 2020, we had an accumulated deficit of $370,290. Our total unrestricted cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2020, were $8,501 as compared to cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $11,117 at December 31, 2019. Our cash and cash equivalents are held primarily for working capital purposes. As of June 30, 2020, we had restricted cash of $254. Restricted cash consists of $229 held in connection with the lease agreement for our Woburn, Massachusetts facility and $25 held in connection with our corporate credit card program. As of June 30, 2020, we continue to have no outstanding debt.
Investments are made in accordance with our corporate investment policy, as approved by our Board of Directors. The primary objective of this policy is to preserve principal, and investments are limited to high quality corporate debt, U.S. Treasury bills and notes, money market funds, bank debt obligations, municipal debt obligations and asset-backed securities. The policy establishes maturity limits, concentration limits, and liquidity requirements. As of June 30, 2020, we were in compliance with this policy.
We are reducing our previous guidance for anticipated cash usage during 2020 from a range of $9,000 - $9,500 to a range of $8,500 - $9,000, primarily as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have delayed plans to hire a small number of additional research and development staff and have significantly reduced our travel related expenses as well as other general expenses. We estimate that our current cash resources will be sufficient to fund operations and meet our obligations, when due, into the second quarter of 2021. This forecast of cash resources is forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties, and the actual amount of expenses could vary materially and adversely as a result of a number of factors. We follow the guidance of ASC Topic 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern, in order to determine whether there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for one year after the date our financial statements are issued. Our ability to continue operations after our current cash resources are exhausted depends upon our ability to obtain additional financing through, among other sources, public or private equity financing, secured or unsecured debt financing, equity or debt bridge financing, additional government research grants or collaborative arrangements with third parties, as to which no assurances can be given. We do not know whether additional financing will be available on terms favorable or acceptable to us when needed, if at all. If adequate additional funds are not available when required, we may be forced to curtail our research efforts, explore strategic alternatives and/or wind down our operations and pursue options for liquidating our remaining assets, including intellectual property and equipment. We have determined, based on our cash forecast, that our present capital resources will not be sufficient to fund our planned operations for the twelve months from the date that these interim financial statements are filed, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
On April 1, 2020, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-237539) with the SEC, which was declared effective on April 10, 2020 (the “Shelf Registration Statement”). The Shelf Registration Statement contained a prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by the Company of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $25.0 million of our common stock, preferred stock, warrants and subscription rights, which securities may be sold either individually or in units.
The CARES Act was enacted on March 27, 2020 to provide relief from the economic impacts of COVID-19. On June 5, 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act ("Flexibility Act") was signed into law amending some provisions of the CARES Act. During April 2020, we received $333 in loan proceeds from the Paycheck Protection Program, established pursuant to the CARES Act and administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The unsecured loan ("PPP Loan") is evidenced by a promissory note dated April 19, 2020 in the principal amount of $333, issued to a third-party lender. We may apply for and be granted forgiveness for all or part of the PPP Loan. The amount of loan proceeds eligible for forgiveness, as regulated by the CARES Act and Flexibility Act, is based on a formula that takes into account a number of factors, including

29



the amount of loan proceeds used by us during the 24-week period after loan origination for certain purposes including payroll costs, rent payments on certain leases, and certain qualified utility payments. At least 60% of the loan amount must be used for eligible payroll costs; maintaining or rehiring employees and maintaining salaries at certain levels; and other factors. Under the terms of the PPP Loan, interest will accrue on the outstanding principal at the rate of 1.0% per annum. The term of the PPP Loan is two years, although it may be payable sooner in connection with an event of default. To the extent the loan amount is not forgiven, we are obligated to make equal monthly payments of principal and interest, beginning ten months from the date of the PPP Loan, until the maturity date. During the three months ended June 30, 2020, we used the entire proceeds from the loan for qualifying expenses and we believe it is reasonably certain that we will receive full loan forgiveness after our application is submitted. No assurance can be provided, however, that we will obtain forgiveness of the loan in whole or in part.
If we issue equity or debt securities to raise additional funds, (i) we may incur fees associated with such issuances, (ii) our existing stockholders will experience dilution from the issuance of new equity securities, (iii) we may incur ongoing interest expense and be required to grant a security interest in our assets in connection with any debt issuance, and (iv) the new equity or debt securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of our existing stockholders. In addition, utilization of our net operating loss and research and development credit carryforwards may be subject to significant annual limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code due to ownership changes resulting from future equity financing transactions. If we raise additional funds through collaboration, licensing or other similar arrangements, it may be necessary to relinquish valuable rights to our potential products or proprietary technologies or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.
Net cash used for operating activities during the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $4,279, compared to net cash used for operating activities during the six months ended June 30, 2019 of $4,077. Net cash used for operations during the six months ended June 30, 2020 primarily reflects the greater net loss of $5,396, cash payments made to reduce the Company's lease liabilities of $391 and our payment of 2019 bonus compensation of $344. Non-cash charges offsetting a portion of the net loss include the loss recorded from the revaluation of the Company's warrant liability of $957, losses from the disposal of fixed assets of $206, stock-based compensation expense of $297, and non-cash lease expense of $262. The net cash usage for operating activities during the six months ended June 30, 2019 of $4,077 was primarily the result of the Company's net loss of $4,131 and payments to reduce lease liabilities of $404, partially offset by non-cash stock compensation of $275 and non-cash lease expense of $299.
Net cash of $464 was provided by investing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2020, primarily as a result of $999 of short-term investments reaching their maturity dates and converting to cash. The Company also purchased $503 of new short-term investments during the six-month period.
In connection with our public securities offering that closed on November 19, 2019, we issued Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. The warrants were issued, and are held, in book-entry form through The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). During the six months ended June 30, 2020, warrants equal to a total of 207,296 shares of the Company's common stock were exercised, generating cash proceeds of $1,658. In May 2020, we were informed by DTCC and our warrant agent that the exercise price of each warrant issued in the November 2019 public securities offering had been proportionately adjusted in accordance with our 40:1 reverse stock split completed in January 2020, but that the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of each warrant had not been proportionately adjusted following the stock split within the records of DTCC. As a result of DTCC's notification, we believed that up to 88,762 shares of common stock were incorrectly issued and up to $710 in proceeds may have been incorrectly collected from certain warrants exercised in February 2020. Following a thorough review of the matter and further communications with the warrant agent, DTCC and brokers for certain warrant holders who exercised warrants in February 2020, we determined that the number of shares of common stock issued and the amount of cash collected for those exercises were in fact correct, but that DTCC’s records did not accurately reflect the number of warrants remaining in the affected warrant holders’ individual accounts following their exercises. As of June 30, 2020, the issue has been resolved by adjusting the remaining numbers of warrants held by the warrant holders following their February 2020 exercises within the records of DTCC. Accordingly, we will not be required either to return cash proceeds from these exercises or to require the warrant holders to return any of the common shares issued.  In our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we recorded $710 within accrued expenses for the portion of the cash proceeds from the February 2020 warrant exercises that we previously expected to be returned to holders of warrants. That accrual was relieved and reclassified to equity during the quarter ending June 30, 2020.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of June 30, 2020, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4) of the SEC’s Regulation S-K.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2, "Accounting Policies," to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a full description of recent accounting pronouncements.
ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not applicable.
ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management (with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), as of June 30, 2020. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Accounting Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure. Based on this evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective. 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended June 30, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
From time to time, the Company may be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. The Company is not currently aware of any such proceedings or claims that it believes will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or the results of operations.
ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS.
There have been no material changes to the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on March 25, 2020, as amended and supplemented by the risk factors described in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2020.
ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
On April 10, 2020, we issued 10,114 shares of common stock to participants in the Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. 401(k) Plan as a matching contribution. The issuance of these securities is exempt from registration pursuant to Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, as amended as exempted securities.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
During the three months ended June 30, 2020, there were no repurchases made by us or on our behalf, or by any “affiliated purchasers,” of shares of our common stock.
ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

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None.
ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION.
None.
ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS.
 
Amended and Restated 2018 Stock Option and Incentive Plan† (filed herewith)
 
 
 
 
Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the Principal Executive Officer (filed herewith).
 
 
 
 
Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the Principal Financial Officer (filed herewith).
 
 
 
 
Section 1350 Certification (furnished herewith).
 
 
 
101.1
 
The following financial information from the Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 formatted in XBRL: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 and 2019; (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss, Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 and 2019; (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 and 2019; (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity, Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 and 2019; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Indicates a management contract or any compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.

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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
YIELD10 BIOSCIENCE, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
August 11, 2020
By:
/s/ OLIVER PEOPLES
 
 
Oliver Peoples
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
August 11, 2020
By:
/s/ CHARLES B. HAASER
 
 
Charles B. Haaser
 
 
Chief Accounting Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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Exhibit 10.1



YIELD10 BIOSCIENCE, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2018 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

1.
DEFINITIONS.
Unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms, as used in this Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. 2018 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, have the following meanings:
Administrator means the Board of Directors, unless it has delegated power to act on its behalf to the Committee, in which case the term Administrator means the Committee.
Affiliate means a corporation which, for purposes of Section 424 of the Code, is a parent or subsidiary of the Company, direct or indirect.
Agreement means a written or electronic document setting forth the terms of a Stock Right delivered pursuant to the Plan in such form as the Administrator shall approve.
Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Cause means, with respect to a Participant (a) dishonesty with respect to the Company or any Affiliate, (b) insubordination, substantial malfeasance or non‑feasance of duty, (c) unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, (d) breach by a Participant of any provision of any employment, consulting, advisory, nondisclosure, non-competition or similar agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate, and (e) conduct substantially prejudicial to the business of the Company or any Affiliate; provided, however, that any provision in an agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, which contains a conflicting definition of Cause for termination and which is in effect at the time of such termination, shall supersede this definition with respect to that Participant. The determination of the Administrator as to the existence of Cause will be conclusive on the Participant and the Company.
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following events:
Ownership. Any “Person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “Beneficial Owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities (excluding for this purpose any such voting securities held by the Company or its Affiliates or by any employee benefit plan of the Company) pursuant to a transaction or a series of related transactions which the Board of Directors does not approve; or





Merger/Sale of Assets. (A) A merger or consolidation of the Company whether or not approved by the Board of Directors, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or the parent of such corporation) more than 50% of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or parent of such corporation, as the case may be, outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (B) the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in a transaction requiring stockholder approval; or
Change in Board Composition. A change in the composition of the Board of Directors, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” shall mean directors who either (A) are directors of the Company as of May 23, 2018, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but shall not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Company);
provided, that if any payment or benefit payable hereunder upon or following a Change of Control would be required to comply with the limitations of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code in order to avoid an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, such payment or benefit shall be made only if such Change in Control constitutes a change in ownership or control of the Company, or a change in ownership of the Company’s assets in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.  
Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended including any successor statute, regulation and guidance thereto.
Committee means the committee of the Board of Directors to which the Board of Directors has delegated power to act under or pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.
Common Stock means shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share.
Company means Yield10 Bioscience, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Consultant means any natural person who is an advisor or consultant who provides bona fide services to the Company or its Affiliates, provided that such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction, and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s or its Affiliates’ securities.
Disability or Disabled means permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

2



Employee means any employee of the Company or of an Affiliate (including, without limitation, an employee who is also serving as an officer or director of the Company or of an Affiliate), designated by the Administrator to be eligible to be granted one or more Stock Rights under the Plan.
Exchange Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock means:
If the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange or traded in the over‑the‑counter market and sales prices are regularly reported for the Common Stock, the closing or, if not applicable, the last price of the Common Stock on the composite tape or other comparable reporting system for the trading day on the applicable date and if such applicable date is not a trading day, the last market trading day prior to such date;
If the Common Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange but is traded on the over‑the‑counter market, if sales prices are not regularly reported for the Common Stock for the trading day referred to in clause (1), and if bid and asked prices for the Common Stock are regularly reported, the mean between the bid and the asked price for the Common Stock at the close of trading in the over-the-counter market for the trading day on which Common Stock was traded on the applicable date and if such applicable date is not a trading day, the last market trading day prior to such date; and
If the Common Stock is neither listed on a national securities exchange nor traded in the over‑the‑counter market, such value as the Administrator, in good faith, shall determine in compliance with applicable laws.
ISO means a stock option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.
Non‑Qualified Option means a stock option which is not intended to qualify as an ISO.
Option means an ISO or Non‑Qualified Option granted under the Plan.
Participant means an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or an Affiliate to whom one or more Stock Rights are granted under the Plan. As used herein, “Participant” shall include “Participant’s Survivors” where the context requires.
Performance-Based Award means a Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award which vests based on the attainment of written Performance Goals as set forth in Paragraph 9 hereof.
Performance Goals means performance goals determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in an Agreement. The satisfaction of Performance Goals

3



shall be subject to certification by the Committee. The Committee has the authority to take appropriate action with respect to the Performance Goals (including, without limitation, making adjustments to the Performance Goals or determining the satisfaction of the Performance Goals, in each case, in connection with a Corporate Transaction) provided that any such action does not otherwise violate the terms of the Plan.
Plan means this Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. 2018 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Shares means shares of the Common Stock as to which Stock Rights have been or may be granted under the Plan or any shares of capital stock into which the Shares are changed or for which they are exchanged within the provisions of Paragraph 3 of the Plan. The Shares issued under the Plan may be authorized and unissued shares or shares held by the Company in its treasury, or both.
Stock-Based Award means a grant by the Company under the Plan of an equity award or an equity based award which is not an Option or a Stock Grant.
Stock Grant means a grant by the Company of Shares under the Plan.
Stock Right means a right to Shares or the value of Shares of the Company granted pursuant to the Plan -- an ISO, a Non-Qualified Option, a Stock Grant or a Stock-Based Award.
Survivor means a deceased Participant’s legal representatives and/or any person or persons who acquired the Participant’s rights to a Stock Right by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
2.
PURPOSES OF THE PLAN.
The Plan is intended to encourage ownership of Shares by Employees and directors of and certain Consultants to the Company and its Affiliates in order to attract and retain such people, to induce them to work for the benefit of the Company or of an Affiliate and to provide additional incentive for them to promote the success of the Company or of an Affiliate. The Plan provides for the granting of ISOs, Non‑Qualified Options, Stock Grants and Stock-Based Awards.
3.
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
(a)    Commencing on May 19, 2020, the number of Shares which may be issued from time to time pursuant to this Plan shall be the sum of: (i) 270,057 shares of Common Stock and (ii) any shares of Common Stock that are represented by awards granted under the Company’s 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan and 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan that are forfeited, expire or are canceled without delivery of shares of Common Stock or which result in the forfeiture of shares of Common Stock back to the Company on or after May 19, 2020, or the equivalent of such

4



number of Shares after the Administrator, in its sole discretion, has interpreted the effect of any stock split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or similar transaction in accordance with Paragraph 25 of this Plan; provided, however, that as of May 19, 2020 no more than 16,880 shares shall be added to the Plan pursuant to subsection (ii).
(b)    Notwithstanding Subparagraph (a) above, the number of Shares issuable pursuant to this Plan shall be increased, on the first day of each of the Company’s 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, by an amount equal to the lesser of (A) five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such smaller number of Shares as determined by the Board; provided, however, no more than 5,000,000 Shares may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options.
(c)    If an Option ceases to be “outstanding”, in whole or in part (other than by exercise), or if the Company shall reacquire (at not more than its original issuance price) any Shares issued pursuant to a Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award, or if any Stock Right expires or is forfeited, cancelled, or otherwise terminated or results in any Shares not being issued, the unissued or reacquired Shares which were subject to such Stock Right shall again be available for issuance from time to time pursuant to this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Stock Right is exercised, in whole or in part, by tender of Shares or if the Company or an Affiliate’s tax withholding obligation is satisfied by withholding Shares, the number of Shares deemed to have been issued under the Plan for purposes of the limitation set forth in Paragraph 3(a) above shall be the number of Shares that were subject to the Stock Right or portion thereof, and not the net number of Shares actually issued. In addition, Shares repurchased by the Company with the proceeds of the option exercise price may not be reissued under the Plan. However, in the case of ISOs, the foregoing provisions shall be subject to any limitations under the Code.
4.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.
The Administrator of the Plan will be the Board of Directors, except to the extent the Board of Directors delegates its authority to the Committee, in which case the Committee shall be the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator is authorized to:
(a)    Interpret the provisions of the Plan and all Stock Rights and to make all rules and determinations which it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan;
(b)    Determine which Employees, directors and Consultants shall be granted Stock Rights;
(c)    Determine the number of Shares for which a Stock Right or Stock Rights shall be granted, provided however that in no event shall Stock Rights to be granted to any non-employee director under the Plan in any calendar year exceed an aggregate grant date fair value of $250,000 except that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to Stock Rights made pursuant to an election

5



by a non-employee director to receive the Stock Rights in lieu of cash for all or a portion of cash fees to be received for service on the Board or any Committee thereof;
(d)    Specify the terms and conditions upon which a Stock Right or Stock Rights may be granted;
(e)    Make any adjustments in the Performance Goals included in the Performance-Based Awards;
(f)    Amend any term or condition of any outstanding Stock Right, other than reducing the exercise price or purchase price or extending the expiration date of an Option, provided that (i) such term or condition as amended is not prohibited by the Plan; (ii) any such amendment shall not impair the rights of a Participant under any Stock Right previously granted without such Participant’s consent or in the event of death of the Participant the Participant’s Survivors; and (iii) any such amendment shall be made only after the Administrator determines whether such amendment would cause any adverse tax consequences to the Participant, including, but not limited to, the annual vesting limitation contained in Section 422(d) of the Code and described in Paragraph 6(b)(iv) below with respect to ISOs and pursuant to Section 409A of the Code;
(g)    Make any adjustments in the Performance Goals included in any Performance-Based Awards; and
(h)    Adopt any sub-plans applicable to residents of any specified jurisdiction as it deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with or take advantage of any tax or other laws applicable to the Company, any Affiliate or to Participants or to otherwise facilitate the administration of the Plan, which sub-plans may include additional restrictions or conditions applicable to Stock Rights or Shares issuable pursuant to a Stock Right;
provided, however, that all such interpretations, rules, determinations, terms and conditions shall be made and prescribed in the context of potential tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code and preserving the tax status under Section 422 of the Code of those Options which are designated as ISOs. Subject to the foregoing, the interpretation and construction by the Administrator of any provisions of the Plan or of any Stock Right granted under it shall be final, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, if the Administrator is the Committee. In addition, if the Administrator is the Committee, the Board of Directors may take any action under the Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee.
To the extent permitted under applicable law, the Board of Directors or the Committee may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any other person selected by it. The Board of Directors or the Committee may revoke any such allocation or delegation at any time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, only the Board of Directors or the Committee shall be authorized to grant a Stock Right to any director of the Company or to any “officer” of the Company as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act.
5.
ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION.

6



The Administrator will, in its sole discretion, name the Participants in the Plan; provided, however, that each Participant must be an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate at the time a Stock Right is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may authorize the grant of a Stock Right to a person not then an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate; provided, however, that the actual grant of such Stock Right shall be conditioned upon such person becoming eligible to become a Participant at or prior to the time of the execution of the Agreement evidencing such Stock Right. ISOs may be granted only to Employees who are deemed to be residents of the United States for tax purposes. Non‑Qualified Options, Stock Grants and Stock-Based Awards may be granted to any Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or an Affiliate. The granting of any Stock Right to any individual shall neither entitle that individual to, nor disqualify him or her from, participation in any other grant of Stock Rights or any grant under any other benefit plan established by the Company or any Affiliate for Employees, directors or Consultants.
6.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
Each Option shall be set forth in an Option Agreement, duly executed by the Company and, to the extent required by law or requested by the Company, by the Participant. The Administrator may provide that Options be granted subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the terms and conditions specifically required under this Plan, as the Administrator may deem appropriate including, without limitation, subsequent approval by the shareholders of the Company of this Plan or any amendments thereto. The Option Agreements shall be subject to at least the following terms and conditions:
(a)    Non‑Qualified Options: Each Option intended to be a Non‑Qualified Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions which the Administrator determines to be appropriate and in the best interest of the Company, subject to the following minimum standards for any such Non‑Qualified Option:
(i)
Exercise Price: Each Option Agreement shall state the exercise price (per share) of the Shares covered by each Option, which exercise price shall be determined by the Administrator and shall be at least equal to the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option.
(ii)
Number of Shares: Each Option Agreement shall state the number of Shares to which it pertains.
(iii)
Vesting: Each Option Agreement shall state the date or dates on which it first is exercisable and the date after which it may no longer be exercised, and may provide that the Option rights accrue or become exercisable in installments over a period of months or years, or upon the occurrence of certain performance conditions or the attainment of stated goals or events.
(iv)
Additional Conditions: Exercise of any Option may be conditioned upon the Participant’s execution of a shareholder’s agreement in a form

7



satisfactory to the Administrator providing for certain protections for the Company and its other shareholders, including requirements that:
A.
The Participant’s or the Participant’s Survivors’ right to sell or transfer the Shares may be restricted; and
B.
The Participant or the Participant’s Survivors may be required to execute letters of investment intent and must also acknowledge that the Shares will bear legends noting any applicable restrictions.
(v)
Term of Option: Each Option shall terminate not more than ten years from the date of the grant or at such earlier time as the Option Agreement may provide.
(b)    ISOs: Each Option intended to be an ISO shall be issued only to an Employee who is deemed to be a resident of the United States for tax purposes, and shall be subject to the following terms and conditions, with such additional restrictions or changes as the Administrator determines are appropriate but not in conflict with Section 422 of the Code and relevant regulations and rulings of the Internal Revenue Service:
(i)
Minimum standards: The ISO shall meet the minimum standards required of Non‑Qualified Options, as described in Paragraph 6(a) above, except clause (i) and (v) thereunder.
(ii)
Exercise Price: Immediately before the ISO is granted, if the Participant owns, directly or by reason of the applicable attribution rules in Section 424(d) of the Code:
A.
10% or less of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, the exercise price per share of the Shares covered by each ISO shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option; or
B.
More than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, the exercise price per share of the Shares covered by each ISO shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option.
(iii)
Term of Option: For Participants who own:
A.
10% or less of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, each ISO shall terminate not more than ten years from the date of the grant or at such earlier time as the Option Agreement may provide; or

8



B.
More than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, each ISO shall terminate not more than five years from the date of the grant or at such earlier time as the Option Agreement may provide.
(iv)
Limitation on Yearly Exercise: The Option Agreements shall restrict the amount of ISOs which may become exercisable in any calendar year (under this or any other ISO plan of the Company or an Affiliate) so that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the date each ISO is granted) of the stock with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by the Participant in any calendar year does not exceed $100,000.
7.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK GRANTS.
Each Stock Grant to a Participant shall state the principal terms in an Agreement duly executed by the Company and, to the extent required by law or requested by the Company, by the Participant. The Agreement shall be in a form approved by the Administrator and shall contain terms and conditions which the Administrator determines to be appropriate and in the best interest of the Company, subject to the following minimum standards:
(a)    Each Agreement shall state the purchase price per share, if any, of the Shares covered by each Stock Grant, which purchase price shall be determined by the Administrator but shall not be less than the minimum consideration required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, if any, on the date of the grant of the Stock Grant;
(b)    Each Agreement shall state the number of Shares to which the Stock Grant pertains;
(c)    Each Agreement shall include the terms of any right of the Company to restrict or reacquire the Shares subject to the Stock Grant, including the time period or attainment of Performance Goals or such other performance criteria upon which such rights shall accrue and the purchase price therefor, if any; and
(d)    Dividends (other than stock dividends to be issued pursuant to Section 25 of the Plan) may accrue but shall not be paid prior to the time, and only to the extent that, the restrictions or rights to reacquire the Shares subject to the Stock Grant lapse.
8.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS.
The Administrator shall have the right to grant other Stock-Based Awards based upon the Common Stock having such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine, including, without limitation, the grant of Shares based upon certain conditions, the grant of securities convertible into Shares and the grant of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock awards or stock units. The principal terms of each Stock-Based Award shall be set forth in an Agreement, duly executed by the Company and, to the extent required by law or requested by the Company, by the Participant. The Agreement shall be in a form approved by the Administrator and shall contain terms and conditions which the Administrator determines to be appropriate and in the best interest

9



of the Company. Each Agreement shall include the terms of any right of the Company including the right to terminate the Stock-Based Award without the issuance of Shares, the terms of any vesting conditions, Performance Goals or events upon which Shares shall be issued provided that dividends (other than stock dividends to be issued pursuant to Section 25 of the Plan) or dividend equivalents may accrue but shall not be paid prior to and only to the extent that, the Shares subject to the Stock-Based Award vest. Under no circumstances may the Agreement covering stock appreciation rights (a) have a base price (per share) that is less than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date of grant or (b) expire more than ten years following the date of grant.
The Company intends that the Plan and any Stock-Based Awards granted hereunder be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code or meet the requirements of paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of subsection (a) of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable, and be operated in accordance with Section 409A so that any compensation deferred under any Stock-Based Award (and applicable investment earnings) shall not be included in income under Section 409A of the Code. Any ambiguities in the Plan shall be construed to effect the intent as described in this Paragraph 8.
9.
PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS.
The Committee shall determine whether, with respect to a performance period, the applicable Performance Goals have been met with respect to a given Participant and, if they have, to so certify and ascertain the amount of the applicable Performance-Based Award. No Performance-Based Awards will be issued for such performance period until such certification is made by the Committee. The number of Shares issued in respect of a Performance-Based Award determined by the Committee for a performance period shall be paid to the Participant at such time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion after the end of such performance period and any dividends (other than stock dividends to be issued pursuant to Section 25 of the Plan) or dividend equivalents that accrue shall only be paid in respect of the number of Shares earned in respect of a Performance-Based Award.
10.
EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND ISSUE OF SHARES.
An Option (or any part or installment thereof) shall be exercised by giving written notice to the Company or its designee (in a form acceptable to the Administrator, which may include electronic notice), together with provision for payment of the aggregate exercise price in accordance with this Paragraph for the Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, and upon compliance with any other condition(s) set forth in the Option Agreement. Such notice shall be signed by the person exercising the Option (which signature may be provided electronically in a form acceptable to the Administrator), shall state the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall contain any representation required by the Plan or the Option Agreement. Payment of the exercise price for the Shares as to which such Option is being exercised shall be made (a) in United States dollars in cash or by check; or (b) at the discretion of the Administrator, through delivery of shares of Common Stock held for at least six months (if required to avoid negative accounting treatment) having a Fair Market Value equal as of the date of the exercise to the aggregate cash exercise price for the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised; or (c) at the discretion of the Administrator, by having the Company retain from the Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option, a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal as of

10



the date of exercise to the aggregate exercise price for the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised; or (d) at the discretion of the Administrator, in accordance with a cashless exercise program established with a securities brokerage firm, and approved by the Administrator; or (e) at the discretion of the Administrator, by any combination of (a), (b), (c) and (d) above or (f) at the discretion of the Administrator, by payment of such other lawful consideration as the Administrator may determine. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator shall accept only such payment on exercise of an ISO as is permitted by Section 422 of the Code.
The Company shall then reasonably promptly deliver the Shares as to which such Option was exercised to the Participant (or to the Participant’s Survivors, as the case may be). In determining what constitutes “reasonably promptly,” it is expressly understood that the issuance and delivery of the Shares may be delayed by the Company in order to comply with any law or regulation (including, without limitation, state securities or “blue sky” laws) which requires the Company to take any action with respect to the Shares prior to their issuance. The Shares shall, upon delivery, be fully paid, non-assessable Shares.
11.
PAYMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF STOCK GRANTS AND STOCK-BASED AWARDS AND ISSUE OF SHARES.
Any Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award requiring payment of a purchase price for the Shares as to which such Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award is being granted shall be made (a) in United States dollars in cash or by check; or (b) at the discretion of the Administrator, through delivery of shares of Common Stock held for at least six months (if required to avoid negative accounting treatment) and having a Fair Market Value equal as of the date of payment to the purchase price of the Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award; or (c) at the discretion of the Administrator, by any combination of (a) and (b) above; or (d) at the discretion of the Administrator, by payment of such other lawful consideration as the Administrator may determine.
The Company shall when required by the applicable Agreement, reasonably promptly deliver the Shares as to which such Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award was made to the Participant (or to the Participant’s Survivors, as the case may be), subject to any escrow provision set forth in the applicable Agreement. In determining what constitutes “reasonably promptly,” it is expressly understood that the issuance and delivery of the Shares may be delayed by the Company in order to comply with any law or regulation (including, without limitation, state securities or “blue sky” laws) which requires the Company to take any action with respect to the Shares prior to their issuance.
12.
RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.
No Participant to whom a Stock Right has been granted shall have rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by such Stock Right except after due exercise of an Option or issuance of Shares as set forth in any Agreement, tender of the aggregate exercise or purchase price, if any, for the Shares being purchased and registration of the Shares in the Company’s share register in the name of the Participant.
13.
ASSIGNABILITY AND TRANSFERABILITY OF STOCK RIGHTS.

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By its terms, a Stock Right granted to a Participant shall not be transferable by the Participant other than (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or (ii) as approved by the Administrator in its discretion and set forth in the applicable Agreement provided that no Stock Right may be transferred by a Participant for value. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an ISO transferred except in compliance with clause (i) above shall no longer qualify as an ISO. The designation of a beneficiary of a Stock Right by a Participant, with the prior approval of the Administrator and in such form as the Administrator shall prescribe, shall not be deemed a transfer prohibited by this Paragraph. Except as provided above during the Participant’s lifetime a Stock Right shall only be exercisable by or issued to such Participant (or his or her legal representative) and shall not be assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempted transfer, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of any Stock Right or of any rights granted thereunder contrary to the provisions of this Plan, or the levy of any attachment or similar process upon a Stock Right, shall be null and void.
14.
EFFECT ON OPTIONS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE OR DEATH OR DISABILITY.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Option Agreement, in the event of a termination of service (whether as an Employee, director or Consultant) with the Company or an Affiliate before the Participant has exercised an Option, the following rules apply:
(a)    A Participant who ceases to be an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate (for any reason other than termination for Cause, Disability, or death for which events there are special rules in Paragraphs 15, 16, and 17, respectively), may exercise any Option granted to him or her to the extent that the Option is exercisable on the date of such termination of service, but only within such term as the Administrator has designated in a Participant’s Option Agreement.
(b)    Except as provided in Subparagraph (c) below, or Paragraph 16 or 17, in no event may an Option intended to be an ISO, be exercised later than three months after the Participant’s termination of employment.
(c)    The provisions of this Paragraph, and not the provisions of Paragraph 16 or 17, shall apply to a Participant who subsequently becomes Disabled or dies after the termination of employment, director status or consultancy; provided, however, in the case of a Participant’s Disability or death within three months after the termination of employment, director status or consultancy, the Participant or the Participant’s Survivors may exercise the Option within one year after the date of the Participant’s termination of service, but in no event after the date of expiration of the term of the Option.
(d)    Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if subsequent to a Participant’s termination of employment, termination of director status or termination of consultancy, but prior to the exercise of an Option, the Administrator determines that, either prior or subsequent to the Participant’s termination, the Participant engaged in conduct which would constitute Cause, then such Participant shall forthwith cease to have any right to exercise any Option.

12



(e)    A Participant to whom an Option has been granted under the Plan who is absent from the Company or an Affiliate because of temporary disability (any disability other than a Disability as defined in Paragraph 1 hereof), or who is on leave of absence for any purpose, shall not, during the period of any such absence, be deemed, by virtue of such absence alone, to have terminated such Participant’s employment, director status or consultancy with the Company or with an Affiliate, except as the Administrator may otherwise expressly provide; provided, however, that, for ISOs, any leave of absence granted by the Administrator of greater than three months, unless pursuant to a contract or statute that guarantees the right to reemployment, shall cause such ISO to become a Non-Qualified Option on the date that is six months following the commencement of such leave of absence.
(f)    Except as required by law or as set forth in a Participant’s Option Agreement, Options granted under the Plan shall not be affected by any change of a Participant’s status within or among the Company and any Affiliates, so long as the Participant continues to be an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or any Affiliate.
15.
EFFECT ON OPTIONS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE FOR CAUSE.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Option Agreement, the following rules apply if the Participant’s service (whether as an Employee, director or Consultant) with the Company or an Affiliate is terminated for Cause prior to the time that all his or her outstanding Options have been exercised:
(a)    All outstanding and unexercised Options as of the time the Participant is notified his or her service is terminated for Cause will immediately be forfeited.
(b)    Cause is not limited to events which have occurred prior to a Participant’s termination of service, nor is it necessary that the Administrator’s finding of Cause occur prior to termination. If the Administrator determines, subsequent to a Participant’s termination of service but prior to the exercise of an Option, that either prior or subsequent to the Participant’s termination the Participant engaged in conduct which would constitute Cause, then the right to exercise any Option is forfeited.
16.
EFFECT ON OPTIONS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE FOR DISABILITY.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Option Agreement:
(a)    A Participant who ceases to be an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate by reason of Disability may exercise any Option granted to such Participant to the extent that the Option has become exercisable but has not been exercised on the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability; and in the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to the extent of a pro rata portion through the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability of any additional vesting rights that would have accrued on the next vesting date had the Participant not become Disabled. The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued in the current vesting period prior to the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability.

13



(b)    A Disabled Participant may exercise the Option only within the period ending one year after the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability, notwithstanding that the Participant might have been able to exercise the Option as to some or all of the Shares on a later date if the Participant had not been terminated due to Disability and had continued to be an Employee, director or Consultant or, if earlier, within the originally prescribed term of the Option.
(c)    The Administrator shall make the determination both of whether Disability has occurred and the date of its occurrence (unless a procedure for such determination is set forth in another agreement between the Company and such Participant, in which case such procedure shall be used for such determination). If requested, the Participant shall be examined by a physician selected or approved by the Administrator, the cost of which examination shall be paid for by the Company.
17.
EFFECT ON OPTIONS OF DEATH WHILE AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Option Agreement:
(a)    In the event of the death of a Participant while the Participant is an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate, such Option may be exercised by the Participant’s Survivors to the extent that the Option has become exercisable but has not been exercised on the date of death; and in the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to the extent of a pro rata portion through the date of death of any additional vesting rights that would have accrued on the next vesting date had the Participant not died. The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued in the current vesting period prior to the Participant’s date of death.
(b)    If the Participant’s Survivors wish to exercise the Option, they must take all necessary steps to exercise the Option within one year after the date of death of such Participant, notwithstanding that the decedent might have been able to exercise the Option as to some or all of the Shares on a later date if he or she had not died and had continued to be an Employee, director or Consultant or, if earlier, within the originally prescribed term of the Option.
18.
EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE ON UNACCEPTED STOCK GRANTS AND STOCK-BASED AWARDS.
In the event of a termination of service (whether as an Employee, director or Consultant) with the Company or an Affiliate for any reason before the Participant has accepted a Stock Grant or a Stock-Based Award and paid the purchase price, if required, such grant shall terminate.
For purposes of this Paragraph 18 and Paragraph 19 below, a Participant to whom a Stock Grant or a Stock-Based Award has been issued under the Plan who is absent from work with the Company or with an Affiliate because of temporary disability (any disability other than a Disability as defined in Paragraph 1 hereof), or who is on leave of absence for any purpose, shall not, during the period of any such absence, be deemed, by virtue of such absence alone, to have terminated such Participant’s employment, director status or consultancy with the Company or with an Affiliate, except as the Administrator may otherwise expressly provide.

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In addition, for purposes of this Paragraph 18 and Paragraph 19 below, any change of employment or other service within or among the Company and any Affiliates shall not be treated as a termination of employment, director status or consultancy so long as the Participant continues to be an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or any Affiliate.
19.
EFFECT ON STOCK GRANTS AND STOCK-BASED AWARDS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE, DEATH OR DISABILITY.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Agreement, in the event of a termination of service for any reason (whether as an Employee, director or Consultant), other than termination for Cause, death or Disability for which there are special rules in Paragraphs 20, 21, and 22 below, before all forfeiture provisions or Company rights of repurchase shall have lapsed, then the Company shall have the right to cancel or repurchase that number of Shares subject to a Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award as to which the Company’s forfeiture or repurchase rights have not lapsed.
20.
EFFECT ON STOCK GRANTS AND STOCK-BASED AWARDS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE FOR CAUSE.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Agreement, the following rules apply if the Participant’s service (whether as an Employee, director or Consultant) with the Company or an Affiliate is terminated for Cause:
(a)    All Shares subject to any Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award that remain subject to forfeiture provisions or as to which the Company shall have a repurchase right shall be immediately forfeited to the Company as of the time the Participant is notified his or her service is terminated for Cause.
(b)    Cause is not limited to events which have occurred prior to a Participant’s termination of service, nor is it necessary that the Administrator’s finding of Cause occur prior to termination. If the Administrator determines, subsequent to a Participant’s termination of service, that either prior or subsequent to the Participant’s termination the Participant engaged in conduct which would constitute Cause, then all Shares subject to any Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award that remained subject to forfeiture provisions or as to which the Company had a repurchase right on the date of termination shall be immediately forfeited to the Company.
21.
EFFECT ON STOCK GRANTS AND STOCK-BASED AWARDS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE FOR DISABILITY.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Agreement, the following rules apply if a Participant ceases to be an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate by reason of Disability: to the extent the forfeiture provisions or the Company’s rights of repurchase have not lapsed on the date of Disability, they shall be exercisable; provided, however, that in the event such forfeiture provisions or rights of repurchase lapse periodically, such provisions or rights shall lapse to the extent of a pro rata portion of the Shares subject to such Stock Grant or Stock-

15



Based Award through the date of Disability as would have lapsed had the Participant not become Disabled. The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued prior to the date of Disability.
The Administrator shall make the determination both as to whether Disability has occurred and the date of its occurrence (unless a procedure for such determination is set forth in another agreement between the Company and such Participant, in which case such procedure shall be used for such determination). If requested, the Participant shall be examined by a physician selected or approved by the Administrator, the cost of which examination shall be paid for by the Company.
22.
EFFECT ON STOCK GRANTS AND STOCK-BASED AWARDS OF DEATH WHILE AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT.
Except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Agreement, the following rules apply in the event of the death of a Participant while the Participant is an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate: to the extent the forfeiture provisions or the Company’s rights of repurchase have not lapsed on the date of death, they shall be exercisable; provided, however, that in the event such forfeiture provisions or rights of repurchase lapse periodically, such provisions or rights shall lapse to the extent of a pro rata portion of the Shares subject to such Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award through the date of death as would have lapsed had the Participant not died. The proration shall be based upon the number of days accrued prior to the Participant’s date of death.
23.
PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.
Unless the offering and sale of the Shares shall have been effectively registered under the Securities Act, the Company shall be under no obligation to issue Shares under the Plan unless and until the following conditions have been fulfilled:
(a)    The person who receives a Stock Right shall warrant to the Company, prior to the receipt of Shares, that such person is acquiring such Shares for his or her own account, for investment, and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any such Shares, in which event the person acquiring such Shares shall be bound by the provisions of the following legend (or a legend in substantially similar form) which shall be endorsed upon the certificate evidencing the Shares issued pursuant to such exercise or such grant of a Stock Right:
“The shares represented by this certificate have been taken for investment and they may not be sold or otherwise transferred by any person, including a pledgee, unless (1) either (a) a Registration Statement with respect to such shares shall be effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (b) the Company shall have received an opinion of counsel satisfactory to it that an exemption from registration under such Act is then available, and (2) there shall have been compliance with all applicable state securities laws.”
(b)    At the discretion of the Administrator, the Company shall have received an opinion of its counsel that the Shares may be issued in compliance with the Securities Act without registration thereunder.

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24.
DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION OF THE COMPANY.
Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all Options granted under this Plan which as of such date shall not have been exercised and all Stock Grants and Stock-Based Awards which have not been accepted, to the extent required under the applicable Agreement, will terminate and become null and void; provided, however, that if the rights of a Participant or a Participant’s Survivors have not otherwise terminated and expired, the Participant or the Participant’s Survivors will have the right immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation to exercise or accept any Stock Right to the extent that the Stock Right is exercisable or subject to acceptance as of the date immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation. Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any outstanding Stock-Based Awards shall immediately terminate unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or specifically provided in the applicable Agreement.
25.
ADJUSTMENTS.
Upon the occurrence of any of the following events, a Participant’s rights with respect to any Stock Right granted to him or her hereunder shall be adjusted as hereinafter provided, unless otherwise specifically provided in a Participant’s Agreement.
(a)    Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If (i) the shares of Common Stock shall be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares or if the Company shall issue any shares of Common Stock as a stock dividend on its outstanding Common Stock, or (ii) additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such shares of Common Stock, each Stock Right and the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable thereunder shall be appropriately increased or decreased proportionately, and appropriate adjustments shall be made including, in the exercise, base or purchase price per share, and the Performance Goals applicable to outstanding Performance-Based Awards to reflect such events. The number of Shares subject to the limitations in Paragraph 3(a), 3(b) and 4(c) shall also be proportionately adjusted upon the occurrence of such events.
(b)    Corporate Transactions. If the Company is to be consolidated with or acquired by another entity in a merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or the acquisition of all of the outstanding voting stock of the Company in a single transaction or a series of related transactions by a single entity other than a transaction to merely change the state of incorporation (a “Corporate Transaction”), the Administrator or the board of directors of any entity assuming the obligations of the Company hereunder (the “Successor Board”), shall, as to outstanding Options, either (i) make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Options by substituting on an equitable basis for the Shares then subject to such Options either the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock in connection with the Corporate Transaction or securities of any successor or acquiring entity; or (ii) upon written notice to the Participants, provide that such Options must be exercised (either (A) to the extent then exercisable or, (B) at the discretion of the Administrator, any such Options being made partially or fully exercisable for purposes of this Subparagraph), within a specified number of days of the date of such notice, at the end of which period such Options which have not been exercised shall terminate; or (iii) terminate such Options in exchange for payment of an amount equal to the consideration payable upon consummation of such Corporate Transaction to a holder of the number of shares of

17



Common Stock into which such Option would have been exercisable (either (A) to the extent then exercisable or, (B) at the discretion of the Administrator, any such Options being made partially or fully exercisable for purposes of this Subparagraph) less the aggregate exercise price thereof. For purposes of determining the payments to be made pursuant to Subclause (iii) above, in the case of a Corporate Transaction the consideration for which, in whole or in part, is other than cash, the consideration other than cash shall be valued at the fair value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Corporate Transaction also constitutes a Change of Control, and the Change of Control does not provide for the continuation of such Options as set forth in clause (i) above, then on the date of the Corporate Transaction all Options outstanding shall become fully exercisable as of the effective time of the Corporate Transaction, all other Stock Rights with time-based vesting, conditions or restrictions shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable as of the effective time of the Corporate Transaction, and all Performance-Based Awards may become vested and nonforfeitable in connection with the Corporate Transaction in the Administrator’s discretion or to the extent specified in the relevant Agreement.
With respect to outstanding Stock Grants, the Administrator or the Successor Board, shall make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Stock Grants on the same terms and conditions by substituting on an equitable basis for the Shares then subject to such Stock Grants either the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding Shares of Common Stock in connection with the Corporate Transaction or securities of any successor or acquiring entity. In lieu of the foregoing, in connection with any Corporate Transaction, the Administrator may provide that, upon consummation of the Corporate Transaction, each outstanding Stock Grant shall be terminated in exchange for payment of an amount equal to the consideration payable upon consummation of such Corporate Transaction to a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock comprising such Stock Grant (to the extent such Stock Grant is no longer subject to any forfeiture or repurchase rights then in effect or, at the discretion of the Administrator, all forfeiture and repurchase rights being waived upon such Corporate Transaction).
In taking any of the actions permitted under this Paragraph 25(b), the Administrator shall not be obligated by the Plan to treat all Stock Rights, all Stock Rights held by a Participant, or all Stock Rights of the same type, identically.
(c)    Recapitalization or Reorganization. In the event of a recapitalization or reorganization of the Company other than a Corporate Transaction pursuant to which securities of the Company or of another corporation are issued with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Participant upon exercising an Option or accepting a Stock Grant after the recapitalization or reorganization shall be entitled to receive for the price paid upon such exercise or acceptance if any, the number of replacement securities which would have been received if such Option had been exercised or Stock Grant accepted prior to such recapitalization or reorganization.
(d)    Adjustments to Stock-Based Awards. Upon the happening of any of the events described in Subparagraphs (a), (b) or (c) above, any outstanding Stock-Based Award shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the events described in such Subparagraphs. The Administrator or the Successor Board shall determine the specific adjustments to be made under this Paragraph

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25, including, but not limited to the effect of any, Corporate Transaction and Change of Control and, subject to Paragraph 4, its determination shall be conclusive.
(e)    Modification of Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustments made pursuant to Subparagraph (a), (b) or (c) above with respect to Options shall be made only after the Administrator determines whether such adjustments would (i) constitute a “modification” of any ISOs (as that term is defined in Section 424(h) of the Code) or (ii) cause any adverse tax consequences for the holders of Options, including, but not limited to, pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. If the Administrator determines that such adjustments made with respect to Options would constitute a modification or other adverse tax consequence, it may in its discretion refrain from making such adjustments, unless the holder of an Option specifically agrees in writing that such adjustment be made and such writing indicates that the holder has full knowledge of the consequences of such “modification” on his or her income tax treatment with respect to the Option. This paragraph shall not apply to the acceleration of the vesting of any ISO that would cause any portion of the ISO to violate the annual vesting limitation contained in Section 422(d) of the Code, as described in Paragraph 6(b)(iv).
26.
ISSUANCES OF SECURITIES.
Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares subject to Stock Rights. Except as expressly provided herein, no adjustments shall be made for dividends paid in cash or in property (including without limitation, securities) of the Company prior to any issuance of Shares pursuant to a Stock Right.
27.
FRACTIONAL SHARES.
No fractional shares shall be issued under the Plan and the person exercising a Stock Right shall receive from the Company cash in lieu of such fractional shares equal to the Fair Market Value thereof.
28.
WITHHOLDING.
In the event that any federal, state, or local income taxes, employment taxes, Federal Insurance Contributions Act withholdings or other amounts are required by applicable law or governmental regulation to be withheld from the Participant’s salary, wages or other remuneration in connection with the issuance of a Stock Right or Shares under the Plan or for any other reason required by law, the Company may withhold from the Participant’s compensation, if any, or may require that the Participant advance in cash to the Company, or to any Affiliate of the Company which employs or employed the Participant, the statutory minimum amount of such withholdings unless a different withholding arrangement, including the use of shares of the Company’s Common Stock or a promissory note, is authorized by the Administrator (and permitted by law). For purposes hereof, the fair market value of the shares withheld for purposes of payroll withholding shall be determined in the manner set forth under the definition of Fair Market Value provided in Paragraph 1 above, as of the most recent practicable date prior to the date of exercise. If the Fair Market Value

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of the shares withheld is less than the amount of payroll withholdings required, the Participant may be required to advance the difference in cash to the Company or the Affiliate employer.
29.
NOTICE TO COMPANY OF DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION.
Each Employee who receives an ISO must agree to notify the Company in writing immediately after the Employee makes a Disqualifying Disposition of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO. A Disqualifying Disposition is defined in Section 424(c) of the Code and includes any disposition (including any sale or gift) of such Shares before the later of (a) two years after the date the Employee was granted the ISO, or (b) one year after the date the Employee acquired Shares by exercising the ISO, except as otherwise provided in Section 424(c) of the Code. If the Employee has died before such Shares are sold, these holding period requirements do not apply and no Disqualifying Disposition can occur thereafter.
30.
TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.
The Plan will terminate on April 4, 2028, the date which is ten years from the earlier of the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors and the date of its approval by the shareholders of the Company. The Plan may be terminated at an earlier date by vote of the shareholders or the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that any such earlier termination shall not affect any Agreements executed prior to the effective date of such termination. Termination of the Plan shall not affect any Stock Rights theretofore granted.
31.
AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND AGREEMENTS.
The Plan may be amended by the shareholders of the Company. The Plan may also be amended by the Administrator; provided that any amendment approved by the Administrator which the Administrator determines is of a scope that requires shareholder approval shall be subject to obtaining such shareholder approval including, without limitation, to the extent necessary to qualify any or all outstanding Stock Rights granted under the Plan or Stock Rights to be granted under the Plan for favorable federal income tax treatment as may be afforded ISOs under Section 422 of the Code and to the extent necessary to qualify the Shares issuable under the Plan for listing on any national securities exchange or quotation in any national automated quotation system of securities dealers. Other than as set forth in Paragraph 25 of the Plan, the Administrator may not without shareholder approval reduce the exercise price of an Option or cancel any outstanding Option in exchange for a replacement option having a lower exercise price, any Stock Grant, any other Stock-Based Award or for cash. In addition, the Administrator not take any other action that is considered a direct or indirect “repricing” for purposes of the shareholder approval rules of the applicable securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Shares are listed, including any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles. Any modification or amendment of the Plan shall not, without the consent of a Participant, adversely affect his or her rights under a Stock Right previously granted to him or her, unless such amendment is required by applicable law or necessary to preserve the economic value of such Stock Right. With the consent of the Participant affected, the Administrator may amend outstanding Agreements in a manner which may be adverse to the Participant but which is not inconsistent with the Plan. In the discretion of the Administrator, outstanding Agreements may be amended by the

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Administrator in a manner which is not adverse to the Participant. Nothing in this Paragraph 31 shall limit the Administrator’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Paragraph 25.
32.
EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER RELATIONSHIP.
Nothing in this Plan or any Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the Company or an Affiliate from terminating the employment, consultancy or director status of a Participant, nor to prevent a Participant from terminating his or her own employment, consultancy or director status or to give any Participant a right to be retained in employment or other service by the Company or any Affiliate for any period of time.
33.
SECTION 409A.
If a Participant is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A of the Code (and as applied according to procedures of the Company and its Affiliates) as of his separation from service, to the extent any payment under this Plan or pursuant to the grant of a Stock-Based Award constitutes deferred compensation (after taking into account any applicable exemptions from Section 409A of the Code), and to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code, no payments due under this Plan or pursuant to a Stock-Based Award may be made until the earlier of: (i) the first day of the seventh month following the Participant’s separation from service, or (ii) the Participant’s date of death; provided, however, that any payments delayed during this six-month period shall be paid in the aggregate in a lump sum, without interest, on the first day of the seventh month following the Participant’s separation from service.
The Administrator shall administer the Plan with a view toward ensuring that Stock Rights under the Plan that are subject to Section 409A of the Code comply with the requirements thereof and that Options under the Plan be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, but neither the Administrator nor any member of the Board, nor the Company nor any of its Affiliates, nor any other person acting hereunder on behalf of the Company, the Administrator or the Board shall be liable to a Participant or any Survivor by reason of the acceleration of any income, or the imposition of any additional tax or penalty, with respect to a Stock Right, whether by reason of a failure to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or otherwise.
34.
INDEMNITY.
Neither the Board nor the Administrator, nor any members of either, nor any employees of the Company or any parent, subsidiary, or other Affiliate, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with their responsibilities with respect to this Plan, and the Company hereby agrees to indemnify the members of the Board, the members of the Committee, and the employees of the Company and its parent or subsidiaries in respect of any claim, loss, damage, or expense (including reasonable counsel fees) arising from any such act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination to the full extent permitted by law.

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35.
CLAWBACK.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, the Company may recover from a Participant any compensation received from any Stock Right (whether or not settled) or cause a Participant to forfeit any Stock Right (whether or not vested) in the event that the Company’s Clawback Policy then in effect is triggered.
36.
GOVERNING LAW.
This Plan shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware.


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EXHIBIT 31.1
 
CERTIFICATION
 
I, Oliver Peoples, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Yield10 Bioscience, Inc.;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Dated: August 11, 2020
/s/ OLIVER PEOPLES
 
Name:
Oliver Peoples
 
Title:
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

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EXHIBIT 31.2
 
CERTIFICATION
 
I, Charles B. Haaser, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Yield10 Bioscience, Inc.;
2.    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.    The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)    Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.    The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Dated: August 11, 2020
/s/ CHARLES B. HAASER
 
Name:
Charles B. Haaser
 
Title:
Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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EXHIBIT 32.1
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. (the “Company”) for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), we, Oliver Peoples, President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Executive Officer of the Company and Charles B. Haaser, Chief Accounting Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to our knowledge that:

1.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2.
The information in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

This certification is being provided pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 and is not to be deemed a part of the Report, nor is it to be deemed to be “filed” for any purpose whatsoever.
 
Dated: August 11, 2020
/s/ OLIVER PEOPLES
 
Oliver Peoples
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
Dated: August 11, 2020
/s/ CHARLES B. HAASER
 
Charles B. Haaser
 
Chief Accounting Officer
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


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