AEMETIS, INC - Quarter Report: 2008 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
DC 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
QUARTERLY
REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
for
the
quarterly period ended March 31, 2008
¨
TRANSITION
REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
for
the
transition period from ______to _________.
Commission
file number: 00-51354
AE
BIOFUELS, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada
|
84-0925128
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization)
|
(IRS
Employer identification No.)
|
20400
Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 700
Cupertino,
CA 95014
(Address
of principal executive offices)
(408)
213-0940
(Registrant's
telephone number)
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 x No
¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.
See
the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller
reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
|
¨
|
Accelerated filer ¨
|
||
Non-accelerated filer
|
¨
|
Smaller reporting company x
|
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a
shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
¨
No
x
The
number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock on May 12, 2008
was 84,885,920.
AE
BIOFUELS, INC.
FORM
10-Q
Quarterly
Period Ended March 31, 2008
Page
|
|||
INDEX
|
|||
SPECIAL
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
|
3
|
||
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
|
|||
Item
1.
|
Financial
Statements
|
||
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007
|
4
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations for Three Months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007
|
5
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months ended March 31, 2008
and
2007
|
6
|
|
|
Notes
to the Consolidated Financial Statements
|
7
|
|
|
|||
Item
2.
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
19
|
|
Item
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
|
24
|
|
Item
4T.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
24
|
|
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
|
|||
Item
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
25
|
|
Item
1A.
|
Risk
Factors
|
25
|
|
Item
2.
|
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
25
|
|
Item
3.
|
Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
|
25
|
|
Item
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
|
25
|
|
Item
5.
|
Other
Information
|
25
|
|
Item
6.
|
Exhibits
|
25
|
|
SIGNATURES
|
|
26
|
2
SPECIAL
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD—LOOKING STATEMENTS
On
one or
more occasions, we may make forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q regarding our assumptions, projections, expectations, targets,
intentions or beliefs about future events. Words or phrases such as
“anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,”
“intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “targets,” “will likely result,”
“will continue” or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions
and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult
to
predict, including those identified below, under “Part
II — Other Information, Item 1A. Risk Factors”
and
elsewhere herein. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely
from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. However, your
attention is directed to any further disclosures made on related subjects in
our
subsequent annual and periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and Proxy Statements on Schedule
14A.
Unless
the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company”
and “the Company” refer specifically to AE Biofuels, Inc. and our
subsidiaries.
3
PART
I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item
1 - Financial Statements
AE
BIOFUELS, INC.
(A
Development Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
|
As of
March 31,
2008
|
As of
December 31,
2007
|
|||||
Assets
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|||||
Current
assets:
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
555,754
|
$
|
720,402
|
|||
Marketable
securities
|
888,760
|
2,635,892
|
|||||
Accounts
receivable
|
205,270
|
3,447,039
|
|||||
Accounts
receivable - related party
|
-
|
6,127,727
|
|||||
Prepaid
expenses
|
41,019
|
58,872
|
|||||
Other
current assets
|
687,865
|
674,235
|
|||||
Total
current assets
|
2,378,668
|
13,664,167
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
21,974,076
|
19,585,087
|
|||||
Intangible
assets
|
183,334
|
233,334
|
|||||
Other
assets
|
74,447
|
68,488
|
|||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
24,610,525
|
$
|
33,551,076
|
|||
|
|||||||
Liabilities
and Stockholders' Equity
|
|||||||
Current
liabilities:
|
|||||||
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
$
|
4,446,157
|
$
|
9,985,639
|
|||
Income
taxes payable
|
47,347
|
36,750
|
|||||
Short
term borrowings (related party)
|
1,712,508
|
-
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
6,206,012
|
10,022,389
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Commitments
and contingencies (Notes 6, 7, 8, 13 and 16)
|
|||||||
Stockholders'
equity:
|
|||||||
Series
B Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value - 40,000,000 authorized; 6,270,491
and 6,487,491 shares issued and outstanding, respectively (aggregate
liquidation preference of $18,811,473 and
19,462,473)
|
6,270
|
6,487
|
|||||
Common
Stock - , $0.001 par value 400,000,000 authorized 84,785,920
and 84,557,462
shares issued and outstanding, respectively
|
84,785
|
84,557
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
34,072,405
|
33,707,953
|
|||||
Deficit
accumulated during the development stage
|
(17,228,210
|
)
|
(11,995,395
|
)
|
|||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
1,469,263
|
1,725,085
|
|||||
Total
stockholders' equity
|
18,404,513
|
23,528,687
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Total
liabilities and stockholders' equity
|
$
|
24,610,525
|
$
|
33,551,076
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial
statements
4
AE
BIOFUELS, INC.
(A
Development Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
|
Three Months Ended
|
|||||||||
|
March 31, 2008
|
March 31, 2007
|
From November 29,
2005 (Inception)
through March 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Sales
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
744,450
|
||||
|
||||||||||
Cost
of goods sold
|
-
|
-
|
735,000
|
|||||||
|
||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
-
|
-
|
9,450
|
|||||||
|
||||||||||
Research
and development
|
124,348
|
-
|
382,109
|
|||||||
General
and administrative expenses
|
1,962,005
|
1,440,446
|
22,776,471
|
|||||||
|
||||||||||
Operating
loss
|
(2,086,353
|
)
|
(1,440,446
|
)
|
(23,149,130
|
)
|
||||
|
||||||||||
Other
income / (expense)
|
||||||||||
Interest
income net of expense
|
13,541
|
(38,137
|
)
|
111,290
|
||||||
Other
income net of expenses
|
35,961
|
-
|
224,277
|
|||||||
Gain
from sale of subsidiaries and dissolution of joint venture
|
-
|
854,695
|
9,061,141
|
|||||||
Gain
(loss) on foreign currency exchange
|
-
|
-
|
497,954
|
|||||||
Shareholder
agreement cancellation payment
|
(900,000
|
)
|
-
|
(900,000
|
)
|
|||||
Registration
rights payment
|
(2,274,402
|
)
|
-
|
(2,274,402
|
)
|
|||||
Income
related to 50/50 joint venture
|
182,923
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
Loss
before income taxes
|
(5,211,253
|
)
|
(623,888
|
)
|
(16,245,947
|
)
|
||||
|
||||||||||
Income
taxes
|
(21,561
|
)
|
-
|
(100,145
|
)
|
|||||
|
||||||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(5,232,814
|
)
|
$
|
(623,888
|
)
|
$
|
(16,346,092
|
)
|
|
|
||||||||||
Loss
per common share
|
||||||||||
Basic
and diluted
|
(0.06
|
)
|
(0.01
|
)
|
(0.22
|
)
|
||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding
|
||||||||||
Basic
and diluted
|
84,565,639
|
74,868,020
|
75,063,415
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial
statements
5
AE
BIOFUELS, INC.
(A
Development Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
|
From November
29, 2005
(Inception)
through March
|
|||||||||
March 31, 2008
|
|
March 31, 2007
|
31, 2008
|
|||||||
Operating
activities:
|
||||||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(5,232,814
|
)
|
$
|
(623,887
|
)
|
$
|
(16,346,092
|
)
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to
|
||||||||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
|
||||||||||
Stock
based compensation
|
364,463
|
45,409
|
2,002,423
|
|||||||
Expired
land options
|
445,124
|
|||||||||
Amortization
and depreciation
|
53,131
|
-
|
122,906
|
|||||||
Registration
rights payment
|
2,274,402
|
-
|
2,274,402
|
|||||||
Gain
on sale of subsidiary
|
-
|
(854,695
|
)
|
(854,695
|
)
|
|||||
Loss
on impairment of assets
|
-
|
-
|
5,114,236
|
|||||||
Gain
on dissolution of joint venture
|
-
|
-
|
(8,206,446
|
)
|
||||||
Gains
on forward currency contracts
|
-
|
-
|
(436,154
|
)
|
||||||
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
9,285,211
|
(395,700
|
)
|
351,936
|
||||||
Prepaid
expenses
|
3,647
|
43,501
|
(57,150
|
)
|
||||||
Other
assets
|
(5,999
|
)
|
(2,167,297
|
)
|
410,768
|
|||||
Accounts
payable
|
(8,719,500
|
)
|
(422,680
|
)
|
655,432
|
|||||
Other
liabilities
|
999,673
|
1,250
|
944,428
|
|||||||
Income
taxes payable
|
11,048
|
-
|
46,011
|
|||||||
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(966,738
|
)
|
(4,374,099
|
)
|
(13,532,871
|
)
|
||||
|
||||||||||
Investing
activities:
|
-
|
|||||||||
Purchases
of property, plant and equipment
|
(2,627,350
|
)
|
(3,525,592
|
)
|
(29,468,453
|
)
|
||||
Purchases
of marketable securities
|
-
|
-
|
(2,459,292
|
)
|
||||||
Sales
of marketable securities
|
1,718,116
|
-
|
1,718,116
|
|||||||
Cash
restricted by letter of credit
|
-
|
-
|
(500,000
|
)
|
||||||
Purchase
of Marwich II, Ltd., net of losses
|
-
|
-
|
(662,406
|
)
|
||||||
Exchange
rate gain
|
-
|
(46,820
|
)
|
(193,399
|
)
|
|||||
Additions
to other assets and intangibles
|
-
|
-
|
(1,073,872
|
)
|
||||||
Refund
of property expenditures
|
-
|
-
|
2,775,000
|
|||||||
Return
of assets from disolution of joint venture
|
-
|
-
|
8,206,446
|
|||||||
Sale
of Wahoo facility
|
-
|
2,000,000
|
2,000,000
|
|||||||
Net
cash used in investing acivities
|
(909,234
|
)
|
(1,572,412
|
)
|
(19,657,860
|
)
|
||||
|
||||||||||
Financing
activities:
|
||||||||||
Proceeds
from (payments of) short term borrowings
|
1,712,508
|
(750,000
|
)
|
1,712,508
|
||||||
Proceeds
from long-term debt
|
-
|
-
|
250,000
|
|||||||
Payments
on long-term debt
|
-
|
(241,071
|
)
|
(250,000
|
)
|
|||||
Proceeds
from settlement
|
-
|
-
|
200,000
|
|||||||
Refund
of investment
|
-
|
-
|
(90,000
|
)
|
||||||
Proceeds
from sale of preferred stock, net of offering costs
|
-
|
7,860,630
|
31,910,512
|
|||||||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
1,712,508
|
6,869,559
|
33,733,020
|
|||||||
Effect
of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents
|
(1,184
|
)
|
-
|
13,465
|
||||||
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for
period
|
(164,648
|
)
|
923,048
|
555,754
|
||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents, beginning of period
|
720,402
|
1,213,134
|
-
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents, end of period
|
$
|
555,754
|
$
|
2,136,182
|
$
|
555,754
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial
statements
6
AE
BIOFUELS, INC.
(A
DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1.
Nature
of Activities and Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies.
Nature
of Activities.
These
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AE Biofuels, Inc.,
a
Nevada corporation, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, American Ethanol, Inc.
(“American”), a Nevada corporation; Sutton Ethanol, LLC (“Sutton”), a Nebraska
limited liability company; Illinois Valley Ethanol, LLC (“Illinois Valley”), an
Illinois limited liability company; Biofuels Marketing, Inc., a Delaware
corporation; International Biodiesel, Inc., a Nevada corporation and its
subsidiaries International Biofuels, Ltd, a Mauritius corporation and its
subsidiary Universal Biofuels Private Ltd, an India company; Danville Ethanol,
Inc., an Illinois corporation; and Energy Enzymes Inc., a Delaware corporation,
collectively, (“AE Biofuels” or “the Company”).
The
Company’s purpose is to develop, acquire, construct, operate and sell fuel grade
ethanol and biodiesel from ethanol and biodiesel production facilities primarily
located in the United States and India. The Company is a development stage
company and as such, does not expect to generate any meaningful revenue until
its plants are completely constructed and operational, or operational plants
have been acquired. Since inception, the Company has engaged in (i) fund raising
through the sale of stock, (ii) purchased or acquired options to purchase land
for development of ethanol plants in the United States, (iii) completed
construction of a biodiesel manufacturing facility in Kakinada, India through
a
joint venture among International Biodiesel, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary,
Universal Biofuels Private, Ltd., a Mauritius corporation, and Acalmar, an
India
corporation (iv) started ground work for an ethanol facility in Sutton,
Nebraska, and (v) began the construction of a glycerin refining operation at
the
Kakinada plant.
AE
Biofuels was originally formed in California on September 12, 2001 as Great
Valley Ventures LLC, however, no operating agreement was adopted and no capital
was contributed until November 29, 2005. Between September 2001 and November
2005 the Company had no operations and engaged in no activities. From November
2005 through December 2005, the Company commenced development activities with
the addition of key advisors, management, and additional founding shareholders.
On January 12, 2006, the company was renamed American Ethanol, LLC. On February
23, 2006, American Ethanol, LLC merged into American Ethanol, Inc., a Nevada
corporation.
On
June
23, 2006, American Ethanol acquired 88.3% of the outstanding common stock of
Marwich II, Ltd. (“Marwich”). Marwich was a shell company with no operations. On
December 7, 2007, American Ethanol merged with and into Marwich and (i) each
issued and outstanding share of American Ethanol common stock (including common
stock issued upon conversion of American Ethanol Series A Preferred Stock,
which
automatically converted into two common stock shares for each share of Series
A
Preferred Stock immediately prior to the closing of the Merger) and Series
B
Preferred Stock (also convertible into common stock at the holders discretion)
converted into Series B Preferred Stock, respectively, of Marwich, and (ii)
each
issued and outstanding warrant and/or option exercisable for common stock of
American Ethanol was assumed and converted into a warrant and/or option
exercisable for common stock of Marwich. Marwich then changed its name to AE
Biofuels, Inc.
Basis
of Presentation and Consolidation.
The
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its
wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have
been
eliminated. The accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2008,
the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March
31,
2008 and 2007, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the three
months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 are unaudited. The consolidated balance
sheet data as of December 31, 2007 was derived from the 2007 audited
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto. The condensed consolidated
financial statements in this report should be read in conjunction with the
2007
audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the
Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
The
accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements
as of
March 31, 2008 and for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 have
been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States (GAAP) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities
and
Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally
included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or
omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.
In
the
opinion of management, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial
statements as of December 31, 2007 and for the three months ended March 31,
2008
and 2007 have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated
statements and reflect all adjustments, which are normal recurring adjustments,
necessary for the fair presentation of its statement of financial position,
results of operations and cash flows. The results of operations for the three
months ended March 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the operating
results for any subsequent quarter, for the full fiscal year or any future
periods.
7
Use
of Estimates.
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities
and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements as well as the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting
period. Significant estimates, assumptions and judgments made by management
include the determination of impairment of long-lived assets, the valuation
of
equity instruments such as options and warrants, and the accrual for the
payments under the Company's registration rights agreement with certain of
its
shareholders and managements judgement about contingent liabilities. Management
believes that the estimates and judgments upon which they rely are reasonable
based upon information available to them at the time that these estimates and
judgments are made. To the extent there are material differences between these
estimates and actual results, the Company’s consolidated financial statements
will be affected.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments.
The carrying amounts of cash equivalents, marketable securities, land options,
accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their respective fair
values due to their short-term maturities. Our fair value instruments that
require remeasurement are valued by the institution that holds the
instruments. Due to the nature of these instruments, which are essentially
time
deposits, there is little risk of variances between the reported basis by the
holding institution and the fair value.
Reclassifications.
Certain
prior year amounts were reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
These reclassifications had no impact on previously reported net loss or deficit
accumulated during the development stage.
Revenue
recognition.
The
Company recognizes revenue when products are shipped and services are rendered,
the price is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably
assured.
Cash
and Cash Equivalents.
The
Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of
three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Marketable
Securities.
The
Company’s short-term investments consist primarily of short term time deposits
in India banks, which represented funds available for plant completion and
current operations. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (“SFAS”) No. 115, Accounting
for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities,
these
short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and are carried
at
fair market value. These securities had stated maturities beyond three months
but were priced and traded as short-term instruments. Available-for-sale
securities are marked-to-market based on quoted market values of the securities,
with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported as a component of
accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Realized gains and losses on
sales of available-for-sale securities are computed based upon the initial
cost
adjusted for any other-than-temporary declines in fair value. The cost of
investments sold is determined on the specific identification
method.
Property,
Plant and Equipment.
Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation
after assets are placed in service and are comprised primarily of land acquired
for development of production facilities, and the biodiesel plant in India.
The
estimated useful life of this plant is expected to be 20 years, once placed
in
service. Estimated useful lives for office equipment and computers is 3 years
and the useful life of machinery and equipment is 7 years. Depreciation is
provided using the straight line method over the useful life of the
assets.
Intangible
Assets.
Intangible assets are carried at initial fair value less accumulated
amortization over the estimated useful life. Amortization is computed over
the
estimated useful lives of the underlying assets using a method that
reflects their utilization pattern.
Stock
Splits.
On
February 28, 2006 and on May 18, 2006, the Company’s board of directors declared
a two-for-one stock split. All share amounts have been retroactively adjusted
to
reflect the stock splits.
Research
and Development.
Research
and development costs are expensed as incurred.
Income
Taxes.
The
Company recognizes income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standard No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“ SFAS 109”),
using an asset and liability approach. This approach requires the recognition
of
taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax assets and
liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been
recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements or tax returns.
The measurement of current and deferred taxes is based on provisions of enacted
tax law.
SFAS 109
provides for recognition of deferred tax assets if the realization of such
assets is more likely than not to occur. Otherwise, a valuation allowance is
established for the deferred tax assets which may not be realized. As of
December 31, 2007, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance against
its
net deferred tax assets due to operating losses incurred since inception.
Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon future earnings, if any,
the timing and amount of which are uncertain. Accordingly, the net deferred
tax
assets were fully offset by a valuation allowance.
The
Company is subject to income tax audits by the respective tax authorities in
all
of the jurisdictions in which it operates. The determination of tax liabilities
in each of these jurisdictions requires the interpretation and application
of
complex and sometimes uncertain tax laws and regulations. The recognition and
measurement of current taxes payable or refundable and deferred tax assets
and
liabilities requires that the Company make certain estimates and judgments.
Changes to these estimates or a change in judgment may have a material impact
on
the Company’s tax provision in a future period.
8
Effective
January 1, 2007, the Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48,
“Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation on FASB
Statement No. 109” ("FIN 48"), which requires a more-likely-than-not
threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions
taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company records a liability
for the difference between the benefit recognized and measured pursuant to
FIN 48 and the tax position taken or expected to be taken on its tax
return. To the extent that the Company’s assessment of such tax position
changes, the change in estimate is recorded in the period in which the
determination is made. With the adoption of FIN 48, the Company also began
reporting tax-related interest and penalties as a component of income tax
expense.
Long -
Lived Assets.
The
Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets with finite lives
in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144,
"Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long- Lived
Assets" (“SFAS
144”), which requires recognition of impairment of long-lived assets whenever
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an
asset
may not be recoverable. When events or changes in circumstances indicate that
the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable based on estimated
undiscounted cash flows, the impairment loss would be measured as the difference
between the carrying amount of the assets and its fair value based on the
present value of estimated future cash flows.
Net
Loss Per Share.
Basic
loss per share is computed by dividing loss attributable to common shareholders
by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period,
net
of shares subject to repurchase. Diluted loss per share reflects the dilution
of
common stock equivalents such as options, convertible preferred stock and
warrants, to the extent the impact is dilutive. As the Company incurred net
losses for the three month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 and on a
cumulative basis, potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the
diluted net loss per share computations as their effect would be anti-dilutive.
The weighted-average number of potentially dilutive shares excluded from the
diluted net loss per share calculation for March 31, 2008 and 2007 and on a
cumulative basis was 11,454,809, 14,874,820 and 8,519,004,
respectively.
Comprehensive
Income.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130, "Reporting
Comprehensive Income"
("SFAS
130"), requires that an enterprise report, by major components and as a single
total, the change in its net assets from non-owner sources. The Company’s other
comprehensive income consists primarily of foreign currency translation
adjustments.
Foreign
Currency Translation/Transactions.
Assets
and liabilities of non-U.S. subsidiaries that operate in a local currency
environment, where that local currency is the functional currency, are
translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the balance
sheet date; with the resulting translation adjustments directly recorded to
a
separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Income and expense
accounts are translated at average exchange rates during the year. Gains and
losses from foreign currency transactions are recorded in other income (loss),
net. The functional currency is the local currency for all
non-U.S. subsidiaries.
Restricted
Stock.
The
Company has granted restricted stock awards, restricted by a service condition,
with vesting periods of up to 3 years. Restricted stock awards are valued using
the fair market value of the Company’s common stock as of the date grant. The
Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight line basis over the
requisite service period of the award. The remaining unvested shares are subject
to forfeitures and restrictions on sale, or transfer, up until the vesting
date.
Stock-Based
Compensation Expense.
Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted the fair value recognition provisions
of SFAS No. 123 (Revised 2004), “Share-Based
Payment”
(“SFAS
123(R)”), requiring us to recognize expense related to the fair value of our
stock-based compensation awards adjusted to reflect only those shares that
are
expected to vest. Our implementation of SFAS 123(R) used the
modified-prospective-transition method where the compensation cost related
to
each unvested option as of January 1, 2006, was recalculated and any
necessary adjustment was recorded in the first quarter of adoption.
We
made
the following estimates and assumptions in determining fair value:
·
|
Valuation
and amortization method —
We estimate the fair value of stock options granted using the
Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing formula and a single option award
approach. This fair value is then amortized on a straight-line basis
over
the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the
vesting period.
|
·
|
Expected
Term —
The expected term represents the weighted-average period that our
stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. We applied the
“Simplified Method” as defined in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 and
110.
|
·
|
Expected
Volatility —
The Company’s expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of
comparable public companies.
|
9
·
|
Expected
Dividend —
The Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model calls for a single expected
dividend yield as an input. The Company currently pays no dividends
and
does not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable
future.
|
·
|
Risk-Free
Interest Rate —
The Company bases the risk-free interest rate on the implied yield
currently available on United States Treasury zero-coupon issues
with an
equivalent remaining term.
|
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157, “Fair
Value Measurements”
(“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework and
gives guidance regarding the methods used in measuring fair value, and expands
disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is applicable whenever
another accounting pronouncement requires or permits assets and liabilities
to
be measured at fair value. SFAS 157 does not expand or require any new fair
value measures, however the application of this statement may change current
practice. On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS 157 and the adoption
of
this statement had no material effect on the Company’s financial
statements
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The
Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including
an
Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115”
("SFAS
159") . This statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial
instruments and certain other items at fair value. The fair value option may
be
elected on an instrument-by-instrument basis, with few exceptions. SFAS 159
also
establishes presentation and disclosure requirement to facilitate comparisons
between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar
assets and liabilities.
On
January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS 159 and the adoption of this statement
had no material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business
Combinations”
(“SFAS
141R”). This statement changes the accounting for acquisition transaction costs
by requiring them to be expensed in the period incurred, and also changes the
accounting for contingent consideration, acquired contingencies and
restructuring costs related to an acquisition. Also in December 2007, the FASB
issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling
Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements-an amendment of ARB No.
51”
(“SFAS
160”). This statement will change the accounting and reporting for minority
interests, which will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests, classified
as a component of equity and accounted for at fair value. SFAS 141(R) and SFAS
160 are effective for the Company’s 2009 financial statements. Early adoption is
prohibited. The effect the adoption of SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160 will
have on the Company’s financial statements will depend on the nature and size of
acquisitions we complete after we adopt SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160.
2.
Ability
to Continue as a Going Concern.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a going concern
basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of
liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has experienced losses
and negative cash flow since inception and currently has an accumulated deficit.
These factors raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going
concern. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on
several factors.
The
Company has had minimal revenues and has incurred losses due to start up costs
from inception through March 31, 2008. The Company has raised approximately
$31.8 million dollars to date through the sale of preferred stock. An additional
$2 million of cash has been generated through the sale of its subsidiary, Wahoo
Ethanol, LLC, with an additional $8 million through the dissolution of the
Sutton Ethanol joint venture. The Company will have to raise significantly
more
capital and secure a significant amount of debt to complete its business plan
and continue as a going concern. In addition, the recent increase in feedstock
prices has significantly decreased the margin available to ethanol and biodiesel
producers on each gallon produced. The Company has no ethanol or biodiesel
plants in operation as of March 31, 2008. Management plans to begin operations
of its biodiesel facility in India and begin importing biodiesel for sale in
the
U.S. during 2008. Although the biodiesel plant will provide some cash flow,
it
will be insufficient to allow development of additional ethanol
facilities.
Management
believes that it will be able to raise additional capital through equity
offerings and debt financings. Should the Company not be able to raise
sufficient capital through equity or debt financings, it may be forced to sell
proposed plant sites to other ethanol producers to generate cash to continue
the
Company’s business plan. The Company’s goal is to raise additional funds needed
to construct and operate ethanol and biodiesel facilities through stock
offerings and debt financings.
10
3.
Property,
Plant and Equipment.
Property,
plant and equipment consist of the following:
March
31,
2008
|
December
31,
2007
|
||||||
Land
|
$
|
3,798,518
|
$
|
3,734,623
|
|||
Furniture
and fixtures
|
52,747
|
52,747
|
|||||
Construction
in progress
|
18,128,882
|
15,800,752
|
|||||
Total
gross property, plant and equipment
|
21,980,147
|
19,588,122
|
|||||
Less
accumulated depreciation
|
(6,071
|
)
|
(3,035
|
)
|
|||
Total
net property, plant and equipment
|
$
|
21,974,076
|
$
|
19,585,087
|
4.
Other
Assets.
Other
assets consists of payments for land options for possible future ethanol plants,
Web domain names purchased by the Company, purchased customer lists, prepaid
expenses, deposits and contract lease prepayments.
|
March
31,
2008
|
December
31,
2007
|
|||||
Current
|
|||||||
Letter
of credit securing material purchases
|
$
|
500,000
|
$
|
500,000
|
|||
Land
options
|
164,536
|
164,536
|
|||||
Other
|
23,329
|
9,699
|
|||||
|
$
|
687,865
|
$
|
674,235
|
|||
Long
Term
|
|||||||
Domain
names
|
46,098
|
46,098
|
|||||
Deposits
|
28,349
|
22,390
|
|||||
|
$
|
74,447
|
$
|
68,488
|
5.
Intangible
Assets.
Intangible
assets consist of purchased customer lists (acquired in 2007 in connection
with
the Biofuels Marketing acquisition discussed in Note 11), which is being
amortized over an estimated useful life of 18 months. Intangible assets had
a
net carrying amount of $183,334 and $233,334 as of March 31, 2008 and December
31, 2007, respectively.
6.
Debt.
On
February 8 and 26, 2008, Laird Cagan, a director and related party, provided
project financing to the Energy Enzymes subsidiary in the amount of $500,000
at
a 10% interest per annum due and payable on December 31, 2008. Additional
borrowings were made under this loan arrangement in the amount of $300,000
on
February 26, 2008, $300,000 on March 14, 2008 , and $600,000 on March 27, 2008.
7.
Operating
Leases.
The
Company has non-cancelable operating leases primarily for office space, and
a
research and development facility in Butte, Montana. These leases expire at
various dates through October 14, 2009. The operating lease for the Butte,
Montana facility grants the lessee the right to purchase the land and building
underlying the lease at the end of each lease year.
11
Future
minimum operating lease payments as of March 31, 2008 are:
8.
Stockholders
Equity.
The
Company is authorized to issue up to 400,000,000 shares of common stock,
$0.001 par value per share and 65,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001
par
value per share.
Our
Articles of Incorporation authorize our board to issue up to 65,000,000 shares
of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, in one or more classes or series
within a class upon authority of the board without further stockholder approval.
There were 6,270,491 and 6,487,491 shares of Series B preferred stock issued
and
outstanding as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007,
respectively.
Significant
terms of the designated preferred stock are as follows:
Voting.
Holders
of our Series B preferred stock are entitled to the number of votes equal to
the
number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Preferred Stock held
by such holder could be converted as of the record date. Cumulative voting
with
respect to the election of directors is not allowed. Currently, each share
of
Series B preferred stock is entitled to one vote per share. In addition, without
obtaining the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred
stock, the Company cannot:
·
|
Increase
or decrease (other than by redemption or conversion) the total number
of
authorized shares of Series B preferred
stock;
|
·
|
Effect
an exchange, reclassification, or cancellation of all or a part of
the
Series B preferred stock, including a reverse stock split, but excluding
a
stock split;
|
·
|
Effect
an exchange, or create a right of exchange, of all or part of the
shares
of another class of shares into shares of Series B preferred stock;
or
|
·
|
Alter
or change the rights, preferences or privileges of the shares of
Series B
preferred stock so as to affect adversely the shares of such
series.
|
Dividends.
Holders
of all of our shares of Series B preferred stock are entitled to receive
non-cumulative dividends payable in preference and prior to any declaration
or
payment of any dividend on common stock as may from time to time be declared
by
the board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose at the
rate of 5% of the original purchase price of such shares of preferred stock.
No
dividends may be made with respect to our common stock until all declared
dividends on the preferred stock have been paid or set aside for payment to
the
preferred stock holders. To date, no dividends have been declared.
Liquidation
Preference.
In the
event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of
the Company, the holders of the Series B preferred stock are entitled to
receive, prior and in preference to any payment to the holders of the common
stock, $3.00 per share plus all declared but unpaid dividends (if any) on the
Series B preferred stock. If the Company’s assets legally available for
distribution to the holders of the Series B preferred stock are insufficient
to
permit the payment to such holders of their full liquidation preference, then
the Company’s entire assets legally available for distribution are distributed
to the holders of the Series B preferred stock in proportion to their
liquidation preferences. After the payment to the holders of the Series B
preferred stock of their liquidation preference, the Company’s remaining assets
legally available for distribution are distributed to the holders of the common
stock in proportion to the number of shares of common stock held by them. A
liquidation, dissolution or winding up includes (a) the acquisition of the
Company by another entity by means of any transaction or series of related
transactions to which the Company is party (including, without limitation,
any
stock acquisition, reorganization, merger or consolidation but excluding any
sale of stock for capital raising purposes) that results in the voting
securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto failing to
represent immediately after such transaction or series of transactions (either
by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the
surviving entity or the entity that controls such surviving entity) a majority
of the total voting power represented by the outstanding voting securities
of
the Company, such surviving entity or the entity that controls such surviving
entity, or (b) a sale, lease or other conveyance of all or substantially all
of
the assets of the Company.
12
Conversion.
Holders
of Series B preferred stock have the right, at their option at any time, to
convert their shares of Series B preferred stock into common stock at the then
effective conversion rate. The conversion ratio is subject to adjustment from
time to time in the event of certain dilutive issuances and events, such as
stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, reclassifications, exchanges
and the like. In addition, at such time as a registration statement covering
the
resale of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series
B
preferred stock has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), all outstanding Series B preferred stock shall be
automatically converted into common stock at the then effective conversion
rate.
Registration
Rights Payment
Certain
holders of shares of our common stock (including holders of warrants exercisable
for common stock) and holders of shares of our Series B preferred stock
(including holders of warrants exercisable for Series B preferred stock) are
entitled to have their shares of common stock (including common stock issuable
upon conversion of Series B preferred stock and exercise of warrants) registered
under the Securities Act. Registration of these shares under the Securities
Act
would result in these shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under
the Securities Act.
The
registration rights granted by the Company require the Company to pay to the
holders of these rights an amount equal to 0.5% of the aggregate dollar amount
of securities purchased by such investors for each month or portion thereof
after January 6, 2007 if the Company fails to file a registration statement
with
the SEC. The payments are treated as liquidated
damages and not as a penalty and are full compensation to the investors, and
shall constitute the investor's exclusive remedy for such events. At the
Company’s option, the amounts payable as liquidated damages may be paid in cash
or in shares of the Company's common stock.
The
maximum time the shares will be restricted is twelve months, as the
securities may be sold under Rule 144, beginning December 12, 2008, at which
time the payment obligation shall cease. The shares that Company expects to
issue to these shareholders for the 12 month period ended December 12, 2008
shares of its common stock with an aggregate value of $2,274,402, which were
expensed as a Registration Rights Payment and reflected as a component of Other
income/expense in the Statement of Operations for the three months ended March
31, 2008.
In
connection with the sale of our Series A and B preferred stock, we issued to
our
placement agent warrants to purchase a number of shares of our common stock
representing up to 8% of the shares of Series A and Series B preferred stock
sold. The warrants are exercisable for a period of seven years from the date
of
issuance, have a net exercise provision and are transferable. The shares of
the
Company’s common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants must be included
in any registration statement filed by the Company with the SEC. Further,
subject to certain conditions, the Company has indemnified the placement agents
and affiliated broker-dealers against certain civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
A
summary
of warrant activity for placement agent warrants for 2007 and 2006 is as
follows:
Number of
Warrants
|
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
|
Warrants
Exercisable
|
Remaining
Term
(years)
|
||||||||||
Outstanding, December 31, 2007
|
1,548,074
|
2.22
|
1,548,074
|
6.1
|
|||||||||
Granted
|
|||||||||||||
Exercised
|
(14,583
|
)
|
-
|
(14,583
|
)
|
||||||||
Outstanding,
March 31, 2008
|
1,533,491
|
$
|
2.22
|
1,533,491
|
5.85
|
The
warrants are considered equity instruments. Since they were issued as a cost
of
the issuance of the Series A and B preferred stock, the fair value of these
warrants has effectively been netted against the preferred stock sale
proceeds.
One
member of AE Biofuels’ board of directors and a significant shareholder of the
Company is a registered representative of the placement agent. He received
a
portion of the compensation paid to the placement agent and received 976,721
of
the warrants issued pursuant to the Series A and B financings (discussed in
Note
14).
13
Warrants
In
July
2007, we issued 1,200,000 revocable warrants to Thames Advisory, Ltd. and paid
$200,000 in consulting fees with respect to a proposed $200 million debt
facility. The warrants are earned if the facility is secured before June 30,
2008. To date no warrants have been earned.
In
February 2007, we issued 5,000 warrants to a consultant as compensation for
services rendered. These warrants are immediately exercisable at $3.00 per
share.
Common
Stock Reserved for Issuance
AE
Biofuels authorized the issuance of 4,000,000 shares under its 2007 Stock Plan
for stock option awards, which includes both incentive and non-statutory stock
options. These options generally expire ten years from the date of grant and
are
exercisable at any time after the date of the grant, subject to vesting. Shares
issued upon exercise prior to vesting are subject to a right of repurchase,
which lapses according to the vesting schedule of the original
option.
The
following is a summary of options granted under the 2007 Stock
Plan:
Shares
|
Options
Outstanding
|
|||||||||
|
Available
|
Number
|
Weighted-Average
|
|||||||
|
For Grant
|
of Shares
|
Exercise Price
|
|||||||
Balance
as of December 31, 2007
|
2,016,000
|
1,984,000
|
$
|
3.00
|
||||||
Authorized
|
-
|
|||||||||
Granted
|
-
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
||||||
Exercised
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||
Canceled
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||
Balance
as of March 31, 2008
|
2,016,000
|
1,984,000
|
$
|
3.00
|
The
weighted average remaining contractual term is 9.53 years at March 31, 2008.
The
aggregate intrinsic value of the shares outstanding at March 31, 2008 is
$11,606,000. The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pretax
intrinsic value, based on the excess of the Company’s closing stock price of
$8.85 as of March 31, 2008 over the option holders’ strike price, which
would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised
their options as of that date. The weighted average grant fair value of these
awards is $1.13.
Included
in the table above are 517,000 options issued to consultants in November 2007.
These options had an exercise price of $3.00 and generally vest over 3 years.
At March 31, 2008 the weighted average remaining contractual term was 4.7
years. The Company recorded expense of $296,071 which reflects the fair value
valuation and periodic fair value remeasurement of outstanding consultant
options under Emerging Issues Take Force, or EITF, No. 96-18, “Accounting for
Equity Instruments That are Issued to Other Employees for Acquiring, or in
Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services,” (“EITF 96-18”). The valuation
using the Black-Scholes model is based upon the current market value of our
common stock and other current assumptions, including the expected term
(contractual term for consultant options). The Company records the expense
related to consultant options using the accelerated expense pattern prescribed
in EITF 96-18.
Options
vested and exercisable at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 were 909,250
and
817,000, with weighted average exercise prices of $2.87 and $2.85,
respectively.
Non-Plan
Stock Options
In
2006,
the Company issued 290,000 stock options outside of any stock option plan,
of
which 50,000 were forfeited during 2007. For the remaining 240,000 options
outstanding as of March 31, 2008, the weighted average remaining contractual
term is 7.89 years. The grant date fair value of this award is
$0.25.
10.
Stock- Based Compensation.
The
Company incurred stock compensation expense of $364,463 in the three months
ended March 31, 2008 and $2,223 in the three months ended March 31, 2007 for
options granted to our general and administrative employees and
consultants. Therefore, all stock option expense was classified as general
and
administrative expense.
Valuation
and Expense Information under SFAS 123(R)
There
were no options granted within the three month period ended March 31,
2008.
14
As
of
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, there was $2,235,499 and $2,585,196,
respectively, of total unrecognized compensation expense under FAS 123R, net
of
estimated forfeitures, related to stock options that the Company will amortize
over the next four fiscal years.
E85
Joint Venture.
On
January 17, 2007, American Ethanol, Inc. received a $5 million advance from
E85,
Inc., a Delaware corporation pursuant to a signed Memorandum of Understanding
between the parties. E85, Inc. is an entity primarily owned by Mr. C.
Sivasankaran, the founder and Chairman of Siva Limited, Sterling Infotech,
and
other businesses.
Subsequently,
on March 1, 2007, American Ethanol entered into various agreements, including
a
Joint Development Agreement, with E85, Inc. The transactions caused no dilution
to American Ethanol shareholders, and no shares or warrants were issued. Terms
of the agreement included binding terms related to funding the expected $200
million construction of American Ethanol’s Sutton, Nebraska ethanol plant, as
well as non-binding terms related to funding three additional ethanol
plants.
The
American Ethanol agreements with E85 included the following terms:
· |
American
Ethanol agreed to sell all of its interest in and to its wholly-owned
subsidiary, Wahoo Ethanol, LLC, to E85 for the purchase price of
$2
million, resulting in a gain on sale to American Ethanol of
$854,000;
|
· |
In
addition, American Ethanol would have the lead responsibility to
negotiate, on behalf of Sutton Ethanol, LLC, the terms and conditions
of a
turnkey, engineering, procurement and construction contract ("EPC
Contract") with a suitable qualified construction contractor
("Contractor"), which EPC Contract would have terms and conditions
sufficient to allow the Sutton Project to obtain, on commercially
reasonable terms, non-recourse construction and term loan financing
in an
amount of approximately $100,000,000 (the "Financing"), including,
without
limitation, a completion guarantee from the Contractor that would
be
backed by a performance bond. E85 would assist American Ethanol in
such
negotiations as reasonably requested by American Ethanol. In addition,
American Ethanol would have the lead responsibility to negotiate,
on
behalf of Sutton Ethanol, LLC, the terms and conditions of the Financing.
E85 would assist American Ethanol in such negotiations as reasonably
requested by American Ethanol;
|
· |
E85
and American Ethanol agreed that American Ethanol would enter into
a
management agreement with Sutton Ethanol, LLC to manage the operation
of
the Sutton ethanol facility on such terms and conditions as are consistent
with an arms length management agreement for ethanol facilities of
a
similar type and size;
|
· |
E85
and American Ethanol agreed that American Ethanol or its biofuels
marketing subsidiary would enter into an exclusive marketing agreement
with Sutton Ethanol, LLC to market ethanol and any other products
from the
Sutton ethanol facility for a fee to American Ethanol of one percent
(1.0%) of gross sales, and on such terms and conditions as are consistent
with arms length marketing agreements for ethanol facilities of a
similar
type and size; and
|
· |
The
parties recited their intent to pursue the development and construction
of
three additional ethanol facilities on terms and conditions substantially
similar to those for the Sutton
Project.
|
In
addition, American Ethanol entered into the following credit facilities with
Siva Limited, a Bermuda corporation, an affiliated entity of E85,
Inc:
· |
Siva
Limited agreed to loan American Ethanol up to $4.5 million for the
purpose
of investing in American Ethanol’s International Biofuels subsidiary for
the continued construction of a 50 million gallon biodiesel facility.
If
the note was repaid prior to thirty days from the date of the advance,
no
interest would be due. If the note was not fully paid in that time
period,
interest would accrue at the rate of 2.5% per month and the note
would
mature 12 months from the date of closing. Interest was payable quarterly.
The loan was secured by a pledge by American Ethanol of 6% of the
membership units of Sutton Ethanol,
LLC
|
15
· |
Siva
Limited agreed to loan American Ethanol $32 million for the purpose
of
funding American Ethanol’s remaining equity contribution to Sutton
Ethanol, LLC. If the funds were borrowed, the loan would bear interest
at
the rate of 15% per annum, and would be due and payable on December
30,
2007. Interest was payable quarterly. The loan was secured by a pledge
by
American Ethanol of 35% of the membership units of Sutton Ethanol,
LLC.
American Ethanol was not obligated to borrow under this
facility.
|
In
connection with the agreements with E85 and Siva Limited described above, an
affiliate of Siva Limited purchased from Janikiram Ajjarapu all 8,100,000 shares
of common stock of American Ethanol held by Mr. Ajjarapu, a former officer
and
director of American Ethanol.
Prior
to
American Ethanol's acquisition of the Sutton and Wahoo membership interests,
Geneva Capital was engaged to perform certain consulting services in exchange
for cash and stock in the company. In June, 2006, Geneva Capital brought action
against Sutton and Wahoo claiming breach of contract under these agreements.
Janikiram Ajjarapu and American Ethanol agreed to settle this litigation with
Geneva Capital, releasing American Ethanol from any liability related to this
litigation. In addition, American Ethanol received a reimbursement of legal
expenses in the amount of $200,000 which was recorded as additional paid in
capital. The settlement and stock sale transaction, subject to final closing
conditions, closed in March 2007.
On
August
14, 2007 by mutual agreement of the parties, American Ethanol and E-85 dissolved
their joint venture. American Ethanol purchased E-85’s 50% interest in the
Sutton Joint Venture for $16 million in cash which they borrowed on a short
term
basis from the Joint Venture. As part of this repurchase, American Ethanol
terminated its design contract with Delta T and wrote off approximately $5.2
million in design work previously performed by Delta T and its contractors.
This $5.2 million is included as an expense of the company as of December 31,
2007. To compensate American Ethanol for this loss, American Ethanol was allowed
to retain the remaining $8 million invested in the JV by E-85. This $8 million
gain has been included in the Statement of Operations as gain from sale of
subsidiary. All previous agreements between American Ethanol and E-85, including
the loan facilities with Siva Limited, were terminated as of the date of the
repurchase of the interest in Sutton.
Public
Company Acquisition.
On June
23, 2006, American Ethanol acquired approximately 88.3% of the outstanding
common stock of Marwich from three principal shareholders and directors of
Marwich for $675,000. The purchase price, net of current year expenses,
($662,406) was accounted for as a reduction of Additional Paid in Capital as
a
step in a reverse merger transaction. In connection with this transaction,
the
three directors of American Ethanol's management, were named as directors
of Marwich. Also on June 23, 2006, American Ethanol entered into an Agreement
and Plan of Merger (subsequently amended and restated on July 19, 2007) with
Marwich pursuant to which American Ethanol would merge with and into Marwich
and
(i) each issued and outstanding share of American Ethanol common stock
(including common stock issued upon conversion of American Ethanol Series A
preferred stock, which automatically converted into common stock immediately
prior to the closing of the Merger) and Series B preferred stock was converted
into Series B preferred stock which is convertible into common stock at the
holder’s discretion on a one for one basis, respectively, of Marwich, and (ii)
each issued and outstanding option and warrant exercisable for common stock
of
American Ethanol was assumed and converted into an option or warrant exercisable
for common stock of Marwich. Upon the effectiveness of the Merger, Marwich
changed its name to AE Biofuels, Inc. The 3,343,200 shares of Marwich purchased
by American Ethanol were retired upon the completion of the Merger.
On
December 7, 2007, the Merger was completed and the former shareholders of
American Ethanol were issued 84,114,998 shares of AE Biofuels, Inc. common
stock
in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of American Ethanol common stock,
6,487,491 shares of AE Biofuels, Inc. Series B preferred stock in exchange
for
all of the issued and outstanding shares of American Ethanol’s Series B
preferred stock, and assumed options and warrants exercisable for 4,229,000
shares of common stock and 748,074 shares of Series B preferred stock,
respectively. For accounting purposes, the Reverse Merger was treated as a
reverse acquisition with American Ethanol as the acquirer and the Company as
the
acquired party.
Marketing
Company Acquisition.
On
September 1, 2007, American Ethanol purchased the assets of Biofuels Marketing,
Inc., a Nevada corporation, in exchange for 200,000 shares of American
Ethanol common stock valued at $3.00 per share. Of the shares issued, 50% are
contingent upon the continued employment of Sanjeev Gupta and will be accounted
for as compensation expense as earned. Of the purchase price, $300,000 was
assigned to the primary asset acquired, which was a customer list, which is
being amortized over 18 months.
Technology
Company Formation: On February 28, 2007, in consideration for the agreement
to fund cellulosic ethanol development efforts, the Company acquired a 51%
interest in Energy Enzymes, Inc. The Company has the right to acquire the
remaining 49% for 1,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock upon the
fulfillment of certain performance milestones. As of March 31, 2008, the Company
had funded approximately $405,000 under this agreement.
India
Company Formation.
On July
14, 2006, the Company, through a wholly owned subsidiary, International
Biofuels, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, International Biodiesel, Ltd.,
LLC, a Mauritius incorporated company, entered into a joint venture biodiesel
project agreement with Acalmar Oils & Fats Limited, an Indian company. The
purpose of the joint venture was to build an approximate 50 MMGY biodiesel
production facility adjacent to the existing palm oil plant in Kakinada, India
with such fuel being exported from India to the U.S. for sale. By the terms
of
the agreement the Company agreed to contribute approximately $15.4 million
and
Acalmar agreed to contribute its edible palm oil facility in India to the joint
venture through a leasing arrangement. On August 22, 2007, the Company and
Acalmar mutually terminated this lease agreement.
On
January 23, 2008, International Biofuels, Ltd (IBL) agreed to terminate the
amended shareholder agreement with Acalmar oils and Fats, Ltd. (Alcamar)
including termination of Acalmar’s right to own or receive any ownership
interest in the joint venture biodiesel project. The total cancellation price
payable by IBL of $900,000 is payable on or before June 30, 2008 and
classified in our Statement of Operations as a shareholder agreement
cancellation payment. This joint venture has contributed income of $13,373
and
none to the consolidated income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007, repectively, principally from foreign currency exchange gains and interest
income. This income is not subject to U.S. Federal taxation until it is
repatriated.
16
12.
Land
options and purchases.
AE
Biofuels and its subsidiary, American Ethanol, Inc., has acquired options to
purchase land in various locations in Nebraska and Illinois. The terms of these
options are typically from one to two years and provide that AE Biofuels, Inc.
has the right to acquire the land for a set price per acre subject to the
satisfaction, in AE Biofuels' sole discretion, of its due
diligence.
The
aggregate purchase price of all land currently under option, if all options
are
exercised, is $10,014,230. Currently, AE Biofuels is evaluating each site as
to
the adequacy of utilities, zoning, subsurface structures and the like and the
exercise of any option will be dependent upon the result of the Company's
analysis of these and other factors.
13.
Commitments.
The
Company contracted with Desmet Bellastra India Pvt. Ltd. to build a glycerin
plant in Kakinada, India. At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, construction
contracts were outstanding for $1.85 million that will be funded with cash
currently held in our India subsidiary.
14.
Related party transactions.
A
director and significant shareholder of the Company loaned the Company
$1,700,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2008. The loan is a short term
note with a term of nine months from the date of issue and carries a 10% per
annum interest rate. The monies were used by the Company to pay operating
expenses and to meet payment related to our obligations operation in
India.
Chadbourn
Securities acted as one of the Company’s placement agents with respect to the
Company’s Series B Preferred Stock offering in 2007. One of the Company’s
directors and shareholders is an agent of Chadbourn and received payments from
Chadbourn related to the sale of stock along with other non-related parties.
The
Company and Eric A. McAfee, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
of the Board, are parties to an agreement pursuant to which the Company pays
Mr.
McAfee a monthly fee of $10,000 per month for services rendered to the Company
as a director and officer. For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007,
the Company paid Mr. McAfee $30,000 pursuant to this agreement.
The
Company and CM Consulting are parties to an agreement pursuant to which the
Company reimburses CM Consulting for a minimum of 20 hours per month of time
on
an aircraft owned by CM Consulting until February 2008. The Company paid an
upfront fee of $360,000 starting February 2006 for 24 months of usage. For
the
three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company expensed $30,000 and
$45,000 of this rental fee, respectively. CM Consulting is 50% owned by Eric
McAfee, a director, officer and significant shareholder of the Company. The
agreement has not been renewed as of March 31, 2008.
Cagan
McAfee Capital Partners is owned by two directors of the Company and provides
office services and advisory services under an advisory agreement with the
Company. For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company paid
Cagan McAfee Capital Partners $33,332 and $37,437 for advisory services, office
services and travel expenses. The Company engaged Cagan McAfee Capital Partners
in January 2006 for administrative, paralegal and staff support for $15,000
a
month for three years.
The
Industrial Company (TIC) and Delta-T are companies involved in the design and
construction of ethanol plants in the United States. In January 2006 they became
strategic partners and founding shareholders of the Company. In 2006 the Company
paid TIC and Delta-T approximately $7.5 million for services related to the
design and initial construction work on the Company’s Sutton Ethanol, LLC
ethanol plant facility. In August 2007 the Company and TIC terminated their
relationship, wrote off approximately $5.2 million in design work and
construction in progress. TIC and Delta-T and are no longer considered strategic
partners of the Company.
During
October and December 2007, the Company sold $6,127,727 of commodities to our
joint venture partner, Acalmar Oils and Fats, Ltd. Amounts due from Alcamar
Oils
and Fats, Ltd. have been presented on the balance sheet as Accounts receivable
-
related party. These sales were made at prevailing market
rates.
17
15.
Income
Tax.
The
Company files a consolidated federal income tax return. This return includes
all
corporate companies 80% or more owned by the Company as well as the Company’s
pro-rata share of taxable income from pass-through entities in which Company
holds an ownership interest. State tax returns are filed on a consolidated,
combined or separate basis depending on the applicable laws relating to the
Company and its subsidiaries.
We
do not
provide for U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of our foreign
subsidiaries, as we consider these to be permanently reinvested in the
operations of such subsidiaries. At December 31, 2007, these
undistributed earnings totaled approximately $598,000. If some of these
earnings were distributed, some countries may impose withholding taxes. In
addition, as foreign taxes have previously been paid on these earnings, we
would
expect to be entitled to a U.S. foreign tax credit that would reduce the U.S.
taxes owed on such distribution. As such, it is not practicable to
determine the net amount of the related unrecognized U.S. deferred tax
liability.
We
adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for
Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109”
(“FIN 48”), on January 1, 2007, and there was no impact to our
financial statements. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in
income tax positions. FIN 48 provides that the tax affects from an
uncertain tax position can be recognized in our financial statements only if
the
position is more-likely-than-not of being sustained on audit, based on the
technical merits of the position. Tax positions that meet the recognition
threshold are reported at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to
be
realized. This determination requires a high degree of judgment and
estimation. We periodically analyze and adjust amounts recorded for our
uncertain tax positions, as events occur to warrant adjustment, such as when
the
statutory period for assessing tax on a given tax return or period expires
or if
tax authorities provide administrative guidance or a decision is rendered in
the
courts. Most of our unrecognized tax benefits would affect our effective
tax rate if recognized. Furthermore, we do not reasonably expect the total
amounts of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly increase or decrease
within the next 12 months.
As
of
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, our unrecognized tax benefits were not
significant.
On
March
28, 2008, the Cordillera Fund, L.P. (“Cordillera”) filed a complaint in the
Clark County District Court of the State of Nevada against American Ethanol,
Inc. and AE Biofuels, Inc. The complaint seeks a judicial declaration that
Cordillera has a right to payment from the Company for its American Ethanol
shares at fair market value pursuant to Nevada’s Dissenters’ Rights
Statute, a judicial declaration that Cordillera is not a holder of Series
B
Convertible Preferred Stock in AE Biofuels under the provisions of that statute;
and a permanent injunction compelling the Company to apply the Dissenters’
Rights Statute to Cordillera’s shares and pay Cordillera reimbursement for its
attorneys fees and costs.
On
April
29, 2008, Defendants filed a Motion to Transfer Venue, seeking a transfer
to the
Second Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada, located in Washoe
County,
Nevada. The hearing for this Motion is set for June 3, 2008 in the Clark
County
District Court of the State of Nevada.
The
Company intends to vigorously defend this disputed claim of entitlement under
the Nevada Dissenters’ Rights Statute.
17.
Subsequent
Events.
On
April
14, 2008 and May 12, 2008 an aggregate additional borrowing in the amount of
$275,000 was drawn against the project financing loan between Laird Cagan,
a
director, and Energy Enzymes.
18
Item
2. Management's Discussion And Analysis Of Financial Condition And Results
Of
Operations
The
following discussion should be read in conjunction with the AE Biofuels,
Inc.
consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere
in
this report. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements
that
reflect the plans, estimates and beliefs of AE Biofuels. Inc. The actual
results
could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those
discussed below and elsewhere in this Report and the Annual Report 10-K,
particularly in “Risk Factors.” All references to years relate to the calendar
year ended December 31 of the particular year.
Overview
The
audited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AE Biofuels,
Inc. (“AE Biofuels”), a Nevada corporation, and its subsidiaries. We are in the
business of developing next-generation ethanol and biodiesel plants. We have
not
yet commenced production operations and do not have a long operational
history.
AE
Biofuels, Inc. was originally incorporated in California on September 12,
2001
as Great Valley Ventures LLC, although no operating agreement was adopted
and no
capital was contributed until November 29, 2005. From November 2005 through
December 2005, Great Valley commenced activities with the addition of key
advisors, management, and additional founding shareholders. On January 12,
2006,
Great Valley Ventures was renamed American Ethanol, LLC. On February 23,
2006,
American Ethanol, LLC merged into American Ethanol, Inc., a Nevada corporation.
Accordingly, AE Biofuels consolidated financial statements include the assets,
liabilities and operations of the predecessor LLC as if the merger had taken
place on November 29, 2005, the date of the LLC’s inception. AE Biofuels is in
the development stage with its efforts being principally devoted to acquiring
real estate, constructing new plants, securing feedstock sources,
developing new processing technologies, engineering manufacturing systems,
and
equity raising activities.
On
June
23, 2006, American Ethanol acquired 88.3% of the outstanding common stock
of
Marwich II, Ltd., a Colorado corporation pursuant to a stock purchase agreement
between American Ethanol and the principal shareholders of Marwich.
Marwich-Colorado was a shell company and had no current operations. Also
on June
23, 2006, American Ethanol entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with
Marwich-Colorado pursuant to which American Ethanol agreed to merge with
Marwich-Colorado. On July 19, 2007, Marwich-Colorado, Marwich II, Ltd., a
Nevada
corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Marwich-Colorado (“Marwich-Nevada”),
AE Biofuels, Inc., a Nevada corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of
Marwich-Nevada (“Merger Sub”), and American Ethanol entered into an Amended and
Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amended Merger Agreement”). The
Amended Merger Agreement superseded the Agreement and Plan of Merger entered
into on June 23, 2006.
Pursuant
to the Amended Merger Agreement, Marwich-Colorado agreed to reincorporate
into
the State of Nevada (the “Reincorporation”) and, subject to the Reincorporation,
American Ethanol agreed to merge with Merger Sub with American Ethanol being
the
surviving corporation (the “Reverse Merger’). The Reincorporation and Reverse
Merger were consummated on December 7, 2007. In connection with the Reverse
Merger, Marwich-Nevada issued to the former shareholders of American Ethanol
84,114,998 shares of its common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding
shares of American Ethanol common stock, 6,487,491 shares of Series B preferred
stock in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding shares of American
Ethanol Series B preferred stock and assumed options and warrants exercisable
for 4,229,000 shares of common stock and 748,074 shares of Series B preferred
stock, respectively. Marwich then changed its name to AE Biofuels, Inc. As
a
result, American Ethanol became our wholly owned subsidiary and the former
stockholders of American Ethanol became the controlling stockholders of the
Company.
Company
Organization
AE
Biofuels, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary American Ethanol, Inc.,
owns
entities created to transact business for plant or functional purposes. Through
our subsidiary International Biodiesel, Inc., we own International Biofuels,
Ltd, a Mauritius corporation and its subsidiary Universal Biofuels Private
Ltd,
an India company. Universal Biofuels Private Ltd. holds as its primary asset
a
biodiesel plant with the nameplate capacity of 50 million gallons
annually in Kakinada, India. Two other subsidiaries of American Ethanol,
Sutton Ethanol, LLC (“Sutton) and Danville Ethanol, Inc, hold future plant
development assets. Biofuels Marketing, Inc., a Delaware
corporation was acquired by us on September 1, 2007, as a marketing
organization whose purpose is to acquire feedstock and sell the commodities
related to our ethanol and biodiesel plants. Energy Enzymes, Inc. is held
as a 51% owned joint venture for the development of next-generation cellulosic
ethanol. The other 49% interest in Energy Enzymes is held by Renewable
Technology Corporation (“RTC”).
19
On
January 17, 2007, we entered into a joint venture agreement with E85 to develop
the land owned by Sutton Ethanol, LLC using property contributed by us
to the joint venture. The joint venture began development of the property,
principally by hiring the services of contractors and engineering firms.
On
August 14, 2007 by mutual consent of the parties the joint venture was
terminated. Upon termination, the contract with the principal engineering
services firm was terminated, and the property was returned to us.
On
March
27, 2008, the Board of Directors approved the following company
structure:
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2008 Compared To Three Months Ended March 31, 2007
Revenues
We
had no
revenues for either period, March 31, 2008 or March 31, 2007.
Expenses
Expenses.
For the
period from November 29, 2005 (inception) through March 31, 2008, the Company
was considered a development stage enterprise under Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 7 Development
Stage Enterprises
. We
have been devoting substantially all of our efforts to the establishment
of
biodiesel and ethanol plants and securing feedstocks to operate those plants.
We
will remain a development stage company until planned principal operations
have
commenced and significant revenues have been generated from those
operations.
Research
and Development Expenses
During
2007, we formed a joint venture with Renewable Technology Corporation (RTC)
for
the purpose of developing next-generation ethanol production processes. Under
this joint venture agreement in 2007, we acquired 51% of Energy Enzymes,
Inc.
and have subsequently funded the salaries and expenses for their small team
of
scientists to optimize cellulosic ethanol technology for large-scale commercial
implementation. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, this team spent
$124,349 consisting of consulting services to the key scientists of $60,000
and
the balance in various components of building a commercial demonstration
plant.
General
and Administrative Expenses
Principal
areas of spending for general and administrative expenses are in the areas
of
employee compensation and professional services. We summarize our spending
into
eight components as follows:
Three Months Ended
|
Three Months Ended
|
|||||||
|
March 31, 2008
|
March 31, 2007
|
||||||
|
%
|
%
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
Salaries,
wages and compensation
|
33
|
%
|
40
|
%
|
||||
Supplies
and services
|
2
|
%
|
7
|
%
|
||||
Repair
and maintenance
|
0
|
%
|
0
|
%
|
||||
Taxes,
insurance, rent and utilities
|
6
|
%
|
3
|
%
|
||||
Professional
services
|
50
|
%
|
37
|
%
|
||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
3
|
%
|
0
|
%
|
||||
Travel
and entertainment
|
6
|
%
|
11
|
%
|
||||
Miscellaneous
expense
|
0
|
%
|
2
|
%
|
||||
Total
|
100
|
%
|
20
The
single largest component of general and administrative expense is professional
services, which include legal, accounting, financial advisory, board
compensation, security filings, and transfer agent fees along with associated
non-cash stock compensation expense. For the three months ended March 31,
2008,
we spent approximately $970,357 on professional services including a non-cash
stock compensation charge of approximately $244,761 for stock and option
grants
to key consultants and advisors. For the three months ended March 31, 2007,
we
spent approximately $537,935 on professional services of which none was for
stock based compensation. On an inception to date basis, we spent $6,665,259
on
professional services, including $549,373 of compensation for stock and options
issued to consultants.
The second
largest component of general and administrative expense is employee
compensation, including related stock compensation. The number of employees
grew
slightly from 11 employees at March 31, 2007 to 12 employees at March 31,
2008.
Compensation expense grew from approximately $582,305 for the three months
ended
March 31, 2007 to approximately $651,270 for the three months ended March
31,
2008. The increase was principally driven by the non-cash, stock compensation
of
approximately $119,702 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared
to the
stock compensation of $45,409 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
On an
inception to date basis, we spent $5,307,717 on employee compensation, including
approximately $1,310,897 of stock compensation.
On
September 1, 2007, the sales and marketing organization was developed through
the acquisition of Biofuels Marketing. The Company incurred costs for two
employees in 2007 of approximately $94,000 plus travel expneses and during
the
three months ended March 31, 2008 of approximately $47,000 plus travel expenses.
Since the Company did not record any sales, these costs are considered start-up
costs and accordingly included in general and administrative. At such time
as
the Company generates revenues, these costs will be captured as sales and
marketing activities.
Other
Income / Expense
During
the three months ended March 31, 2008, we purchased and resold glycerin as
part
of a trading business. These sales resulted in profits of $26,534 on sales
of
$205,270.
In
January the Company was required to file a registration statement for
stockholders of Series A and B Preferred stock under a Registration Rights
Agreement or pay in cash or issue shares of stock to these investors in an
amount equal to 0.5% per month of their investment account. This expense
related
to this payment from the period from January through December 2008 is reflected
as a component of Operating Loss during the three months ended March 31,
2008 in
the amount of $2,274,402.
On
January 23, 2008, International Biofuels, Ltd (IBL) agreed to terminate
the
amended shareholder agreement with Acalmar oils and Fats, Ltd. (Alcamar)
including termination of Acalmar’s right to own or receive any ownership
interest in the joint venture biodiesel project. The total cancellation
price
payable by IBL of $900,000 is payable on or before June 30, 2008 and
classified in our Statement of Operations as a shareholder agreement
cancellation payment. This joint venture has contributed income of $13,373
and
none to the consolidated income for the three months ended March 31, 2008
and
2007, repectively, principally from foreign currency exchange gains and
interest
income. This income is not subject to U.S. Federal taxation until it is
repatriated.
Liquidity
Through
December 31, 2007, we have raised approximately $32,000,000 (net of expenses)
through the sale of equity; $2,000,000 from the sale of our subsidiary, Wahoo
Ethanol, LLC; and $8,206,000 million pursuant to the repurchase of our interest
in Sutton Ethanol, LLC. At December 31, 2007 we had approximately $510,000
in
cash and cash equivalents held in our domestic entities and $2,845,000 held
as
short term marketable securities in offshore subsidiaries. The funds that
we
have raised to date have been used for the development of our 50 million
gallon
biodiesel facility in India (approximately $15,400,000 million), a land
acquisition in Illinois for development of an ethanol facility (approximately
$2,300,000), and a land acquisition and improvements in Nebraska for development
of an ethanol facility (approximately $11,000,000), four land options in
Illinois and Nebraska for possible future development of ethanol facilities
(approximately $610,000), and operating expenses.
We
will
need significantly more cash to implement our plan to build our next-generation
ethanol plants and continue to develop biodiesel facilities in India. We
intend
to raise these funds through the sale of additional equity either in AE Biofuels
or one of our subsidiaries, joint ventures, construction loans, long-term
debt
financings and operating cash flows. We estimate the construction costs of
a 110
million gallon per year (“MMGY”) ethanol plant at today’s cost to be
approximately $240 million with an additional $36 million required for working
capital. We estimate that the cost to develop a biodiesel facility in India
is
approximately $30 million with an additional $6 million required for working
capital. Therefore, we must raise a significant amount of capital to meet
our
plan and goals. We contracted with Desmet Bellastra India Pvt. Ltd. to build
a
glycerin plant in Kakinada, India. At March 31, 2008, we had construction
contracts outstanding for $1.85 million that will be funded with cash currently
held in our India subsidiary.
Due
to
the risk factors discussed in our annual report on form 10-K, there can be
no
assurance that we will be successful in raising the additional funds necessary
to carry out management’s plans for the future. Management estimates that it
will need to obtain additional debt or equity funds for each ethanol and
biodiesel facility it builds, plus cash to continue its development efforts.
The
Company today is spending approximately $550,000 per month to cover its general
and administrative costs. Funds available at March 31, 2008 are only sufficient
to cover less than one month of our domestic operating costs. During the
three
months ended March 31, 2008, we borrowed $1,700,000 from Laird Cagan, a director
and related party, in order to meet our funding obligations with respect to
our Energy Enzymes subsidiary and meet current obligations. Subsequent to
March
31, 2008, we borrowed an additional $275,000 under this credit
facility.
21
Critical
Accounting Policies
Our
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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of
America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make
estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of
the financial statements and the reported amount of net sales and expenses
for
each period. The following represents a summary of our critical accounting
policies, defined as those policies that we believe are the most important
to
the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and that
require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a
result of the need to make estimates about the effects of matters that are
inherently uncertain.
Impairment
of Intangible and Long-Lived Assets
Our
intangible asset was derived from the acquisition of Biofuels Marketing on
September 1, 2007. In accordance with SFAS No. 141, “Business
Combinations,” we
allocated the purchase price to the tangible assets, liabilities and intangible
asset acquired based upon their estimated fair values. The principal asset
was
an intangible asset consisting of a customer list. All of the capitalizable
costs of this acquisition were allocated to this customer list as the value
of
the remaining tangible and intangible assets were negligible. This customer
list
is being amortized over 18 months, its estimated useful life.
Our
long-lived assets are primarily associated with our plant in Kakinada, India.
This production facility was constructed with our partner, Acalmar Oils and
Fats, during 2007. The first phase of the plant is currently operational
and we
are evaluating various feedstock agreements in order to fully utilize the
facility. We plan to expand operations in Kakinada, India to include a
pharmaceutical-grade glycerin processing facility, which is expected to be
fully
operational by the third quarter of 2008. Costs for building the plant remain
in
construction-in-progress at March 31, 2008, and will be reclassified once
the
plant is fully operational and placed in service.
We
evaluate impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with SFAS No. 144,
“Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.”
We
assess the impairment of long-lived assets, including property and equipment
and
purchased intangibles subject to amortization, when events or changes in
circumstances indicate that these assets have been impaired and we accordingly
write them down to their new fair value. Forecasts of future cash flows are
critical judgments in this process and are based on our experience and knowledge
of our operations and the industries in which we operate and are critical
to our
impairment assessments. These forecasts could be significantly affected by
future changes in market conditions, the economic environment, and capital
spending decisions of our customers and inflation. For the year ended December
31, 2007 we recognized an impairment of approximately $5,114,000 due to
non-recoverable engineering costs associated with the development efforts
at our
Sutton site.
Stock-Based
Compensation
Effective
January 1, 2006, we adopted the fair value recognition provisions of
SFAS No.123 (Revised 2004), “Share-Based
Payment”
(“SFAS
123(R)”), where the fair value of each option is adjusted to reflect only those
shares that are expected to vest. Our implementation of SFAS 123(R) used
the modified-prospective-transition method where the compensation cost related
to each unvested option as of January 1, 2006, was recalculated and any
necessary adjustment was reported in the first quarter of adoption.
We
made
the following estimates and assumptions in determining fair value:
·
|
Valuation
and amortization method —
We estimate the fair value of stock options granted using the
Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing formula and a single option
award
approach. This fair value is then amortized on a straight-line
basis over
the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally
the
vesting period.
|
·
|
Expected
Term —
The expected term represents the weighted-average period that our
stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. We applied the
“Simplified Method” as defined in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s
Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 107.
|
·
|
Expected
Volatility —
The Company’s expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of
the comparable companies’ stock.
|
·
|
Expected
Dividend —
The Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model calls for a single expected
dividend yield as an input. The Company currently pays no dividends
and
does not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable
future.
|
·
|
Risk-Free
Interest Rate —
The Company bases the risk-free interest rate on the implied yield
currently available on United States Treasury zero-coupon issues
with an
equivalent remaining term.
|
22
Given
the
absence of an active market for our common stock as a private company prior
to
the Reverse Merger, our board of directors, the members of which we believe
had
extensive business, finance or venture capital experience, were required
to
estimate the fair value of our common stock for purposes of determining exercise
prices for the options it granted. Our board of directors determined the
estimated fair value of our common stock, based in part on an analysis of
relevant metrics, including the following:
·
|
the
prices for our convertible preferred stock sold to outside investors
in
arm’s-length transactions;
|
·
|
the
rights, preferences and privileges of that convertible preferred
stock
relative to those of our common
stock;
|
·
|
our
operating and financial
performance;
|
·
|
the
hiring of key personnel;
|
·
|
the
introduction of new products;
|
·
|
our
stage of development and revenue
growth;
|
·
|
the
fact that the option grants involved illiquid securities in a
private
company;
|
·
|
the
risks inherent in the development and expansion of our
operations; and
|
·
|
the
likelihood of achieving a liquidity event, such as an initial
public
offering or a sale of the Company, for the shares of common stock
underlying the options given prevailing market
conditions.
|
Recently
Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157, “ Fair
Value Measurements”
(“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework and
gives guidance regarding the methods used in measuring fair value, and expands
disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is applicable whenever
another accounting pronouncement requires or permits assets and liabilities
to
be measured at fair value. SFAS 157 does not expand or require any new fair
value measures, however, the application of this statement may change current
practice. On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS 157 and the adoption
of
this statement had no material effect on the Company’s financial
statements.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “ The
Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including
an
Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115”
("SFAS
159") . This statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial
instruments and certain other items at fair value. The fair value option
may be
elected on an instrument-by-instrument basis, with few exceptions. SFAS 159
also
establishes presentation and disclosure requirement to facilitate comparisons
between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar
assets and liabilities. On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS 159
and the
adoption of this statement had no material effect on the Company’s financial
statements.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “ Business
Combinations”
(“SFAS
141R”). This statement changes the accounting for acquisition transaction costs
by requiring them to be expensed in the period incurred, and also changes
the
accounting for contingent consideration, acquired contingencies and
restructuring costs related to an acquisition. Also in December 2007, the
FASB
issued SFAS No. 160, “ Noncontrolling
Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements-an amendment of ARB No.
51”
(“SFAS
160”). This statement will change the accounting and reporting for minority
interests, which will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests, classified
as a component of equity and accounted for at fair value. SFAS 141(R) and
SFAS
160 are effective for the Company’s 2009 financial statements. Early adoption is
prohibited. The effect of adoption SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160 will have on
the
Company’s financial statements will depend on the nature and size of
acquisitions we complete after we adopt SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160.
23
Item
3. Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risks
Interest
Rate Sensitivity
We
had
cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaling $1,444,514 and
$3,356,294 at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. These amounts
were invested primarily in money market funds and short term time deposits.
The
unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and marketable securites are held
for
working capital purposes. We do not enter into investments for trading or
speculative purposes. We believe that we do not have any material exposure
to
changes in the fair value as a result of changes in interest rates. Declines
in
interest rates, however, will reduce future investment income.
At
March
31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, we had $1,712,508 and $0 million of fixed-
rate,
short-term debt outstanding, respectively.
Item
4T. Controls And Procedures
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The
Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system
of
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)
under the Exchange Act of 1943, as amended) that is designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that the
Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission's
rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation,
controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be
disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the
Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer's management,
including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial
officer or officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate
to
allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based upon their
evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have
concluded that as of December 31, 2007 our disclosure controls and procedures
were not effective.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting:
There
were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, other than
those stated above, during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control
over financial reporting.
Remediation
Efforts to Address Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial
Reporting
Throughout
the three months ended March 31, 2008, we began the implementation of a
remediation plan to address the material weaknesses identified during the
audit
of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. The
control deficiencies that gave rise to the material weaknesses related to
the
fact that our accounting resources did not include enough people with the
detailed knowledge, experience and training in the selection and application
of
certain accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America
(GAAP) to meet our financial reporting needs. These control deficiencies
contributed to material weaknesses in internal control with respect to
segregation of duties, controls over financial reporting at the India
subsidiary, stockholders equity and share-based compensation, acquisitions
as
well as financial statement presentation and disclosures. We have hired
consultants with the necessary accounting knowledge, experience and training
to
meet the needs of our organization. We will continue to implement process
changes and hire employees or consultants to address the material weaknesses
noted in the internal controls over financial reporting for fiscal 2007.
Once
placed in operation for a sufficient period of time, we will evaluate the
overall effectiveness of these new process changes to determine if they are
operating effectively.
Inherent
Limitations of Internal Controls
Our
management, including our CEO and CFO, does not expect that our disclosure
controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent all error and
all
fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide
only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control
system are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems,
no
evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues
and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These
inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making
can
be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake.
Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some
persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of
the
control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon
certain
assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance
that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential
future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes
in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures
may
deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control
system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be
detected.
24
PART
II OTHER INFORMATION
Item
1. Legal Proceedings
Mr.
McAfee is a founding shareholder or principal investor in 12 publicly traded
companies and approximately 20 private companies. Mr. McAfee served as the
vice
chairman of the Board of Directors of Verdisys, Inc., a publicly traded company,
in 2003. To resolve potential litigation and to provide resolution of any
issues, Mr. McAfee and the Commission entered into a settlement agreement
under
which Mr. McAfee neither admitted nor denied causing any action by Verdisys,
Inc. to fail to comply with Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5
and
agreed to a payment of $25,000.
On
March
28, 2008, the Cordillera Fund, L.P. ("Cordillerra") filed a complaint in
the Clark County District Court of the State of Nevada against American Ethanol,
Inc. and AE Biofuels, Inc. The complaint seeks a judicial declaration that
Cordillera has a right to payment from the Company for it's American Ethanol
shares at fair market value persuant to Nevada's Dissenters' Rights Statute,
a
judicial declaration that Cordillera is not a holder of Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock in AE Biofuels under the provisions of the statute; and a
permanent injunction compelling the Company to apply the Dissenters' Rights
Statute to Cordillera's shares and pay Cordillera reimbursment for it's
attorneys fees and costs.
On
April 29, 2008, Defendants filed a Motion to Transfer
Venue, seeking a transfer to the Second Judicial Court of the State of Nevada,
located in Washoe County, Nevada. The hearing for this Motion is set for
June 3,
2008 in the Clark County District Court of the State of Nevada.
The
Company intends to vigorously defend this disputed
claim of enititlement under the Nevada Dissenters' Rights Statute.
Item
1A. Risk Factors
There
has been no change in the Company's risk factors since the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K filed with SEC on April 1, 2008.
None
Item
3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None
Item
4. Submission Of Matters To A Vote Of Security Holders
None
Item
5. Other Information
None
Item
6. Exhibits
31.1
|
Certifications
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
31.2
|
Certifications
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
32.1
|
|
32.2
|
Certifications
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
25
SIGNATURES
In
accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused
this
Report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized.
Date:
May
14, 2008
AE
Biofuels, Inc.
|
|
/s/ Eric
A. McAfee
|
Eric
A. McAfee
|
Chief
Executive Officer
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
26