AEMETIS, INC - Annual Report: 2012 (Form 10-K)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
þ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012
Commission file number: 000-51354
AEMETIS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Nevada
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26-1407544
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(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
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20400 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 700
Cupertino, CA 95014
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number (including area code): (408) 213-0940
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:
Common Stock, Par Value $0.001
(Title of class)
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or Section 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 þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. Yes þ No o
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):
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Large accelerated filer
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Accelerated filer |
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Non-accelerated filer
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Smaller reporting company |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $59,884,407 as of June 30, 2012 based on the average bid and asked price on the OTC Markets reported for such date. This calculation does not reflect a determination that certain persons are affiliates of the registrant for any other purpose.
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock on April 9, 2013 was 184,657,889 shares.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None
On one or more occasions, we may make forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K 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. These forward-looking statements are only our predictions and involve numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to those listed below and those business risks and factors described elsewhere in this report and our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
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.
We obtained the market data used in this report from internal company reports and industry publications. Industry publications generally state that the information contained in those publications has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but their accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed and their reliability cannot be assured. Although we believe market data used in this 10-K is reliable, it has not been independently verified. Similarly, while we believe internal company reports are reliable, we have not had the content of these reports independently verified.
Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” and “the Company” refer specifically to Aemetis, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
General
We are an international renewable fuels and specialty chemical company focused on the production of advanced fuels and chemicals and the acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative technologies that replace traditional petroleum-based products and convert first-generation ethanol and biodiesel plants into advanced biorefineries.
Aemetis operates in three reportable geographic segments: “North America,” “India,” and “Other.” For revenue and other information regarding Aemetis’ operating segments, see Note 14. Segment Information, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2012 Highlights
North America
During the third quarter of 2012, we successfully completed the acquisition of the Keyes, CA ethanol plant through the merger with its owner, Cilion, Inc. The Keyes plant is a dry mill ethanol production facility currently utilizing corn as feedstock. In addition, the plant produces high quality wet distillers grains (WDG) and a small amount of condensed distillers soluble (CDS) and corn oil as byproducts of the ethanol production process, which are sold as a high protein, livestock feed supplement.
The plant is located adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad and Highway 99, two major transportation arteries in California’s Central Valley region, providing convenient transportation to and from the plant for inbound feedstock and outbound feed and fuel.
During 2012, we produced four products at the Keyes plant: denatured ethanol, WDG, CDS and corn oil. In 2012 we sold 100% of the ethanol and WDG we produced to J.D. Heiskell pursuant to a Purchase Agreement established with J.D. Heiskell. Small amounts of CDS were sold to various local third parties. Ethanol pricing is determined pursuant to a marketing agreement between the Company and Kinergy Marketing LLC, and is generally based on daily and monthly pricing for ethanol delivered to Los Angeles, California, as published by the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), as well as quarterly contracts negotiated by Kinergy with local fuel blenders. The price for WDG is determined monthly pursuant to a marketing agreement between the Company and A.L. Gilbert Co., and is generally determined in reference to the price of dry distillers grains (DDG) and corn.
Aemetis intends to capitalize on the December 2012 EPA ruling establishing grain sorghum as an approved feedstock Pathway (in combination with biogas) for the production of Advance Biofuels and associated D5 Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). Through its strategic location near the deep-water Port of Stockton and adjacent access to the Union Pacific railroad, Aemetis Keyes can procure grain sorghum from both international and domestic sources. Additionally, the Keyes facility has ready access to biogas for the production of Advanced Biofuels under the approved EPA Pathway. Aemetis has also entered into a multi-year contract with Chromatin, Inc., an advanced grain sorghum seed and technology provider, to establish a multi-thousand acre local grain sorghum growing program with California farmers in the state’s agricultural rich Central Valley. During the fourth quarter of 2012, we utilized 1,191 tons of grain sorghum as a feedstock with no noticeable change in our financial or economic results.
The following table sets forth information about our production and sales of ethanol and WDG in 2012.
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2012
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2011
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% Change
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Ethanol
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Gallons Sold (in 000s)
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53,038 | 37,389 | 42 | % | ||||||||
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Average Sales Price/Gallon
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$ | 2.50 | $ | 2.89 | (14 | %) | ||||||
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WDG
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Tons Sold (in 000s)
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380 | 274 | 38 | % | ||||||||
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Average Sales Price/Ton
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$ | 103.23 | $ | 85.37 | 21 | % | ||||||
On January 15, 2013, we idled our ethanol production facility due to unfavorable margins and to conduct maintenance on the plant for the first time since commencing ethanol production in April 2011.
During 2012 we continued to spend research and development dollars furthering the development of advanced biofuels. In July 2011, we acquired Zymetis, Inc., a biochemical research and development firm, with several patents pending and in-process R&D utilizing the Z-microbe™ to produce renewable chemicals and advanced fuels from renewable feedstocks. Our objective is to continue to look for ways to commercialize this technology to expand the production of cellulosic ethanol and other bio-chemicals in the United States. We also continued the prosecution of our patents issued, patents pending and in-process R&D.
India
The market for biodiesel in 2012 was very challenging. The Company’s production of biodiesel decreased compared to 2011 primarily because in 2011 the Company had a non-recurring international order for 4,000tons. In 2012, our primary feedstock for the production of biodiesel continued to be NRPO, a byproduct of palm oil fractionation and a non-edible feedstock, which we sourced from suppliers in India.
The glycerin refining and oil pre-treatment units were completed in the first quarter of 2012. The glycerin refining unit enables us to produce and sell refined glycerin and the oil pre-treatment unit enables us to refine crude palm oil into natural refined palm oil (NRPO). In addition, in the first quarter of 2012, our India subsidiary received an Indian Pharmacopeia license, which enables it to sell refined glycerin to the pharmaceutical industry in India. With the completion of the plant’s glycerin refining and oil pre-treatment units in 2012, crude glycerin held in inventory or produced as a by-product of the biodiesel production was further processed into refined glycerin and crude palm oil was further processed into refined palm oil for sale to customers. During the portion of the year, we were able to process crude palm oil into NRPO (natural refined palm oil) at a more attractive margin than converting stearin into biodiesel. Additionally, crude glycerin was purchased on the open market and further processed to fill the demand for refined glycerin.
The following table sets forth information about our production and sales of biodiesel and crude and refined glycerin in 2012 and 2011.
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2012
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2011
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% Change
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Biodiesel
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Tons sold (1)
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4,127 | 8,636 | (52 | %) | ||||||||
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Average Sales Price/Ton
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$ | 1,158 | $ | 1,001 | 15 | % | ||||||
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Crude Glycerin
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Tons sold
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9 | 23 | (61 | %) | ||||||||
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Average Sales Price/Ton
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$ | 2,171 | $ | 643 | 238 | % | ||||||
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Refined Glycerin
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Tons sold
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2,280 | 772 | 200 | % | ||||||||
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Average Sales Price/Ton
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$ | 981 | $ | 787 | 25 | % | ||||||
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NRPO / Stearin
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Tons Sold
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6,552 | 588 | 1,079 | % | ||||||||
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Average Sales Price/Ton
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$ | 994 | $ | 1,024 | (7 | %) | ||||||
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(1)
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1 metric ton is equal to 1,000 kilograms (approximately 2,204 pounds).
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The plant was originally designed to include four production units: biodiesel, refined glycerin, oil refining and fractionation. To date, the biodiesel, refined glycerin and oil refining units have been completed. In order to complete the fractionation unit, the Company will need to purchase and install additional equipment at an additional cost of approximately $2 million.
During January 2013 the India government reduced subsidies for diesel by increasing the sales price of diesel to bulk purchasers (railways and state transportation corporations) to the market price and by increasing the sales price of diesel approximately 21% to other purchasers at the rate of 45 paise per liter per month until the price reaches the market price. The price transition is expected to take 18 months. Our biodiesel pricing is indexed to the price of petroleum diesel, and as such, the increase in the price of petroleum diesel is expected to favorably impact the profitability of our India operations. Additionally, in February 2013, we resumed international shipments into the European markets. Anti-dumping proceedings in Europe have resulted in the reopening of the European-market for our biodiesel product with profitable margin.
Strategy
Our goal is to be a leader in the production of advanced fuels and specialty chemicals from renewable sources to meet increasing market demand for such products, and to reduce overall dependence on petroleum-based fuels and chemicals in an environmentally responsible manner.
North America
The Company owns and operates a 60 million gallon per year ethanol production facility located in Keyes, California. The facility has combined heat and power (CHP) through the use of a gas-powered steam turbine, and has zero water discharge. In addition to ethanol, the Keyes plant produces WDG, corn oil, and CDS, which are all sold to local dairies and feedlots for animal consumption. Key elements of our strategy include the following:
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Leverage the December 2012 EPA ruling establishing grain sorghum as an approved feedstock Pathway (in combination with biogas) for the production of Advance Biofuels and associated D5 Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). Through its strategic location near the deep-water Port of Stockton and adjacent access to the Union Pacific railroad, Aemetis Keyes can procure grain sorghum from both international and domestic sources. Additionally, the Keyes facility has ready access to biogas for the production of Advanced Biofuels under the approved EPA Pathway. Aemetis has also entered into a multi-year contract with Chromatin, Inc., an advanced grain sorghum seed and technology provider, to establish a multi-thousand acre local grain sorghum growing program with California farmers in the state’s agriculturally rich Central Valley.
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Leverage the Keyes robust plant infrastructure and location for the development and production of additional Advanced Biofuels and renewable specialty chemicals. In 2007, we acquired patent-pending enzyme technology to enable the production of ethanol from a combination of starch and cellulose, or from cellulose alone, and in July 2011, we acquired Zymetis, Inc., a biochemical research and development firm, with several patents pending and in-process R&D utilizing the Z-microbe™ to produce renewable chemicals and advanced fuels from renewable feedstocks. Our objective is to continue to look for ways to commercialize this technology to expand the production of cellulosic ethanol and other bio-chemicals in the United States.
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In August 2012, the Company signed a license agreement with Chevron Lummus Global (CLG) for the inexpensive, rapid production of renewable jet and diesel fuel by the conversion of existing biofuels and petroleum refineries. The license agreement grants Aemetis Advanced Fuels Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aemetis, the use of the Biofuels ISOCONVERSION Process for the production of 100% drop-in renewable jet fuel and diesel in Aemetis biorefineries throughout North America.
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India
The Company owns and operates a biodiesel production facility in Kakinada, India with a nameplate capacity of 150,000 metric tons per year. This facility is one of the largest biodiesel production facilities in India on a nameplate capacity basis. Our objective is to continue to capitalize on the substantial growth potential of the industry. Key elements of our strategy include the following:
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Capitalize on the January 2013 announcement by the Government of India that took initial action to reduce the subsidies on the price of diesel. We plan to develop our marketing channels for the traditional bulk and transportation biodiesel markets, which now are more economically viable.
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Expand alternative market demand for biodiesel and its byproducts. We plan to create additional demand for our biodiesel and its byproducts by looking for alternative markets. In 2011, we began selling biodiesel to textile manufacturers. In the first quarter of 2012, we completed glycerin refining and oil pre-treatment units and began selling refined glycerin to manufacturers of paints and adhesives. Also in 2011, we completed an oil pre-treatment unit, which enables us to convert crude palm oil into refined palm oil, which can either be sold or used to produce biodiesel. In 2012, our India subsidiary received an Indian Pharmacopeia license, which enables it to sell refined glycerin to the pharmaceutical industry in India.
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Continue to pursue sales into international markets. We expect to increase sales by selling our biodiesel into the international market during the summer months, when biodiesel use in Europe increases with the onset of warmer weather. In 2012, we had no international sales, and, in 2011, we had two sales in the aggregate amount of $6.86 million into the European market. We currently have two 5,000 metric ton contracts for sales in February and April 2013 into the European market, and plan to pursue additional orders.
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Diversify our feedstocks. We designed our Kakinada plant with the capability of producing biodiesel from multiple-feedstocks. In 2009, we began to produce biodiesel from NRPO. In 2011, we completed an oil pre-treatment unit, which enables us to convert crude palm oil into refined palm oil, which can either be sold or used to produce biodiesel.
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Competition
North America
In 2012, there were over 200 commercial corn ethanol production facilities in operation in the U.S. with a combined production of nearly 13.3 billion gallons, according to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The production of ethanol is a commodity and producers compete on the basis of price.
India
With respect to biodiesel sold as fuel, we compete primarily with the producers of petroleum diesel, which are the three state-controlled oil companies: Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum, and two private oil companies: Reliance Petroleum and Essar Oil, all of whom have significantly larger market shares than we do and control a significant share of the distribution network. We compete primarily on the basis of price. The price of biodiesel is indexed to the price of petroleum diesel, which, during 2012, was set by the Indian government. In addition, the Indian government subsidizes state-controlled oil companies creating a disparity between the cost of oil on the open market and the price we can obtain from sales of biodiesel. In September 2012, the Indian government provided partial relief by raising the price of diesel by 5 rupee per liter. In January 2013, the India government again raised the price of bulk diesel by 21% or 9.3 rupee and provided for the phase-in of this pricing to the consumer at the rate of 45 paise per liter per month, until a market price is reached. We believe the increase in the price of diesel by the Indian government will have a positive affect on our margins and will increase the business, operating results and financial condition of our India segment during 2013.
With respect to biodiesel sold for manufacturing purposes, we compete with specialty chemical manufacturers primarily on the basis of price; and with respect to crude and refined glycerin, we compete with other glycerin producers and refiners primarily on the basis of price and product quality.
Customers
North America
One hundred percent (100%) of our ethanol and WDG are sold to J.D. Heiskell pursuant to a purchase agreement. J.D. Heiskell in turn sells 100% of our ethanol to Kinergy and 100% of the WDG to A.L. Gilbert. Kinergy markets and sells our ethanol to petroleum refiners and blenders in Northern California. A.L. Gilbert markets and sells our WDG to approximately 200 dairy and feeding operators in Northern California.
India
During 2012 two customers accounted for 45.8% of India sales through their purchase of Refined Palm Oil. One customer accounted for 10.7% of India sales through its purchase of biodiesel. In 2011, one customer accounted for approximately 70% of India revenues by purchasing biodiesel for export to Europe. The level of sales to any customer may vary from quarter to quarter.
Pricing
North America
We sell 100% of the ethanol and WDG we produce to J.D. Heiskell. Ethanol pricing is determined pursuant to a marketing agreement between the Company and Kinergy Marketing LLC, and is generally based on daily and monthly pricing for ethanol delivered to Los Angeles, California, as published by the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), as well as quarterly contracts negotiated by Kinergy with local fuel blenders. The price for WDG is determined monthly pursuant to a marketing agreement between the Company and A.L. Gilbert Co., and is generally determined in reference to the price of dry distillers grains (DDG) and corn.
India
In India, the price of biodiesel is based on the price of petroleum diesel, which is established by the India government. Biodiesel sold into Europe is based on the spot market price. We sell our biodiesel primarily to resellers, distributors and refiners on an as-needed basis. We have no long-term sales contracts. During January 2013 the Indian government reduced subsidies for diesel by increasing the sales price of diesel to bulk purchasers (railways and state transportation corporations) to the market price and by increasing the sales price of diesel approximately 21 percent to other purchasers at the rate of 45 paise per liter per month until the price reached the market price. Our biodiesel pricing is indexed to the price of petroleum diesel, and the increase in the price of petroleum diesel is expected to favorably impact the profitability of our India operations.
Raw Materials and Suppliers
North America
In March 2011, we entered into a Corn Procurement and Working Capital Agreement with J.D. Heiskell. Pursuant to the agreement we agreed to procure whole yellow corn from J.D. Heiskell. We have the ability to obtain corn from other sources subject to certain conditions, however, in 2012, all of our corn requirements were purchased from Heiskell. Title to the corn and risk of loss passes to us when the corn is deposited in the weigh bin. We also intend to purchase grain sorghum, both domestic and international, from J.D. Heiskell. The initial term of the Agreement expired on December 31, 2012 and is automatically renewed for additional one-year terms, currently to December 31, 2013.
India
Surrounding our plant in Kakinada, India, a number of edible oil processing facilities produce NRPO as a byproduct. In 2012, 100% of our biodiesel was produced from NRPO, which we obtained from sources surrounding the plant. In addition to feedstock, our plant requires quantities of methanol and chemical catalysts for use in the biodiesel production process. These chemicals are also readily available and sourced from a number of suppliers surrounding the plant. We are not dependent on sole source or limited source suppliers for any of our raw materials or chemicals.
Sales and Marketing
North America
As part of our obligations under the Corn Procurement and Working Capital Agreement, in March 2011, we entered into a purchase agreement with Heiskell, pursuant to which we granted Heiskell exclusive rights to purchase 100% of the ethanol and WDG we produce at prices established by the Company, pursuant to marketing agreements with Kinergy and A.L. Gilbert. In turn, Heiskell agreed to resell all the ethanol to Kinergy (or any other purchaser we designate) and all of the WDG to A.L. Gilbert.
In March 2011, we entered into a WDG Purchase and Sale Agreement with A.L. Gilbert Company, pursuant to which A.L. Gilbert agreed to market on an exclusive basis all of the WDG we produce. The initial term of the Agreement expired on December 31, 2011 and is automatically renewed for additional one-year terms, currently to December 31, 2013.
In October 2010, we entered into an exclusive marketing agreement with Kinergy Marketing LLC to market and sell our ethanol. The initial term of the Agreement expires on August 31, 2013 and is automatically renewed for additional one-year terms.
India
We sell our biodiesel and crude glycerin (i) to end-users utilizing our own sales force and independent sales agents and (ii) to brokers who resell the product to end-users. We pay a sales commission on sales arranged by independent sales agents.
Commodity Risk Management Practices
North America
The cost of corn and the price of ethanol are volatile and are reasonably well correlated. We are, therefore, exposed to moderate commodity price risk. Our risk management strategy is to purchase corn and sell ethanol on a daily basis at the then prevailing market price. We monitor these prices weekly to test for an overall positive variable contribution margin. We periodically explore methods of mitigating the volatility of our commodity prices, however, we have yet to engage in any hedging or forward purchase activity. In October 2012 we tested grain sorghum as a substitute for corn with positive results. We intend to opportunistically purchase grain sorghum and use it to produce advanced biofuel, when market conditions indicate it will generate favorable margins.
India
The cost of NRPO and the price of biodiesel are volatile and are generally uncorrelated. We therefore are exposed to ongoing and substantial commodity price risk. Our risk management strategy is to produce biodiesel in India only when we believe we can generate positive gross margins and to idle the plant during periods of low or negative gross margins. In 2012, we continued to look for customers outside of the fuels market.
In addition, to minimize our commodity risk, we have modified the processes within our facility to utilize lower cost NRPO, which enables us to reduce our feedstock costs. Our ability to mitigate the risk of falling biodiesel prices is more limited. The price of our biodiesel is generally indexed to the price of petroleum diesel, which is set by the Indian government. During January 2013 the Indian government reduced subsidies for diesel by increasing the sales price of diesel to bulk purchasers (railways and state transportation corporations) to the market price and by increasing the sales price of diesel to other purchasers at the rate of 45 paise per liter per month, until the price reached the market price. There is no established market for biodiesel futures.
We have in the past, and may in the future, use forward purchase contracts and other hedging strategies; however, the extent to which we engage in these risk management strategies may vary substantially from time to time, depending on our working capital provider’s interest to fund these transactions, market conditions and other factors.
Research and Development
In July 2011, we acquired Zymetis, Inc., a biochemical research and development firm, with several patents pending and in-process R&D utilizing the Z-microbe™ (a marine organism originally discovered consuming plant cellulose at a high rate in the Chesapeake Bay) to produce renewable chemicals and advanced fuels from renewable feedstocks. Our R&D efforts consist of working with third parties to commercialize our cellulosic ethanol technology and to expand the production of cellulosic ethanol and other bio-chemicals in the United States and the pursuit of patents around this technology. The primary objective of this development activity is to optimize the production of ethanol using our proprietary, patent-pending enzyme technology for large-scale commercial production. Our innovations are protected by five issued and six pending patents. We are in the process of filing additional patents that will further strengthen the Company’s portfolio. Some core intellectual property has been exclusively and indefinitely licensed from the University of Maryland. R&D expense was $620,368 in 2012 and $576,625 in 2011.
Patents and Trademarks
We have filed a number of trademark applications within the U.S. We do not consider the success of our business, as a whole, to be dependent on these trademarks. In addition, we have three patent applications pending in the United States in connection with our cellulosic ethanol technology and five issued and six pending patents in connection with the Z-microbe technology acquired from Zymetis, Inc.
It is possible that the Company will not receive patents for every application it files. Furthermore, when patents are issued, the issued patents may not adequately protect our technology from infringement or prevent others from claiming that our products infringe the patents of third parties. The Company’s failure to protect our intellectual property could materially harm our business. In addition, the Company’s competitors may independently develop similar or superior technology or design around our patents. It is possible that litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce the Company’s intellectual property rights, to protect its trade secrets or to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and could materially harm the Company’s business.
In the future, the Company may receive notice of claims of infringement of other parties’ proprietary rights. Infringement or other claims could be asserted or prosecuted against the Company in the future, and it is possible that future assertions or prosecutions could harm our business. Any such claims, with or without merit, could be time-consuming, result in costly litigation and diversion of technical and management personnel, cause delays in the development of our products, or require the Company to develop non-infringing technology or enter into royalty or licensing arrangements. Such royalty or licensing arrangements, if required, may require the Company to license back its technology or may not be available on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all. For these reasons, infringement claims could materially harm the Company’s business.
Environmental and Regulatory Matters
North America
We are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws, regulations and permit conditions (and interpretations thereof), including those relating to the discharge of materials into the air, water and ground, the generation, storage, handling, use, transportation and disposal of hazardous materials, and the health and safety of our employees. These laws, regulations, and permits require us to incur significant capital and other costs, including costs to obtain and maintain expensive pollution control equipment. They may also require us to make operational changes to limit actual or potential impacts to the environment. A violation of these laws, regulations or permit conditions could result in substantial fines, natural resource damages, criminal sanctions, permit revocations and/or facility shutdowns. In addition, environmental laws and regulations (and interpretations thereof) change over time, and any such changes, more vigorous enforcement policies or the discovery of currently unknown conditions may require substantial additional environmental expenditures.
We are also subject to potential liability for the investigation and cleanup of environmental contamination at each of the properties that we may own or operate and at off-site locations where we arranged for the disposal of hazardous wastes. If significant contamination is identified at our properties in the future, costs to investigate and remediate this contamination as well as any costs to investigate or remediate associated natural resource damages could be significant. If any of these sites are subject to investigation and/or remediation requirements, we may be responsible under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”) or other environmental laws for all or part of the costs of such investigation and/or remediation, and for damages to natural resources. We may also be subject to related claims by private parties alleging property damage or personal injury due to exposure to hazardous or other materials at or from such properties. While costs to address contamination or related third-party claims could be significant, based upon currently available information, we are not aware of any material contamination or such third party claims. We have not accrued any amounts for environmental matters as of December 31, 2012. The ultimate costs of any liabilities that may be identified or the discovery of additional contaminants could adversely impact our results of operation or financial condition.
In addition, the hazards and risks associated with producing and transporting our products (such as fires, natural disasters, explosions, and abnormal pressures) may result in spills or releases of hazardous substances, or claims from governmental authorities or third parties relating to actual or alleged personal injury, property damage, or damages to natural resources. We maintain insurance coverage against some, but not all, potential losses caused by our operations. Our coverage includes, but is not limited to, physical damage to assets, employer’s liability, comprehensive general liability, automobile liability and workers’ compensation. We do not carry environmental insurance. We believe that our insurance is adequate for our industry, but losses could occur for uninsurable or uninsured risks or in amounts in excess of existing insurance coverage. The occurrence of events which result in significant personal injury or damage to our property, natural resources or third parties that is not covered by insurance could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
Our air emissions are subject to the federal Clean Air Act, and similar State laws, which generally require us to obtain and maintain air emission permits for our ongoing operations as well as for any expansion of existing facilities or any new facilities. Obtaining and maintaining those permits requires us to incur costs, and any future more stringent standards may result in increased costs and may limit or interfere with our operating flexibility. These costs could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Because other ethanol manufacturers in the U.S. are and will continue to be subject to similar laws and restrictions, we do not currently believe that our costs to comply with current or future environmental laws and regulations will adversely affect our competitive position with other U.S. ethanol producers. However, because ethanol is produced and traded internationally, these costs could adversely affect us in our efforts to compete with foreign producers not subject to such stringent requirements.
New laws or regulations relating to the production, disposal or emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses may require us to incur significant additional costs with respect to ethanol plants that we build or acquire. In particular, in 2007, IL and four other Midwestern States entered into the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, which program directs participating states to develop a multi-sector cap-and-trade mechanism to help achieve reductions in greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide. In addition, it is possible that other states in which we conduct or plan to conduct business could join this accord or require other costly carbon dioxide emissions reductions. Climate Change legislation is being considered in Washington, D.C. this year which may significantly impact the biofuels industry's emissions regulations, as will the Renewable Fuel Standard, CA's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and other potentially significant changes in existing transportation fuels regulations.
India
We are subject to national, state and local environmental laws, regulations and permits, including with respect to the generation, storage, handling, use, transportation and disposal of hazardous materials, and the health and safety of our employees. These laws may require us to make operational changes to limit actual or potential impacts to the environment. A violation of these laws, regulations or permits can result in substantial fines, natural resource damages, criminal sanctions, permit revocations and/or facility shutdowns. In addition, environmental laws and regulations (and interpretations thereof) change over time, and any such changes, more vigorous enforcement policies or the discovery of currently unknown conditions may require substantial additional environmental expenditures.
Employees
At December 31, 2012, we had a total of 116 full-time equivalent employees, comprised of 17 full-time equivalent employees in our corporate offices, 45 full-time equivalent employees at our plant in Keyes, California, two full-time equivalent employees in our Maryland research and development facility and 52 full-time equivalent employees in India.
None of our employees are represented by a union. We believe our relations with our employees are good.
We operate in an evolving industry the presents numerous risks that are beyond our control that are driven by factors that cannot be predicted. Should any of the risk described in the section or in the documents incorporated by reference in this report actually occur, our business, results of operations, financial condition, or stock price could be materially and adversely affected. Investors should carefully consider the risks factors discussed below, in addition to the other information in this report, before making any investment in our securities.
Risks Related to our Overall Business
We have incurred significant losses, and may never achieve profitability. If we continue to incur losses, we may have to curtail our operations, which may prevent us from successfully operating and expanding our business.
We have a history of significant losses. Historically, we have relied upon cash from debt and equity financing activities to fund substantially all of the cash requirements of our activities and have incurred significant losses and experienced negative cash flow. As of December 31, 2012, we had an accumulated deficit of $69,808,294. For our fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, we incurred a net loss of $4,282,265 and $18,296,359, respectively. We cannot predict when we will become profitable or if we ever will become profitable. We may continue to incur losses for an indeterminate period of time and may never achieve or sustain profitability. An extended period of losses and negative cash flow may prevent us from successfully operating and expanding our business. Even if we are able to achieve profitability, we may be unable to sustain or increase our profitability on a quarterly or annual basis.
Our auditor's opinion expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”
Our independent auditor's report on our December 31, 2012 financial statements included herein states that the Company has suffered recurring losses and has a working capital deficit and that these conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Should the Company not be able to raise enough equity or debt financings it may be forced to sell all or a portion of its existing biodiesel or ethanol facility or other assets to generate cash to continue the Company’s business plan or possibly discontinue operations. The Company’s consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
We are dependent upon our working capital arrangements with J.D. Heiskell and Secunderabad Oils Limited.
Our ability to operate our Keyes plant depends on maintaining our working capital arrangement with J.D. Heiskell and our ability to operate our biodiesel plant in India depends on maintaining our working capital arrangement with Secunderabad Oils Limited. The agreement provides for an initial term of one year with automatic one-year renewals; provided, however, that Heiskell may terminate the agreement by notice 90 days prior to the end of the initial term or any renewal term. The current term extends through December 31, 2013. In addition, the agreement may be terminated at any time upon default. The Secunderabad agreement may be terminated at any time by either party upon written notice. If we are unable to maintain these strategic relationships, we will be required to locate alternative sources of working capital and corn procurement logistics, which we may be unable to do in a timely manner or at all. If we are unable to maintain our current working capital arrangements or locate alternative sources of working capital, our ability to operate our plants will be negatively affected.
We may be unable to execute on the Company’s business plan.
The value of our long-lived assets is based on our ability to execute our business plan, principally in India, and generate sufficient cash flow to justify the carrying value of this asset. Should we fall short of our cash flow projections, we may be required to write down the value of these assets under the accounting rules and further degrade the value of our business. We can make no assurances that our future cash flows will develop and provide us with sufficient cash to maintain the value of these assets, thus avoiding future impairment to our asset carrying values. As a result, we may need to write down the carrying value of the Company’s long-lived assets.
In addition, we plan to implement our own or a third party’s technology at the Keyes ethanol plant and at the India biodiesel plant for the production of advanced fuels and specialty chemicals. After we design and engineer a specific integrated upgrade to either or both plants to allow us to produce products other than their existing products, we may not receive permission from the regulatory agencies to install the process at either plant. Additionally, even if we are able to install and begin operations of an integrated advanced fuels and/or specialty chemical plant, we cannot give assurance that the technology will work and produce cost effective products because we have never designed, engineered nor built this technology into an existing bio-refinery. Any inability to execute on the Company’s business plan may have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial position, and ability to continue as a going concern.
We are currently in default on our term loan with the State Bank of India.
On March 10, 2011, one of our subsidiaries, Universal Biofuels Pvt. Ltd. (UBPL), received a demand notice from the State Bank of India under the Agreement of Loan for Overall Limit dated as of June 26, 2008. The notice informs UBPL that an event of default has occurred for failure to make an installment payment on the loan commencing June 2009 and demands repayment of the entire outstanding indebtedness of 19.60 crores (approximately $4 million) together with all accrued interest thereon and any applicable fees and expenses. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, interest accrues at the default interest rate of 2% above the State Bank of India Advance Rate pursuant to the Agreement of Loan for Overall Limit. State Bank of India has filed a legal case before the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), Hyderabad, for recovery of approximately $5.8 million against the Company and also impleaded Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) to expedite the process of registration of Factory land for which counter reply is yet to be filed by APIIC. In the case that the Company is unable to prevail with its legal case, DRT may pass a Decree for recovery of due amount, which will impact operations of the company including action up to seizing company property for recovery of their dues. Interest continues to accrue at the default rate in the amount of approximately $48,000 per month during the continuance of default. Due to the improved economics in the biofuels industry, we have been in discussions with the State Bank of India to restructure our debt and secure additional working capital to take advantage of increased demand for our products.
We may be unable to repay or refinance our Third Eye Capital Notes upon maturity.
On July 6, 2012, we entered into an amended and restated note purchase agreement for a term note in the amount of $15 million, a revolving facility in the amount of $18 million and a revenue participation note in the amount of $10 million. These three facilities have varying maturities over the next two years. In October 2012, Third Eye Capital agreed to extend the maturity of the notes to July 6, 2014, to increase the revolving facility by $6 million, to modify the waterfall, to waive certain financial covenants, and to defer interest payments. In February 2013, Third Eye Capital agreed to waive certain financial covenants, defer interest payments for an additional period, and to pay the January 2013 fee in shares of common stock. We may not be able to continue to extend the maturity of these notes. We may not have sufficient cash available at the time of maturity to repay this indebtedness. We have default covenants that may accelerate the maturities of these notes. We may not have sufficient assets or cash flow available to support refinancing these notes at market rates or on terms that are satisfactory to us. If we are unable to extend the maturity of the notes or refinance on terms satisfactory to us, we may be forced to refinance on terms that are materially less favorable, seek funds through other means such as a sale of some of our assets, or otherwise significantly alter our operating plan, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operation.
Our business is affected by greenhouse gas and climate change regulation.
The operations at our Keyes plant will result in emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In 2010, the EPA released its final regulations on RFS2. We believe the EPA’s final RFS2 regulations grandfather the Keyes facility we operate at its current capacity. Compliance with future legislation may require us to take action unknown to us at this time that could be costly, require the use of working capital, which may or may not be available, preventing us from operating as planned, which may have a material adverse effect on our operations and cash flow.
Our operations are subject to environmental, health, and safety laws, regulations, and liabilities.
Our operations are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including those relating to the discharge of materials into the air, water and ground, the generation, storage, handling, use, transportation and disposal of hazardous materials, access to and impacts on water supply, and the health and safety of our employees. In addition, our operations and sales in India subject us to risks associated with foreign laws, policies, and regulations. Some of these laws and regulations require our facilities to operate under permits that are subject to renewal or modification. These laws, regulations and permits can require expensive emissions testing and pollution control equipment or operational changes to limit actual or potential impacts to the environment. A violation of these laws and regulations or permit conditions can result in substantial fines, natural resource damages, criminal sanctions, permit revocations and facility shutdowns. We may not be at all times in compliance with these laws, regulations or permits or we may not have all permits required to operate our business. We may be subject to legal actions brought by environmental advocacy groups and other parties for actual or alleged violations of environmental laws or permits. In addition, we may be required to make significant capital expenditures on an ongoing basis to comply with increasingly stringent environmental laws, regulations and permits.
We may be liable for the investigation and cleanup of environmental contamination at the Keyes plant and at off-site locations where we arrange for the disposal of hazardous substances. If these substances have been or are disposed of or released at sites that undergo investigation or remediation by regulatory agencies, we may be responsible under CERCLA, or other environmental laws for all or part of the costs of investigation and remediation, and for damage to natural resources. We also may be subject to related claims by private parties alleging property damage and personal injury due to exposure to hazardous or other materials at or from those properties. Some of these matters may require us to expend significant amounts for investigation, cleanup or other costs.
New laws, new interpretations of existing laws, increased governmental enforcement of environmental laws or other developments could require us to make additional significant expenditures. Continued government and public emphasis on environmental issues can be expected to result in increased future investments for environmental controls at our production facilities. Environmental laws and regulations applicable to our operations now or in the future, more vigorous enforcement policies and discovery of currently unknown conditions may require substantial expenditures that could have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition. For example, carbon dioxide is a co-product of the ethanol manufacturing process and may be released into the atmosphere.
Emissions of carbon dioxide resulting from the manufacturing process are not currently subject to applicable permit requirements. If new laws or regulations are passed relating to the production, disposal or emissions of carbon dioxide, we may be required to incur significant costs to comply with such new laws or regulations.
Our business may suffer if we cannot maintain necessary permits or licenses.
Our operations require licenses, permits and in some cases renewals of these licenses and permits from various governmental authorities. Our ability to obtain, sustain, or renew such licenses and permits on acceptable, commercially viable terms are subject to change, as, among other things, the regulations and policies of applicable governmental authorities may change. Any inability to obtain, renew, or the loss of any of these licenses or permits may have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.
A change in government policies may cause a decline in the demand for our products.
The domestic ethanol industry is highly dependent upon a myriad of federal and state regulations and pending legislation, and any changes in legislation or regulation could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position. Other federal and state programs benefiting ethanol, generally are subject to U.S. government obligations under international trade agreements, including those under the World Trade Organization Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, and may be the subject of challenges, in whole or in part. Growth and demand for ethanol and biodiesel is largely driven by federal and state government mandates or blending requirements, such as the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Any change in government policies, which negatively affects our business, may have a material adverse effect our business and the results of our operations.
Ethanol can be imported into the United States duty-free from some countries, which may undermine the domestic ethanol industry. Production costs for ethanol in these countries can be significantly less than in the United States and the import of lower price or lower carbon value ethanol from these countries may reduce the demand for domestic ethanol and depress the price at which we sell our ethanol.
Waivers of the RFS minimum levels of renewable fuels included in gasoline could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Under the Energy Policy Act, the U.S. Department of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Energy, may waive the renewable fuels mandate with respect to one or more states if the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency determines that implementing the requirements would severely harm the economy or the environment of a state, a region or the nation, or that there is inadequate supply to meet the requirement. Any waiver of the RFS with respect to one or more states would reduce demand for ethanol and could cause our results of operations to decline and our financial condition to suffer.
We are subject to anti-corruption laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA. Our failure to comply with these laws could result in penalties, which could harm our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to the FCPA, which generally prohibits companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or keeping business and/or other benefits, along with various other anticorruption laws. Although we have implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure that we, our employees and other intermediaries comply with the FCPA and other anticorruption laws to which we are subject, there is no assurance that such policies or procedures will work effectively all of the time or protect us against liability under the FCPA or other laws for actions taken by our employees and other intermediaries with respect to our business or any businesses that we may acquire. We have manufacturing operations in India, which poses elevated risks of anti-corruption violations, and we export our products for sale internationally. This puts us in frequent contact with persons who may be considered “foreign officials” under the FCPA, resulting in an elevated risk of potential FCPA violations. If we are not in compliance with the FCPA and other laws governing the conduct of business with government entities (including local laws), we may be subject to criminal and civil penalties and other remedial measures, which could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. Any investigation of any potential violations of the FCPA or other anticorruption laws by U.S. or foreign authorities could harm our reputation and have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may encounter unanticipated difficulties in converting the Keyes plant to accommodate alternative feedstocks, new chemicals used in the fermentation and distillation process, or new mechanical production equipment.
In order to improve the operations of the Keyes plant and execute on our business plan, we intend to modify the plant to accommodate alternative feedstocks and new chemical and/or mechanical production processes. These modifications may cost significantly more to complete than our estimates. The plant may not operate at nameplate capacity once the changes are complete.
We may be subject to liabilities and losses that may not be covered by insurance.
Our employees and facilities are subject to the hazards associated with producing ethanol and biodiesel. Operating hazards can cause personal injury and loss of life, damage to, or destruction of, property, plant and equipment and environmental damage. We maintain insurance coverage in amounts and against the risks that we believe are consistent with industry practice. However, we could sustain losses for uninsurable or uninsured risks, or in amounts in excess of existing insurance coverage. Events that result in significant personal injury or damage to our property or to property owned by third parties or other losses that are not fully covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position.
Insurance liabilities are difficult to assess and quantify due to unknown factors, including the severity of an injury, the determination of our liability in proportion to other parties, the number of incidents not reported and the effectiveness of our safety program. If we were to experience insurance claims or costs above our coverage limits or that are not covered by our insurance, we might be required to use working capital to satisfy these claims rather than to maintain or expand our operations. To the extent that we experience a material increase in the frequency or severity of accidents or workers’ compensation claims, or unfavorable developments on existing claims, our operating results and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
Our business is dependent on external financing and cash from operations.
The construction, repairs, and upgrades of our ethanol and biodiesel plants, along with working capital, were financed in part through debt facilities. We may need to seek additional financing to continue or grow our operations. However, our recent financial performance and generally unfavorable credit market conditions may make it difficult to obtain necessary capital or additional debt financing on commercially viable terms or at all. If we are unable to pay our debt we may be forced to delay or cancel capital expenditures, sell assets, restructure our indebtedness, seek additional financing, or file for bankruptcy. Debt levels or debt service requirements may limit our ability to borrow additional capital, make us vulnerable to increases in prevailing interest rates, subject our assets to liens, limit our ability to adjust to changing market conditions, or place us at a competitive disadvantage to our competitors because of our leverage. Should we be unable to generate enough cash from our operations or secure additional financing to fund our operations and debt service requirements, we may be required to postpone or cancel growth projects, reduce our operations, or may be unable to meet our debt repayment schedules. Any one of these events may have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial position.
The result of our operations is primarily dependent on the spread between the feedstock and energy we purchase and the fuel and co-products we sell.
The results of our ethanol production business are significantly affected by the spread between the cost of the corn and natural gas that we purchase and the price of the ethanol and distiller grains that we sell. Our biodiesel business is primarily dependent on the price difference between the costs of the feedstock we purchase (principally; NRPO and crude glycerin) and the products we sell (principally; biodiesel and glycerin). In addition, the markets for ethanol, biodiesel, distiller grains, and glycerin are highly volatile and subject to significant fluctuations. Any decrease in the spread between prices of the commodities we buy and sell, whether as a result of an increase in feedstock prices or a reduction in ethanol or biodiesel prices, would adversely affect our financial performance and cash flow and may cause us to cease production at either of our plants.
Our operations subject us to risks associated with foreign laws, policies, regulations, and markets.
Our sales and manufacturing operations in foreign countries are subject to the laws, policies, regulations, and markets of the country in which we operate. As a result, our foreign manufacturing operations and sales are subject to inherent risks associated with the countries in which we operate. Risks involving our foreign operations include differences or unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, political and economic instability, terrorism and civil unrest, work stoppages or strikes, natural disasters, interruptions in transportation, restrictions on the export or import of technology, difficulties in staffing and managing international operations, variations in tariffs, quotas, taxes, and other market barriers, longer payment cycles, changes in economic conditions in the international markets in which our products are sold, and greater fluctuations in sales to customers in developing countries. If we are unable to effectively manage the risks associated with our foreign operations, our business may experience a material adverse effect on the results of our operations or financial condition.
We are a holding company and there are significant limitations on our ability to receive distributions from our subsidiaries.
We conduct substantially all of our operations through subsidiaries and are dependent on dividends or other intercompany transfers of funds from our subsidiaries to finance our operations. Our subsidiaries have not made significant distributions to the Company and may not have funds legally available for dividends or distributions in the future. In addition, we may enter into credit, or other, agreements that would contractually restrict our subsidiaries from paying dividends, making distributions, or making intercompany loans to our parent company or to any other subsidiary. In particular, our credit agreement may require us to obtain the prior consent of the lender for dividends or other intercompany fund transfers. If the amount of capital we are able to raise from financing activities, together with our revenues from operations that are available for distribution, are not sufficient to satisfy our ongoing working capital and corporate overhead requirements needs, even to the extent that we reduce our operations accordingly, we may be required to cease operations.
Our business may be subject to natural forces beyond our control.
Earthquakes, floods, droughts, tsunamis, and other unfavorable weather conditions may affect our operations. Natural catastrophes may have a detrimental effect on our supply and distribution channels, causing a delay or prevention of our receipt of raw materials from our suppliers or delivery of finished goods to our customers. In addition, weather conditions may adversely impact the planting, growth, harvest, storage, and general availability of any number of the products we may process at our facilities or sell to our customers. The severity of these occurrences, should they ever occur, will determine the extent to which and if our business is materially and adversely affected.
Operational difficulties at our facilities may negatively impact our business.
Our operations may experience unscheduled downtimes due to technical or structural failure, political and economic instability, terrorism and civil unrest, natural disasters, and other operational hazards inherent to our operations. These hazards may cause personal injury or loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property, equipment, or the environment, and may result in the suspension of operations and the imposition of civil or criminal penalties. Our insurance may not be adequate to cover the potential hazards described and we may not be able to renew our insurance on commercially reasonable terms or at all. In addition, any reduction in the yield or quality of the products we produce could negatively impact our ability to market our products. Any decrease in the quality, reduction in volume, or cessation of our operations due to these hazards would have a material adverse effect on the results of our business and financial condition.
Our success depends on our ability to manage the growth of our operations.
Our strategy envisions a period of rapid growth that may impose a significant burden on our administrative and operational resources and personnel, which if not effectively managed, could impair our growth. The growth of our business will require significant investments of capital and management’s close attention. If we are unable to successfully manage our growth, our sales may not increase commensurately with capital expenditures and investments. Our ability to effectively manage our growth will require us to substantially expand the capabilities of our administrative and operational resources and to attract, train, manage and retain qualified management, technicians and other personnel; we may be unable to do so. In addition to our plans to adopt technologies that expand our operations and product offerings at our biodiesel and ethanol plants, we may seek to enter into strategic business relationships with companies to expand our operations. If we are unable to successfully manage our growth, we may be unable to achieve our business goals, which may have a material adverse effect on the results of our operations and financial condition.
Our mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and joint ventures may not be as beneficial as we anticipate.
We have increased our operations through mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and joint ventures and intend to continue to explore these opportunities in the future. The anticipated benefits of these transactions may take longer to realize than expected, may never be fully realized, or even realized at all. Furthermore, partnerships and joint ventures generally involve restrictive covenants on the parties involved, which may limit our ability to manage these agreements in a manner that is in our best interest. Future mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and joint ventures may involve the issuance of debt or equity, or a combination of the two, as payment for or financing of the business or assets involved, which may dilute ownership interest in our business. Any failure to adequately evaluate and address the risks of and execute on our mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and joint ventures could have an adverse material effect on our business, results of operations, and financial position.
We may be unable to protect our intellectual property.
We rely on a combination of patents, trademarks, trade name, confidentiality agreements, and other contractual restrictions on disclosure to protect our intellectual property rights. We also enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, and corporate partners, and control access to and distribution of our confidential information. These measures may not preclude the disclosure of our confidential or proprietary information. Despite efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain and use our proprietary information. Monitoring unauthorized use of our confidential information is difficult, and we cannot be certain that the steps we have taken to prevent unauthorized use of our confidential information, particularly in foreign countries where the laws may not protect proprietary rights as fully as in the U.S., will be effective.
We may not be able to successfully develop and commercialize our technologies, which may require us to curtail or cease our research and development activities.
Since 2007, we have been developing patent-pending enzyme technology to enable the production of ethanol from a combination of starch and cellulose, or from cellulose alone, and in July 2011, we acquired Zymetis, Inc., a biochemical research and development firm, with several patents pending and in-process R&D utilizing the Z-microbe™ to produce renewable chemicals and advanced fuels from renewable feedstocks. Although, the viability of our technology has been demonstrated in the lab, there can be no assurance that we will be able to commercialize our technology. To date, we have not completed a large-scale commercial prototype of our technology and are uncertain at this time when completion of a commercial scale prototype will occur.
Risks related to our stock
There can be no assurance that a liquid public market for our common stock will continue to exist.
Although our shares of common stock are quoted on the OTC Markets electronic over-the-counter trading system, a very limited number of shares trade on a regular basis and there may not be a significant market in such stock. There can be no assurance that a regular and established market will be developed and maintained for our common stock. There can also be no assurance as to the strength or liquidity of any market for our common stock or the prices at which holders may be able to sell their shares.
It is likely that there will be significant volatility in the trading price of our stock.
Market prices for our common stock will be influenced by many factors and will be subject to significant fluctuations in response to variations in our operating results and other factors. Because our business is the operation of our biodiesel plant and the future development and operation of next-generation cellulosic ethanol plants, factors that could affect our future stock price, and create volatility in our stock price, include the price and demand for ethanol and biodiesel, the price and availability of oil and gasoline, the political situation in the Middle East, U.S. energy policies, federal and state regulatory changes that affect the price of ethanol or biodiesel, and the existence or discontinuation of legislative incentives for renewable fuels. Our stock price will also be affected by the trading price of the stock of our competitors, investor perceptions of us, interest rates, general economic conditions and those specific to the ethanol or biodiesel industry, developments with regard to our operations and activities, our future financial condition, and changes in our management.
Our stock may have risks associated with low priced stocks.
Although our common stock currently is quoted and traded on the OTC Bulletin Board, the price at which the stock will trade in the future cannot currently be estimated. Since December 15, 2008, our common stock has traded below $5.00 per share. As a result, trading in our common stock may be subject to the requirements of certain rules promulgated under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which require additional disclosure by broker-dealers in connection with any trades involving a stock defined as a penny stock (generally, any non-Nasdaq equity security that has a market price share of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions) and a two business day “cooling off period” before broker and dealers can effect transactions in penny stocks. For these types of transactions, the broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and have received the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction before the sale. The broker-dealer also must disclose the commissions payable to the broker-dealer, current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock and, if the broker-dealer is the sole market-maker, the broker-dealer must disclose this fact and the broker-dealer’s presumed control over the market. These, and the other burdens imposed upon broker-dealers by the penny stock requirements, could discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in our common stock, which could severely limit the market liquidity of our common stock and the ability of holders of our common stock to sell it.
We do not intend to pay dividends.
We have not paid any cash dividends on any of our securities since inception and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on any of our securities in the foreseeable future.
Our principal shareholders hold a substantial amount of our common stock.
Eric A. McAfee, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, Laird Q. Cagan, a former board member, in the aggregate, beneficially own 32.3% of our common stock outstanding. In addition, the other members of our Board of Directors and management, in the aggregate, excluding Eric McAfee, beneficially own approximately 4.18% of our common stock. Our lender, Third Eye Capital, acting as principal and an agent, beneficially owns 14.72% of our common stock. As a result, these shareholders, acting together, will be able to influence many matters requiring shareholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of mergers and other significant corporate transactions. See “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.” The interests of these shareholders may differ from yours and this concentration of ownership enables these shareholders to exercise influence over many matters requiring shareholder approval, may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control, and could deprive you of an opportunity to receive a premium for your securities as part of a sale of the company and may affect the market price of our securities.
Rule 144 will not be available to holders of restricted shares during any period in which the Company has failed to comply with its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act.
From time to time the Company has issued shares in transactions exempt from registration. Shares issued pursuant to exemptions from registration are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933. As restricted shares, these shares may be resold only pursuant to an effective registration statement or pursuant to Rule 144 or other applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act. However, Rule 144 is not available with respect to restricted shares acquired from an issuer that is or was at any time in its past a shell company if the former shell company has failed to file all reports that it is required to file under the Exchange Act during the 12 months preceding the sale. If at any time the Company fails to comply with its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act, Rule 144 will not be available to holders of restricted shares, which may limit your ability to sell your restricted shares.
North America
Corporate Office. Our corporate headquarters are located at 20400 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 700, Cupertino, CA. The Cupertino facility office space consists of 9,238 rentable square feet. We occupy this facility under a lease that commenced June 16, 2009 and ends on May 31, 2015. From July 2009 through July 2012, we sublet office space consisting of 3,104 rentable square feet to Nevo Energy, formerly Solargen Energy, at a monthly rent rate equal to the rent charged to us by our landlord.
Ethanol Plant in Keyes, CA. In 2009 we entered into a Project Agreement and Lease Agreement with Cilion, Inc. pursuant to which we agreed, through our wholly-owned subsidiary AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., to retrofit and restart a 55 million gallon per year name plate capacity ethanol plant in Keyes, CA and upon substantial completion of the retrofit to lease the Keyes plant for a term of 60 months at a monthly rent of $250,000. The lease commenced on April 1, 2011. On July 6, 2012, we acquired Cilion, Inc., including the Keyes CA ethanol plant, for an aggregate purchase price of (a) $16.5 million of cash and (b) 20 million shares of Aemetis common stock and (c) the right to receive an additional cash amount of $5 million plus interest at the rate of 3% per annum, payable upon the satisfaction by the Company of certain conditions. Our tangible and intangible assets, including the Keyes CA ethanol plant, are subject to perfected first liens and mortgages as further described in Note 6. Notes Payable, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Aemetis productively utilizes the majority of the space in these facilities.
Other Properties. During 2012, we also owned approximately 200 acres of land in Sutton, Nebraska. The land in Sutton, Nebraska was sold in March 2012.
India
Biodiesel Plant in Kakinada, India. We own and operate a biodiesel plant with a nameplate capacity of 50 million gallons per year (MGY) situated on approximately 32,000 square meters of land in Kakinada, India. The property is located 7.5 kilometers from the local seaport with connectivity through a third-party pipeline to the port jetty. The pipeline facilitates the importing of raw materials and exporting finished product. Our tangible and intangible assets, including the Kakinada plant, are subject to liens as further described in Note 6 Notes Payable, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
India Administrative Office. Our principal administrative, sales and marketing facilities are located in approximately 1,000 square feet of office space in Hyderabad, India which we lease on a month to month rental arrangement.
Aemetis productively utilizes the majority of the space in these facilities.
On March 10, 2011, UBPL received a demand notice from the State Bank of India. The notice informed UBPL that an event of default has occurred for failure to make an installment payment on the loan commencing June 2009 and demands repayment of the entire outstanding indebtedness of 19.60 crores (approximately $4 million) together with all accrued interest thereon and any applicable fees and expenses. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, interest accrues at the default interest rate of 2% above the State Bank Advance Rate. The default period began on July 1, 2009 when the principal payment was deemed past due; and we have accrued interest at the default rate since the beginning of the default period. Additional provisions of the loan agreement give the bank the right to disclose or publish our company name and the names of our directors as defaulter in any medium or media. In addition, since the bank demanded payment of the balance, we have classified the entire loan amount as current. State Bank of India has filed a legal case before the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), Hyderabad, for recovery of approximately $5.8 million against the company and also impleaded Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) to expedite the process of registration of Factory land for which counter reply is yet to be filed by APIIC. In the case that the Company is unable to prevail with its legal case, DRT may pass a Decree for recovery of due amount, which will impact operations of the company including action up to seizing company property for recovery of their dues.
On August 21, 2012, UBS Securities, Inc. filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company. The complaint sought damages based on a breach of contract theory. The Company filed its answer on September 25, 2012. The matter was subsequently settled on January 15, 2013 at a pre-trial settlement conference held at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Subsequent to the end of the quarter Aemetis agreed to pay UBS $2.25 million in cash over time for investment banking services provided for the Cilion merger transaction. As of December 31, 2012 Aemetis has paid or accrued $2.25 million toward this obligation.
Not Applicable.
Our stock became qualified for quotation on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board under the symbol AEBF in 2007 and continued to trade on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board until September 24, 2010. Thereafter, the Company commenced trading on the OTC Market as an OTC Pink company under the symbol AMTX, where it continues to trade today. There is, at present, a very low public market for the Company’s common shares, and there is no assurance that any such market will develop, or if developed, that such market will be sustained. The Company’s common shares therefore are not a suitable investment for persons who may have to liquidate their investment on a timely basis and are therefore only appropriate for those investors who are able to make a long-term investment in the Company.
Although quotations for the Company’s common stock appear on the OTC Markets, there is no established trading market for the common stock. Since January 2007, transactions in the common stock can only be described as sporadic. Consequently, the Company is of the opinion that any published prices cannot be attributed to a liquid and active trading market and, therefore, is not indicative of any meaningful market value.
The following table sets forth the high and low bid prices for our common stock for each full quarterly period during fiscal 2011 and 2012 on the OTC Market. The source of these quotations is OTCMarkets.com. The bid prices are inter-dealer prices, without retail markup, markdown or commission, and may not reflect actual transactions.
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Quarter Ending
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High Bid
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Low Bid
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||||||
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March 31, 2011
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$ | 0.16 | $ | 0.08 | ||||
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June 30, 2011
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$ | 0.28 | $ | 0.10 | ||||
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September 30, 2011
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$ | 1.01 | $ | 0.25 | ||||
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December 31, 2011
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$ | 0.95 | $ | 0.34 | ||||
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March 31, 2012
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$ | 1.00 | $ | 0.53 | ||||
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June 30, 2012
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$ | 0.85 | $ | 0.37 | ||||
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September 30, 2012
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$ | 0.82 | $ | 0.37 | ||||
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December 31, 2012
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$ | 0.73 | $ | 0.35 | ||||
Shareholders of Record
According to the records of Aemetis’ transfer agent, Aemetis had 336 stockholders of record as of April 9, 2013 and it believes there are a substantially greater number of non-objecting beneficial holders. Aemetis has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its common stock. Aemetis currently expects to retain any future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of its business and reduce its outstanding debt and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Information with respect to restrictions on paying dividends is set forth in Note 6 “Notes Payable” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities
Details surrounding major equity securities transactions can be found in our regular Form 8-K and 10-Q disclosures.
On November 15, 2012, 73,687 shares of employee stock options were exercised at a weighted average exercise price of $0.45 per share.
During December 2012, subordinated note investors exercised 196,000 warrants for the purchase of common stock at an exercise price of $0.001 per share.
On December 21, 2012, in exchange for services rendered or to be rendered, we granted to consultants 400,000 common shares at a weighted average market price of $0.47 per share.
On November 5, 2012, the Company awarded 3,532,500 shares of common stock options to employees, consultants and Board members. All grants were awarded at $0.55 per share.
On December 31, 2012, notes payable holders converted principal, interest and fees in the amount of $4,107,141 into 9,062,900 shares of common stock.
These securities were issued pursuant to an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Not Applicable
Our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is provided in addition to the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes to assist readers in understanding our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. MD&A is organized as follows:
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Overview. Discussion of our business and overall analysis of financial and other highlights affecting us, to provide context for the remainder of MD&A.
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Results of Operations. An analysis of our financial results comparing the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 to the twelve months ended December 31, 2011.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources. An analysis of changes in our balance sheets and cash flows and discussion of our financial condition.
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Critical Accounting Estimates. Accounting estimates that we believe are important to understanding the assumptions and judgments incorporated in our reported financial results and forecasts.
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The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this report. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. 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, particularly under “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and in other reports we file with the SEC, specifically our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.” All references to years relate to the calendar year ended December 31 of the particular year.
Overview
Our goal is to be a leader in the production of advanced fuels and specialty chemicals and in the acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative technologies that are substitutes for traditional petroleum-based products and non-food feedstock conversion of traditional ethanol and biodiesel plants using our operating ethanol and biodiesel facilities. To fund our operations, since our inception in 2005 we have raised approximately $48.9 million through the sale of preferred stock and approximately $80 million in debt. We have used these funds to (i) construct and operate a biodiesel plant in Kakinada, India, (ii) construct a glycerin refining and vegetable oil pretreatment facility at our Kakinada plant, (iii) develop and expand our technology portfolio of proprietary, patented and patent-pending technology, (iv) retrofit and operate an ethanol plant in Keyes, California, and (v) acquire Cilion, Inc., the former owner of the Keyes, CA plant.
Going Concern Uncertainty
In connection with their year-end audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, our independent auditors are required to assess whether an emphasis paragraph should be included in their audit report regarding the existence of substantial doubt related to our ability to continue as a going concern. Our auditors have issued a report on our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, which is included with this report on Form 10-K, that states that the factors discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. As shown in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the Company incurred an operating loss of $21,160,672 in 2012 due unfavorable commodity markets at our plant in Keyes, California and limited access to fuel markets and working capital in Kakinada, India. Our cash and cash equivalents balance was $290,603 as of December 31, 2012, of which $184,349 was held in our domestic entities and $106,254 was held in offshore subsidiaries. We ended 2012 with limited working capital resources. Specifically, we had negative working capital of $50,989,754. We will need to raise additional working capital in 2013 in order to achieve our business goals in India and the U.S.
We also could provide the business with working capital, if we are able to: i) increase sales from our plant in Kakinada, India to either domestic India customers or export customers in Europe or the U.S, or ii) operate the plant in Keyes, California at a positive gross profit. However there can be no assurance that we will be successful in achieving either of these objectives or, if successfully implemented, that these initiatives will be sufficient to address our lack of liquidity. If the Company is unable to generate sufficient liquidity from its operations to satisfy its obligations, or raise additional cash from debt or equity issuances we could potentially be forced to sell all or a portion of our existing biodiesel facility, ethanol facility or other assets to generate cash to continue our business plan. A continued lack of liquidity from operating our plants in Kakinada, India and Keyes, California may have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and may result in our inability to continue as a going concern, and or force us to seek relief from creditors through a filing under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the classification or carrying values of our assets or liabilities that might be necessary as a result of the outcome of this uncertainty.
North America
In the second quarter of 2011, we successfully completed the retrofit of the Keyes, CA ethanol plant and in April 2011 began operating the plant pursuant to a 5-year lease agreement with Cilion, Inc. The Keyes plant is a dry mill ethanol production facility currently utilizing corn as feedstock. In addition, the plant produces high quality wet distillers grains (WDG) and a small amount of condensed distillers soluble (CDS) as byproducts of the ethanol production process, which are sold as a high protein, livestock feed supplements. On July 6, 2012, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Cilion, Inc. pursuant to which we acquired Cilion for an aggregate of (a) $16.5 million, (b) 20 million shares of Aemetis common stock and (c) the obligation to pay an additional cash amount of $5 million plus interest at the rate of 3% per annum, which is payable upon the satisfaction by us of certain conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.
During 2012, we produced four products at the Keyes plant: denatured ethanol, WDG, corn oil and CDS. In 2012, we sold 100% of the ethanol and WDG we produced to J.D. Heiskell pursuant to a Purchase Agreement established with J.D. Heiskell. Small amounts of CDS were sold to various local third parties. Ethanol pricing is determined pursuant to a marketing agreement between us and Kinergy Marketing LLC, and is generally based on daily and monthly pricing for ethanol delivered to Los Angeles, California, as published by the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), as well as quarterly contracts negotiated by Kinergy with local fuel blenders. The price for WDG is determined monthly pursuant to a marketing agreement between the Company and A.L. Gilbert Co., and is generally determined in reference to the price of dry distillers grains (DDG) and corn.
On January 15, 2013, the Company took the strategic step to idle corn grinding and ethanol production activities at its Keyes, California plant due to the current unfavorable market conditions for corn ethanol production, while it undertakes efforts expected to result in the restart of the plant as an advanced biofuel producer. This action is in keeping with the Company’s plan to move to advanced biofuel feedstocks and inputs using a recently approved milo/biogas EPA pathway for a significant portion of its operational capacity. The Company anticipates the ethanol plant coming back online in the later part of April 2013
India
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, we also continued to operate our biodiesel plant in India and increase revenues. However, during 2012 our India operations continued to be constrained by limited working capital and by diesel price supports by the India government. During January 2013, the India government reduced subsidies for diesel by increasing the sales price of diesel to bulk purchasers (railways and state transportation corporations) to the market price and by increasing the sales price of diesel to other purchasers at the rate of 45 paise per liter per month until the price reached the market price. Our biodiesel pricing is indexed to the price of petroleum diesel, and as such, the increase in the price of petroleum diesel is expected to favorably impact the profitability of our India operations.
We increased sales at our India plant by diversifying our product lines and our customer base. In early 2012, we completed the construction of glycerin and oil refining units, which enable us to produce and sell refined glycerin and refined palm oil. In anticipation of the completion of our glycerin refining unit, in 2011 we purchased refined glycerin and resold it into the India domestic market to begin developing a customer base.
In addition, we have begun to develop a base of industrial customers who use fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel) as a specialty chemical for commercial manufacturing.
North America Segment
Revenue
Substantially all of our North America revenues during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were from sales of ethanol and WDG. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, we produced and sold 53,038,270 gallons of ethanol and 379,662 tons of WDG compared to 37,388,849 gallons of ethanol and 273,533 tons of WDG during the twelve months ended December 31, 2011.
Cost of Goods Sold
Substantially all of our corn is procured by J.D. Heiskell. Our cost of corn includes rail transportation, local basis costs and a handling fee paid to J.D. Heiskell. Cost of goods sold also includes chemicals, plant overhead and out bound transportation. Plant overhead includes direct and indirect costs associated with the operation of the ethanol plant, including the cost of electricity and natural gas, maintenance, insurance, rental, direct labor, depreciation and freight. Transportation includes the costs of in-bound delivery of corn by rail and out-bound shipments of ethanol and WDG by truck. In 2012, transportation cost for ethanol and WDG was approximately $0.09 per gallon.
Pursuant to a Corn Procurement and Working Capital Agreement with J.D. Heiskell, we purchase all of our corn from Heiskell. Title to the corn passes to us when the corn is deposited into the weigh bin and entered into the production process. The credit terms of the corn purchased from J.D. Heiskell is five days. J.D. Heiskell purchases our ethanol and WDG on one-day terms.
The price of corn is established by J.D Heiskell based on Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) pricing including transportation and basis, plus a handling fee. We establish pricing for WDG and ethanol pursuant to marketing agreements with Kinergy and A.L. Gilbert. Ethanol prices are based on daily OPIS published rates, while the price of WDG is based on a percentage of dry distiller grains and corn prices. J.D. Heiskell is contractually obligated to sell all of the ethanol to Kinergy Marketing LLC, who in turn sells the ethanol to local blenders and all of the WDG to A.L Gilbert who in turn sells the WDG to local dairies and feedlots.
Sales, Marketing and General Administrative Expenses (SG&A)
SG&A expenses consist of employee compensation, professional services, travel, depreciation, taxes, insurance, rent and utilities, including license and permit fees, penalties and interest, and sales and marketing fees. Our single largest expense is employee compensation, including related stock compensation, followed by sales and marketing fees paid in connection with the marketing and sale of ethanol and WDG.
In October 2010, we entered into an exclusive marketing agreement with Kinergy Marketing LLC to market and sell our ethanol and an agreement with A.L. Gilbert to market and sell our WDG. The agreements expire on August 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, and are automatically renewed for additional one-year terms. Pursuant to these agreements, our marketing costs for ethanol and WDG are less than 2% of sales.
Research and Development Expenses (R&D)
In 2011, substantially all of our R&D expenses were attributable to our industrial biotechnology research team in Maryland acquired in July 2011 as a result of the acquisition of Zymetis, Inc. and for the operation and subsequent closing of our facility in Butte, MT. In 2011, certain costs related to establishing a demonstration plant in Keyes, CA were included as well. In 2012, substantially all of our R&D expenses were related to our research and development activities in College Park, MD.
India Segment
Revenue
Substantially all of our India segment revenues during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011were from sales of biodiesel, NPRO and glycerin. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, we sold 4,127 metric tons of biodiesel and 2,318 metric tons of refined glycerin compared to 8,636 metric tons of biodiesel and 772 tons of crude glycerin during the twelve months ended December 31, 2011. In 2011, we purchased 1,000 metric tons of refined glycerin, of which 772 metric tons were resold in 2011 to develop a market for refined glycerin in advance of the completion of our glycerin refining unit.
During 2012, we commissioned our pre-treatment unit, began producing and sold 7,039 metric tons of processed NRPO to customers. During the portion of the year, we were able to refine crude palm oil into NRPO at a more attractive margin than converting stearin into biodiesel. During the early months of 2011, NRPO prices increased to the point where biodiesel production was uneconomical. As a result, we resold 588 metric tons of the feedstock we held in inventory rather than producing biodiesel.
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold consists primarily of feedstock oil, chemicals, direct costs (principally labor and labor related costs), and factory overhead. Depending upon the costs of these inputs in comparison to the sales price of biodiesel and glycerin, our gross margins may vary from positive to negative. Factory overhead includes direct and indirect costs associated with the plant, including the cost of repairs and maintenance, consumables, maintenance, on-site security, insurance, depreciation and inbound freight.
We purchase NRPO, a non-edible feedstock, for our biodiesel unit from neighboring natural oil processing plants at a discount to refined palm oil. NRPO is received by truck and title passes when the NRPO is received at our facility. Credit terms vary by vendor; however, we generally receive 15 days of credit on the purchases. We purchase crude glycerin in the international market on letters of credit or advance payment terms.
Sales, Marketing and General Administrative Expenses (SG&A)
SG&A expenses consist of employee compensation, professional services, travel, depreciation, taxes, insurance, rent and utilities, including licenses and permits, penalties, and sales and marketing fees. Pursuant to an operating agreement with Secunderabad Oils Limited, we receive operational support and working capital. We compensate Secunderabad Oils Limited with a percentage of the profits and losses generated from operations. Payments of interest are identified as interest income while payments of profit and losses are identified as compensation for the operational support component of this agreement. We therefore include the portion of profit or losses paid to Secunderabad Oils Limited as a component of SG&A and our SG&A component will vary based on the profits earned by operations. In addition, we market our biodiesel and glycerin through our internal sales staff, commissioned agents and brokers. Commissions paid to agents are included as a component of SG&A.
Research and Development Expenses (R&D)
Our India segment has no research and development activities.
Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2012 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2011
Revenues
Our revenues are derived primarily from sales of ethanol and WDG in North America and biodiesel and glycerin in India.
| Fiscal Year Ended December 31 (in thousands) | ||||||||||||
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2012
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2011
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Increase/(Decrease)
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||||||||||
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North America
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$ | 175,501 | $ | 131,946 | $ | 43,555 | ||||||
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India
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13,548 | 9,912 | 3,636 | |||||||||
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Total
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$ | 189,049 | $ | 141,858 | $ | 47,191 | ||||||
North America. The increase in revenues in the North America segment for the year ended December 31, 2012 reflects the operation of the Keyes, CA plant for a full year compared to 9 months in 2011. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we generated approximately 76% of revenues from sales of ethanol and 22% of revenues from sales of WDG and 2% of revenues from corn oil and syrup sales compared to 82% of revenues from sales of ethanol and 18% of revenues from sales of WDG for the year ended December 31, 2011. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, plant operations averaged 96% of nameplate capacity compared to 101% for the nine months of operations in 2011 due to a decision by management to slow down production during the last quarter of 2012 in response to a low margin environment.
India. The increase in revenues in the India segment for the year ended December 31, 2012 reflects (i) a decrease in the amount of biodiesel produced and sold as a result of consistent sales into the domestic market during the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to two large international sales ($6.9 million) in the second half of the year ended December 31, 2011, (ii) stronger sales of refined glycerin as a result of the completion and commencement of operations of the refined glycerin unit; and (iii) sales of natural refined palm oil (NRPO) as a result of the completion and commencement of operations of the natural oil refining unit. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we generated approximately 30% of revenue from sales of biodiesel (methyl ester), 15% of revenue from sales of glycerin and 55% of revenue from sales of NRPO, compared to 88% of revenue from sales of biodiesel, 6% of revenue from sales of glycerin and 6% of revenue from sales of NRPO for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Cost of Goods Sold
| Fiscal Year Ended December 31 (in thousands) | ||||||||||||
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2012
|
2011
|
Increase/(Decrease)
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||||||||||
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North America
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$ | 183,784 | $ | 127,722 | $ | 56,062 | ||||||
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India
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14,191 | 9,494 | 4,697 | |||||||||
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Total
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$ | 197,975 | $ | 137,216 | $ | 60,759 | ||||||
North America. The increase in costs of goods sold in the North America segment for the year ended December 31, 2012 reflects the operation of the Keyes, CA plant for a full year compared to 9 months in 2011 as well as an approximately 3% increase in the average cost of corn during the operating period of the plant. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we ground 18.6 million bushels of corn compared to 13.6 million bushels of corn for the year ended December 31, 2011.
India. The increase in costs of goods sold in the India segment is primarily attributable to an increase in production to support sales of product during 2012, offset by a 1% decrease in the average cost of NRPO. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we processed and sold 7,039 metric tons of NRPO compared to 588 metric tons of NRPO for the year ended December 31, 2011. A higher mix of export sales in 2011 caused the more favorable, yet close to breakeven gross margins in 2011. Year-over-year 2011 had slightly positive gross margins and 2012 had slightly negative gross margins caused primarily by unfavorable commodity pricing on raw material inputs and finishes goods outputs.”
Operating Expenses
R&D
| Fiscal Year Ended December 31 (in thousands) | ||||||||||||
|
2012
|
2011
|
Increase/(Decrease)
|
||||||||||
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North America
|
$ | 620 | $ | 577 | $ | 43 | ||||||
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India
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
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Total
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$ | 620 | $ | 577 | $ | 43 | ||||||
The increase in R&D expense in our North America segment in 2012 primarily came from higher legal costs to support pending patent applications for patents acquired during the Zymetis merger.
SG&A
| Fiscal Year Ended December 31 (in thousands) | ||||||||||||
|
2012
|
2011
|
Increase/(Decrease)
|
||||||||||
|
North America
|
$ | 10,922 | $ | 7,843 | $ | 3,079 | ||||||
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India
|
691 | 739 | (48 | ) | ||||||||
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Other
|
- | (11 | ) | 11 | ||||||||
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Total
|
$ | 11,613 | $ | 8,571 | $ | 3,042 | ||||||
North America. The increase in SG&A in the year ended December 31, 2012 reflects the full year of operation of the Keyes, CA plant compared to the initial start of the Keyes, CA plant in April 2011. Labor expenses of approximately $2.9 million related to operation of the Keyes plant were incurred during the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to approximately $2.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2011. Marketing fees of approximately $2.4 million were incurred during the year ended December 31, 2012 in connection with sales of ethanol and WDG compared to approximately $2.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2011.
India. Our single largest expense in SG&A is the operational support fees paid to Secunderabad Oils Limited. These fees are computed as a percentage of operating profits. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, we incurred approximately $108,000 and $115,000, respectively in operational support fees. In addition, during 2011 a period of no production necessitated the reclassification of $282,000 in cost of goods sold to SG&A, partially offset by approximately $223,000 in higher 2012 spending primarily from higher volume of sales related expenses and higher reclass of outward bound freight to cost of goods sold of approximately $106,000.
Other Income/Expense
Other income (expense) consisted of the following items:
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Interest expense is attributable to debt facilities acquired by the Company, our subsidiaries Universal Biofuels Pvt. Ltd., International Biofuels, Inc., AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. and interest accrued on the complaint filed by Cordillera Fund, L.P. These debt facilities included revenue participation fees, warrants issued as fees and the payment of other fees and discount fees, which are amortized as part of interest expense. Currently, the debt facility for Universal Biofuels Pvt. Ltd. accrues interest at the default rate of interest. We incurred interest expense of approximately $17.7 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 ($4.4 million from India loans and $13.3 million from North America loans) compared to $13.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 ($4.0 million from India loans and $9.6 million from North America loans) principally due to the additional debt associated with the acquisition of the Keyes, CA plant.
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On July 6, 2012 we acquired Cilion, Inc. through a merger. The excess of the fair value of the assets acquired gave rise to a gain on bargain purchase accounting of $42.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.
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As a result of the July 6, 2012 Cilion merger financing, the Company incurred certain placement, redemption and waivers fees in exchange for extending the maturities of certain Existing Notes. These changes in debt amounts resulted in the implementation of extinguishment accounting. $9.1 million in net extinguishment losses resulted from; (i) the recognition of placement fees and unamortized debt issuance costs, and (ii) the recognition of Notes and redemption fees at fair value. In addition, equipment acquired during the Cilion merger sold for a gain of $113,526 during October and November 2012.
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During 2012 we sold our land holding in Sutton, Nebraska at a gain of $236,830. During 2011, we sold our land holdings in Danville, Illinois at a loss of $401,407.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
2012
During 2012, we funded our operations primarily from borrowings under our credit facilities.
We expect that cash provided by operating activities may fluctuate in future periods primarily as a result of changes in the prices for corn, ethanol, WDG, biodiesel, NPRO and natural gas. During periods in which the spread between ethanol prices and corn and energy costs narrow or the spread between biodiesel prices and palm oil and energy costs narrow, we may require additional working capital to fund operations. For additional discussion, see “Part I—Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents were $290,603 at December 31, 2012, of which $184,349 was held in our North American entities and $106,254 was held in our Indian subsidiary. Our current ratio at December 31, 2012 was 0.13 compared to a current ratio of 0.24 at December 31, 2011. We expect that our future available capital resources will consist primarily of our remaining cash balances, amounts available for borrowing, if any, under our senior debt facilities and our subordinated debt facilities, cash generated from operations, and any additional funds raised through sales of equity.
Liquidity
In July 2012, we acquired the Keyes plant and refinanced the project to include a revolving credit line with our senior lender. Our lender required repayment of certain obligations and fees under other agreements, and we closed the purchase with $3 million available under the $18 million credit facility. Our senior lender has collateralized all significant assets of ours, which limits our ability to obtain working capital through commercial banks or through other means. We are therefore dependent on our senior lender for future debt financing.
Cash and cash equivalents, current assets, current liabilities and debt at the end of each period were as follows:
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December 31,
2012
|
December 31,
2011
|
|||||||
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Cash and cash equivalents
|
$
|
290,603
|
$
|
249,466
|
||||
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Current assets (including cash, cash equivalents, and deposits)
|
6,845,449
|
7,128,916
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||||||
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Current liabilities (including short term debt)
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57,835,203
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29,428,067
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Short and long term debt
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70,045,595
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29,646,435
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The Company has experienced losses and continued to have negative cash flow through the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 and, as of December 31, 2012, has negative working capital of 50,989,754 We are actively pursuing additional working capital through both debt and equity offerings in order to have funds to execute on our business strategy in India and in the United States. Funds available at December 31, 2012 are sufficient to cover less than one month of our domestic operating costs.
The foregoing matters raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. In order for us to continue as a going concern, we require a significant amount of additional working capital to fund our ongoing operating expenses and future capital requirements. The use of additional working capital is primarily for the purchase of feedstock and other raw materials to restart of our California plant, the conversion the California plant to the next generation of feedstock, the operation of our biodiesel plant in India, general and administrative expenses, and debt interest and principal payments. Our ability to identify and enter into commercial arrangements with feedstock suppliers in India depends on maintaining our operations agreement with Secunderabad Oil, Limited, who is currently providing us with working capital for our Kakinada facility. If we are unable to maintain this strategic relationship, our business may be negatively affected. In addition, the ability of Secunderabad to continue to provide us with working capital depends in part on the financial strength of Secunderabad and its banking relationships. If Secunderabad is unable or unwilling to continue to provide us with working capital, our business may be negatively affected. Our ability to enter into commercial arrangements with feedstock suppliers in California depends on maintaining our operations agreement with J.D. Heiskell, who is currently providing us with working capital for our California ethanol plant. If we are unable to maintain this strategic relationship, our business may be negatively affected. In addition, the ability of J.D. Heiskell to continue to provide us with working capital depends in part on the financial strength of J.D. Heiskell and its banking relationships. If J.D. Heiskell is unable or unwilling to continue to provide us with working capital, our business may be negatively affected.
With regards to our senior secured notes held by Third Eye Capital on October 18, 2012, we agree to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 1 to (i) extend the maturity date of the Existing Notes to July 6, 2014; (ii) to increase the amount of the Revolving Loan Facility by $6 million, to a total of $24 million; (iii) to modify the redemption waterfall so that any payments would be applied first to the increase in the Revolving notes; (iv) granted waivers to the Borrowers’ obligation to pay or comply, and any event of default which has occurred or may occur as a result of such failures of the Borrowers to pay or comply with certain financial covenants and principal payments, including financial covenants for the quarter ended September 30 and December 31, 2012; and (v) agreed to defer interest payments until the earlier of certain events described in the Limited Waiver or February 1, 2013. In consideration for the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, the Borrowers, among other things, agreed to pay the Lenders a waiver fee in the amount of $4 million; and (ii) cash in the amount of $28,377 for certain unreimbursed costs. The $6 million increase in the Revolving Loan Facility may not be drawn upon due to the additional credit being set aside for fee payments. An immediate $1 million draw from the Revolving Loan Facility paid the first installment of the Amendment No. 1 $4 million waiver fee. The remaining waiver fees are due in $1 million increments on January 1, 2013, April 1, 2013 and July 1, 2013.
On July 6, 2012 Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes entered into a Revolving Credit Facility with a commitment of $18 million. On October 16, 2012, Amendment No. 1 increased the amount of the Revolving Loan Facility by $6 million, to a total of $24 million. Interest on the credit facility accrues at the prime rate plus 13.75% or 17% as of December 31, 2012. Interest is payable monthly in arrears. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on July 6, 2013 and may be extended with the payment of extension fees. As of December 31, 2012 Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes had $23,378,535 in principal and interest outstanding on the credit facility, net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $1,780,628 with available credit set aside for the purpose of paying Third Eye Capital fees. Subsequent to year end, on February 27, 2013, Amendment No. 2 provided an additional $3.1 million in working capital credit based on anticipated collateral arrangements and waived certain covenants.
On February 27, 2013, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to (i) provide a Notional Paydown by pledging addition collateral on the Revolving Portion of the Revolving Notes in the amount of $3,100,000, such Notional Paydown was replaced in the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 3 with an increase in the Revolver Note and the collateral substitution of a pledge of 6,231,159 shares of stock held by McAfee Capital LLC (ii) grant waivers to the Borrowers’ obligation to pay or comply, including financial and production covenants for the quarter ended March 31 and June 30, 2013; (iii) extend the date of the next interest payment until the earlier of certain events described in the Limited Waiver or May 1, 2013, and (iv) allow the Borrowers to pay the Partial Amendment Fee of $1,000,000 due January 1, 2013 in shares of the Company’s common stock. In consideration for the amendment, the Company agreed to: (i) pay a waiver fee comprised of $1,500,000 and (ii) issue to 750,000 common shares of the Company. In addition, the interest rate on all outstanding indebtedness with Third Eye Capital increases 5% until certain conditions are met.
On April 15, 2013, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 3 to waive the following covenants of the Borrower in their entirety:(i) Borrowers’ obligation to obtain an NASDAQ listing by April 1, 2013; (ii) Borrower’s obligation to cause the Chairman to enter into certain agreements; and (iii) the Company’s obligation to deliver an auditor opinion as of and for the period ended December 31, 2012 without a going concern qualification. In addition, the Administrative Agent agreed to (i) extend the completion date of the conversion of the Keyes Plant to accommodate an 80:20 corn-to-milo ratio to May 31, 2013, (ii) amend the redemption provision in the event of an equity offering of Capital Stock up to $7,000,000, and (iii) increase the balance of the Revolving Credit Facility by an amount equal to the February 2013 $3.1 million advance and the $1.5 million waiver fee. In consideration for the Limited Waiver and Amendment, the Company agreed to: (i) pay a waiver fee comprised of $500,000 (which is added to the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Notes) and (ii) require McAfee Capital, LLC to pledge an additional 6,231,159 Common Shares of the Parent to Agent, together with the delivery of stock certificates for such shares and stock powers. The $3.1 million advance, together with all accumulated interest, shall be repaid in full no later than September 30, 2013.
On April 15, 2013, Third Eye Capital also arranged a Special Bridge Advance providing additional borrowings of $2,000,000 with the same terms as the existing Revolving Credit Facility, subject to customary closing conditions. In consideration for the Special Bridge Advance, the Company agreed to (i) pay the Lender a placement fee of $300,000 and (ii) issue the Lender 1,000,000 shares of common stock of Aemetis, Inc. The Special Bridge Advance is secured by a blanket lien on the assets of Eric A. McAfee, the Company’s CEO and Chairman of the Board.
At December 31, 2012, the outstanding balance of principal, interest and fees, net of discount issuance costs, on all Third Eye Capital financing arrangements equaled $52,233,071. We plan to pay the note through operational cash flow, a debt refinancing or equity funding.
There is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain alternative funding in the event this debt obligation is accelerated. Immediate acceleration would have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s near term liquidity. Our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the classification or carrying values of our assets or liabilities that might be necessary as a result of the outcome of this uncertainty.
On October 7, 2009, UBPL received a demand notice from the State Bank of India. The notice informs UBPL that an event of default has occurred for failure to make an installment payment on the loan due in June, 2009 and demands repayment of the entire outstanding indebtedness of 19.60 crores (approximately $4 million) together with all accrued interest thereon and any applicable fees and expenses by October 10, 2009. As of December 31, 2012, Additional provisions of default include the bank having the unqualified right to disclose or publish our company name and our directors names as defaulter in any medium or media. At the bank’s option, it may also demand payment of the balance of the loan since the principal payments are in default in June 2009. As a result we have classified the entire loan amount as current. We are currently in discussions with the bank with regards to an amendment to the Agreement of Loan for Overall Limit for the modification of terms and plant to pay the principal and interest on the loan through either cash flow from our biodiesel plant operations or through a debt or equity raise at the parent Company level.
There is no assurance that UBPL or the Company will be able to obtain alternative funding in the event the State Bank of India demands payment and immediate acceleration would have a significant adverse impact on UBPL or the Company’s near term liquidity and our ability to operate our biodiesel plant. Our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the classification or carrying values of our assets or liabilities that might be necessary as a result of the outcome of this uncertainty.
We may continue to deploy our management team’s combined industry, technical, merger and acquisition (“M&A”), restructuring and corporate finance expertise to target and acquire undervalued and/or distressed assets, and then apply our technology to improve the performance of those assets. We believe that our strategy offers substantial opportunity to build capital value in the current climate, particularly given (a) the present opportunity to acquire undervalued and/or underperforming assets and improve them; and (b) the medium to longer term outlook for ethanol and advanced biofuels as an alternative form of energy supply and the relatively weak state of the ethanol and advanced biofuels market which is likely to lead to under supply in 2013. To effect the planned M&A strategy in full, the Company requires access to substantial further acquisition and development finance and it is currently working with advisers with a view to securing additional financing. This may be made available through industry and/or financial partnerships and joint ventures, special purpose financing vehicles, structured acquisition finance arrangements, private placements of equity, debt and blended debt and equity instruments. In addition, the Company anticipates that it may issue share and/or loan capital to vendors as a means of securing target acquisitions and to fund development.
We intend to raise additional working capital in 2013 through some of all of the following: operating cash flows, working capital lines of credit, long-term debt facilities, joint venture arrangements and the sale of additional equity by the Company or its subsidiaries. We continue to explore different funding sources, but because of the continued unsettled state of the capital markets around the globe, the Company lacks any defined capital raising projects or specific sources of capital or commitments for the required capital. To a significant degree, our business success will depend on the state of the capital markets, and investors in our securities should take into account the macro-economic impact of the availability of credit and capital funding when assessing the business development plans of the Company.
Change in Working Capital and Cash Flows
Short and long term debt increased primarily (i) due to accrued fees and interest in the amount of $4.6 million primarily associated with borrowings on the Keyes plant, (ii) additional borrowings under subordinated debt in the amount of $3.0 million to fund losses from operations, (iii) acquisition of the Cilion ethanol plant in Keyes, California with an increase of approximately $16.5 million from loans to fund cash payment, and (iv) Seller note payable for Cilion shareholders fair valued at $3.58 million at acquisition date.
Current liabilities increased primarily due to the increase in the current portion of long term secured notes, which are due in July 2013, and an increase in accounts payable in connection with the operation of the Keyes plant. Current assets decreased primarily due to lower other current assets in India (due to loans and advances to customers), lower prepaid expenses in North America and slightly lower net accounts receivable, offset partially by increases in inventory in both India and North America and slightly higher cash.
Cash used in operating activities of $16.9 million resulted primarily from losses incurred from the operations of the Keyes, CA plant.
Cash used in investing activities resulted from (i) the $16.5 million cash outlay for the purchase of the Keyes ethanol plant, (ii) purchase of oil separation equipment of $1.1 million, and (iii) proceeds from the sale of the Sutton, Nebraska land of $1.1 million.
Cash provided by financing activities of $33.3 million resulted primarily from $39.8 million in Third Eye Capital borrowings, which was primarily used to fund the acquisition of the Keyes ethanol plant, and $7.3 million in proceeds from borrowing under unsecured short term notes and working capital lines, which were partially offset by $9.9 million in payments on secured debt facilities and repayments of subordinated debt and working capital facilities of $3.8 million.
Available Credit Facilities
On July 6, 2012, we entered into a new revolving credit facility in the aggregate amount of up to $18.0 million. The credit facility expires on July 5, 2013, provided, however, that the facility may be extended for up to two additional periods of one year upon certain conditions, including the payment of a renewal fee. Interest accrues at a fluctuating rate of interest determined by reference to the Prime Rate and the amount outstanding. We are also required to pay customary fees and expenses associated with the credit facility.
We are required to (i) maintain a minimum amount of Free Cash Flow of not less than $1.5 million at the end of each fiscal quarter, (ii) debt to value ratio of 75% tested semi-annually, (iii) minimum quarterly ethanol production of not less than 14 million gallons per quarter, and (iv) limit purchases of capital expenditures to not more than $50,000 per quarter. In addition, we are prohibited from incurring any additional indebtedness (other than specific intercompany indebtedness or specific subordinated indebtedness) absent the lender’s prior consent. Our obligations under the credit facility are secured by a first-priority security interest in all of its assets in favor of the lender.
On October 18, 2012, Third Eye Capital agreed to (i) extend the maturity date of the Existing Notes to July 6, 2014; (ii) to increase the amount of the Revolving Loan Facility by $6,000,000, to a total of $24,000,000; (iii) to modify the redemption waterfall so that any payments would be applied first to the increase in the Revolving notes; (iv) granted waivers to the Borrowers’ obligation to pay or comply, and any event of default which has occurred or may occur as a result of such failures of the Borrowers to pay or comply with certain financial covenants and principal payments, including financial covenants for the quarter ended September 30 and December 31, 2012; and (v) agreed to accrue interest until the earlier of certain events described in the Limited Waiver or February 1, 2013. In consideration for the Limited Waiver and Amendment, the Borrowers, among other things, agreed to pay the Lenders a waiver fee in the amount of $4,000,000; and (ii) cash in the amount of $28,377 for certain unreimbursed costs.
On February 27, 2013, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to (i) provide a Notional Paydown by pledging addition collateral on the Revolving Portion of the Revolving Notes in the amount of $3,100,000, such Notional Paydown was replaced in the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 3 with an increase in the Revolver Note and the collateral substitution of a pledge of 6,231,159 shares of stock held by McAfee Capital LLC (ii) grant waivers to the Borrowers’ obligation to pay or comply, including financial and production covenants for the quarter ended March 31 and June 30, 2013; (iii) extend the date of the next interest payment until the earlier of certain events described in the Limited Waiver or May 1, 2013, and (iv) allow the Borrowers to pay the Partial Amendment Fee of $1,000,000 due January 1, 2013 in shares of the Company’s common stock. In consideration for the amendment, the Company agreed to: (i) pay a waiver fee comprised of $1,500,000 added to the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Credit Facility Notes and (ii) issue to 750,000 common shares of the Company. In addition, the interest rate on all outstanding indebtedness with Third Eye Capital increases 5% until certain conditions are met.
On April 15, 2013, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 3 to waive the following covenants of the Borrower in their entirety:(i) Borrowers’ obligation to obtain an NASDAQ listing by April 1, 2013; (ii) Borrower’s obligation to cause the Chairman to enter into certain agreements; and (iii) the Company’s obligation to deliver an auditor opinion as of and for the period ended December 31, 2012 without a going concern qualification. In addition, the Administrative Agent agreed to (i) extend the completion date of the conversion of the Keyes Plant to accommodate an 80:20 corn-to-milo ratio to May 31, 2013, (ii) amend the redemption provision in the event of an equity offering of Capital Stock up to $7,000,000, and (iii) increase the balance of the Revolving Credit Facility by an amount equal to the February 2013 $3.1 million advance and the $1.5 million waiver fee. In consideration for the Limited Waiver and Amendment, the Company agreed to: (i) pay a waiver fee comprised of $500,000 (which is added to the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Notes) and (ii) require McAfee Capital, LLC to pledge an additional 6,231,159 Common Shares of the Parent to Agent, together with the delivery of stock certificates for such shares and stock powers. The $3.1 million advance, together with all accumulated interest, shall be repaid in full no later than September 30, 2013.
On April 15, 2013, Third Eye Capital also arranged a Special Bridge Advance providing additional borrowings of $2,000,000 with the same terms as the existing Revolving Credit Facility, subject to customary closing conditions. In consideration for the Special Bridge Advance, the Company agreed to (i) pay the Lender a placement fee of $300,000 and (ii) issue the Lender 1,000,000 shares of common stock of Aemetis, Inc. The Special Bridge Advance is secured by a blanket lien on the assets of Eric A. McAfee, the Company’s CEO and Chairman of the Board.
Subsequent to December 31, 2012, the company defaulted on the following five covenants: (i) obtain a NASDAQ listing by April 1, 2012, (ii) produce a minimum corn-to-milo ratio of 80:20 no later than March 31, 2013, (iii) cause the Chairman to enter into the Chairman’s 10b5-1 Program within 3 days of the Earnings Release, (iv) deliver annual financial statements with an unqualified audit opinion within 90 days of year-end, and (v) maintain insurance policies. As of the filing of this report, the Company has corrected or obtained waivers from Third Eye Capital for all known defaults. With these waivers, the Company believes it is probable that it will be able to maintain compliance with the loan covenants through the end of the fiscal year.
As of the publication of this report, no amounts remained available for future draw on the Revolving Loan Facility.
Notes Payable to Related Parties
In 2008, we entered into a Revolving Line of Credit Agreement with Laird Cagan in the amount of $5,000,000 secured by certain investments, intellectual property, securities and other collateral of ours, excluding the collateral securing our obligations with Third Eye Capital and the collateral securing our obligations with the State Bank of India. The Revolving Line of Credit bears interest at the rate of 10% per annum and matures on July 1, 2014. On December 31, 2012, Aemetis International, Inc. (AII), a subsidiary of Aemetis, Inc., entered into an agreement to the Revolving Line of Credit Agreement with Laird Q. Cagan and co-owners in the financing arrangement pursuant to which Aemetis, Inc.issued an aggregate of 9,062,900 shares of common stock in partial payment for principal, interest and fees outstanding under the Credit Agreement. Amounts available to borrow under this facility are dependent on the capacity and approval of Laird Q. Cagan and his co-owners. As of December 31, 2012, the remaining balance under the Credit Agreement was $1,540,074.
On May 31, 2012, Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. (AAFK) entered into an additional $110,000 in 5% annual interest rate Notes and Warrant Purchase Agreements with a related party, Laird Cagan. Mr. Cagan received one warrant share for every three dollars of principal loaned or 36,667 warrants with 5-year exercise rights at $0.001 per share. The full amount of the $110,000 Note and accrued interest was paid in full on July 6, 2012.
On October 16, 2012, AII entered into an amendment to the Revolving Line of Credit Agreement with Laird Q. Cagan and co-owners in the financing arrangement, pursuant to which AII extended the maturity date of the loan until July 1, 2014 and placed an average trailing daily closing price minimum of $0.05 per share for conversion of fees and accrued interest. In exchange for the extension, the Company agreed to pay a $262,919 fee reflecting 5% of the outstanding balance of the Revolving Line of Credit, payable in cash or stock, at the same conversion price and terms as the accrued interest conversion terms.
On January 14, 2013, Laird Cagan loaned $106,201 through a Promissory note maturing on April 30, 2013 with a 5% annualized interest rate and the right to exercise 53,101 warrants exercisable at $0.001 per share.
Issuance of Subordinated Promissory Notes
On January 6 and January 9, 2012, Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. entered into $3 million in Note and Warrant Purchase Agreements with 5% annual interest rate with two accredited investors. In May and December 2012 an additional $600,000 and $800,000, respectively, in Notes were sold to an existing accredited investor. This same accredited investor received payments of $600,000 in principal and $3,288 in interest in July 2012. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011 Subordinated Notes had accrued interest balances of $153,767 and $0, respectively. The Notes included 5-year warrants exercisable for 1 million shares of Aemetis common stock. Interest is due at maturity. The Promissory Notes are guaranteed by Aemetis and are due and payable upon the earlier of (i) December 31, 2013; (ii) completion of an equity financing by AAFK or Aemetis in an amount of not less than $25 million; (iii) the completion of an Initial Public Offering by AAFK or Aemetis; or (iv) after the occurrence of an Event of Default, including failure to pay interest or principal when due and breaches of note covenants. Neither AAFK nor Aemetis may make any principal payments under the Promissory Notes until all loans made by Third Eye Capital to AAFK are paid in full. At December 31, 2012 the Company had $3,338,114 in principal and interest outstanding, net of unamortized issuance discount of $612,365.
On January 24, 2013 an additional $300,000 in Promissory Notes were issued with 150,000 warrants at $0.001 per share and 5 % annual interest rate due April 30, 2013.
Issuance of Convertible Promissory Notes
On March 4, 2011, and amended January 19, 2012, and July 24, 2012, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with Advanced BioEnergy, LP, a California limited Partnership for the issuance of up to 72 subordinated convertible promissory notes bearing interest at 3%, each note in the principal amount of $500,000 due and payable four years from the date of the note for a total aggregate principal amount of up to $36,000,000. The notes are convertible after three years at a conversion price of $3.00 per share.
Advanced BioEnergy, LP arranges investments with foreign investors, who each make investments in the Keyes plant project in investment increments of $500,000. The Company sold notes in the amount of $1,000,000 to the first two investors. The availability of the remaining $35,000,000 will be determined by the ability of Advanced BioEnergy, LP to attract additional qualified investors.
Historical Sources and Uses of Cash
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 of $16.9 million was more than the net use of cash in the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 of 1.2 million. The 2012 use of cash went to support losses from operations, loan fees and interest expense principally in connection with the ethanol plant. In 2011 the startup of the ethanol plant required working capital to fund accounts receivable and inventories. Through the corn procurement and working capital agreement with J.D. Heiskell, we funded the accounts receivable and inventory with accounts payable for corn purchases.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities during the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $16.5 million and $1.0 million, respectively, which consisted primarily of (i) $16.5 for the purchases of the Keyes ethanol plant in 2012 and (ii) $1.1 million from the purchase of corn oil separation equipment in 2012, and (iii) in May 2012 we generated $1.1 million from the sale of our land holding in Sutton, Nebraska. In 2011 we invested $2.6 million in property, plant and equipment for the retrofit and restart of the Keyes plant and the completion of the Glycerin and Refining units in India, and in May 2011 we generated $1,598,593 from the sale of our land holding in Danville, Illinois.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities during the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $33.3 and $1.9, respectively, which consisted in 2011 of proceeds, net of repayments, from our working capital line with Secunderabad Oils Limited, and borrowings under secured debt facilities with Third Eye Capital. During 2012, we borrowed $39.8 million from Third Eye Capital, which was primarily used to fund the acquisition of the Keyes ethanol plant, and $7.3 million under unsecured short-term notes and working capital lines, which were partially offset by $9.9 million in payments on secured debt facilities and repayments of subordinated debt and working capital facilities of $3.8 million. We made no additional borrowings under the Cagan Revolving Line of Credit during 2011 or 2012. However, we reduced the outstanding principal, interest and fees by $4.1 million through the conversion into approximately 9.1 million shares of common stock. In 2012 and 2011, our India subsidiary borrowed $3.5 million and $1.3 million, respectively, through short-term working capital arrangements. India proceeds were net of payments on our working capital line of credit with Secunderabad Oils Limited.
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 U.S. 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 revenues 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.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when it is realized or realizable and earned. We consider revenue realized or realizable and earned when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collection is reasonably assured. We derive revenue primarily from sales of ethanol and related co-products, biodiesel, refined glycerin, and refined palm oil. We recognize revenue when title transfers to our customers, which is generally upon the delivery of these products to a customer’s designated location. These deliveries are made in accordance with sales commitments and related sales orders entered into with customers and our working capital partner J.D. Heiskell for our Keyes plant and Secunderabad Oils Limited for our Kakinada plant. Commitments can be offered either verbally or in written form. The sales commitments and related sales orders provide quantities, pricing and conditions of sales. In this regard, sales consist of inventory produced at our Keyes or Kakinada plant.
Revenues from sales of ethanol and its co-products are billed net of the related transportation and marketing charges. The transportation component is accounted for in cost of goods sold and the marketing component is accounted for in sales, general and administrative expense. Revenues are recorded at the gross invoiced amount. Deductions taken by our customer for transportation and marketing are recorded as cost of goods sold and marketing, respectively. Additionally, our working capital partner leases our finished goods tank and requires us to transfer legal title to the product upon transfer of our finished ethanol to this location. We consider the purchase of corn as a cost of goods sold and the sale of ethanol upon transfer to the finished goods tank as revenue on the basis that (i) we bear the risk of gain or loss on the processing of corn into ethanol and (ii) we have legal title to the goods during the processing time.
Recoverability of Our Long-Lived Assets
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation on our biodiesel production facility and our leasehold improvements to the Keyes plant, computer equipment and software, office furniture and equipment, vehicles, and other fixed assets has been provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which currently range from three to 25 years. Expenditures for property betterments and renewals are capitalized. Costs of repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. We periodically evaluate whether events and circumstances have occurred that may warrant revision of the estimated useful life of fixed assets, which is accounted for prospectively.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill
Our long-lived assets consist of property and equipment. We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. We measure recoverability of assets to be held and used by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, we record an impairment charge in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. No impairment charges have been recorded during the periods presented.
Our goodwill consists of amounts relating to our acquisitions of Zymetis, Inc. in 2011. We review goodwill at an individual plant or subsidiary level for impairment at least annually, or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. We perform a two-step impairment test to evaluate goodwill. Under the first step, we compare the estimated fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value (including goodwill). If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, we would complete a second step to determine the amount of the goodwill impairment that we should record. In the second step, we would determine an implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill by allocating the reporting unit’s fair value to all of its assets and liabilities other than goodwill. We would then compare the resulting implied fair value of the goodwill to the carrying amount and record an impairment charge for the difference.
The reviews of long-lived assets and goodwill require making estimates regarding amount and timing of projected cash flows to be generated by an asset or asset group over an extended period of time. Management judgment regarding the existence of circumstances that indicate impairment is based on numerous potential factors including, but not limited to, a decline in our future projected cash flows, a decision to suspend operations at a plant for an extended period of time, adoption of our product by the market, a sustained decline in our market capitalization, a sustained decline in market prices for similar assets or businesses, or a significant adverse change in legal or regulatory factors or the business climate. Significant management judgment is required in determining the fair value of our long-lived assets and goodwill to measure impairment, including projections of future cash flows. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, market values and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary. Changes in estimates of fair value could result in a write-down of the asset in a future period. Given the current economic and regulatory environment and uncertainties regarding the impact on our business, there are no assurances that our estimates and assumptions will prove to be an accurate prediction of the future.
Business Combinations through Acquisitions – Purchase Price Allocation
We apply the acquisition method of accounting to account for business combinations. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the fair values at the date of exchange of the assets given, liabilities incurred, and equity instruments issued. Identifiable assets, liabilities, and contingent liabilities acquired or assumed are measured separately at their fair value as of the acquisition date. The excess of the cost of the acquisition over our interest in the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If our interest in the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired in a business combination exceeds the cost of the acquisition, a gain is recognized in earnings on the acquisition date only after we have reassessed whether we have correctly identified all of the assets acquired and all of the liabilities assumed. For most acquisitions, we engage outside appraisal firms to assist in the fair value determination of identifiable intangible assets such as customer relationships, trade names, property and equipment and any other significant assets or liabilities. We adjust the preliminary purchase price allocation, as necessary, after the acquisition closing date through the end of the measurement period (up to one year) as we finalize valuations for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
Convertible Instruments
During 2010, we modified our revolving line of credit with Laird Cagan to add a beneficial conversion feature (BCF) in exchange for Mr. Cagan agreeing to subordinate the line of credit to another lender. The fee paid and BCF were recorded at fair value and amortized over the remaining term of the line of credit. Since the BCF also included a conversion feature allowing for any future interest accrued to be convertible, interest was recorded on a daily valuation methodology at the commitment date and each day thereafter over the life of the loan. The intrinsic value was calculated as the difference between the conversion price of $0.05 per share and the market price on each day multiplied by the number of shares convertible. This difference is deferred as a debt discount and amortized over the remaining life of the debt. The Company’s Board of Directors approved the conversion option on September 2, 2010, which became the commitment and measurement date for the outstanding interest and fees. Line of credit accrued daily interest through October 27, 2011 with a right to convert outstanding interest and fee at $0.05 per share. Beginning October 1, 2011, the BCF of daily interest was measured and recorded as a debt discount each day using the average of 22 days of trailing closing stock prices as quoted on the OTC markets. This fee was also treated as a fee and amortized over the remaining term of the line of credit, which at the time matured on June 30, 2011. On July 1, 2011 the line of credit maturity was extended to July 1, 2012 by adding a five percent of loan balance waiver fee to the outstanding balance. Effective on July 1, 2012 the line of credit maturity was extended to July 1, 2014 by adding a five percent waiver fee to the outstanding loan balance.
Testing for Modification or Extinguishment Accounting
During 2012 and 2011 we evaluated amendments to our debt under the ASC 470-50 guidance for modification and extinguishment accounting. This evaluation included comparing the net present value of cash flows of the new debt to the old debt to determine if changes greater than 10 percent occurred. In instances where our future cash flows changed more than 10 percent, we fair valued our debt based on factors available to us for similar borrowings and used extinguishment accounting method to account for debt.
Warrant Liability Accounting
Certain common stock warrants issued in the Company's equity financing are classified as liabilities under ASC 480. The Company uses Black-Scholes option pricing model as its method of valuation for warrants subject to warrant liability accounting. Qualified warrants are valued on the date of issuance and re-measured at the end of each reporting period with the change in value reported in the Company's consolidated statement of operations. The determination of fair value as of the reporting date is affected by the Company's stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, expected stock price volatility over the term of the security and risk-free interest rate. In addition, the Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the input of an expected life for the securities, which we estimated based upon the remaining term of the warrant. The primary factors affecting the fair value of the warrant liability are the Company's stock price and volatility. The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions. Other reasonable assumptions in the pricing model could provide differing results.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Effective January 1, 2012, we adopted the third phase of amended guidance in ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. The purpose of the amendment is to achieve common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements by improving comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP and those prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS. The amended guidance clarifies the application of existing fair value measurement requirements and requires additional disclosure for Level 3 measurements regarding the sensitivity of fair value to changes in unobservable inputs and any interrelationships between those inputs.
Effective January 1, 2012, we adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income. This accounting standards update, which helps to facilitate the convergence of GAAP and IFRS, is aimed at increasing the prominence of other comprehensive income in the financial statement by eliminating the option to present other comprehensive income in the statement of stockholders’ equity, and requiring comprehensive income to be reported in either a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements reporting net income and other comprehensive income. This amended guidance will be implemented retroactively. We have determined that the changes to the accounting standards will not materially affect the presentation of consolidated financial statements.
Effective January 1, 2012, we adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. The amended guidance permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. We have determined that the changes to the accounting standards will not impact our disclosure or reporting requirements.
Not Applicable
Financial Statements are listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 49 of this Report.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
The information contained in this section covers management’s evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures and our assessment of our internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
Management (with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered in this report, our disclosure controls and procedures along with the related internal controls over financial reporting were not effective to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
Our management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Our controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that our control system’s objective will be met and our CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are not effective at the reasonable assurance level. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or 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 simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on 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. Projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls in future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures by us are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the period covered by this report based on the criteria for effective internal control described in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on the results of management’s assessment and evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective due to the material weaknesses described below.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to the rules of the SEC applicable to smaller reporting companies.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Discussed below are changes made to our internal control over financial reporting since our last filing through December 31, 2011, in response to the identified material weaknesses.
Our efforts to improve our internal controls are ongoing and focused on expanding our organizational capabilities to improve our control environment and on implementing process changes to strengthen our internal control and monitoring activities. In addition, although we are implementing remedial measures to address all of the identified material weaknesses as discussed below, our assessment of the impact of these measures have not been completed as of the filing date of this report.
Material Weaknesses
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weaknesses identified are:
.
|
(1)
|
An inadequate number of personnel are currently employed to allow for the accurate and timely recording and reporting of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP:
|
|
·
|
We did not employ an adequate number of people to ensure a control environment that would allow for the accurate and timely reporting of the financial statements. Also, when we began to prepare these financial statements, numerous items were identified through the audit process that required adjusting.
|
|
·
|
Our evaluation of the controls in place does not include a detailed testing process to ensure that the controls are operating efficiently.
|
|
·
|
Our control environment includes significant use of spreadsheets, which do not contain an adequate review process to ensure accuracy and conformity with GAAP.
|
|
(2)
|
Ineffective controls exist to ensure that the accounting and reporting for complex accounting transactions are recorded in accordance with GAAP.
|
|
·
|
A number of significant audit adjustments were made to the general ledger, which collectively could have a material effect on the financial statements. These adjustments were made up of entries to properly record extinguishment accounting on modified debt, stock compensation expense, debt conversion accounting, amortization of debt issue costs, warrant liability accounting and various other adjustments summarized in our Report to the Audit Committee communication.
|
|
·
|
As part of our review of the financial statements included in the 10-K, we also made significant revisions to the statement of stockholders’ equity, statement of cash flows and various notes to the financial statements, which indicate that additional controls over disclosures need to be evaluated.
|
Remediation
As part of our ongoing remedial efforts, we have and will continue to, among other things:
|
(1)
|
Expand our accounting policy and controls organization by creating and filling new positions with qualified accounting and finance personnel;
|
|
(2)
|
Increase our efforts to educate both our existing and expanded accounting policy and control organization on the application of the internal control structure;
|
|
(3)
|
Emphasize with management the importance of our internal control structure;
|
|
(4)
|
Seek outside consulting services where our existing accounting policy and control organization believes the complexity of the existing exceeds our internal capabilities.
|
We believe that the foregoing actions have improved and will continue to improve our internal control over financial reporting, as well as our disclosure controls and procedures. We intend to perform such procedures and commit such resources as necessary to continue to allow us to overcome or mitigate these material weaknesses such that we can make timely and accurate quarterly and annual financial filings until such time as those material weaknesses are fully addressed and remediated.
On January 2, 2013 J.D. Heiskell Holdings LLC and Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. agreed the Renewal Term for their Purchasing Agreement, originally dated March 9, 2011, be extended effective January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.
On April 10, 2013, Aemetis International, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Aemetis, Inc. entered into Amendment No 1 correcting Recital D of the original agreement to document the terms of the prior agreements were limited to the conversion of interest and fees. The amendment acknowledges a remaining outstanding balance of $1,540,074 on the Effective Date of the Repayment Agreement. None of the remaining outstanding balance is convertible.
Information about the Directors
Set forth below is information regarding our directors:
|
Name
|
Age
|
Position
|
Director
Since
|
|||
|
Eric A. McAfee
|
50
|
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
|
2006
|
|||
|
Fran Barton
|
66
|
Director
|
2012
|
|||
|
John R. Block
|
78
|
Director
|
2008
|
|||
|
Dr. Steven W. Hutcheson
|
59
|
Director
|
2011
|
|||
|
Harold Sorgenti
|
78
|
Director
|
2007
|
Eric A. McAfee co-founded Aemetis, Inc. in 2005 and has served as its Chairman of the Board since February 2006. Mr. McAfee was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company in February 2007. Mr. McAfee has been an entrepreneur, merchant banker, venture capitalist and farmer/dairyman for more than 20 years. Since 1995, Mr. McAfee has been the Chairman of McAfee Capital and since 1998 has been a principal of Berg McAfee Companies, an investment company. Since 2000, Mr. McAfee has been a principal of Cagan McAfee Capital Partners (“CMCP”) through which Mr. McAfee has founded or acquired twelve energy and technology companies. In 2003, Mr. McAfee co-founded Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (Nasdaq: PEIX), a West Coast ethanol producer and marketer. Mr. McAfee received a B.S. in Management from Fresno State University in 1986 and served as Entrepreneur in Residence of The Wharton Business School MBA Program in 2007. Mr. McAfee is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Private Equity and Venture Capital Program, and is a 1993 graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Program.
Francis Barton was appointed to the Company’s Board on August 2, 2012. From 2008 to present, Mr. Barton served as Chief Executive Officer in the consulting firm Barton Business Consulting LLC. Prior to this, Mr. Barton served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of UTStarcom, Inc. from 2005 through 2008 and as a director from 2006 through 2008. From 2003 to 2005, Mr. Barton was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Atmel Corporation. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Barton was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Broadvision Inc. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Barton was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Barton was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Amdahl Corporation. From 1974 to 1996, Mr. Barton worked at Digital Equipment Corporation, beginning his career as a financial analyst and moving his way up through various financial roles to Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Digital Equipment Corporation's Personal Computer Division. Mr. Barton holds a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an M.B.A. with a focus in finance from Northeastern University. Mr. Barton served on the board of directors of ON Semiconductor from 2008 to 2011. Mr. Barton will also serve as the Chair of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee. His experience as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as well as his extensive financial background qualify him for the position.
John R. Block has served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since October 16, 2008. From 1981 to 1986, Mr. Block served as Secretary of Agriculture for the U.S. Department of Agriculture under President Ronald Reagan. He is currently an IL farmer and a Senior Policy Advisor to Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC, an organization that represents the food industry, a position Mr. Block has held since January 2005. From January 2002 until January 2005, he served as Executive Vice President at the Food Marketing Institute, an organization representing food retailers and wholesalers. From February 1986 until January 2002, Mr. Block served as President of Food Distributors International. Mr. Block is currently a member of the board of directors of Digital Angel Corporation and Metamorphix, Inc. During the past five years, Mr. Block has served on the board of directors of Deere and Co., Hormel Foods Corporation and Blast Energy Services, Inc. Mr. Block received his B.A. from the U.S. Military Academy. His experience with agricultural commodities and his understanding of political affairs qualify him for the position.
Dr. Steven W. Hutcheson was appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors in July 2011. From 1984 to present, Dr. Hutcheson served as a Professor for the University of Maryland in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology. He also served as Founder, Chief Executive Officer from 2006-2008 and Chief Technical Officer of Zymetis, Inc. until its acquisition by AE Biofuels on July 1, 2011. Dr. Hutcheson received his A.B. in Biology from the University of CA Santa Cruz and his Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from the University of CA Berkeley. Dr. Hutcheson will also serve as a member of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee. His deep technical understanding of the impact of molecular and cell biology and his ability to assess the technical aspects of commercializing these microbes qualify him for the position.
Harold Sorgenti was appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors in November 2007. Since 1998, Mr. Sorgenti has been the principal of Sorgenti Investment Partners, a company engaged in pursuing chemical investment opportunities. Sorgenti Investment Partners acquired the French ethanol producer Societè d'Ethanol de Synthëse (SODES) in partnership with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette in 1998. Prior to forming Sorgenti Investment Partners, Mr. Sorgenti served a distinguished career that included the presidency of ARCO Chemical Company, including leadership of the 1987 initial public offering of the company. Mr. Sorgenti is also the founder of Freedom Chemical Company. Mr. Sorgenti is a former member of the board of directors of Provident Mutual Life Insurance Co. and Crown Cork & Seal. Mr. Sorgenti received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from City College of New York in 1956 and his M.S. from Ohio State University in 1959. Mr. Sorgenti is the recipient of honorary degrees from Villanova, St. Joseph's, Ohio State, and Drexel Universities. His prior experience leading a public chemical company, his knowledge of the chemical markets, and his prior service as a board member qualify him for the position.
The Board of Directors held twelve (12) meetings during fiscal year 2011 and fourteen (14) meetings during fiscal 2012. Each of the foregoing directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of our Board of Directors and the committees on which each director served during fiscal year 2012 and was eligible to attend. No family relationship exists between any of the directors or executive officers of the Company.
Information about the Executive Officers
Set forth below is information regarding our executive officers (other than Eric A. McAfee):
|
Name
|
Age
|
Position
|
||
|
Andrew B. Foster
|
47
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
|
||
|
Sanjeev Gupta
|
53
|
Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Chairman and President (Universal Biofuels Private, Ltd.)
|
||
|
Todd Waltz
|
51
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
Eric A. McAfee (50) Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board (See “Information about the Directors” above).
Andrew B. Foster (47) joined American Ethanol in March 2006 and currently serves as Executive Vice President of Aemetis, Inc. and President and Chief Operating Officer of Aemetis Advanced Fuels, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Foster served as Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Marimba, Inc. an enterprise software company, which was acquired by BMC Software in July 2004. From July 2004, until April 2005, Mr. Foster served as Vice President of Corporate Marketing for the Marimba product line at BMC. In April 2005, Mr. Foster was appointed Director of Worldwide Public Relations for BMC and served in that capacity until December 2005. From May 2000 until March 2003, Mr. Foster served as Director of Corporate Marketing for eSilicon Corporation, a fabless semiconductor company. Mr. Foster also served as Associate Director of Political Affairs at the White House from 1989 to 1992, and Deputy Chief of Staff to IL Governor Jim Edgar from 1995 to 1998. Mr. Foster holds a B.A. in Political Science from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Sanjeev Gupta (53) joined Aemetis, Inc. in September 2007 as an executive with the Company’s marketing subsidiary, Biofuels Marketing, Inc. and managed the completion of construction of the Company’s biodiesel production facility in Kakinada, India. Mr. Gupta has served as the Managing Director, Chairman and President of the Company’s wholly-owned Indian biodiesel subsidiary, Universal Biofuels Private, Ltd. (“UBPL”) since 2009. Mr. Gupta received an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi and holds a Bachelors of Science (honors) from University of Delhi.
Todd A. Waltz (51) was appointed Chief Financial Officer on March 12, 2010. From 2007 until March 12, 2010, Mr. Waltz served as the Company’s Corporate Controller. From 1994 to 2007, Mr. Waltz served with increasing responsibility in a variety of senior financial management and business partner roles with Apple, Inc. in Cupertino, CA. Prior to Apple, Mr. Waltz worked with Ernst & Young. Mr. Waltz also serves as Chief Financial Officer and sole Board member of Vision Global Solutions, Inc. (OTC:VIGS). Mr. Waltz is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in the state of CA. Mr. Waltz holds a Bachelors Degree from Mount Union College, an MBA from Santa Clara University and a Masters of Science in Taxation from San Jose State University.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our executive officers and directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial statements of beneficial ownership, reports of changes in ownership and annual reports concerning their ownership of our common stock and other equity securities, on Forms 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Executive officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission regulations to furnish our Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based upon a review of those forms and representations regarding the need for filing Forms 5, we believe during the year ended December 31, 2012 that each of our directors, executive officers and 10% stockholders complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements Except the following executive officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders that filed late reports and/or did not report transactions on a timely basis as follows:
Mr. Eric McAfee has 4 late reports and 2 transactions that were not reported on a timely basis; Mr. Barton has 4 late reports and 3 transactions that were not reported on a timely basis; Mr. Block has 1 late report and 1 transaction that was not reported on a timely basis; Mr. Hutchison has 1 late report and 2 transactions that were not reported on a timely basis; Mr. Peterson has 1 late report; Mr. Sorgenti has 1 late report and 2 transactions that were not reported on a timely basis; Mr. Waltz has 1 late report and 2 transactions that were not reported on a timely basis; Mr. Foster has 3 late reports and 4 transactions that were not reported on a timely basis; Mr. Gupta has 1 late report and 2 transactions that were not reported on a timely basis; Mr. Laird Cagan has 4 late reports and 18 transactions that were not reported on a timely basis; McAfee Capital, LLC has 2 late reports; Sprott, Inc. has 1 late report; and Sprott Private Credit Trust has 1 late report.
In making this statement, we have relied upon examination of the copies of Forms 3, 4 and 5, and amendments thereto, provided to Aemetis, Inc. and the written representations of its directors and executive officers.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has the following standing committees: (1) Audit and (2) Governance, Compensation and Nominating. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for each of these committees, copies of which can be found in the Investor Relations section of our website at www.aemetis.com. The Board of Directors has determined that all members of each committee of the Board of Directors are independent under the applicable rules and regulations of NASDAQ and the SEC, as currently in effect.
The following chart details the current membership of each committee:
|
Name of Director
|
Audit
|
Governance, Compensation and
Nominating
|
||
|
Michael Peterson*
|
C
|
M
|
||
|
Harold Sorgenti
|
M
|
C
|
||
|
Francis Barton*
|
C
|
M
|
||
|
John R. Block*
|
M
|
|||
|
Dr. Hutcheson*
|
M
|
|||
|
M = Member
|
||||
|
C = Chair
|
|
|
*
|
Mr. Peterson stepped down from the Company’s Board and Board Committees and Mr. Barton was appointed to the Company’s Board and Audit Committees on August 2, 2012.
|
|
|
*
|
Mr. Block was appointed to the Audit Committee on July 14, 2011.
|
|
|
*
|
Dr. Hutcheson was appointed to the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee on July 14, 2011.
|
Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee (i) oversees our accounting, financial reporting and audit processes; (ii) appoints, determines the compensation of, and oversees, the independent auditors; (iii) pre-approves audit and non-audit services provided by the independent auditors; (iv) reviews the results and scope of audit and other services provided by the independent auditors; (v) reviews the accounting principles and practices and procedures used in preparing our financial statements; and (vi) reviews our internal controls.
The Audit Committee works closely with management and our independent auditors. The Audit Committee also meets with our independent auditors without members of management present, on a quarterly basis, following completion of our auditors’ quarterly reviews and annual audit and prior to our earnings announcements, to review the results of their work. The Audit Committee also meets with our independent auditors to approve the annual scope and fees for the audit services to be performed.
Each of the Audit Committee members is an independent director within the meaning set forth in the rules of the SEC, as currently in effect. In addition, the Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Barton is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by SEC rules, as currently in effect.
A copy of the Audit Committee’s written charter is available in the Investor Relations section of our website at www.aemetis.com. The Audit Committee held three (3) meetings during fiscal year 2012. Each director who is a member of the Audit Committee attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Audit Committee during fiscal year 2012.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The following is the report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 with our management. In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with, our independent auditors, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (Communications with Audit Committee). The Audit Committee also has received the written disclosures and the letter from as required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526 “Communications with Audit Committees Concerning Independence” and the Audit Committee has discussed the independence of that firm.
Based on the Audit Committee’s review of the matters noted above and its discussions with our independent auditors and our management, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 2012.
Respectfully submitted by:
Francis Barton (Chair)
Harold Sorgenti
John R. Block
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee
The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee (i) reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to the CEO’s compensation, evaluates the CEO’s performance relative to goals and objectives and sets the CEO’s compensation annually; (ii) makes recommendations annually to the Board of Directors with respect to non-CEO compensation; (iii) considers and periodically reports on matters relating to the identification, selection and qualification of the Board of Directors and candidates nominated to the Board of Directors and its committees; (iv) develops and recommends governance principles applicable to the Company; (v) oversees the evaluation of the Board of Directors and management from a corporate governance perspective; and (vi) oversees, considers and approves related party transactions.
During 2012 Michael Peterson and Harold Sorgenti served as members of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee with Mr. Sorgenti serving as Chairman. In August 2012, Mr. Peterson stepped down from the Committee and Mr. Francis Barton was appointed in his place. Each current member of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee is an independent director within the meaning set forth in the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, as currently in effect.
The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee considers properly submitted stockholder recommendations for candidates for membership on the Board of Directors as described below under “Identification and Evaluation of Nominees for Directors.” In evaluating such recommendations, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee seeks to achieve a balance of knowledge, experience and capability on the Board of Directors and to address the membership criteria set forth under “Director Qualifications.” Any stockholder recommendations proposed for consideration by the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee should include the candidate’s name and qualifications for membership on the Board of Directors and should be addressed to the attention of our Corporate Secretary — re: stockholder director recommendation.
Director Qualifications. The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee does not have any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met by a Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee-recommended nominee, but uses a variety of criteria to evaluate the qualifications and skills necessary for members of our Board of Directors. Under these criteria, members of the Board of Directors should have the highest professional and personal ethics and values. A director should have broad experience at the policy-making level in business, government, education, technology or public interest. A director should be committed to enhancing stockholder value and should have sufficient time to carry out their duties, and to provide insight and practical wisdom based on their past experience. A director’s service on other boards of public companies should be limited to a number that permits them, given their individual circumstances, to perform their director duties responsibly. Each director must represent the interests of Aemetis stockholders.
In addition to the foregoing, prior to any meeting of stockholders at which directors will be elected, as a condition to re-nomination, incumbent directors will be required to submit a resignation of their directorships in writing to the Chairman of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Board. The resignation will become effective only if the director fails to receive a sufficient number of votes for re-election at the meeting of stockholders, as described in the Company’s bylaws as recently amended and the Board accepts the resignation.
Identification and Evaluation of Nominees for Directors. The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee utilize a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating nominees for director. The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee regularly assess the appropriate size of the Board of Directors, and whether any vacancies on the Board of Directors are expected due to retirement or otherwise. In the event that vacancies are anticipated, or otherwise arise, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee considers various potential candidates for director. Candidates may come to the attention of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee through current members of the Board of Directors, professional search firms, stockholders or other persons. These candidates are evaluated at regular or special meetings of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee, and may be considered at any point during the year. The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee consider properly submitted stockholder recommendations for candidates for the Board of Directors. In evaluating such recommendations, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee uses the qualifications standards discussed above and seeks to achieve a balance of knowledge, experience and capability on the Board of Directors.
A copy of the Committee’s written charter is available in the Investor Relations section of our website at www.aemetis.com.
In 2012, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee held four (4) meetings, one (1) of which was a regularly scheduled meeting and three (3) of which were special meetings. Each director who is a member of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Committee during fiscal year 2012.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to our Board of Directors and all of our employees, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and any other principal financial officer, Controller and any other principal accounting officer, and any other person performing similar functions. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on our website at www.aemetis.com in the Governance section of our investor relations webpage. Aemetis will disclose any amendment to the Code of Ethics or waiver of a provision of the Code of Ethics that applies to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and any other principal financial officer, Controller and any other principal accounting officer, and any other person performing similar functions and relates to certain elements of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, including the name of the officer to whom the waiver was granted, on our website at www.aemetis.com, on our investor relations webpage.
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, on July 28, 2006 Mr. McAfee and the SEC 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.
Annual Meeting Attendance
We do not have a formal policy regarding attendance by members of the Board of Directors at our annual meetings of stockholders although directors are encouraged to attend annual meetings of Aemetis’ stockholders.
Communications with the Board of Directors
Although we do not have a formal policy regarding communications with the Board of Directors, stockholders may communicate with the Board of Directors by submitting an email to investors@aemetis.com or by writing to us at Aemetis, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, 20400 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 700, Cupertino, CA 95014. Stockholders who would like their submission directed to a member of the Board of Directors may so specify. The General Counsel and Director of Investor Relations will review all communications. All appropriate business-related communications as reasonably determined by the General Counsel or Director of Investor Relations will be forwarded to the Board of Directors or, if applicable, to the individual director.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Policy
Our board of directors adopted a code of ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer. The code of ethics addresses, among other things, honesty and ethical conduct, conflicts of interest, compliance with laws, regulations and policies, including disclosure requirements under the federal securities laws, confidentiality, trading on inside information, and reporting of violations of the code.
Insider Trading Policy
Our board of directors adopted an insider trading policy that applies to all of its directors, officers and employees including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer that applies to all trading except the exercise of stock options for cash under our stock option plan and the purchase of shares under an employee stock purchase plan, should we adopt such a plan. The insider trading policy addresses trading on material nonpublic information, tipping, confidentiality, 10b5-1 programs, disciplinary actions, trading windows, pre-clearance of trades, prohibition against short swing profits and individual responsibilities under the policy.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During fiscal year 2012, Mr. Sorgenti and Peterson and Hutcheson served as members of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee. No member of the Committee was an officer or employee of the Company. In addition, no member of the Committee or executive officer of the Company served as a member of the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of any entity that has an executive officer serving as a member of our Board of Directors or Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee.
The following table sets forth summary information concerning compensation paid or accrued for services rendered to the Company in all capacities for the fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to (i) the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and (ii) the Company’s other two most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at the end of fiscal year 2012.
Summary Compensation Table
|
Name and Principal Position
|
Year
|
Salary ($)
|
Option/ Warrant
Awards(1) ($)
|
Total
Compensation ($)
|
||||||||||
|
Eric A. McAfee, Chief Executive Officer
|
2012
|
180,000 | - | 180,000 | ||||||||||
|
2011
|
140,000 | - | 140,000 | |||||||||||
|
Andrew B. Foster, Executive Vice President
|
2012
|
180,000 | 84,047 | 264,047 | ||||||||||
|
2011
|
180,000 | - | 180,000 | |||||||||||
|
Sanjeev Gupta, Executive Vice President
|
2012
|
180,000 | 84,047 | 264,047 | ||||||||||
|
2011
|
180,000 | - | 180,000 | |||||||||||
|
Todd A. Waltz, Chief Financial Officer
|
2012
|
180,000 | 84,047 | 264,047 | ||||||||||
|
2011
|
180,000 | - | 180,000 | |||||||||||
|
(1)
|
These amounts reflect the value determined by the Company for accounting purposes for these awards with respect to the current fiscal year and do not reflect whether the recipient has actually realized a financial benefit from the awards (such as by exercising stock options). This column represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options and warrants granted during fiscal year 2011 and 2012 to each of the named executive officers, in accordance with ASC Topic 718 Compensation. Pursuant to SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. The assumptions made when calculating the amounts in this table are found in Note 11 (Stock Based Compensation) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K
|
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2012 Fiscal Year End
The following table shows all outstanding equity awards held by the named executive officers at the end of fiscal year 2012:
|
Option/Warrant Awards
|
|||||||||||||
|
Name
|
|
Award
Date
|
|
No. of
Securities
underlying unexercised
options (#) exercisable
|
|
No. of
securities underlying unexercised
options (#) unexercisable
|
|
Equity incentive
plan awards:
# of securities underlying unexercised
unearned
options (#)
|
|
Option exercise
price ($)
|
|
Option expiration date
|
|
|
Andrew B. Foster
|
11/05/12
|
50,000 (2)
|
250,000
|
0.55
|
11/05/17
|
||||||||
|
12/09/10
|
6,628 (2)
|
2,209
|
0.12
|
12/08/15
|
|||||||||
|
12/09/10
|
41,163 (4)
|
0.13
|
12/15/15
|
||||||||||
|
3/17/10
|
50,000 (2)
|
0.21
|
3/17/15
|
||||||||||
|
5/21/09
|
480,000 (3)
|
0.16
|
5/20/14
|
||||||||||
|
7/17/07
|
300,000 (1)
|
3.00
|
7/16/17
|
||||||||||
|
Sanjeev Gupta
|
11/05/12
|
50,000 (2)
|
250,000
|
0.55
|
11/05/17
|
||||||||
|
12/09/10
|
26,512 (2)
|
8,838
|
0.12
|
12/08/15
|
|||||||||
|
12/09/10
|
164,650 (4)
|
0.13
|
12/15/15
|
||||||||||
|
3/17/10
|
100,000 (2)
|
0.21
|
3/17/15
|
||||||||||
|
5/21/09
|
500,000 (3)
|
0.16
|
5/20/14
|
||||||||||
|
6/17/08
|
40,000 (1)
|
3.70
|
6/16/13
|
||||||||||
|
Todd A. Waltz
|
11/05/12
|
50,000 (2)
|
250,000
|
0.55
|
11/05/17
|
||||||||
|
12/09/10
|
39,769 (2)
|
13,255
|
0.12
|
12/08/15
|
|||||||||
|
12/09/10
|
246,976 (4)
|
0.13
|
12/15/15
|
||||||||||
|
3/17/10
|
600,000 (3)
|
0.21
|
3/17/15
|
||||||||||
|
5/21/09
|
220,000 (3)
|
0.16
|
5/20/14
|
||||||||||
|
6/17/08
|
20,000 (1)
|
3.70
|
6/16/13
|
||||||||||
|
(1)
|
Fifty percent (50%) of the shares subject to the option were exercisable on the date of grant and twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares subject to the option vest on the anniversary of the date of grant.
|
|
(2)
|
One-twelfth (1/12) of the shares subject to the option vest every three months from the date of grant.
|
|
(3)
|
Fifty percent (50%) of the shares subject to the option were exercisable on the date of grant and one-twenty-fourth (1/24) of the shares subject to the option vest every three months from the date of grant.
|
|
(4)
|
Fully vested on the date of grant.
|
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
AND CHANGE-IN-CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
We are party to the following agreements with our named executive officers:
Eric A. McAfee
Effective September 1, 2011, the Company entered into a three year Employment Agreement with Mr. Eric A. McAfee in connection with his continuing responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer providing compensation of $180,000 per year. In addition, Mr. McAfee is entitled to an annual cash bonus in an amount determined by the Board of Directors based upon attainment of certain performance milestones. The Company will pay up to six months of severance and health benefits in the event Mr. McAfee is terminated without “cause” or “constructively terminated” (as defined in the Employment Agreement).
In May 2007, the Company entered into an Executive Employment Contract with Mr. Foster to serve as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Under Mr. Foster’s employment contract, Mr. Foster receives an annual salary of $180,000 and a discretionary annual bonus of up to $50,000. The initial term of the Executive Employment Contract was for three years with automatic one-year renewals, currently October 18, 2013, unless terminated by either party on sixty days notice prior to the end of the term.
If, prior to a Change in Control (as defined in the agreement), Mr. Foster is terminated other than for Cause or as a result of his death or total disability or is Constructively Terminated (as defined in the agreement), then provided he signs a release of claims, Mr. Foster is entitled to severance benefits of (i) cash payments equal to his monthly base salary for a period of three months, and (ii) company-paid health, dental, and vision insurance coverage for him and his dependents until the earlier of three (3) months or until such time as Mr. Foster is covered under another employer’s group policy for such benefits. If, following a Change of Control, Mr. Foster is terminated other than for Cause or as a result of his death or total disability or is Constructively Terminated, then provided he signs a release of claims, in addition to the severance benefits provided above, all of his then unvested restricted stock or stock options shall be immediately vested.
Sanjeev Gupta
In September 2007, the Company entered into an Executive Employment Contract with Mr. Gupta to serve as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Under Mr. Gupta’s employment contract, Mr. Gupta receives an annual salary of $180,000 and a discretionary annual bonus of up to $50,000. The initial term of the Executive Employment Contract was for three years with automatic one-year renewals, currently September 5, 2013, unless terminated by either party on sixty days notice prior to the end of the term.
If, prior to a Change in Control (as defined in the agreement), Mr. Gupta is terminated other than for Cause or as a result of his death or total disability or is Constructively Terminated (as defined in the agreement), then provided he signs a release of claims, Mr. Gupta is entitled to severance benefits of (i) cash payments equal to his monthly base salary for a period of three months, and (ii) company-paid health, dental, and vision insurance coverage for him and his dependents until the earlier of three (3) months or until such time as Mr. Gupta is covered under another employer’s group policy for such benefits. If, following a Change of Control, Mr. Gupta is terminated other than for Cause or as a result of his death or total disability or is Constructively Terminated, then provided he signs a release of claims, in addition to the severance benefits provided above, all of his then unvested restricted stock or stock options shall be immediately vested.
Todd A. Waltz
On March 12, 2012, the Company entered into an Executive Employment Contract with Mr. Waltz to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Under Mr. Waltz’ employment contract, Mr. Waltz receives an annual salary of $180,000 and a discretionary annual bonus of up to $50,000. The initial term of the Executive Employment Contract was for three years with automatic one-year renewals, currently March 15, 2013, unless terminated by either party on sixty days’ notice prior to the end of the term.
If, prior to a Change in Control (as defined in the agreement), Mr. Waltz is terminated other than for Cause or as a result of his death or total disability or is Constructively Terminated (as defined in the agreement), then provided he signs a release of claims, Mr. Waltz is entitled to severance benefits of (i) cash payments equal to his monthly base salary for a period of three months, and (ii) company-paid health, dental, and vision insurance coverage for him and his dependents until the earlier of three (3) months or until such time as Mr. Waltz is covered under another employer’s group policy for such benefits. If, following a Change of Control, Mr. Waltz is terminated other than for Cause or as a result of his death or total disability or is Constructively Terminated, then provided he signs a release of claims, in addition to the severance benefits provided above, all of his then unvested restricted stock or stock options shall be immediately vested.
Director Compensation
The following table provides information regarding all compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to each person who served as a director of Aemetis, Inc. for some portion or all of 2011 and 2012. Other than as set forth in the table and described more fully below, Aemetis, Inc. did not pay any fees, made any equity or non-equity awards, or paid any other compensation, to its non-employee directors. All compensation paid to its employee directors is set forth in the tables summarizing executive officer compensation below.
|
Name
|
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash ($)
|
Option
Awards(1)(2)
($)
|
Total ($)
|
|||||||||
|
2011
|
||||||||||||
|
Michael Peterson
|
107,750 | – | 107,750 | |||||||||
|
Harold Sorgenti
|
82,750 | – | 82,750 | |||||||||
|
John R. Block
|
58,500 | – | 58,500 | |||||||||
|
Dr. Steven Hutcheson
|
37,500 | – | 37,500 | |||||||||
|
2012
|
||||||||||||
|
Michael Peterson
|
72,250 | – | 72,250 | |||||||||
|
Harold Sorgenti
|
103,750 | 46,813 | 150,563 | |||||||||
|
John R. Block
|
78,000 | 46,813 | 124,813 | |||||||||
|
Dr. Steven Hutcheson
|
79,250 | 38,036 | 117,286 | |||||||||
|
Francis Barton
|
46,250 | 84,047 | 130,297 | |||||||||
|
(1)
|
The amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value under ASC Topic 718. The assumptions made when calculating the amounts in this table are found in Note 11 (Stock Based Compensation) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K .
|
|
(2)
|
The following table shows for each named individual the aggregate number of shares subject to all outstanding options and warrants held by that individual as of December 31, 2012.
|
|
Name
|
Number of Shares of Common Stock Subject to all outstanding options as of December 31, 2012
|
Number of Shares of Common Stock Subject to all outstanding warrants as of December 31, 2012
|
||||||
|
Michael Peterson
|
-
|
|
82,324
|
|
||||
|
Harold Sorgenti
|
517,676
|
|
82,324
|
|
||||
|
John R. Block
|
517,676
|
|
82,324
|
|
||||
|
Dr. Steven Hutcheson
|
262,500
|
|
-
|
|
||||
|
Francis Barton
|
300,000
|
|
-
|
|
||||
|
(3)
|
In 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a director compensation policy pursuant to which each non-employee director is paid an annual cash retainer of $75,000 and a cash payment of $250 per Board or committee meeting attended telephonically and a cash payment of $500 per Board or committee meeting attended in person. In addition, each non-employee director is initially granted an option exercisable for 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, which vests quarterly over two years subject to continuing services to the Company. In addition, an annual cash retainer of $10,000 is paid to the chairman of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee and an annual cash retainer of $20,000 is paid to the chairman of the Audit Committee.
The following table sets forth information as of April 9, 2013, regarding the beneficial ownership of each class of our voting stock, including (a) each stockholder who is known by the Company to own beneficially in excess of 5% of each class of our voting stock; (b) each director; (c) the Company’s named executive officers; and (d) the Company’s named executive officers and directors as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, all persons listed below have (i) sole voting power and investment power with respect to their shares of stock, except to the extent that authority is shared by spouses under applicable law, and (ii) record and beneficial ownership with respect to their shares of stock. The percentage of beneficial ownership of common stock is based upon 184,657,889 shares of common stock outstanding as of April 9, 2013. The percentage of beneficial ownership of Series B preferred stock is based upon 3,097,725 shares of Series B preferred stock outstanding as of April 9, 2013. Unless otherwise identified, the address of the directors and officers of the Company is 20400 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 700, Cupertino, CA 95014.
|
Common Stock
|
Series B Preferred Stock
|
||||||||
|
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
|
Percentage of Class
|
Beneficial Ownership
|
Percentage of Class
|
||||||
|
Officers & Directors
|
|||||||||
|
Eric A. McAfee (1)
|
34,916,159
|
18.91
|
%
|
||||||
|
Francis Barton (2)
|
310,000
|
*
|
%
|
||||||
|
John R. Block (3)
|
632,054
|
*
|
%
|
||||||
|
Dr. Steven Hutcheson (4)
|
2,055,070
|
1.11
|
%
|
||||||
|
Harold Sorgenti (5)
|
532,054
|
*
|
%
|
||||||
|
Andrew Foster (6)
|
928,527
|
*
|
%
|
||||||
|
Sanjeev Gupta (7)
|
1,084,108
|
*
|
%
|
||||||
|
Todd A. Waltz (8)
|
2,181,163
|
1.18
|
%
|
||||||
|
All officers and directors as a group (8 persons)
|
42,639,135
|
23.09
|
%
|
||||||
|
5% or more Holders
|
|||||||||
|
Third Eye Capital (9)
|
27,153,346
|
14.7
|
%
|
||||||
|
161 Bay Street, Suite 3930
|
|||||||||
|
Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2S1
|
|||||||||
|
Laird Cagan (10)
|
24,648,872
|
13.35
|
%
|
||||||
|
20400 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 700
|
|||||||||
|
Cupertino, CA 95014
|
|||||||||
|
Michael Orsak
|
2,178,333
|
1.18
|
%
|
166,667
|
5.38
|
%
|
|||
|
1125 San Mateo Drive,
|
|||||||||
|
Menlo Park, California 94025
|
|||||||||
|
David J. Lies
|
1,606,587
|
0.87
|
%
|
200,000
|
6.46
|
%
|
|||
|
1210 Sheridan Road
|
|||||||||
|
Wilmette, Illinois 60091
|
|||||||||
|
Michael C Brown Trust dated June 30, 2000
|
481,676
|
0.26
|
%
|
599,999
|
19.37
|
%
|
|||
|
34 Meadowview Drive
|
|||||||||
|
Northfield, Illinois 60093
|
|||||||||
|
Mahesh Pawani
|
535,358
|
0.29
|
%
|
400,000
|
12.91
|
%
|
|||
|
Villa No. 6, Street 29, Community 317, Al Mankhool,
|
|||||||||
|
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
|
|||||||||
|
Frederick WB Vogel
|
440,678
|
0.24
|
%
|
408,332
|
13.18
|
%
|
|||
|
1660 N. La Salle Drive, Apt 2411
|
|||||||||
|
Chicago, Illinois 60614
|
|||||||||
|
Fred Mancheski
|
-
|
-
|
300,000
|
9.68
|
%
|
||||
|
1060 Vegas Valley Dr
|
|||||||||
|
Las Vegas, NV 89109
|
|||||||||
|
Crestview Capital, LLC
|
-
|
-
|
166,667
|
5.38
|
%
|
||||
| Crestview Capital, LLC | |||||||||
| 95 Revere Dr., Ste A | |||||||||
| Northbrook, Illinois 60062 | |||||||||
*Less than 1%
|
(1) Includes (i) 34,116,159 shares held by McAfee Capital, LLC, a company owned by Mr. McAfee. McAfee Capital has directly or indirectly pledged all of these shares as security for Third Eye Capital debt arrangements.
|
|
(2) Includes 150,000 shares held by Mr. Barton and 160,000 shares pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of April 9, 2013.
|
|
(3) Includes 549,730 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 2 2013, and 82,324 common stock warrants fully exercisable.
|
|
(4) Includes 1,957,570 shares held by Mr. Hutcheson and 197,500 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of April 9, 2013.
|
|
(5) Includes 449,730shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of April 9, 2013, and 82,324 common stock warrants fully exercisable.
|
|
(6) Includes 887,364 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of April 9, 2013, and 41,163 fully exercisable common stock warrants.
|
|
(7) Includes 200,000 shares held by Mr. Gupta, 719,450 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of April 9, 2013, and 164,650 fully exercisable common stock warrants.
|
|
(8) Includes 1,000,000 shares held by Mr. Waltz, 934,187 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of April 9, 2013 and 246,976 fully exercisable common stock warrants.
|
|
(9) Includes 19,012,935 shares held by RBC Dexia Investor Services Trust, held in Trust for Account 110-455-262 and Sprott Private Credit Fund, LP, a corporation residing in Canada. Third Eye Capital beneficially owns 7,757,078 common shares, and 383,333 common stock warrants fully exercisable.
|
|
(10) Includes (i) 21,290,626 shares held by Cagan Capital, LLC, a company owned by Mr. Cagan; (ii) 400,000 shares owned by the KRC Trust and 400,000 owned by the KQC Trust, trusts for Mr. Cagan's daughters for which Mr. Cagan is trustee, (iii) 1,710,510 held by The Laird Cagan 2011 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust and (iv) 847,736 shares held by Mr. Cagan individually.
|
The Company’s shareholders approved the Company’s Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Plan at the Company’s 2010 Annual Shareholders Meeting. On December 15, 2010, the Company issued compensatory warrants to officers, directors and employees. The warrants are exercisable at $0.13 per share and expire on December 15, 2015. On July 1, 2011, the Company acquired the Zymetis 2006 Stock Plan pursuant to the acquisition of Zymetis, Inc. and gave Zymetis option holders the right to convert shares into Aemetis common stock at the same terms as the Zymetis plan. The following table provides information about our Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Plan and the compensatory warrants as of December 31, 2012:
|
Plan category
|
Number of
securities
to be issued
upon exercise
of
outstanding
options
(a)
|
Weighted
average
exercise price
of
outstanding
options
(b)
|
Number of
securities
remaining
available
for future
issuance
under equity
compensation
plans (excluding
securities
reflected in
column (a))
(c)
|
|||||||||
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)
|
7,524,834 | $ | 0.59 | 1,282,732 | (2) | |||||||
|
Equity in the form of warrants issued to officers, directors and employees not approved by security holders
|
950,856 | 0.13 | — | |||||||||
|
Equity in the form of options issued to directors and consultants not approved by security holders
|
862,500 | 0.55 | — | |||||||||
|
(1)
|
Shares from the 2006 Stock Option Plan and the Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Option Plan.
|
|
(2)
|
Amount consists of shares available for future issuance under the 2006 and 2007 Plan.
|
Summary of Material Features of the 2007 Stock Plan
The following discussion summarizes the material terms of the Aemetis 2007 Stock Plan as amended and restated April 8, 2008 (“2007 Stock Plan”). A description of the 2007 Stock Plan, which is intended merely as a summary of its principal features and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2007 Stock Plan, as filed on Schedule 14A with the SEC on April 8, 2008.
Administration. The 2007 Stock Plan is administered by the Board or a Committee of the Board. Awards of “performance-based compensation” require administration of two or more “outside directors”.
Term. The 2007 Stock Plan shall continue in effect for a period of 10 years. The term of each Option granted shall be no more than ten 10 years from the date of grant.
Eligibility. Employees and Service Providers of the Company and its subsidiaries and non-employee directors of the Company are eligible to receive awards under the 2007 Stock Plan. There are approximately 120 employees and five non-employee directors currently eligible to receive awards under the 2007 Stock Plan. The number of other Service Providers potentially eligible to participate in the 2007 Stock Plan is not currently determinable. Awards under the 2007 Stock Plan may include grants of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units and performance shares, and Performance-Based Compensation Under Code Section 162(m). Eligibility for any particular award is determined by the Administrator (as defined in the 2007 Stock Plan) and, in the case of certain awards such as incentive stock options, may be limited by the Internal Revenue Code.
Award Limits. Awards under the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan are subject to the following limits:
Plan Limits. The Company has reserved 4,000,000 Common Shares for issuance under the 2007 Stock Plan. Issuances under the plan will be increased each year in an amount of the lesser of: (i) 1,000,000 Shares, (ii) one percent (1%) of the shares outstanding and issuable pursuant to outstanding awards at the end of the fiscal year, and (iii) such number as determined by the Board. The 2007 Stock Plan had 8,750,434 reserved for issuance as of April 11, 2012.
Individual Limits. During any fiscal year, no employee may be granted options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units and performance shares, and Performance-Based Compensation Under Code Section 162(m) covering more than 1,000,000 Common Shares. No participant may receive Performance Units having an initial value greater than $10,0000,000.
Each of the above limits is subject to adjustment for certain changes in the Company’s capitalization such as stock dividends, stock splits, combinations or similar events. If an award expires, terminates, is forfeited or is settled in cash rather than in Common Shares, the Common Shares not issued under that award will again become available for grant under the 2007 Stock Plan. If Common Shares are surrendered to the Company or withheld to pay any exercise price or tax withholding requirements, only the number of Common Shares issued net of the shares withheld or surrendered will be counted against the number of Common Shares available under the 2007 Stock Plan. The exercise price for a stock option or stock appreciation right may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant or may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant for employees representing more than 10% of the voting power of all of the classes of stock of the Company. The Board may amend, alter, suspend or terminate the plan. The Board shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Law.
Summary of Material Features of the 2007 Stock Plan
The following discussion summarizes the material terms of the Zymetis, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan as dated November 17, 2006 (“2006 Stock Plan”). A description of the 2006 Stock Plan, which is intended merely as a summary of its principal features and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2006 Stock Plan, as filed with the SEC on October 30, 2012 as Exhibit 10.31 to Form 10-K.
Administration. The 2006 Stock Plan is administered by a Committee of the Board.
Term. The 2006 Stock Plan shall continue in effect for a period of 10 years. The term of each Option granted shall be no more than 10 years from the date of grant, except for Option grants to Participants who possess more than 10% of the combined voting classes of all stock who may be awarded Options exercisable no later than 5 years from the date of grant.
Eligibility. Employees and other Eligible Persons of the Company and its subsidiaries and non-employee directors of the Company are eligible to receive awards under the 2006 Stock Plan. There are approximately 120 employees and five non-employee directors currently eligible to receive awards under the 2006 Stock Plan. The number of other Service Providers potentially eligible to participate in the 2006 Stock Plan is not currently determinable. Awards under the 2006 Stock Plan may include grants of options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units, performance awards, dividend equivalents, other stock grants and other stock based awards. Eligibility for any particular award is determined by the Administrator (as defined in the 2006 Stock Plan) and, in the case of certain awards such as incentive stock options, may be limited by the Internal Revenue Code.
Award Limit. The Company has reserved 350,000 Common Shares for issuance under the 2006 Stock Plan. On May 30, 2007, the Company approved a 3:1 stock split, increasing the reserve to 1,050,000 Common Shares. Subsequently, on May 9, 2008, the Board authorized an additional 800,000 shares for issuance for a total of 1,850,000 Common Shares reserved for issuance as of April 11, 2013.
The above limit is subject to adjustment for certain changes in the Company’s capitalization such as stock dividends, stock splits, combinations or similar events. If an award expires, terminates, is forfeited or is settled in cash rather than in Common Shares, the Common Shares not issued under that award will again become available for grant under the 2006 Stock Plan. If Common Shares are surrendered to the Company or withheld to pay any exercise price or tax withholding requirements, only the number of Common Shares issued net of the shares withheld or surrendered will be counted against the number of Common Shares available under the 2006 Stock Plan. The exercise price for any incentive stock options may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant or may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant for employees representing more than 10% of the voting power of all of the classes of stock of the Company. The Board may amend, alter, suspend or terminate the plan.
The following are transactions entered into in fiscal 2011 and 2012 and any currently proposed transaction, (i) in which the registrant was or is to be a participant, (ii) the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of the registrant’s company's total assets at year end for the last two completed fiscal years, and (iii) in which any director, executive officer, five percent stockholder or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
On August 17, 2009, we entered into a $5 million secured revolving line of credit with Laird Cagan, a former member of the Company’s board of directors and a significant stockholder. The credit facility accrues interest at 10% per annum and was due and payable on July 1, 2011. At December 31, 2010, $4,854,992 in principal, plus accrued interest of $810,728 and extension fee of $278,963 was outstanding under this credit facility. On September 30, 2011, Laird Cagan with co-investors exercised their right to convert $1,452,818 in outstanding interest and fees to stock at a rate of 5 cents per share resulting in the Company issuing 29,056,356 shares of common stock in exchange for the payment. In October 2011, in connection with the extension of the line, the Company implemented a new conversion feature based on the average closing price on the previous twenty-two days of trading on interest and fees. In December 2012 Mr. Cagan provided the Company a Notice of Principal and Interest Conversion under the Credit Agreement, converting certain amounts of the outstanding principal, interest and fees eligible into 9,062,900 shares of common stock. At December 31, 2012, the remaining principal, interest and fees due under the Credit Agreement have a balance of $1,540,074. See Note 6. Notes Payable, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Auditor Fees and Services in Our 2012 and 2011 Fiscal Years
McGladrey LLP was appointed as our registered independent public accountant on May 21, 2012. The fees billed by McGladrey LLP for audits of the 2012 and 2011 financial statements are as follows:
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
|
Audit Fees
|
$ | 325,000 | $ | 245,000 | ||||
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Audit-Related Fees
|
111,500 | 35,000 | ||||||
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Total Audit and Audit-Related Fees
|
436,500 | 280,000 | ||||||
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Tax Fees
|
–– | –– | ||||||
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All Other Fees
|
2,305 | –– | ||||||
|
Total
|
$ | 438,805 | $ | 280,000 | ||||
Audit Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company's consolidated annual financial statements, and review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports and services that are normally provided by McGladrey LLP in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
Audit-Related Fees consist of assistance provided on complex accounting transactions, including stock compensation expense, tax impacts of acquisitions, modification and extinguishment accounting for debt, beneficial conversion feature accounting, and warrant liability accounting.
Audit Committee's Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Consistent with policies of the SEC regarding auditor independence and the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee has the responsibility for appointing, setting compensation and overseeing the work of the registered independent public accounting firm (the “Firm”). The Audit Committee's policy is to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the Firm. Pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. The Audit Committee may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. In assessing requests for services by the Firm, the Audit Committee considers whether such services are consistent with the Firm’s independence, whether the Firm is likely to provide the most effective and efficient service based upon their familiarity with the Company, and whether the service could enhance the Company's ability to manage or control risk or improve audit quality.
In fiscal year 2011 and 2012, all fees identified above under the captions “Audit Fees,” “Audit-Related Fees,” “Tax Fees” and “All Other Fees” that were billed by McGladrey LLP were approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with SEC requirements.
(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this Form 10-K:
1. Financial Statements:
The following financial statements of Aemetis, Inc. are filed as a part of this Annual Report:
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●
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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|
●
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Consolidated Balance Sheets
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|
●
|
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
|
|
●
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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
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|
●
|
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
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|
●
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
2. Financial Statement Schedules:
All schedules have been omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto under Item 8 in Part II of this Form 10-K.
3. Exhibits:
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Incorporated by Reference
|
Filed Herewith
|
|||||
|
Exhibit No.
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Description
|
Form
|
Film No.
|
Exhibit
|
Filing Date
|
|
|
3.1.1
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Articles of Incorporation
|
10-Q
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000-51354
|
3.1
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Nov. 14, 2008
|
|
|
3.1.2
|
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation
|
10-Q
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000-51354
|
3.1.1
|
Nov. 14, 2008
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|
|
3.1.3
|
Certificate of Designation of Series B Preferred Stock
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8-K
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000-51354
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3.2
|
Dec. 13, 2007
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|
|
3.1.4
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Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation
|
8-K
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000-51354
|
3.3
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Dec. 13, 2007
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|
|
3.1.5
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Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation
|
Pre14C
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111136140
|
October 26, 2011
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||
|
3.2.1
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Bylaws
|
8-K
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000-51354
|
3.4
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Dec. 13, 2007
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|
|
4.1
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Specimen Common Stock Certificate
|
8-K
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000-51354
|
4.1
|
Dec. 13, 2007
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|
|
4.2
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Specimen Series B Preferred Stock Certificate
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8-K
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000-51354
|
4.2
|
Dec. 13, 2007
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|
|
4.3
|
Form of Common Stock Warrant
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
4.3
|
Dec. 13, 2007
|
|
|
4.4
|
Form of Series B Preferred Stock Warrant
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
4.4
|
Dec. 13, 2007
|
|
|
10.1
|
Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Plan
|
14A
|
000-51354
|
Apr. 15, 2008
|
||
|
10.2
|
Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Plan form of Stock Option Award Agreement
|
14A
|
000-51354
|
Apr. 15, 2008
|
||
|
10.4
|
Eric McAfee Executive Chairman Agreement dated January 30, 2006
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.4
|
Dec. 13, 2007
|
|
|
10.7
|
Andrew Foster Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 22, 2007
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.7
|
Dec. 13, 2007
|
|
|
10.10
|
Todd Waltz Executive Employment Agreement, dated March 15, 2010
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
May 20, 2009
|
||
|
10.11
|
Sanjeev Gupta Executive Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 2007
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.11
|
May 20, 2009
|
|
|
10.12
|
Agreement of Loan for Overall Limit dated June 26, 2008 between Universal Biofuels Pvt Limited and State Bank of India
|
10-Q
|
000-51354
|
10.12
|
Aug. 14, 2008
|
|
|
10.14
|
$5 million Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated May 16, 2008 among Third Eye Capital Corporation, as Agent; the Purchasers; and Aemetis, Inc., including the form of Note
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
May 21, 2008
|
|
|
10.16
|
Revolving Line of Credit Agreement dated August 17, 2009 between International Biodiesel, Inc. and Laird Cagan
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10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.16
|
Mar. 15, 2010
|
|
|
10.17
|
Project Agreement dated December 1, 2009 among Cilion, Inc., Aemetis, Inc., AE Advanced Fuels, Inc., and AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Dec. 2, 2009
|
|
|
10.18
|
Lease Agreement dated December 1, 2009, among Cilion Inc., AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., and AE Advanced Fuels, Inc., a Delaware corporation
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.2
|
Dec. 2, 2009
|
|
|
10.19
|
Amendment No. 4 and Limited Waiver to Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated December 10, 2009, between Aemetis, Inc. and Third Eye Capital Corporation
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Dec. 22, 2009
|
|
|
10.20
|
Assignment of Proceeds Agreement dated December 10, 2009, between Aemetis, Inc. and Third Eye Capital Corporation
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.2
|
Dec. 22, 2009
|
|
|
10.21
|
Guaranty Agreement dated December 10, 2009, between AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. and Third Eye Capital Corporation
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.3
|
Dec. 22, 2009
|
|
|
10.24
|
Note Purchase Agreement dated October 18, 2010, among Third Eye Capital Corporation, the Purchasers and AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., including the Form of Note
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Nov. 3, 2010
|
|
|
10.25
|
Amendment No. 5 and Limited Waiver to Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated October 18, 2010, between Aemetis, Inc. and Third Eye Capital Corporation
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Nov. 3, 2010
|
|
|
10.27
|
Amendment #1 to Project Agreement dated October 29, 2010 among Cilion, Inc., Aemetis, Inc., AE Advanced Fuels, Inc., and AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.
|
10-Q
|
000-51354
|
10.3
|
Dec. 1, 2010
|
|
|
10.28
|
Amendment #1 to Lease Agreement dated October 29, 2010, among Cilion, Inc., AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., and AE Advanced Fuels, Inc.
|
10-Q
|
000-51354
|
10.4
|
Dec. 1, 2010
|
|
|
10.29
|
Subordination Agreement, dated October 29, 2010 among Laird Cagan, Aemetis, Inc., AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., and Third Eye Capital Corporation
|
10-Q
|
000-51354
|
10.5
|
Dec. 1, 2010
|
|
|
10.30
|
Ethanol Marketing Agreement, dated October 29, 2010 between AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. and Kinergy Marketing, LLC
|
10-Q
|
000-51354
|
10.6
|
Dec. 1, 2010
|
|
|
10.31
|
Zymetis, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.31
|
October 31, 2012
|
|
|
10.32
|
Zymetis Inc. Incentive Stock Option Agreement
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.32
|
October 31, 2012
|
|
|
10.33
|
Zymetis Inc. Non-Incentive Stock Option Agreement
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.33
|
October 31, 2012
|
|
|
10.34
|
Amendment No. 1 to Note Purchase Agreement dated March 10, 2011 among Third Eye Capital Corporation, as Agent; the Purchasers; and AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
March 16, 2011
|
|
|
10.35
|
Amendment No. 2 to Project Agreement dated March 9, 2011 among Cilion, Inc., AE Biofuels, Inc., AE Advanced Fuels, Inc., and AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.2
|
March 16, 2011
|
|
|
10.36
|
Amendment No. 2 to Lease Agreement dated March 9, 2011 among Cilion, Inc., AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., and AE Advanced Fuels, Inc.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.3
|
March 16, 2011
|
|
|
10.37
|
Limited Waiver to Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated May 24, 2011, between Third Eye Capital Corporation, as Agent and AE Biofuels, Inc.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
June 1, 2011
|
|
|
10.38
|
Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to Note Purchase Agreement dated June 20, 2011, among Third Eye Capital Corporation, as Agent; the Purchasers; and AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
June 24, 2011
|
|
|
10.39
|
First Amendment to Ethanol Marketing Agreement dated September 6, 2011, between AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. and Kinergy Energy Marketing
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
September 8, 2011
|
|
|
10.40
|
Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 4 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of November 8, 2011 and effective as of October 18, 2011 among AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., Third Eye Capital Corporation, and the Purchasers
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
November 15, 2011
|
|
|
10.41
|
Form of Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
January 1, 2012
|
|
|
10.42
|
Form of 5% Subordinated Note
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.2
|
January 1, 2012
|
|
|
10.43
|
Form of Common Stock Warrant
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.3
|
January 1, 2012
|
|
|
10.44
|
Limited Waiver, Consent and Amendment No. 5 to Note Purchase Agreement dated January 31, 2012 among Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., Third Eye Capital Corporation, as agent and the Purchasers
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
February 6, 2012
|
|
|
10.45
|
Amendment No. 6 to Note Purchase Agreement dated April 13, 2012 among Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., Third Eye Capital Corporation, as agent, and the Purchasers
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
April 19, 2012
|
|
|
10.46
|
Limited Waiver to Note Purchase Agreement dated March 31, 2012 among Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., and Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation, as agent
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
April 19, 2012
|
|
|
10.47
|
Limited Waiver to Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated March 31, 2012 among Aemetis, Inc., Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation, as agent, and the Purchasers
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
April 19, 2012
|
|
|
10.48
|
Amendment No. 7 to Note Purchase Agreement dated May 15, 2012 among Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., Third Eye Capital Corporation, as agent, and the Purchasers
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
May 22, 2012
|
|
|
10.49
|
Form of Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
June 6, 2012
|
|
|
10.50
|
Form of 5% Subordinated Note
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
June 6, 2012
|
|
10.51
|
Form of Common Stock Warrant
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
June 6, 2012
|
|
|
10.52
|
Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated June 21, 2012 among Third Eye Capital Corporation, Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., and Aemetis, Inc.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
June 28, 2012
|
|
|
10.53
|
5% Subordinated Promissory Note dated June 21, 2012 among Third Eye Capital Corporation, Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., and Aemetis, Inc.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.2
|
June 28, 2012
|
|
|
10.54
|
Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.3
|
June 28, 2012
|
|
|
10.55
|
Note Purchase Agreement dated June 27, 2012 among Third Eye Capital Corporation, Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., and Aemetis, Inc.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
July 3, 2012
|
|
|
10.56
|
15% Subordinated Promissory Note dated June 27, 2012 among Third Eye Capital Corporation, Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., and Aemetis, Inc.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.2
|
July 3, 2012
|
|
|
10.57
|
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 6, 2012, among Aemetis, Inc., AE Advanced Fuels, Inc., Keyes Facility Acquisition Corp., and Cilion, Inc.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
2.1
|
July 10, 2012
|
|
|
10.58
|
Stockholders’ Agreement dated July 6, 2012, among Aemetis, Inc., and Western Milling Investors, LLC, as Security holders’ Representative.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
July 10, 2012
|
|
|
10.59
|
Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated July 6, 2012 among Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., Keyes Facility Acquisition Corp., Aemetis, Inc., Third Eye Capital Corporation, as Administrative Agent, and the Note holders
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.2
|
July 10, 2012
|
|
|
10.60
|
Amended and Restated Guaranty, dated July 6, 2012 among Aemetis, Inc., certain subsidiaries of Aemetis and Third Eye Capital Corporation, as Agent.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.3
|
July 10, 2012
|
|
|
10.61
|
Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated July 6, 2012 among Aemetis, Inc., certain subsidiaries of Aemetis and Third Eye Capital Corporation, as Agent.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.4
|
July 10, 2012
|
|
|
10.62
|
Investors’ Rights Agreement dated July 6, 2012, by and among Aemetis, Inc., and the investors listed on Schedule A thereto.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.5
|
July 10, 2012
|
|
|
10.63
|
Technology License Agreement dated August 9, 2012 between Chevron Lummus Global LLC and Aemetis Advanced Fuels, Inc.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
August 22, 2012
|
|
|
10.64
|
Corn Procurement and Working Capital Agreement dated March 9, 2011 between J.D. Heiskell Holdings LLC and Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.**
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.64
|
October 31, 2012
|
|
|
10.65
|
Purchasing Agreement dated March 9, 2011 between J.D. Heiskell Holdings LLC and Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.**
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.65
|
October 31, 2012
|
|
|
10.66
|
WDG Purchase and Sale Agreement dated March 23, 2011 between A.L. Gilbert Company and Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.66
|
October 31, 2012
|
|
|
10.67
|
Keyes Corn Handling Agreement dated March 23, 2011 among A. L. Gilbert Company, AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., and J.D. Heiskell Holdings, LLC**
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.67
|
October 31, 2012
|
|
|
10.68
|
Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement dated as of October 18, 2012 by and among Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Aemetis Facility Keyes, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation as agent, Third Eye Capital Credit Opportunities Fund – Insight Fund, and Sprott PC Trust.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
October 23, 2012
|
|
|
10.69
|
Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Line of Credit Agreement dated October 16, 2012 by and among Aemetis International, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and Laird Q. Cagan
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.2
|
October 23, 2012
|
|
|
10.70
|
Note Purchase Agreement effective as of March 4, 2011, amended January 19, 2012 and July 24, 2012 by and among AE Advanced Fuels, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Advanced BioEnergy, LP a California limited partnership and Advanced BioEnergy GP, LLC, a California limited liability company.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.3
|
October 23, 2012
|
|
|
10.71
|
Form of Convertible Subordinated Promissory Note by and among AE Advanced Fuels, Inc., a Delaware corporation and Advanced BioEnergy, LP, a California limited partnership.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.4
|
October 23, 2012
|
|
|
Amendment to the Purchasing Agreement dated March 9, 2011 between J.D. Heiskell Holdings LLC and Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. dated September 29, 2012
|
X
|
|||||
|
10.73
|
Agreement for Repayment of Note by Share Issuance dated as of December 31, 2012 by and among Aemetis, Inc., Aemetis International, Inc., (formerly known as “International Biodiesel, Inc.”), a Nevada corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Laird Q. Cagan for himself and on behalf of all other holders of interests in the Revolving Line of Credit (as defined in the Agreement).
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
January 7, 2013
|
|
|
10.74
|
Agreement for Repayment of Note by Share Issuance dated as of December 31, 2012 by and among Aemetis, Inc., Aemetis International, Inc., (formerly known as “International Biodiesel, Inc.”), a Nevada corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Laird Q. Cagan for himself and on behalf of all other holders of interests in the Revolving Line of Credit (as defined in the Agreement).
|
8-K/A
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Feb. 27, 2013
|
| 10.75 |
Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement dated as of February 27, 2013 by and among Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Aemetis Facility Keyes, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation as agent, Third Eye Capital Credit Opportunities Fund – Insight Fund, and Sprott PC Trust.
|
8-K | 000-51354 | 10.1 | March 11, 2013 | |
| 10.76 |
Amendment No. 1 to Agreement for Repayment of Note by Share Issuance dated as of April 10, 2013 by and among Aemetis, Inc., Aemetis International, Inc., a Nevada corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Laird Q. Cagan for himself and on behalf of all other holders of interests in the Revolving Line of Credit (as defined in the Agreement).
|
X | ||||
| 10.77 | Amendment to the Purchasing Agreement dated March 9, 2011 between J.D. Heiskell Holdings LLC and Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. dated January 2, 2013. | X | ||||
| 10.78 |
Limited Waiver and Amendment No.3 to Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 15, 2013 by and among Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Aemetis Facility Keyes, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation as agent, Third Eye Capital Credit Opportunities Fund – Insight Fund, and Sprott PC Trust.
|
8-K | 000-51354 | 10.1 | April 16, 2013 | |
| 10.79 |
Special Bridge Advance dated as of March 29, 2013 by and among Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Aemetis, Inc., a Nevada corporation, Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation, as agent for Third Eye Capital Insight Fund
|
8-K | 000-51354 | 10.2 | April 16, 2013 | |
|
14
|
Code of Ethics
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
14
|
May 20, 2009
|
|
|
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
|
X
|
|||||
|
24
|
Power of Attorney (see signature page)
|
X
|
||||
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
X
|
|||||
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
X
|
|||||
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
X
|
|||||
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
X
|
|
**
|
Confidential treatment has been requested for portions of this exhibit. Omitted portions have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
|
|
Page
Number
|
|
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
52
|
|
Consolidated Financial Statements
|
|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets
|
53
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
|
54
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
|
55
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
|
56
|
|
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
57-85
|
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Board of Directors and Stockholders
Aemetis, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Aemetis, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aemetis, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and its cash flows from operations are not sufficient to cover debt service requirements. This raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/ McGladrey LLP
Des Moines, Iowa
April 16, 2013
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
|
Assets
|
||||||||
|
Current assets:
|
||||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$ | 290,603 | $ | 249,466 | ||||
|
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $201,890 and $143,089, as of 2012 and 2011, respectively
|
1,360,606 | 1,379,668 | ||||||
|
Inventories
|
4,555,780 | 3,981,997 | ||||||
|
Prepaid expenses
|
264,243 | 491,308 | ||||||
|
Other current assets
|
374,217 | 1,026,477 | ||||||
|
Total current assets
|
6,845,449 | 7,128,916 | ||||||
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
83,893,472 | 15,530,905 | ||||||
|
Assets held for sale
|
- | 885,000 | ||||||
|
Goodwill and intangible assets
|
2,767,994 | 2,767,994 | ||||||
|
Other assets
|
3,365,244 | 905,106 | ||||||
|
Total assets
|
$ | 96,872,159 | $ | 27,217,921 | ||||
|
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
|
||||||||
|
Current liabilities:
|
||||||||
|
Accounts payable
|
$ | 15,070,106 | $ | 14,337,536 | ||||
|
Current portion of long term secured notes
|
26,278,535 | 2,425,588 | ||||||
|
Current portion of subordinated notes, net of discount for issuance costs
|
329,013 | - | ||||||
|
Secured notes, net of discount for issuance costs
|
5,756,752 | 5,161,191 | ||||||
|
Working capital loans and short-term notes
|
2,159,291 | 2,066,720 | ||||||
|
Mandatorily redeemable Series B convertible preferred stock
|
2,437,649 | 2,320,164 | ||||||
|
Other current liabilities
|
5,803,857 | 3,116,868 | ||||||
|
Total current liabilities
|
57,835,203 | 29,428,067 | ||||||
|
Long term debt:
|
||||||||
|
Secured notes, net of discount for issuance costs
|
25,954,536 | 15,701,023 | ||||||
|
Related party line of credit, net of discount for issuance costs
|
1,540,074 | 4,291,913 | ||||||
|
Subordinated notes, net of discount for issuance costs
|
3,009,101 | - | ||||||
|
Seller note payable
|
4,011,430 | - | ||||||
|
EB-5 notes payable
|
1,006,863 | - | ||||||
|
Total long term debt
|
35,522,004 | 19,992,936 | ||||||
|
Commitments and contingencies
|
||||||||
|
Stockholders' equity:
|
||||||||
|
Series B convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 7,235,565 authorized; 3,097,725 and 3,115,225 shares issued and outstanding, respectively (aggregate liquidation preference of $9,293,175 and $9,345,675 respectively)
|
3,098 | 3,115 | ||||||
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 400,000,000 authorized; 180,281,094 and 130,746,890 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
|
180,281 | 130,747 | ||||||
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
75,457,760 | 45,432,447 | ||||||
|
Accumulated deficit
|
(69,808,294 | ) | (65,526,029 | ) | ||||
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
|
(2,317,893 | ) | (2,243,362 | ) | ||||
|
Total stockholders' equity/(deficit)
|
3,514,952 | (22,203,082 | ) | |||||
|
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
|
$ | 96,872,159 | $ | 27,217,921 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements
AEMETIS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
|
Revenues
|
$ | 189,048,226 | $ | 141,857,914 | ||||
|
Cost of goods sold
|
197,975,173 | 137,216,040 | ||||||
|
Gross profit/(loss)
|
(8,926,947 | ) | 4,641,874 | |||||
|
Research and development expenses
|
620,368 | 576,625 | ||||||
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
11,613,357 | 8,570,591 | ||||||
|
Operating loss
|
(21,160,672 | ) | (4,505,342 | ) | ||||
|
Other income/(expense)
|
||||||||
|
Interest income
|
4,976 | 23,436 | ||||||
|
Interest expense
|
(17,657,915 | ) | (13,561,285 | ) | ||||
|
Other income/(expenses)
|
(167,275 | ) | 52,960 | |||||
|
Gain on acquisition bargain purchase
|
42,335,876 | - | ||||||
|
Loss on debt extinguishment
|
(9,068,868 | ) | - | |||||
|
Gain/(loss) on sale of assets
|
350,356 | (401,407 | ) | |||||
|
Loss before income taxes
|
(5,363,522 | ) | (18,391,638 | ) | ||||
|
Income tax benefit/(expense)
|
1,081,257 | 95,279 | ||||||
|
Net loss
|
$ | (4,282,265 | ) | $ | (18,296,359 | ) | ||
|
Other comprehensive loss
|
||||||||
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
(74,531 | ) | (1,372,441 | ) | ||||
|
Comprehensive loss
|
$ | (4,356,796 | ) | $ | (19,668,800 | ) | ||
|
Loss per common share
|
||||||||
|
Basic and diluted
|
$ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | ||
|
Weighted average shares outstanding
|
||||||||
|
Basic and diluted
|
151,023,977 | 103,536,643 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statement
AEMETIS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011
| For the twelve months ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
|
Operating activities:
|
||||||||
|
Net loss
|
$ | (4,282,265 | ) | $ | (18,296,359 | ) | ||
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
|
||||||||
|
operating activities:
|
||||||||
|
Stock-based compensation
|
686,059 | 177,278 | ||||||
|
Depreciation
|
3,041,783 | 1,141,007 | ||||||
|
Inventory provision
|
104,895 | 201,887 | ||||||
|
Amortization of debt issuance discount
|
7,543,583 | 4,624,705 | ||||||
|
Change in fair value of warrant liability
|
97,022 | - | ||||||
|
Loss on extinguishment of debt
|
9,068,868 | 33,926 | ||||||
|
(Gain)/loss on sale or disposal of assets
|
(350,356 | ) | 401,407 | |||||
|
Gain on acquisition bargain purchase
|
(42,335,876 | ) | - | |||||
|
Deferred tax liability/(asset)
|
(1,085,257 | ) | (98,479 | ) | ||||
|
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of assets and liabilities acquired in acquisitions:
|
||||||||
|
Accounts receivable
|
3,113,643 | (1,316,028 | ) | |||||
|
Inventory
|
(740,242 | ) | (3,724,088 | ) | ||||
|
Prepaid expenses
|
148,166 | (172,840 | ) | |||||
|
Other current assets and other assets
|
475,965 | (1,476,557 | ) | |||||
|
Accounts payable
|
799,620 | 9,597,694 | ||||||
|
Accrued interest expense and fees, net of payments
|
4,007,260 | 7,470,040 | ||||||
|
Other liabilities
|
2,775,405 | 189,508 | ||||||
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
(16,931,727 | ) | (1,246,899 | ) | ||||
|
Investing activities:
|
||||||||
|
Capital expenditures
|
(1,368,395 | ) | (2,568,001 | ) | ||||
|
Proceeds from the sale of assets
|
1,404,166 | 1,598,593 | ||||||
|
Acquisition of Cilion
|
(16,500,000 | ) | - | |||||
|
Cash obtained through merger
|
- | 1,451 | ||||||
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
(16,464,229 | ) | (967,957 | ) | ||||
|
Financing activities:
|
||||||||
|
Proceeds from borrowings under secured debt facilities
|
39,840,000 | 3,621,500 | ||||||
|
Repayments of borrowings under secured debt facilities
|
(9,962,259 | ) | (3,053,426 | ) | ||||
|
Proceeds from borrowings under unsecured and subdebt term notes and working capital lines of credit
|
7,325,325 | 8,773,415 | ||||||
|
Repayments of borrowings under unsecured and subdebt notes and working capital facility
|
(3,868,050 | ) | (7,476,182 | ) | ||||
|
Warrant exercises
|
1,433 | - | ||||||
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
33,336,449 | 1,865,307 | ||||||
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
|
100,644 | (84,001 | ) | |||||
|
Net cash and cash equivalents increase/(decrease) for period
|
41,137 | (433,550 | ) | |||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
249,466 | 683,016 | ||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$ | 290,603 | $ | 249,466 | ||||
|
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information, cash paid:
|
||||||||
|
Interest payments, net of capitalized interest of $0 in 2012 and $184,933 in 2011
|
2,084,751 | 1,021,188 | ||||||
|
Income tax expense/(benefit)
|
4,000 | 3,200 | ||||||
|
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information, non-cash transactions:
|
||||||||
|
Issuance of shares for acquisition
|
12,511,200 | 1,890,135 | ||||||
|
Stock and warrants issued to pay interest and fees on borrowings
|
11,885,579 | 1,662,323 | ||||||
|
Payment of loans and fees by issuance of stock to related party
|
4,107,141 | 1,452,818 | ||||||
|
Beneficial conversion discount on related party debt
|
884,851 | 1,732,872 | ||||||
|
Seller note payable issued in Cilion acquisition
|
3,584,371 | - | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statement
AEMETIS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011
|
Accumulated Other
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Series B Preferred Stock
|
Common Stock
|
Additional
|
Accumulated
|
Comprehensive
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares
|
Dollars
|
Shares
|
Dollars
|
Paid-in Capital
|
Deficit
|
Income/(loss)
|
Dollars
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Balance at December 31, 2010
|
3,165,225 | $ | 3,165 | 90,342,032 | $ | 90,342 | $ | 38,557,376 | $ | (47,229,670 | ) | $ | (870,921 | ) | $ | (9,449,708 | ) | |||||||||||||||
|
Stock-based compensation
|
- | - | 5,585 | 6 | 152,736 | - | - | 152,742 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares issued to consultants
|
- | - | 30,000 | 30 | 24,506 | - | - | 24,536 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares issued to secured lender
|
- | - | 4,589,360 | 4,589 | 1,657,734 | - | - | 1,662,323 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Conversion of related party note
|
- | - | 29,056,356 | 29,056 | 1,423,762 | - | - | 1,452,818 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beneficial conversion feature on related party notes
|
- | - | - | - | 1,732,872 | - | - | 1,732,872 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Conversion of Series B preferred to common stock
|
(50,000 | ) | (50 | ) | 50,000 | 50 | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Zymetis, Inc. merger
|
- | - | 6,673,557 | 6,674 | 1,883,461 | - | - | 1,890,135 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Other comprehensive loss
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | (1,372,441 | ) | (1,372,441 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net loss
|
- | - | - | - | - | (18,296,359 | ) | - | (18,296,359 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Balance at December 31, 2011
|
3,115,225 | $ | 3,115 | 130,746,890 | $ | 130,747 | $ | 45,432,447 | $ | (65,526,029 | ) | $ | (2,243,362 | ) | $ | (22,203,082 | ) | |||||||||||||||
|
Stock-based compensation
|
- | - | 321,965 | 322 | 258,271 | - | - | 258,593 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares issued to consultants
|
- | - | 1,000,000 | 1,000 | 426,466 | - | - | 427,466 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares issued to secured lender
|
- | - | 17,699,172 | 17,699 | 10,848,280 | - | - | 10,865,979 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Issuance and exercise of warrants
|
- | - | 1,432,667 | 1,433 | 1,018,167 | - | - | 1,019,600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Beneficial conversion feature on related party note
|
- | - | - | - | 884,851 | - | - | 884,851 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Conversion of Series B preferred to common stock
|
(17,500 | ) | (17 | ) | 17,500 | 17 | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cilion, Inc. merger
|
- | - | 20,000,000 | 20,000 | 12,491,200 | - | - | 12,511,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Conversion of related party note
|
- | - | 9,062,900 | 9,063 | 4,098,078 | - | - | 4,107,141 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Other comprehensive income
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | (74,531 | ) | (74,531 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net loss
|
- | - | - | - | - | (4,282,265 | ) | - | (4,282,265 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Balance at December 31, 2012
|
3,097,725 | $ | 3,098 | 180,281,094 | $ | 180,281 | $ | 75,457,760 | $ | (69,808,294 | ) | $ | (2,317,893 | ) | $ | 3,514,952 | ||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Nature of Activities and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Activities. These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Aemetis, Inc. (formerly AE Biofuels, Inc.), a Nevada corporation, and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, “Aemetis” or the “Company”):
|
●
|
Aemetis Americas, Inc., a Nevada corporation and its subsidiaries AE Biofuels, Inc., a Delaware corporation;
|
|
●
|
Biofuels Marketing, a Delaware corporation;
|
|
●
|
Aemetis International, Inc., a Nevada corporation and its subsidiary International Biofuels, Ltd., a Mauritius corporation and its subsidiary Universal Biofuels Private, Ltd., an India company;
|
|
●
|
Aemetis Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation;
|
|
●
|
Aemetis Biochemicals, Inc., a Nevada corporation;
|
|
●
|
Aemetis Biofuels, Inc., a Delaware corporation and its subsidiary Energy Enzymes, Inc., a Delaware corporation;
|
|
●
|
AE Advanced Fuels, Inc., a Delaware corporation and its subsidiaries Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., a Delaware corporation and Aemetis Facility Keyes, Inc., a Delaware corporation and its subsidiary EE Leasing Inc., a California corporation;
|
|
●
|
Aemetis Advanced Fuels, Inc., a Nevada corporation.
|
Aemetis, Inc. is an international advanced fuels and specialty chemical company focused on the production of renewable fuels and chemicals and the acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative technologies that are substitutes for traditional petroleum-based products. In 2010, the Company retrofitted an ethanol production facility in Keyes, California and in April 2011 began high volume production of ethanol and wet distiller’s grain (WDG). In May 2012 equipment for corn oil separation added the capability to produce and sell corn oil.
Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All material inter-company accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. To the extent there are material differences between these estimates and actual results, the Company’s consolidated financial statements will be affected.
Revenue recognition. The Company recognizes revenue when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably assured. The Company records revenues based upon the gross amounts billed to its customers.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold include those costs directly associated with the production of revenues, such as raw material consumed, factory overhead, and other direct production costs.
Shipping and Handling Costs. Shipping and handling costs are classified as a component of cost of goods sold in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Research and Development. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred, unless they have alternative future uses to the Company.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash balances at various financial institutions domestically and abroad. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures domestic cash accounts. The Company’s accounts at these institutions may at times exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.
Accounts Receivable. The Company sells ethanol, wet distillers grains, corn syrup and corn oil through third-party marketing arrangements generally without requiring collateral. The Company sells biodiesel, glycerin, and processed natural oils to a variety of customers and may require advanced payment based on the size and creditworthiness of the customer. Accounts receivables consist of product sales made to large creditworthy customers. Trade accounts receivable are presented at original invoice amount, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts.
The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for balances that appear to have specific collection issues. The collection process is based on the age of the invoice and requires attempted contacts with the customer at specified intervals. If, after a specified number of days, the Company has been unsuccessful in its collection efforts, a bad debt allowance is recorded for the balance in question. Delinquent accounts receivable are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts once uncollectibility has been determined. The factors considered in reaching this determination are the apparent financial condition of the customer and the Company’s success in contacting and negotiating with the customer. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate additional allowances may be required.
Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, using the first-in and first-out (FIFO) method, or market.
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 buildings, furniture, machinery, equipment, land, and the biodiesel plant in India. It is the Company policy to depreciate capital assets over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets. Intangible assets consist of intellectual property in the form of patents pending, in-process research and development and goodwill. Once the patents pending or in-process R&D have secured a definite life in the form of a patent or product, they will be carried at cost less accumulated amortization over their estimated useful life. Amortization commences upon the commercial application or generation of revenue and is amortized over the shorter of the economic life or patent protection period.
Company intangible assets such as goodwill have indefinite lives and as a result need to be evaluated at least annually, or more frequently, if impairment indicators arise. In the Company’s review, we determined the fair value of the reporting unit using market indicators and discounted cash flow modeling. The Company compares the fair value to the net book value of the reporting unit. An impairment loss would be recognized when the fair value is less than the related net book value, and an impairment expense would be recorded in the amount of the difference. Forecasts of future cash flows are judgments based on the Company’s experience and knowledge of the Company’s operations and the industries in which the Company operates. These forecasts could be significantly affected by future changes in market conditions, the economic environment, including inflation, and the purchasing decisions of the Company’s customers.
California Ethanol Producer Incentive Program – The Company is eligible to participate in the California Ethanol Producer Incentive Program (“CEPIP”). Under the CEPIP an eligible California ethanol facility may receive up to $3 million in cash per plant per year of operations through 2013 when current production corn crush spreads, measured as the difference between specified ethanol and corn index prices, drop below $0.55 per gallon. The California Energy Commission determines on an annual basis the funding allocated to the program. No funds were allocated to this program during the government’s 2012 fiscal year. For any month in which a payment is made by the CEPIP, the Company may be required to reimburse the funds within the subsequent five years from each payment date, if the corn crush spreads exceed $1.00 per gallon. Since these funds are provided to subsidize current production costs and encourage eligible facilities to either continue production or start up production in low margin environments, the Company records the proceeds, if any, as a credit to cost of goods sold. The Company will assess the likelihood of reimbursement in future periods as corn crush spreads approach $1.00 per gallon. If it becomes likely that amounts may be reimbursable by the Company, the Company will accrue a liability for such payment and recognize the costs as an increase in cost of goods sold. With respect to CEPIP payments received and applied as reductions to cost of goods sold, the Company recorded $0 and $1,803,380 for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. To date, the Company has not been required to reimburse any amounts.
Warrant liability: The Company adopted guidance related to distinguishing liabilities from equity for certain warrants which contain a conditional obligation to repurchase feature. During the year ending December 31, 2012, the Company granted 1,816,000 warrants with a conditional obligation to repurchase feature that require liability treatment. As a result, a long-term warrant liability was recorded to recognize the fair value of the warrants upon the issuance of each warrant. The Company estimates the fair value of these warrants using the Black-Scholes valuation pricing model with the assumptions as follows: The risk-free interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the warrant is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve. The expected life of the warrants is based upon the contractual life of the warrants. Volatility is estimated based on an average of the historical volatilities.
The Company computes the fair value of the warrant liability at each reporting period and the change in the fair value is recorded through earnings. The key component in the value of the warrant liability is the Company's stock price, which is subject to significant fluctuation and is not under the Company's control. The resulting effect on the Company's net loss is therefore subject to significant fluctuation and will continue to be so until the warrants are exercised, amended or expire. Assuming all other fair value inputs remain constant, the Company will record non-cash expense when the stock price increases and non-cash income when the stock price decreases.
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Income Taxes. The Company recognizes income taxes in accordance with ASC 740 Income Taxes 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.
ASC 740 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, 2012 and 2011, 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.
We are 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.
Long - Lived Assets. The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets with finite lives in accordance with ASC Subtopic 360-10-35 Property Plant and Equipment –Subsequent Measurements, 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 estimated fair value.
Basic and Diluted 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. 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 years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the diluted net loss per share computation, as their effect would be anti-dilutive.
The following table shows the number of potential dilutive shares excluded from the diluted net loss per share calculation as of December 31, 2012, and 2011:
|
December 31, 2012
|
December 31, 2011
|
|||||||
|
Aemetis Series B preferred
|
3,097,725 | 3,115,225 | ||||||
|
Aemetis Series B warrants
|
- | 392,479 | ||||||
|
Aemetis Common stock options and warrants
|
10,309,257 | 8,232,292 | ||||||
|
Convertible interest & fees on related party note
|
- | 457,143 | ||||||
|
Convertible promissory note
|
178,495 | - | ||||||
|
Total weighted average number of potentially dilutive shares excluded from the basic and diluted net income/(loss) per share calculation
|
13,585,477 | 12,197,139 | ||||||
Comprehensive Income. ASC 220 Comprehensive Income 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 and accumulated other comprehensive income consists solely of cumulative currency translation adjustments resulting from the translation of the financial statements of its foreign subsidiary. The investment in this subsidiary is considered indefinitely invested overseas, and as a result, deferred income taxes are not recorded related to the currency translation adjustments.
Foreign Currency Translation/Transactions. Assets and liabilities of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiary that operates 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.
Operating Segments. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.
Aemetis recognized three reportable geographic segments: “India”, “North America” and “Other.”
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●
|
The “India” operating segment encompasses the Company’s 50 million gallon per year nameplate capacity biodiesel plant in Kakinada, India, the administrative offices in Hyderabad, India, and the holding companies in Nevada and Mauritius.
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|
●
|
The “North America” operating segment includes the Company’s 55 million gallons per year nameplate capacity ethanol plant in Keyes, California and the research facilities in College Park, Maryland.
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●
|
The “Other” segment encompasses the Company’s costs associated with new market development, company-wide fund raising, formation, executive compensation and other corporate expenses.
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Fair Value of Financial Instruments. The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, other current liabilities, mandatorily redeemable Series B preferred stock, warrant liability and debt. The fair value of current financial instruments was estimated to approximate carrying value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The warrant liability fair value was estimated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model at the end of each reporting period. The Company’s debt was valued using inputs from independent consultants evaluating external market inputs and internal financings to determine appropriate discount rates to determine fair value.
The carrying amount of debt obligations with TEC and the seller note payable at December 31, 2012 of $56.2 million had an estimated fair value of approximately $59.2 million based on estimated interest rates for comparable debt. It was not practicable to determine the fair market value of the Company’s remaining debt obligations due to the lack of availability of comparable credit facilities and related party nature of the financial arrangements.
Share-Based Compensation. The Company recognizes share based compensation in accordance with ASC 718 Stock Compensation requiring the Company to recognize expense related to the estimate fair value of the Company’s share-based compensation awards at the time the awards are granted adjusted to reflect only those shares that are expected to vest. To estimate the discount for lack of marketability on restricted stock issued, the Company uses the Black-Scholes model for pricing call options, which assists in deriving the implied price of put options using the put-call parity principle. The price of the put option divided by the market price quoted on the OTC markets exchange implies the discount for lack of marketability (DLOM) in valuing issued shares to consultants, debt holders, employees or affiliated investors.
Commitments and Contingencies. The Company records and/or discloses commitments and contingencies in accordance with ASC 450 Contingencies. ASC 450 applies to an existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as to possible loss that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur.
Business Combinations. The Company applies the acquisition method of accounting to account for business combinations. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the fair values at the date of exchange of the assets given, liabilities incurred, and equity instruments issued. Identifiable assets, liabilities, and contingent liabilities acquired or assumed are measured separately at their fair value as of the acquisition date. The excess of the cost of the acquisition over our interest in the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If our interest in the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired in a business combination exceeds the cost of the acquisition, a gain is recognized in earnings on the acquisition date. The Company will adjust the preliminary purchase price allocation, as necessary, after the acquisition closing date through the end of the measurement period (up to one year) as the valuations for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are finalized.
Convertible Instruments. The Company evaluates the impacts of convertible instruments based on the underlying conversion features. Convertible Instruments are evaluated for treatment as derivatives that could be bifurcated and recorded separately. Any beneficial conversion feature is recorded based on the intrinsic value difference at the commitment date.
Modification Accounting. The Company evaluates amendments to its debt in accordance with ASC 540-50 Debt – Modification and Extinguishments for modification and extinguishment accounting. This evaluation included comparing the net present value of cash flows of the new debt to the old debt to determine if changes greater than 10 percent occurred. In instances, where the net present value of future cash flows changed more than 10 percent, the Company applies extinguishment accounting and determines the fair value of its debt based on factors available to the Company.
Sequencing Policy. In the event partial reclassification of contracts subject to ASC 815-40-25 is necessary, due to the Company’s inability to demonstrate it has sufficient authorized shares, shares will be allocated on the basis of maturity dates of potentially dilutive instruments with the latest maturity date receiving first allocation of shares. If a reclassification of an instrument were required, it would result in the earliest maturity instrument being reclassified first.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements.
Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted the third phase of amended guidance in ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. The purpose of the amendment is to achieve common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements by improving comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP and those prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS. The amended guidance clarifies the application of existing fair value measurement requirements and requires additional disclosure for Level 3 measurements regarding the sensitivity of fair value to changes in unobservable inputs and any interrelationships between those inputs. The Company has additional disclosure requirements associated with recurring Level 3 measurements for warrant liability accounting and fair value of debt instruments.
Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income. This accounting standards update, which helps to facilitate the convergence of GAAP and IFRS, is aimed at increasing the prominence of other comprehensive income in the financial statement by eliminating the option to present other comprehensive income in the statement of stockholders’ equity, and requiring comprehensive income to be reported in either a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements reporting net income and other comprehensive income. This amended guidance will be implemented retroactively. The Company has determined that the changes to the accounting standards will not materially affect the presentation of consolidated financial statements.
Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted the amended guidance in ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. The amended guidance permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. The Company has determined that the changes to the accounting standards will not impact the Company’s disclosure or reporting requirements.
2. Ability to Continue as a Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the 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 and currently has a working capital 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, including the ability to raise a significant amount of capital for operating expenses, capital purchases, current liabilities and debt service. The Company has been reliant on their senior secured lender to provide additional funding requirements when cash flows do not support operating expenses and the payment requirements on the Company’s debt. Although the current agreements in place with this lender do not require any payments or covenant requirements through May 2013, the continuation of the Company depends on management being able to maintain this relationship with the lender or find other financing options to provide cash as the Company expands its technologies. Management’s plans to continue to operate the Company include:
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●
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Working with the Company’s senior lender, Third Eye Capital, to restructure or provide additional financing as well as explore other financing arrangements including working with Advanced BioEnergy LP to attract investors for the remaining $35 million of notes available under the program, or through the issuance of additional debt or equity.
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●
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Restarting the Keyes ethanol plant and using milo, a less expensive feedstock than corn, for a portion of the raw material inputs.
|
|
●
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Restructuring the State Bank of India note payable to allow for additional working capital to take advantage of the improved biodiesel margins from reductions in the diesel subsidies from the Indian government and higher volumes of international shipments.
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|
·
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Continuing to receive support from major shareholders and members of board of directors in providing cash financing.
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The Company has produced negative gross profit during 2012, has less than one month of operating cash as of April 2013, has incurred cumulative losses since inception and has negative working capital (current assets less current liabilities) of $50,989,754. The Company has raised approximately $31.8 million to date through the sale of preferred stock and approximately $80 million through debt facilities. The Company will have to raise significantly more capital and debt to complete its business plan and continue as a going concern. The Company has one biodiesel production facility in operation that began selling biodiesel into the domestic Indian market in November 2008 and one ethanol production facility currently at idle. Although the biodiesel plant provides some cash flow to the Company it will likely be insufficient to allow for the completion of our business plan in fiscal 2013 until we are able to restart the facility in Keyes, California and attain cash from operations. The Company plans on beginning grinding milo and or corn depending on availability and attractiveness of margins toward the later part of April 2014.
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 enough capital it may be forced to sell all or a portion of its existing biodiesel facility or other assets at a discount to market value and may incur additional impairment related to these assets to generate cash to continue the Company’s business plan or possibly discontinue operations. Until such additional capital is raised, the Company is dependent on financing from related parties such as Third Eye Capital and Laird Cagan. The Company has also arranged extended terms with its trade creditors. The Company’s goal is to raise additional funds needed to construct and operate next generation ethanol and biodiesel facilities through stock offerings and debt financings. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available on terms satisfactory to the Company. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments to the classification or carrying values of our assets or liabilities that may result should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
3. Inventory
Inventory consists of the following:
|
As of December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
|
Raw materials
|
$ | 2,077,779 | $ | 628,366 | ||||
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Work-in-progress
|
1,672,957 | 2,056,771 | ||||||
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Finished goods
|
805,044 | 1,296,860 | ||||||
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Total inventory
|
$ | 4,555,780 | $ | 3,981,997 | ||||
As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company has recognized a lower of cost or market reserve of $104,894 and $223,069 respectively, related to inventory.
4. Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|||||||
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
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Land
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$ | 2,837,780 | $ | 667,008 | ||||
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Buildings
|
83,004,928 | 10,429,402 | ||||||
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Furniture and fixtures
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376,333 | 152,373 | ||||||
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Machinery and equipment
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2,615,140 | 1,025,105 | ||||||
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Leasehold/Tenant Improvements
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- | 2,800,339 | ||||||
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Construction in progress
|
82,627 | 3,186,551 | ||||||
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Total gross property, plant & equipment
|
88,916,808 | 18,260,778 | ||||||
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Less accumulated depreciation
|
(5,023,336 | ) | (2,729,873 | ) | ||||
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Total net property, plant & equipment
|
$ | 83,893,472 | $ | 15,530,905 | ||||
The Company recorded depreciation for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 of $ 3,041,783 and $1,141,007, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, construction in progress related to the Company’s Kakinada, India biodiesel pre-treatment and glycerin units. As of December 31, 2011, leasehold improvements/tenant improvements related to the Keyes, California ethanol plant. Upon acquisition of the underlying asset on July 7, 2012, the leasehold improvements were valued and reclassified as a component of the purchase price allocation and eliminated as part of the Cilion merger accounting entries.
Management is required to evaluate these long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Based on the evaluation, management determined no assets required impairment as of December 31, 2012 and 2011.
5. Intangible Assets and Goodwill
Intangible assets consist of goodwill, patents, and in-process research and development. In July 2011 the Company acquired Zymetis, Inc., a biochemical research and development firm, with granted patents valued at $912,600, patents pending valued at $797,400 and licensed patents at $90,000 at the time of acquisition. Goodwill in the amount of $967,994 resulted from the excess in consideration paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired from the Zymetis acquisition. Following ASC 350-20-35 guidance, goodwill and indefinite lived intangibles were tested for impairment at the Aemetis Technologies, Inc. reporting unit level and no impairment resulted from the analysis. As of December 31, 2012, all pending and granted patents were in-process R&D and accordingly, no amortization expense has been recognized.
6. Notes Payable
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December 31, 2012
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December 31, 2011
|
|||||||
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Third Eye Capital senior secured term notes
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$ | — | $ | 18,126,611 | ||||
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Third Eye Capital term notes
|
6,679,466 | — | ||||||
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Third Eye Capital revolving credit facility
|
23,378,535 | — | ||||||
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Third Eye Capital revenue participation term notes
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7,406,224 | — | ||||||
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Third Eye Capital acquisition term notes
|
14,768,846 | — | ||||||
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Cilion shareholder Seller note payable
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4,011,430 | — | ||||||
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State Bank of India secured term loan
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5,756,752 | 5,161,191 | ||||||
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Revolving line of credit (related party)
|
1,540,074 | 4,291,913 | ||||||
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Subordinated notes
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3,338,114 | — | ||||||
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EB-5 long term promissory notes
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1,006,863 | — | ||||||
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Unsecured working capital loans and short-term notes
|
2,159,291 | 2,066,720 | ||||||
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Total debt
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70,045,595 | 29,646,435 | ||||||
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Less current portion of long-term debt
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34,523,591 | 9,653,499 | ||||||
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Total long term debt
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$ | 35,522,004 | $ | 19,992,936 | ||||
Third Eye Capital. On July 6, 2012, Aemetis, Inc. and Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. (AAFK), entered into an Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement with Third Eye Capital Corporation, as agent for the Note holders. Third Eye Capital extended credit in the form of (i) senior secured revolving loans in an aggregate principal amount of $18 million (“Revolving Credit Facility”); (ii) senior secured term loans in the principal amount of $10 million to convert the Revenue Participation agreement to a Note; and (iii) senior secured term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $15 million (“Acquisition Term Note”) used to fund the cash portion of the acquisition of Cilion, Inc. After this financing transaction, Third Eye Capital obtained enough equity ownership in the Company to be considered a related party.
In connection with the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, the Company evaluated the credit agreement for modification and extinguishment accounting. Based on the terms of the agreement, the Company accounted for the amendment under extinguishment accounting. To determine the fair value of the outstanding debt obligations, a 20% effective interest rate was applied to discount cash flows to their present value. In aggregate $9.1 million in extinguishment losses resulted from fair valuing the Notes and expensing fees charged as part of the agreement.
On October 18, 2012, Third Eye Capital agreed to (i) extend the maturity date of the Term Notes to July 6, 2014; (ii) to increase the amount of the Revolving Loan Facility by $6 million, to a total of $24 million; (iii) to modify the redemption waterfall so that any payments would be applied first to the increase in the Revolving notes; (iv) granted waivers to the Borrowers’ obligation to pay or comply, and any event of default which has occurred or may occur as a result of such failures of the Borrowers to pay or comply with certain financial covenants and principal payments, including financial covenants for the quarter ended September 30 and December 31, 2012; and (v) agreed to defer interest payments until the earlier of certain events described in the Limited Waiver or February 1, 2013. In consideration for the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, the Borrowers, among other things, agreed to pay the Lenders a waiver fee in the amount of $4 million; and (ii) cash in the amount of $28,377 for certain unreimbursed costs. The $6 million increase in the Revolving Credit Facility may not be drawn upon due to the additional credit being set aside for fee payments. An immediate $1 million draw from the Revolving Credit Facility paid the first installment of the Amendment No. 1 $4 million waiver fee. The remaining waiver fees are due in $1 million increments on January 1, 2013, April 1, 2013 and July 1, 2013 and have been included in the outstanding balance on the Revolving Credit Facility.
On February 27, 2013, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to (i) provide a Notional Paydown by pledging addition collateral on the Revolving Portion of the Revolving Notes in the amount of $3,100,000, such Notional Paydown was replaced in the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 3 with an increase in the Revolver Note and the collateral substitution of a pledge of 6,231,159 shares of stock held by McAfee Capital LLC (ii) grant waivers to the Borrowers’ obligation to pay or comply, including financial and production covenants for the quarter ended March 31 and June 30, 2013; (iii) extend the date of the next interest payment until the earlier of certain events described in the Limited Waiver or May 1, 2013, and (iv) allow the Borrowers to pay the Partial Amendment Fee of $1,000,000 due January 1, 2013 in shares of the Company’s common stock. In consideration for the amendment, the Company agreed to: (i) pay a waiver fee comprised of $1,500,000 and (ii) issue to 750,000 common shares of the Company. In addition, the interest rate on all outstanding indebtedness with Third Eye Capital increases 5% until certain conditions are met.
On April 15, 2013, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 3 to waive the following covenants of the Borrower in their entirety:(i) Borrowers’ obligation to obtain an NASDAQ listing by April 1, 2013; (ii) Borrower’s obligation to cause the Chairman to enter into certain agreements; and (iii) the Company’s obligation to deliver an auditor opinion as of and for the period ended December 31, 2012 without a going concern qualification. In addition, the Administrative Agent agreed to (i) extend the completion date of the conversion of the Keyes Plant to accommodate an 80:20 corn-to-milo ratio to May 31, 2013, (ii) amend the redemption provision in the event of an equity offering of Capital Stock up to $7,000,000, and (iii) increase the balance of the Revolving Credit Facility by an amount equal to the February 2013 $3.1 million advance and the $1.5 million waiver fee. In consideration for the Limited Waiver and Amendment, the Company agreed to: (i) pay a waiver fee comprised of $500,000 (which is added to the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Notes) and (ii) require McAfee Capital, LLC to pledge an additional 6,231,159 Common Shares of the Parent to Agent, together with the delivery of stock certificates for such shares and stock powers. The $3.1 million advance, together with all accumulated interest, shall be repaid in full no later than September 30, 2013.
On April 15, 2013, Third Eye Capital also arranged a Special Bridge Advance providing additional borrowings of $2,000,000 with the same terms as the existing Revolving Credit Facility, subject to customary closing conditions. In consideration for the Special Bridge Advance, the Company agreed to (i) pay the Lender a placement fee of $300,000 and (ii) issue the Lender 1,000,000 shares of common stock of Aemetis, Inc. The Special Bridge Advance is secured by a blanket lien on the assets of Eric A. McAfee, the Company’s CEO and Chairman of the Board.
Details about each Third Eye Capital financing facility follows:
|
A.
|
Third Eye Capital Senior Secured Term Notes. Aemetis Inc. redeemed its Senior Secured Note on July 6, 2012 with a $7,336,671 draw on the Third Eye Capital Revolving Credit Facility. For the twelve months ending December 31, 2012, the Company issued waiver and extension fee shares of 709,172, with a fair value at the time of issuance of $401,000, in association with this financing arrangement. As of December 31, 2011, senior secured term notes from Aemetis, Inc., Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes term notes and revenue participation agreement had an outstanding balances of $18,126,661, but were refinanced as part of the July 6, 2012 financing arrangements described in B., C., and D. following.
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|
B.
|
Third Eye Capital Existing Term Notes. As of December 31, 2012 Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes had $6,679,466 in principal and interest outstanding net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $481,342. As part of No. 1, the maturity of the Note changed to July 6, 2014. Interest on the term notes accrues at 14% on the unpaid principal balance and is payable monthly in arrears. Subsequent to year end, Amendment No. 2 deferred the payments of principal and interest until May 2013, subject to acceleration upon certain conditions. In May 2013 monthly principal payments will equal the greater of $200,000, $0.05 per gallon produced from the Keyes ethanol plant, or 50% of free cash flow. Consideration for these subsequent changes have been reflected in the following Scheduled Debt Repayment schedule..
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|
|
The Term notes contain various covenants, including but not limited to, minimum free cash flow and production requirements and restrictions on capital expenditures. Throughout the twelve months ending December 31, 2012, the Company violated certain covenants, which have been waived by the note holders in exchange for the issuance of Company common stock. As a result, during twelve months ended December 31, 2012, the Company issued 1,990,000 shares of common stock with a fair value at time of issuance of $1,080,000 and, in addition, paid or accrued cash in the amount of $588,000 as waiver or extension fees to the note holders on the Term Note.
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|
C.
|
Third Eye Capital Revolving Credit Facility. On July 6, 2012 Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes entered into a Revolving Credit Facility with a commitment of $18 million. On October 16, 2012, Amendment No. 1 increased the amount of the Revolving Loan Facility by $6 million, to a total of $24 million. Interest on the credit facility accrues at the prime rate plus 13.75% or 17% as of December 31, 2012. Interest is payable monthly in arrears. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on July 6, 2013 and may be extended with the payment of extension fees. As of December 31, 2012 Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes had $23,378,535 in principal and interest outstanding on the credit facility, net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $1,780,628 with available credit set aside for the purpose of paying Third Eye Capital fees. Subsequent to year end, on February 27, 2013, Amendment No. 2 provided an additional $3.1 million in additional borrowings based on anticipated collateralized arrangements and waived certain covenants. See note 17 Subsequent Events.
|
|
D.
|
Third Eye Capital Revenue Participation Term Notes. On July 6, 2012 Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes entered into a $10 million Revenue Participation Note and issued 15 million shares of Company common stock with a fair value at the time of issuance of $9,383,000 in exchange for the defeasance of the revenue participation arrangement under the Existing Term Notes agreement. The Revenue Participation Note bears interest at 5% per annum. The Revenue Participation Note matures on July 6, 2014. As of December 31, 2012 Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes had $7,406,224 in principal and interest outstanding net of unamortized fair value discount of $2,763,994.
|
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
E.
|
Third Eye Capital Acquisition Term Notes. On July 6, 2012 Aemetis Facility Keyes loaned $15 million to fund the cash portion of the merger and acquisition with Cilion, Inc. Interest on the Acquisition Term note accrues at the prime rate plus 10.75%, or 14% as of December 31, 2012, and matures on July 6, 2014. As of December 31, 2012 Aemetis Facility Keyes had $14,768,846 in principal and interest outstanding net of unamortized fair value discount of $2,446,082.
|
The Third Eye Capital notes are secured by first-lien deeds of trust on all real and personal property, and assignment of proceeds from all government grants and guarantees from Aemetis, Inc. The Term Note, Acquisition Term Note, Revenue Participation Term Note, and Revolving Credit Facility contain cross-collateral and cross-default provisions. McAfee Capital, solely owned by Eric McAfee, provided a guaranty of payment and performance secured by Company shares owned by the Guarantor. In addition, Eric McAfee provided a $10 million personal guarantee plus reimbursement to the Note holders any interest and expenses incurred enforcing the Guaranty. Subsequent to year end, on February 27, 2013, Amendment No. 2 stipulated an increase in Eric McAfee’s personal guarantee to $15 million, a 7.5 million Aemetis common stock pledge from Mr. McAfee personal assets, and an additional $8 million guaranty from McAfee Capital. See note 18 Subsequent Events.
Cilion shareholder Seller note payable. As part of the Cilion merger on July 6, 2012, Aemetis Facility Keyes provided $5 million in Seller note payable to Cilion shareholders as merger compensation subordinated behind the senior secured Third Eye Capital Notes. The liability bears interest at 3% per annum and is due and payable after the Third Eye Capital Notes and Revolving Credit Facilities have been paid in full. As of December 31, 2012, Aemetis Facility Keyes had $4,011,430 in principal and interest outstanding, net of unamortized debt discount of $1,061,721.State Bank of India secured term loan. On July 17, 2008, Universal Biofuels Private Limited (“UBPL”), the Company’s India operating subsidiary, entered into a six year secured term loan with the State Bank of India in the amount of approximately $6 million. The term loan matures in March 2014 and is secured by UBPL’s assets, consisting of the biodiesel plant and land in Kakinada.
In July 2008 the Company drew approximately $4.6 million against the secured term loan. The loan principal amount is repayable in 20 quarterly installments of approximately $270,000, using exchange rates corresponding to the date of payment, with the first installment due in June 2009 and the last installment payment due in March 2014. As of December 31, 2012, the 12% interest rate under this facility is subject to adjustment every two years, based on 0.25% above the Reserve Bank of India advance rate.
The principal payments scheduled for June 2009 through December 2012 were not made. The term loan provides for liquidating damages at a rate of 2% per annum for the period of default.
On October 7, 2009, UBPL received a demand notice from the State Bank of India. The notice informs UBPL that an event of default has occurred for failure to make an installment payment on the loan due in June 2009 and demands repayment of the entire outstanding indebtedness of 19.60 Crores (approximately $3.6 million) together with all accrued interest thereon and any applicable fees and expenses by October 10, 2009. As of December 31, 2012, UBPL was in default on interest and principal repayments, and all covenants, including asset coverage and debt service coverage ratios. Additional provisions of default include the bank having the unqualified right to disclose or publish the Company’s name and its director’s names as defaulter in any medium or media. At the bank’s option, it may also demand payment of the balance of the loan since the principal payments have been in default since June 2009. As a result the Company has classified the entire loan amount as current. State Bank of India has filed a legal case before the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), Hyderabad, for recovery of approximately $5 million against the company and also impleaded Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) to expedite the process of registration of Factory land for which counter reply is yet to be filed by APIIC. In the case that the Company is unable to prevail with its legal case, DRT may pass a Decree for recovery of due amount, which will impact operations of the Company including action up to seizing company property for recovery of their dues. As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the State Bank of India loan had accrued interest plus default interest of $2,188,693 and $1,485,614 less unamortized issuance discount of $4,966 and $14,902, respectively.
Revolving line of credit (related party). The Company has a subordinated Revolving Line of Credit Agreement (“RLOC”) with Laird Cagan and other related party investors for $5 million. As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 the RLOC had a principal, interest and fees balance of $1,540,074 and $4,291,913, respectively net of unamortized issuance discount costs from extension fees and beneficial conversion costs of $0 and $873,292, respectively. As of December 31, 2012 approximately $3.46 million of credit may be available through the RLOC dependent upon Mr. Cagan and his co-owner’s willingness to fund. On September 30, 2011 Mr. Cagan was given the right to convert future interest and fees on the Revolving Line of Credit into shares of Aemetis common stock at a conversion price based off the 22 trailing days average stock price prior to the conversion. Under the RLOC, as of December 31, 2012, none of the $1,540,074 outstanding balance had a conversion right at year end.
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
According to the original RLOC, only interest and fees were convertible to stock. Mr. Cagan approached the Board of Directors and provided the Company a notice of conversion under the RLOC, converting certain amounts of the outstanding interest and fees eligible for conversion to stock and a special request to convert outstanding principal. The Board of Directors accepted notice of conversion of $0.8 million of interest and fees and approved the special request to convert approximately $3.3 million in principal during the December 31, 2012 governance meeting. Mr. Cagan previously disclosed that the RLOC was owned by four note holders: Laird Cagan (27%); McAfee Capital, LLC (62%); Clyde Berg (6%) and Mougins Capital (5%). During the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, Mr. Cagan’s investment group received 9,062,900 and 29,056,356 common stock shares in exchange for reduction in the RLOC outstanding balance.
The Revolving Line of Credit bears interest at the rate of 10% per annum and matures on July 1, 2014, after a two-year extension effective July 1, 2012. A five percent extension fee in the amount of $262,919 was accrued as part of the July 2012 agreement. The July 2012 extension fee has the same conversion right as accumulated interest on the credit arrangement. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, principal, interest and fees in the amount of $4,107,141and $1,611,258, respectively, were converted to stock.
Subordinated Notes. On January 6 and January 9, 2012, Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. entered into $3 million in Note and Warrant Purchase Agreements with 5% annual interest rate with two accredited investors. An additional $600,000 and $800,000 in Notes were added to one of the existing accredited investor’s balance in May and December 2012, respectively. This same accredited investor received payments of $600,000 in principal and $3,288 in interest in July 2012. The Notes included 5-year warrants exercisable for 1,733,333 shares of Aemetis common stock. Interest is due at maturity. The Promissory Notes are guaranteed by Aemetis and are due and payable upon the earlier of (i) December 31, 2013; (ii) completion of an equity financing by AAFK or Aemetis in an amount of not less than $25 million; (iii) the completion of an Initial Public Offering by AAFK or Aemetis; or (iv) after the occurrence of an Event of Default, including failure to pay interest or principal when due and breaches of note covenants. Neither AAFK nor Aemetis may make any principal payments under the Promissory Notes until all loans made by Third Eye Capital to AAFK are paid in full. At December 31, 2012 the Company had $3,338,114 in principal and interest outstanding, net of unamortized issuance discount of $612,365 and $0, respectively.
On May 31, 2012, Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. (AAFK) entered into an additional $110,000 in 5 percent annual interest rate, Notes and Warrant Purchase Agreements with a related party, Laird Cagan. Mr. Cagan received one warrant for every three dollars of principal loaned or 36,667 warrants with 5-year exercise rights at $0.001 per share. The full amount of the $110,000 Note and accrued interest was paid in full on July 6, 2012.
Subsequent to year end, on January 14, 2013, Laird Cagan loaned $106,201 through a Promissory note maturing on April 30, 2013 with a 5 percent annualized interest rate and the right to exercise 53,101 warrants exercisable at $0.001 per share. On January 24, 2013, an additional $300,000 in David Lies Promissory Notes were issued with 150,000 warrants at $0.001 per share and 5 percent annual interest rate due April 30, 2013.
EB-5 long-term promissory notes. EB-5 is a US government program authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. §1153 (b)(5)(A)-(D); INA §203 (b)(5)(A)-(D)] designed to foster employment-based visa preference for immigrant investors to encourage the flow of capital into the U.S. economy and to promote employment of U.S. workers.
On March 4, 2011, and amended January 19, 2012, and July 24, 2012, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with Advanced BioEnergy, LP, a California limited Partnership authorized as a Regional Center to take EB-5 investments, for the issuance of up to 72 subordinated convertible promissory notes bearing interest at 3%, each note in the principal amount of $500,000 due and payable four years from the date of the note for a total aggregate principal amount of up to $36,000,000. The notes are convertible after three years at a conversion price of $3.00 per share.
Advanced BioEnergy, LP arranges investments with foreign investors, who each make investments in the Keyes plant project in investment increments of $500,000. The Company sold notes in the amount of $1,000,000 to the first two investors during the fourth quarter of 2012. As of December 31, 2012 $6,863 in accrued interest remained outstanding on the notes. The availability of the remaining $35,000,000 will be determined by the ability of Advanced BioEnergy, LP to attract additional qualified investors.
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Unsecured working capital loans. In November 2008, the Company entered into an operating agreement with Secunderabad Oils Limited (“Secunderabad”). Under this agreement Secunderabad agreed to provide the Company with working capital, on an as needed basis, to fund the purchase of feedstock and other raw materials for its Kakinada biodiesel facility. Working capital advances bear interest at the actual bank borrowing rate of Secunderabad of fifteen percent (15%). In return, the Company agreed to pay Secunderabad an amount equal to 30% of the plant’s monthly net operating profit. In the event that the Company’s biodiesel facility operates at a loss, Secunderabad owes the Company 30% of the losses. The agreement can be terminated by either party at any time without penalty.
Associated with the Working Capital Agreement with Secunderabad, during the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company made principal payments of approximately $2,383,481 and $7,287,063, respectively, and interest payments of approximately $174,241 and $124,856, respectively. Included as current short-term borrowings on the balance sheet at December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had $1,709,773 and $1,652,162, respectively, outstanding under this agreement.
Short-term notes. Aemetis Technologies, formerly Zymetis, Inc., carries certain debt obligations associated with a series of grants issued by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development to Zymetis prior to the merger. These grants were converted to promissory notes with interest upon the achievement of certain objectives.
Scheduled Debt Repayments
A significant amount of the current portion of debt is made up of $23.4 million in Third Eye Capital’s Revolving Credit facility, subject to an six month extension provision, and State Bank of India’s $5.8 million outstanding debt obligation, which is currently under discussion for restructured terms. Scheduled debt repayments for all loan obligations follow:
|
For the twelve months ending December 31,
|
||||
|
2013
|
$ | 36,480,170 | ||
|
2014
|
37,886,509 | |||
|
2015
|
3,823,151 | |||
|
2016
|
1,006,863 | |||
|
Total
|
$ | 79,196,693 | ||
|
Debt discount at 12/31/12
|
(9,151,098 | ) | ||
|
Carrying value of debt at 12/31/12
|
$ | 70,045,595 | ||
7. Operating Leases
As of December 31, 2012, the Company, through its subsidiaries, has non-cancelable future minimum operating lease payments for various office space locations. Future minimum operating lease payments are as follows:
|
For the twelve months ended December 31,
|
||||
|
2013
|
$
|
421,089
|
||
|
2014
|
366,749
|
|||
|
2015
|
154,737
|
|||
|
Total
|
$
|
942,575
|
||
In July 2009, the Company entered into a sublease agreement with Nevo Energy, Inc. (formerly known as Solargen Energy, Inc.) for approximately 3,000 square feet of leased space. For the years ending December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company invoiced Nevo Energy $35,696 and $86,291, respectively in rents due, but reserved all the payments due to Nevo Energy’s inability to pay. See Note 16 Related Party Transactions.
On December 1, 2009, the Company entered into a lease for a 55 million gallon nameplate ethanol facility located in Keyes, California for a term of 36 months at a monthly lease payment of $250,000. The Lease term and rental began upon substantial completion of the repair and retrofit of the plant on April 1, 2011, which was amended in April 2012 to a 60-month term ending March 2016. On July 6, 2012, Aemetis, Inc. acquired the Keyes, California ethanol plant. As a result, no additional lease obligations remain on the ethanol plant lease after the acquisition date.
For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company recognized rent expense of $2,170,824 and $3,314,712, respectively.
8. Stockholders’ Equity
The Company is authorized to issue up to 400,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value and 65,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value.
Convertible Preferred Stock
The following is a summary of the authorized, issued and outstanding convertible preferred stock:
|
Shares Issued and
|
||||||||||||
|
Authorized
|
Outstanding December 31,
|
|||||||||||
|
Shares
|
2012
|
2011
|
||||||||||
|
Series B preferred stock
|
7,235,565 | 3,097,725 | 3,115,225 | |||||||||
|
Undesignated
|
57,764,435 | — | — | |||||||||
|
|
65,000,000 | 3,097,725 | 3,115,225 | |||||||||
Our Articles of Incorporation authorize the Company’s board to issue up to 65,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value, in one or more classes or series within a class upon authority of the board without further stockholder approval.
Significant terms of the designated preferred stock are as follows:
Voting. Holders of the Company’s 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 Series B 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 of Series B preferred stock. 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 the Company’s shares of Series B preferred stock are entitled to receive non-cumulative dividends payable in preference and before 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 the Company’s 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.
Conversion. Holders of Series B preferred stock have the right, at their option at any time, to convert any shares into common stock. Each share of preferred stock will convert into one share of common stock, at the current 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 the Registration Statement covering the resale of the shares of common stock is issuable, then all outstanding Series B preferred stock shall be automatically converted into common stock at the then effective conversion rate.
Mandatorily Redeemable Series B preferred stock. In connection with the election of dissenters’ rights by the Cordillera Fund, L.P., at December 31, 2008 the Company reclassified 583,334 shares with an original purchase price of $1,750,002 out of shareholders’ equity to a liability called “mandatorily redeemable Series B preferred stock” and accordingly reduced stockholders’ equity by the same amount to reflect the Company’s obligations with respect to this matter. The obligation accrues interest at the rate of 5.25% per year. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had accrued an outstanding obligation of $2,437,649 and $2,320,164, respectively. Full cash payment to the Cordillera Fund is past due. The Company expects to pay this obligation upon availability of funds after paying senior secured obligations.
9. Outstanding Warrants
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, the Company granted 1,816,000 common stock warrants, which had the potential to enhance returns for accredited investors who entered into additional Notes and Warrant Purchase Agreements. The accredited investors received 5-year warrants exercisable at $0.001 per share.
For the Twelve months ended December 31, 2012, Note investors exercised 1,432,667 warrant shares at a weighted average exercise price of $0.001 per share.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, 392,479 Series B Preferred stock warrants and 5,000 common stock warrants expired, both classes of warrant shares having a weighted average exercise price of $3.00 per share.
A summary of historical warrant activity for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 follows:
|
Preferred Stock
|
||||||||||||
|
Warrants Outstanding
& Exercisable
|
Weighted - Average Exercise Price
|
Average Remaining Term in Years
|
||||||||||
|
Outstanding December 31, 2010
|
443,853 | 3.00 | 1.18 | |||||||||
|
Expired
|
(51,374 | ) | 3.00 | - | ||||||||
|
Outstanding December 31, 2011
|
392,479 | 3.00 | 0.25 | |||||||||
|
Expired
|
(392,479 | ) | 3.00 | - | ||||||||
|
Outstanding December 31, 2012
|
- | $ | - | - | ||||||||
|
Common Stock
|
||||||||||||
|
Warrants Outstanding
& Exercisable
|
Weighted - Average Exercise Price
|
Average Remaining Term in Years
|
||||||||||
|
Outstanding December 31, 2010
|
1,428,590 | 0.35 | 4.08 | |||||||||
|
Expired
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
|
Outstanding December 31, 2011
|
1,428,590 | 0.35 | 3.08 | |||||||||
|
Granted
|
1,816,000 | 0.001 | - | |||||||||
|
Exercised
|
(1,432,667 | ) | 0.001 | - | ||||||||
|
Expired
|
(5,000 | ) | 3.00 | - | ||||||||
|
Outstanding December 31, 2012
|
1,806,923 | $ | 0.27 | 2.67 | ||||||||
10. Fair Value of Warrants
The following tables summarize the assumptions used in computing the fair value of liability warrants subject to fair value accounting at the date of issue during the year ended December 31, 2012:
|
Expected dividend yield
|
0% | |||
|
Risk-free interest rate
|
0.67% - 0.86% | |||
|
Expected volatility
|
79.08% - 119.03% | |||
|
Expected Life (years)
|
5.0 | |||
|
Exercise price
|
$ | 0.001 | ||
|
Company stock price
|
$ | 0.40 - $0.73 |
The following tables summarize the assumptions used in computing the fair value of liability warrants subject to fair value accounting at December 31, 2012:
|
Expected dividend yield
|
0% | |||
|
Risk-free interest rate
|
0.72% | |||
|
Expected volatility
|
79.08% | |||
|
Expected Life (years)
|
4.5-5.0 | |||
|
Exercise price
|
$ | 0.001 | ||
|
Company stock price
|
$ | 0.70 |
11. Fair Value Measurements
The Company complies with the fair value measurements and disclosures standard which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosure for those assets and liabilities carried on the balance sheet on a fair value basis.
The Company's balance sheet contains derivative financial instruments that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value measurements and disclosures require that assets and liabilities carried at fair value be classified and disclosed according to the process for determining fair value. There are three levels of determining fair value.
Level 1 uses quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 uses observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.
Level 3 uses unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.
A description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy, is set forth below.
Warrant liability: The warrant liability consists of stock warrants issued by the Company that contain conditional obligation to repurchase feature. In accordance with accounting for warrants as liabilities, the Company calculated the fair value of warrants under Level 3 using the assumptions described in “Fair Value of Warrants”. Realized and unrealized gains and losses related to the change in fair value of the warrant liability are included in Other income (expense) on the Statement of Operations.
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following table summarizes financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2012, segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value:
|
Total
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3
|
|||||||||||||
|
Warrant liability
|
$ | 267,950 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 267,950 | ||||||||
The following table reflects the activity for liabilities measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012:
|
Balance as of December 31, 2011
|
$ | - | ||
|
Issuances of warrant liabilities
|
1,189,095 | |||
|
Exercise of warrant liabilities
|
(1,018,167 | ) | ||
|
Realized and unrealized loss
|
||||
|
related to change in fair value
|
97,022 | |||
|
Balance as of December 31, 2012
|
$ | 267,950 |
Certain financial assets and financial liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment). Financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis were not significant at December 31, 2012.
12. Stock-Based Compensation
Common Stock Reserved for Issuance
Aemetis authorized the issuance of 9,600,434 shares under its 2006 and 2007 Plans and 977,500 outside the plans, which includes both incentive and non-statutory stock options. These options generally expire five years from the date of grant and are exercisable at any time after the date of the grant, subject to vesting.
The following is a summary of options granted under the employee stock plans:
|
Shares Available
|
Number of
|
Weighted-Average
|
||||||||||
|
for Grant
|
Shares Outstanding
|
Exercise Price
|
||||||||||
|
Balance as of December 31, 2010
|
10,167 | 5,780,977 | $ | 1.02 | ||||||||
|
Authorized
|
959,290 | — | — | |||||||||
|
Merger with Zymetis, Inc. Plan
|
323,817 | 1,421,183 | 0.41 | |||||||||
|
Exercised
|
— | (35,585 | ) | 0.06 | ||||||||
|
Forfeited/Expired
|
362,874 | (362,874 | ) | 0.20 | ||||||||
|
Balance as of December 31, 2011
|
1,656,148 | 6,803,701 | 0.94 | |||||||||
|
Authorized
|
1,000,000 | — | — | |||||||||
|
Granted
|
(2,555,000 | ) | 2,555,000 | 0.55 | ||||||||
|
Exercised
|
— | (321,965 | ) | 0.23 | ||||||||
|
Forfeited/Expired
|
1,511,902 | (1,511,902 | ) | 2.17 | ||||||||
|
Balance as of December 31, 2012
|
1,611,134 | 7,524,834 | $ | 0.59 | ||||||||
During 2012 the net 321,965 shares of common stock exercised from the Company’s stock plans had an intrinsic value of $155,292 at time of exercise. The weighted average strike price for the shares exercised was $0.23 per share and the weighted average closing market price at time of exercise was $0.72. The exercised shares hold a restrictive legend.
71
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
During 2011 the 35,585 shares of common stock exercised from the Company’s stock plans had an intrinsic value of $24,041 at time of exercise. The weighted average strike price for the shares exercised was $0.06 per share and the weighted average closing market price at time of exercise was $0.74. The exercised shares hold a restrictive legend.
The Company recorded an expense for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 in the amount of $49,121 and $24,533, respectively, which reflects periodic fair value re-measurement of outstanding consultant options under ASC 505-50-30 Equity Based Payments to Non Employees. The valuation using the Black-Scholes-Merton model is based upon the current market value of the Company’s 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 ASC 505-50-30. Vested and unvested options outstanding under the Aemetis Stock Option Plans as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 follow:
|
Number
of Shares
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
Remaining Contractual Term (In Years)
|
Average Intrinsic Value1
|
|||||||||||||
|
2012
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Vested
|
5,061,850 | $ | 0.63 | 2.21 | $ | 2,081,910 | ||||||||||
|
Unvested
|
2,462,984 | 0.52 | 4.69 | 435,197 | ||||||||||||
|
Total
|
7,524,834 | $ | 0.59 | 3.02 | $ | 2,517,107 | ||||||||||
|
2011
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Vested
|
5,960,116 | $ | 1.05 | 2.26 | $ | 1,986,222 | ||||||||||
|
Unvested
|
843,585 | 0.17 | 3.16 | 445,606 | ||||||||||||
|
Total
|
6,803,701 | $ | 0.94 | 2.37 | $ | 2,431,828 | ||||||||||
———————
(1) Intrinsic value calculation based on the $0.70 closing price of Aemetis stock on December 31, 2012 and 2011, as reported on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board.
Valuation and Expense Information. The weighted-average fair value calculations for options granted within the period are based on the following weighted average assumptions:
|
Fiscal Year Ended December 31
|
||||||||
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
|
Dividend-yield
|
0
|
%
|
0
|
%
|
||||
|
Risk-free interest rate
|
0.28-0.38
|
%
|
0.20-1.80
|
%
|
||||
|
Expected volatility
|
79.08
|
%
|
90.38-103.22
|
%
|
||||
|
Expected life (years)
|
2.0-3.0
|
0.2-4.0
|
||||||
|
Weighted average fair value per share of common stock
|
$
|
0.26
|
$
|
0.10
|
||||
The Company incurred non-cash stock compensation expense of $258,593 and $152,742 in fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively, for options granted to employees and consultants. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had $30,631 and $38,690 respectively, of total unrecognized compensation expenses that the Company will amortize over the next three years.
Non-Plan Stock Options
In November 2012 the Company issued 977,500 stock options to board members and consultants outside of any Company stock option plan. None of the non-plan options have been exercised.
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Outside Company Stock Plan
See following for summary of options granted outside the Company stock plans:
|
Number of Shares
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
Remaining Contractual Term (In Years)
|
Average Intrinsic Value2
|
|||||||||||||
|
2012
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Vested
|
402,500 | $ | 0.55 | 4.85 | $ | 60,375 | ||||||||||
|
Unvested
|
575,000 | 0.55 | 4.85 | 86,250 | ||||||||||||
|
Total
|
977,500 | $ | 0.55 | 4.85 | $ | 146,625 | ||||||||||
———————
(2) Intrinsic value based on the $0.70 closing price of Aemetis stock on December 31, 2012, as reported on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board.
13. Acquisitions, Divestitures and Material Agreements
Technology Company Acquisition. On July 1, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of Zymetis, Inc., a Delaware corporation in exchange for 6,673,557 shares of Aemetis common stock. The acquisition was made as a strategic purchase related to the research and development work that Zymetis was performing. The purchase price was determined based on an arms-length negotiated value, which resulted in the recognition of goodwill. See following for Zymetis merger Purchase Price Allocation and Goodwill Reconciliation:
|
2011
|
||||
|
Issuance of Stock as merger consideration
|
$ | 1,801,860 | ||
|
Fair Value of stock options attributable to the pre-combination service
|
88,275 | |||
|
Consideration paid
|
$ | 1,890,135 | ||
|
Working capital assets
|
$ | 11,201 | ||
|
Property, Plant & Equipment
|
65,493 | |||
|
Working capital liabilities
|
(509,078 | ) | ||
|
Debt assumed
|
(346,995 | ) | ||
|
Deferred Taxes
|
(98,479 | ) | ||
|
Intangibles
|
1,800,000 | |||
| Net Assets Acquired | $ | 922,141 | ||
|
Goodwill
|
$ | 967,994 | ||
Post-merger the Zymetis subsidiary was renamed Aemetis Technologies, Inc. and continued its R&D development work. The proforma adjustments for this acquisition are not material. For the year ending December 31, 2011, Aemetis Technologies generated $1,750 in consulting income and $174,488 in losses.
Working Capital Arrangement. In March 2011, we entered into a Corn Procurement and Working Capital Agreement with J.D. Heiskell. Pursuant to the agreement we agreed to procure whole yellow corn from J.D. Heiskell. We have the ability to obtain corn from other sources subject to certain conditions, however, in 2012, all of our corn requirements were purchased from Heiskell. Title to the corn and risk of loss passes to us when the corn is deposited in the weigh bin. The initial term of the Agreement expired on December 31, 2012 and is automatically renewed for additional one-year terms, currently to December 31, 2013. Heiskell further agrees to sell all ethanol to Kinergy Marketing or other marketing purchaser designated by the Company and all WDG and syrup to A.L. Gilbert. These agreements are ordinary purchase and sale agency agreements for an ethanol plant. See following for J.D. Heiskell & Company sales, net of transportation costs and marketing fees, purchases and accounts receivable as of and for the years ended 2012 and 2011.
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
J.D. Heiskell & Company:
|
||||||||
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
|
Sales
|
||||||||
|
Ethanol
|
$ | 128,830,630 | $ | 105,447,012 | ||||
|
Distillers Grains
|
35,468,559 | 20,558,034 | ||||||
|
Corn Oil
|
2,582,858 | — | ||||||
|
Total Sales
|
166,882,047 | 126,005,046 | ||||||
|
Corn Purchases
|
156,984,918 | 106,194,420 | ||||||
|
Accounts Receivable
|
$ | 394,784 | $ | 841,729 | ||||
Ethanol and Wet Distillers Grains Marketing Arrangement. The Company entered into an Ethanol Marketing Agreement with Kinergy Marketing and a Wet Distillers Grains marketing agreement with A. L Gilbert. Under the terms of the agreements, subject to certain conditions, the agreements mature on August 31, 2013 with automatic one-year renewals thereafter. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company in total expensed $2,394,194 and $2,022,679, respectively, under the terms of both ethanol and wet distillers grains agreements.
Acquisition of Cilion. On July 6, 2012, the Company acquired 100% of Cilion, Inc. through a merger. The Company had been leasing the property owned by Cilion. The Company’s primary lender supported the financing of the acquisition in anticipation the merger will be accretive to earnings in the long term. Acquiring the real property and assets associated with the ethanol plant provides assets beneficial to the Company in securing additional financing and much needed flexibility not available under the lease in the development, testing, and commercialization of next generation biofuels technologies owed by the Company.
At the effective time of the Merger, each issued and outstanding share of Cilion Preferred Stock was automatically converted into the right to receive an aggregate of (a) $16,500,000 cash and (b) 20,000,000 shares of Aemetis common stock and (c) the right to receive an additional cash amount of $5,000,000 plus interest at the rate of 3% per annum, which is payable upon the satisfaction by the Company of certain conditions set forth in the merger agreement. The Seller Note was recorded at its estimated fair value based on an expected term of 2 years and a 22% discount rate.
Acquisition transaction costs funded during the merger included $15,000 in appraisal fees to Natwick & Associates, $185,065 in legal fees paid to DLA Piper, and $135,126 in mergers and acquisitions fees paid to UBS Securities LLC, all of which were recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses. Subsequent to the year end, UBS negotiated a settlement with Aemetis to be paid $2,250,000 in mergers and acquisition fees over time for their involvement in the transaction, which has been accrued for in 2012 and recognized in general and administrative expense.
The purchase price for Cilion, Inc. is recapped below based on the trading value of the stock at the time of the acquisition and the expected fair value of the future consideration (in thousands):
|
Cash
|
$ | 16,500 | ||
|
Fair value of shares issued
|
12,511 | |||
|
Seller note payable
|
3,584 | |||
| $ | 32,595 |
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The acquisition provisional date fair value was allocated to Cilion’s net tangible and identifiable intangible assets based on their estimated fair values as of July 6, 2012 as set forth below (in thousands).
|
Tangible Assets:
|
||||
|
Accounts receivable
|
$ | 3,114 | ||
|
Prepaid assets
|
5 | |||
|
Equipment held for resale
|
1,367 | |||
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
70,464 | |||
|
Other assets
|
1,073 | |||
|
Total Tangible Assets Acquired
|
76,023 | |||
|
Liabilities Assumed
|
||||
|
Accounts payable
|
(6 | ) | ||
|
Deferred tax liability
|
(1,086 | ) | ||
|
Total Enterprise Value
|
$ | 74,931 | ||
The Company recognized a bargain purchase gain of $42,335,876. The Company believes the Cilion shareholders valued the equity component of the consideration higher than the current quoted market price. The Company believes the lower market share price is due to the lack of information available to the market and the Cilion shareholders valued Aemetis common stock at value higher than the trading price on the OTC market at the time of the transaction, giving rise to the gain on bargain purchase accounting treatment. As of December 31, 2012 the purchase price allocation for deferred income tax and gain on acquisition bargain purchase were provisional and had not yet been finalized due to certain final tax information not being available yet. The amounts and final allocations will be completed in 2013.
The unaudited pro forma financial information below presents the combined revenue and net income for Cilion and the Company for the years ending December 31, 2011 and 2012, as if the acquisition occurred as of January 1, 2011 (in thousands):
|
Unaudited Proforma
|
|||||
|
2011
|
|||||
|
Revenue
|
$ | 141,858 | |||
|
Net loss
|
15,864 | ||||
|
2012
|
|||||
|
Revenue
|
$ | 189,048 | |||
|
Net loss
|
$ | (49,851 | ) | ||
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
14. Segment Information
Summarized financial information by reportable segment for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 follow:
|
For the twelve
|
For the twelve
|
|||||||
|
months ended
|
months ended
|
|||||||
|
Statement of Operations Data
|
December 31, 2012
|
December 31, 2011
|
||||||
|
Revenues
|
||||||||
|
India
|
$ | 13,547,620 | $ | 9,911,616 | ||||
|
North America
|
175,500,606 | 131,946,298 | ||||||
|
Other
|
- | - | ||||||
|
Total revenues
|
$ | 189,048,226 | $ | 141,857,914 | ||||
|
Cost of goods sold
|
||||||||
|
India
|
$ | 14,191,098 | 9,494,395 | |||||
|
North America
|
183,784,075 | 127,721,645 | ||||||
|
Other
|
- | - | ||||||
|
Total cost of goods sold
|
$ | 197,975,173 | $ | 137,216,040 | ||||
|
Gross income/(loss)
|
||||||||
|
India
|
$ | (643,478 | ) | $ | 417,221 | |||
|
North America
|
(8,283,469 | ) | 4,224,653 | |||||
|
Other
|
- | - | ||||||
|
Total gross income/(loss)
|
$ | (8,926,947 | ) | $ | 4,641,874 | |||
India: During 2012 two customers accounted for 45.8% of sales through their purchase of Refined Palm Oil. One customer accounted for 10.7% of consolidated sales through its purchase of biodiesel. In 2011, one customer accounted for approximately 70% of total revenues by purchasing biodiesel for export to Europe.
North America: In 2012 and 2011, all of the Company’s revenues from sales of ethanol, WDG and corn oil were sold to J.D. Heiskell pursuant to the Corn Procurement and Working Capital Agreement. Sales to J.D. Heiskell accounted for 93% of the Company’s North American segment consolidated revenues in both 2012 and 2011.
Company total assets by segment follow:
|
Year Ended December 31
|
|||||||||
|
Total Assets Data
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
|
India
|
$ | 15,597,333 | $ | 15,654,763 | |||||
|
North America
|
81,274,826 | 11,563,132 | |||||||
|
Other
|
— | 26 | |||||||
|
Total Assets
|
$ | 96,872,159 | $ | 27,217,921 | |||||
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
15. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
As a result of year end evaluations, the quarter ended September 30, 2012 required a combined increase to net income of $5.4 million, which consists of a $2.3 million adjustment to loss on debt extinguishment and a $3.1 million adjustment to gain on acquisition bargain purchase, which resulted from a revision in the value of stock issued, and a $1.1 million reclassification to income tax benefit and gain on acquisition bargain purchase recognized in the acquisition. A summary of the unaudited quarterly results of operations incorporating these changes to the 3rd quarter information discussed above for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:
2012
|
For the three months ended
|
For the year
Ended
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
March 31, 2012
|
June 30, 2012
|
September 30, 2012
|
December 31, 2012
|
December 31, 2012
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Revenues
|
44,195,776 | 44,279,866 | 53,408,202 | 47,164,382 | 189,048,226 | |||||||||||||||
|
Cost of goods sold
|
46,454,288 | 46,300,806 | 55,670,850 | 49,549,229 | 197,975,173 | |||||||||||||||
|
Gross loss
|
(2,258,512 | ) | (2,020,940 | ) | (2,262,648 | ) | (2,384,847 | ) | (8,926,947 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Research and development
|
192,617 | 148,704 | 142,498 | 136,549 | 620,368 | |||||||||||||||
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
1,962,841 | 2,412,495 | 2,551,415 | 4,686,606 | 11,613,357 | |||||||||||||||
|
Operating loss
|
(4,413,970 | ) | (4,582,139 | ) | (4,956,561 | ) | (7,208,002 | ) | (21,160,672 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Other income/(expense)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Interest income
|
348 | 1,840 | 348 | 2,440 | 4,976 | |||||||||||||||
|
Interest expense
|
(3,965,047 | ) | (5,304,917 | ) | (3,376,796 | ) | (5,011,155 | ) | (17,657,915 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Other income/(expense)
|
18,211 | (99,569 | ) | 54,219 | (140,136 | ) | (167,275 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
Gain on acquisition bargain purchase
|
- | - | 40,332,333 | 2,003,543 | 42,335,876 | |||||||||||||||
|
Loss on debt extingishment
|
- | - | (9,068,868 | ) | - | (9,068,868 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
Gain on sales of assets
|
- | 236,830 | - | 113,526 | 350,356 | |||||||||||||||
|
Income/(loss) before income taxes
|
(8,360,458 | ) | (9,747,955 | ) | 22,984,675 | (10,239,784 | ) | (5,363,522 | ) | |||||||||||
|
Income taxes benefit/(expense)
|
(4,000 | ) | - | - | 1,085,257 | 1,081,257 | ||||||||||||||
|
Net income/(loss)
|
(8,364,458 | ) | (9,747,955 | ) | 22,984,675 | (9,154,527 | ) | (4,282,265 | ) | |||||||||||
|
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
310,983 | (226,977 | ) | 336,285 | (494,822 | ) | (74,531 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
Comprehensive income/(loss)
|
(8,053,475 | ) | (9,974,932 | ) | 23,320,960 | (9,649,349 | ) | (4,356,796 | ) | |||||||||||
|
Income/(loss) per common share attributable to Aemetis, Inc.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Basic
|
(0.06 | ) | (0.07 | ) | 0.14 | (0.05 | ) | (0.03 | ) | |||||||||||
|
Diluted
|
(0.06 | ) | (0.07 | ) | 0.13 | (0.05 | ) | (0.03 | ) | |||||||||||
|
Weighted average shares outstanding
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Basic
|
131,128,280 | 133,239,456 | 168,583,985 | 170,734,618 | 151,023,977 | |||||||||||||||
|
Diluted
|
131,128,280 | 133,239,456 | 176,559,067 | 170,734,618 | 151,023,977 | |||||||||||||||
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2011
|
For the three months ended
|
For the year
Ended
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
March 31, 2011
|
June 30, 2011
|
September 30, 2011
|
December 31, 2011
|
December 31, 2011
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Revenues
|
$ | 738,469 | $ | 27,253,190 | $ | 56,571,595 | $ | 57,294,660 | $ | 141,857,914 | ||||||||||
|
Cost of goods sold
|
787,472 | 27,567,654 | 55,789,374 | 53,071,540 | 137,216,040 | |||||||||||||||
|
Gross income/(loss)
|
(49,003 | ) | (314,464 | ) | 782,221 | 4,223,120 | 4,641,874 | |||||||||||||
|
Research and development
|
32,569 | 71,400 | 337,229 | 135,427 | 576,625 | |||||||||||||||
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
2,103,409 | 1,989,282 | 2,212,510 | 2,265,390 | 8,570,591 | |||||||||||||||
|
Operating income/(loss)
|
(2,184,981 | ) | (2,375,146 | ) | (1,767,518 | ) | 1,822,303 | (4,505,342 | ) | |||||||||||
|
Other income/(expense)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Interest income
|
4,021 | 2,796 | 351 | 16,268 | 23,436 | |||||||||||||||
|
Interest expense
|
(2,103,163 | ) | (3,649,359 | ) | (3,785,857 | ) | (4,022,906 | ) | (13,561,285 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Other income/(expense)
|
24,031 | 54,207 | 4,070 | (29,348 | ) | 52,960 | ||||||||||||||
|
Loss on debt extingishment
|
- | (401,407 | ) | - | - | (401,407 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
Loss before income taxes
|
(4,260,092 | ) | (6,368,909 | ) | (5,548,954 | ) | (2,213,683 | ) | (18,391,638 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Income taxes benefit/(expense)
|
(3,200 | ) | - | 98,479 | - | 95,279 | ||||||||||||||
|
Net loss
|
$ | (4,263,292 | ) | $ | (6,368,909 | ) | $ | (5,450,475 | ) | $ | (2,213,683 | ) | $ | (18,296,359 | ) | |||||
|
Other comprehensive loss
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
20,286 | (16,031 | ) | (727,992 | ) | (648,704 | ) | (1,372,441 | ) | |||||||||||
|
Comprehensive loss
|
$ | (4,243,006 | ) | $ | (6,384,940 | ) | $ | (6,178,467 | ) | $ | (2,862,387 | ) | $ | (19,668,800 | ) | |||||
|
Loss per common share attributable to Aemetis, Inc.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Basic and diluted
|
$ | (0.05 | ) | $ | (0.07 | ) | $ | (0.05 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | |||||
|
Weighted average shares outstanding
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Basic and diluted
|
90,789,254 | 92,384,340 | 100,446,788 | 130,127,853 | 103,536,643 | |||||||||||||||
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
16. Related Party Transactions
The Company owes Eric McAfee and McAfee Capital, solely owned by Eric McAfee, amounts of $1,262,133and $1,254,188 in connection with employment agreements and expense reimbursements, which are included in accrued expenses and accounts payable on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 and 2011. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company expensed $65,343 and $519,828 in connection with non-employee compensation and expense reimbursements. Beginning September 2011, Eric McAfee began receiving employee compensation. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, Eric McAfee received $180,000 and $60,000, respectively, in employee compensation.
For the years ending December 31, 2012 and 2011, Eric McAfee received payments from the Company of principal, interest and fees associated with a revolving line of credit co-owned with Laird Cagan, a related party, and other investors, by converting part of the balance due for 6,231,159 and 18,141,715 shares of common stock, respectively. Laird Cagan received 2,634,376 and 7,669,857 shares of common stock as part of the same payments-for-stock transactions with the same terms.
The Company owes various Board Members amounts of $1,300,313 and $638,563 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, in connection with board compensation fees, which are included in accounts payable on the balance sheet. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company expensed $379,500 and $228,654, respectively, in connection with board compensation fees.
In July 2009, the Company entered into a sublease agreement with Nevo Energy, Inc. (formerly known as Solargen Energy, Inc.) for approximately 3,000 square feet of leased space. For the year ending December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company invoiced Nevo Energy $58,801 and $86,291, respectively, in rents and utilities charges, but reserved all the payments during 2011 and 2012 due to Nevo Energy’s inability to pay. The Nevo Energy lease expired in May 2012. Eric McAfee is a member of the Board of Directors and a significant shareholder of Nevo Energy, Inc. Michael Peterson, a former member of the Company’s Board of Directors, was also the Chief Executive Officer of Nevo Energy, Inc. during 2011. See Note 7 Operating Leases.
17. Income Tax
The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return including all its domestic subsidiaries. State tax returns are filed on a consolidated, combined or separate basis depending on the applicable laws relating to the Company and its subsidiaries.
Components of tax expense (benefit) consist of the following:
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
|
Current:
|
||||||||
|
Federal
|
— | — | ||||||
|
State and local
|
$ | 4,000 | $ | 3,200 | ||||
|
Foreign
|
— | — | ||||||
| 4,000 | 3,200 | |||||||
|
Deferred:
|
||||||||
|
Federal
|
(933,849 | ) | (83,707 | ) | ||||
|
State and local
|
(151,408 | ) | (14,772 | ) | ||||
|
Foreign
|
— | — | ||||||
|
Income tax expense/(benefit)
|
$ | (1,081,257 | ) | $ | (95,279 | ) | ||
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The income tax benefit recognized for the year ended December 31, 2012 was the result of the recognition of a deferred tax liability in the acquisition of Cilion. The deferred tax liability resulted in a reduction in the valuation allowance of the Company, as the Company believes the reversal of the deferred tax liability will occur prior to the expiration of the NOL carryforward. U.S. loss and foreign loss before income taxes are as follows:
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
|
United States
|
$ | (2,981,086 | ) | $ | (17,188,080 | ) | ||
|
Foreign
|
(2382,436 | ) | (1,203,558 | ) | ||||
|
Loss before income taxes
|
$ | (5,363,523 | ) | $ | (18,391,638 | ) | ||
Income tax benefit differs from the amounts computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate (34%) to loss before income taxes as a result of the following:
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
|
Income tax expense (benefit) at the federal statutory rate
|
$ | (1,823,598 | ) | $ | (6,253,156 | ) | ||
|
Increase (decrease) resulting from:
|
||||||||
|
State tax expense (benefit)
|
(476,437 | ) | (1,441,008 | ) | ||||
|
Stock-based compensation
|
25,464 | 41,703 | ||||||
|
Foreign loss
|
475,342 | 290,821 | ||||||
|
Interest expense
|
429,673 | 404,972 | ||||||
|
Credits
|
(150,452 | ) | (990,000 | ) | ||||
|
Gain on bargain purchase
|
(16,727,979 | ) | — | |||||
|
Loss on debt extinguishment
|
3,707,620 | — | ||||||
|
Cilion transaction costs
|
302,271 | — | ||||||
|
Other
|
196,721 | 9,457 | ||||||
|
Valuation allowance
|
12,960,118 | 7,841,932 | ||||||
|
Income tax expense
|
$ | (1,081,257 | ) | $ | (95,279 | ) | ||
|
|
||||||||
|
Effective tax rate
|
20.16 | % | 0.52 | % | ||||
The components of the net deferred tax asset or (liability) are as follows:
|
December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
|
Deferred tax assets (liabilities):
|
||||||||
|
Organization, start-up costs & intangible assets
|
$ | 9,898,832 | $ | 8,916,114 | ||||
|
Stock-based compensation
|
233,365 | 588,192 | ||||||
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
(14,546,837 | ) | 2,511,067 | |||||
|
Net operating loss carryforward
|
38,790,667 | 11,578,808 | ||||||
|
Convertible debt
|
(9,382 | ) | (103,127 | ) | ||||
|
Credit carryforward
|
1,500,000 | 1,500,000 | ||||||
|
Debt extinguishment
|
1,822,458 | — | ||||||
|
Other, net
|
839,555 | 589,890 | ||||||
|
Total deferred tax assets (liabilities)
|
38,528,658 | 25,580,944 | ||||||
|
Less valuation allowance
|
$ | (38,528,658 | ) | $ | (25,580,944 | ) | ||
|
Deferred tax assets (liabilities)
|
— | — | ||||||
Based on the Company’s evaluation of current and anticipated future taxable income, the Company believes it is more likely than not that insufficient taxable income will be generated to realize the net deferred tax assets, and accordingly, a valuation allowance has been set against these net deferred tax assets.
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We do not provide for U.S. income taxes for any undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries, as the Company considers these to be permanently reinvested in the operations of such subsidiaries and have a cumulative foreign loss. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, these undistributed earnings (losses) totaled ($9,494,738) and ($7,195,566), respectively. If any earnings were distributed, some countries may impose withholding taxes. However, due to the Company’s overall deficit in foreign cumulative earnings and its U.S. loss position, the Company does not believe a material net unrecognized U.S. deferred tax liability exists.
ASC 740 Income Taxes provides that the tax effects from an uncertain tax position can be recognized in the Company’s 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. The Company periodically analyzes and adjusts amounts recorded for the Company’s 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. The Company does not reasonably expect the total amount of uncertain tax positions to significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months. As of December 31, 2012, the Company’s uncertain tax positions were not significant for income tax purposes.
We conduct business globally and, as a result, one or more of the Company’s subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world, including such major jurisdictions as India, Mauritius, and the United States. The Company files a U.S. federal income tax return and tax returns in nine U.S. states, as well as in two foreign jurisdictions. Penalties and interest are classified as general and administrative expenses.
The following describes the open tax years, by major tax jurisdiction, as of December 31, 2012:
|
United States — Federal
|
2005 – present
|
|
United States — State
|
2005 – present
|
|
India
|
2006 – present
|
|
Mauritius
|
2006 – present
|
As of December 31, 2012, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $89,600,000 and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $90,300,000. The Company also has approximately $1,500,000 of alcohol and cellulosic biofuel credit carryforwards. The federal net operating loss and other tax credit carryforwards expire on various dates between 2027 and 2031. The state net operating loss carryforwards expire on various dates between 2027 through 2031. Under the current tax law, net operating loss and credit carryforwards available to offset future income in any given year may be limited by US or India statute regarding net operating loss carryovers and timing of expirations or upon the occurrence of certain events, including significant changes in ownership interests. The Company’s India subsidiary also has net operating loss carryforwards as of March 31, 2013, its tax fiscal year end, of approximately ($9,900,000) in US dollars, which expire from March 30, 2016 to March 30, 2020.
18. Subsequent Events
On January 14, 2013, Laird Cagan loaned $106,201 through a Promissory note maturing on April 30, 2013 with a 5 percent annualized interest rate and the right to exercise 53,101 warrants exercisable at $0.001 per share. On January 24, 2013, an additional $300,000 in David Lies Promissory Notes were issued with 150,000 warrants at $0.001 per share and 5 percent annual interest rate due April 30, 2013.
Keyes plant idles corn grinding and prepares to plant to produce advanced biofuels
On January 15, 2013, the Company took the strategic step to idle corn grinding and ethanol production activities at its Keyes, California plant due to the current unfavorable market conditions for corn ethanol production while it undertakes efforts expected to result in the restart of the plant as an advanced biofuel producer, if commodity prices indicate this strategy produces positive margins. This action is in keeping with the Company’s plan to move to advanced biofuel feedstocks and inputs using a recently approved milo/biogas EPA pathway for a significant portion of its operational capacity. If market conditions change, the Company plans to use corn and milo or a mixture of the two commodities to generate the most favorable margin.
USB Settlement
On January 15, 2013, Aemetis reached a settlement with UBS for $2.25 million in cash payments over time for investment banking services provided as part of the Cilion merger transaction. The full amount of the settlement has been fully accrued as of December 31, 2012.
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Third Eye Capital Debt $3.1 Million and $2 Million Working Capital Draw Agreements
On February 27, 2013, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to (i) provide a Notional Paydown by pledging addition collateral on the Revolving Portion of the Revolving Notes in the amount of $3,100,000, such Notional Paydown was replaced in the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 3 with an increase in the Revolver Note and the collateral substitution of a pledge of 6,231,159 shares of stock held by McAfee Capital LLC (ii) grant waivers to the Borrowers’ obligation to pay or comply, including financial and production covenants for the quarter ended March 31 and June 30, 2013; (iii) extend the date of the next interest payment until the earlier of certain events described in the Limited Waiver or May 1, 2013, and (iv) allow the Borrowers to pay the Partial Amendment Fee of $1,000,000 due January 1, 2013 in shares of the Company’s common stock. In consideration for the amendment, the Company agreed to: (i) pay a waiver fee comprised of $1,500,000 and (ii) issue to 750,000 common shares of the Company. In addition, the interest rate on all outstanding indebtedness with Third Eye Capital increases 5% until certain conditions are met.
On April 15, 2013, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 3 to waive the following covenants of the Borrower in their entirety: (i) Borrowers’ obligation to obtain an NASDAQ listing by April 1, 2013; (ii) Borrower’s obligation to cause the Chairman to enter into certain agreements; and (iii) the Company’s obligation to deliver an auditor opinion as of and for the period ended December 31, 2012 without a going concern qualification. In addition, the Administrative Agent agreed to (i) extend the completion date of the conversion of the Keyes Plant to accommodate an 80:20 corn-to-milo ratio to May 31, 2013, (ii) amend the redemption provision in the event of an equity offering of Capital Stock up to $7,000,000, and (iii) increase the balance of the Revolving Credit Facility by an amount equal to the February 2013 $3.1 million advance and the $1.5 million waiver fee. In consideration for the Limited Waiver and Amendment, the Company agreed to: (i) pay a waiver fee comprised of $500,000 (which is added to the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Notes) and (ii) require McAfee Capital, LLC to pledge an additional 6,231,159 Common Shares of the Parent to Agent, together with the delivery of stock certificates for such shares and stock powers. The $3.1 million advance, together with all accumulated interest, shall be repaid in full no later than September 30, 2013.
On April 15, 2013, Third Eye Capital also arranged a Special Bridge Advance providing additional borrowings of $2,000,000 with the same terms as the existing Revolving Credit Facility, subject to customary closing conditions. In consideration for the Special Bridge Advance, the Company agreed to (i) pay the Lender a placement fee of $300,000 and (ii) issue the Lender 1,000,000 shares of common stock of Aemetis, Inc. The Special Bridge Advance is secured by a blanket lien on the assets of Eric A. McAfee, the Company’s CEO and Chairman of the Board.
19. Parent Company Financial Statements (Unaudited)
The following is a summary of the Parent Company financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Aemetis, Inc. (Parent Company)
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2012 and 2011
|
Assets
|
2012
|
2011
|
||||||
|
Current assets
|
||||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$ | - | $ | 747 | ||||
|
Intercompany receivables
|
20,802,877 | 3,168,587 | ||||||
|
Prepaid expenses
|
- | 88,000 | ||||||
|
Total current assets
|
20,802,877 | 3,257,334 | ||||||
|
Investments in Subsidiaries, net of advances
|
||||||||
|
Investment in Aemetis International, Inc.
|
3,060,684 | 5,979,020 | ||||||
|
Investment in Aemetis Americas, Inc
|
116,144 | - | ||||||
|
Total investments in Subsidiaries, net of advances
|
3,176,828 | 5,979,020 | ||||||
|
Other assets
|
23,095 | 23,095 | ||||||
|
Total Assets
|
$ | 24,002,800 | $ | 9,259,449 | ||||
|
Liabilities & stockholders' deficit
|
||||||||
|
Current liabilities
|
||||||||
|
Accounts payable
|
$ | 4,037,137 | $ | 3,800,250 | ||||
|
Outstanding checks in excess of cash
|
25,773 | - | ||||||
|
Mandatorily redeemable Series B convertibe preferred
|
2,437,649 | 2,320,164 | ||||||
|
Secured notes, net of discount for issuance cost
|
- | 1,075,588 | ||||||
|
Other current liabilities
|
2,174,608 | 1,786,962 | ||||||
|
Total current liabilities
|
8,675,167 | 8,982,964 | ||||||
|
Parent Company long term debt portion of secured notes, net of discount for issuance cost
|
- | 6,016,926 | ||||||
|
Subsidiary obligation in excess of investment
|
||||||||
|
Investment in AE Advanced Fuels, Inc.
|
8,400,675 | 13,253,011 | ||||||
|
Investment in Aemetis Americas, Inc
|
- | 118,252 | ||||||
|
Investment in Aemetis Biofuels, Inc.
|
2,624,575 | 2,567,894 | ||||||
|
Investment in Aemetis Technologies, Inc.
|
438,375 | 174,488 | ||||||
|
Investment in Biofuels Marketing, Inc.
|
349,056 | 348,996 | ||||||
|
Total subsidiary obligation in excess of investment
|
11,812,681 | 16,462,641 | ||||||
|
Total long term liabilities
|
11,812,681 | 22,479,567 | ||||||
|
Stockholders' equity/(deficit)
|
||||||||
|
Series B Preferred convertible stock
|
3,098 | 3,115 | ||||||
|
Common stock
|
180,281 | 130,747 | ||||||
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
75,457,760 | 45,432,447 | ||||||
|
Accumulated deficit
|
(69,808,294 | ) | (65,526,029 | ) | ||||
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
(2,317,893 | ) | (2,243,362 | ) | ||||
|
Total stockholders' equity/(deficit)
|
3,514,952 | (22,203,082 | ) | |||||
|
Total liabilities & stockholders' deficit
|
$ | 24,002,800 | $ | 9,259,449 | ||||
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Aemetis, Inc. (Parent Company)
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
For the Years Ended December 31, 2012 and 2011
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
|
Equity in subsidiary earnings (losses)
|
$ | (12,496 | ) | $ | (15,386,811 | ) | ||
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
2,302,944 | 1,003,879 | ||||||
|
Operating loss
|
(2,315,440 | ) | (16,390,690 | ) | ||||
|
Other income/(expense)
|
||||||||
|
Interest expense
|
(1,865,803 | ) | (1,918,750 | ) | ||||
|
Other income/(expense)
|
(97,022 | ) | 16,281 | |||||
|
Loss before income taxes
|
(4,278,265 | ) | (18,293,159 | ) | ||||
|
Income taxes benefit/(expense)
|
(4,000 | ) | (3,200 | ) | ||||
|
Net loss
|
$ | (4,282,265 | ) | $ | (18,296,359 | ) | ||
|
Other comprehensive loss
|
||||||||
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
(74,531 | ) | (1,372,441 | ) | ||||
|
Comprehensive loss
|
$ | (4,356,796 | ) | $ | (19,668,800 | ) | ||
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Aemetis, Inc. (Parent Company)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011
|
2012
|
2011
|
|||||||
|
Operating activities:
|
||||||||
|
Net loss
|
(4,282,265 | ) | $ | (18,296,359 | ) | |||
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
|
||||||||
|
net cash provided/(used) in operating activities:
|
||||||||
|
Stock-based compensation
|
686,059 | 177,278 | ||||||
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
- | 2,193 | ||||||
|
Amortization of debt issuance discount
|
400,997 | 1,177,413 | ||||||
|
Change in fair value of warrant liability
|
97,022 | |||||||
|
Changes in assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
|
Subsidiary portion of net losses
|
12,496 | 15,386,811 | ||||||
|
Prepaid expenses
|
4,668 | 1,160 | ||||||
|
Other current assets and other assets
|
- | 1 | ||||||
|
Accounts payable
|
236,887 | 743,982 | ||||||
|
Accrued interest expense
|
682,983 | 894,475 | ||||||
|
Other liabilities
|
288,203 | 72,733 | ||||||
|
Net cash (used) in/provided by operating activities
|
(1,872,950 | ) | 159,687 | |||||
|
Investing activities:
|
||||||||
|
Change in outstanding checks in excess of cash
|
25,773 | - | ||||||
|
Subsidiary advances, net
|
9,417,256 | 723,429 | ||||||
|
Net cash provided in investing activities
|
9,443,029 | 723,429 | ||||||
|
Financing activities:
|
||||||||
|
Proceeds from borrowings under secured debt facilities
|
840,000 | - | ||||||
|
Repayments of borrowings under secured debt facilities
|
(8,412,259 | ) | (900,000 | ) | ||||
|
Warrants exercised
|
1,433 | - | ||||||
|
Net cash used by financing activities
|
(7,570,826 | ) | (900,000 | ) | ||||
|
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
|
(747 | ) | (16,884 | ) | ||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
747 | 17,631 | ||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$ | - | $ | 747 | ||||
|
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information, cash paid:
|
||||||||
|
Income taxes
|
4,000 | 3,200 | ||||||
|
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information, non-cash transactions:
|
||||||||
|
Issuance of shares for acquisition
|
12,511,200 | 1,890,135 | ||||||
|
Stock and warrants issued to pay interest and fees on borrowings
|
11,885,579 | 1,662,323 | ||||||
|
Payment of loans and fees by issuance of stock to related party
|
4,107,141 | 1,452,818 | ||||||
|
Beneficial conversion discount on related party debt
|
884,851 | 1,732,872 | ||||||
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: April 16, 2013
|
Aemetis, Inc.
|
||
|
/s/ ERIC A. MCAFEE
|
||
|
Eric A. McAfee
|
||
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
||
|
(Principal Executive Officer)
|
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Eric A. McAfee and Todd A. Waltz, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, each with full power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or their substitute or substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
|
Name
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
|
/s/ Eric A. McAfee
|
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer
|
April 16, 2013
|
||
|
Eric A. McAfee
|
(Principal Executive Officer and Director)
|
|||
|
/s/ Todd Waltz
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
April 16, 2013
|
||
|
Todd Waltz
|
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
|
||
|
/s/ Francis Barton
|
Director
|
April 10, 2013
|
||
|
Fran Barton
|
||||
|
/s/ John R. Block
|
Director
|
April 12, 2013
|
||
|
John R. Block
|
||||
|
/s/ Dr. Steven Hutcheson
|
Director
|
April 10, 2013
|
||
|
Dr. Steven Hutcheson
|
||||
|
/s/ Harold Sorgenti
|
Director
|
April 9, 2013
|
||
|
Harold Sorgenti
|
86