AEMETIS, INC - Annual Report: 2018 (Form 10-K)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
———————
FORM 10-K
———————
☑
ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018
Commission file number: 000-51354
AEMETIS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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 ☐
No ☑
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 ☐
No ☑
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 ☑ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted
electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every
Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant
to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter)
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes
☑ No
☐
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers 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. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a
smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the
definitions of “large accelerated filer,”
“accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting
company,” and “emerging growth company” in
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
|
☐
|
Accelerated filer
☐
|
Non-accelerated filer
|
☐ (Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
|
Smaller reporting company
☑
|
Emerging growth company
|
☐
|
|
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐
No ☑
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common
equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately
$19,782,803 as of June 30, 2018 based on the average bid and asked
price on the NASDAQ 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 February 28, 2019 was 20,375,437 shares.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions
of the Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2019 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference in
Part III of this Form 10-K.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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2
PART
I
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
On one or more occasions, we may make forward-looking statements in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including statements regarding our
assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or
beliefs about future events or other statements that are not
historical facts. Forward-looking statements in this Annual Report
on Form 10-K include, without limitation, statements
regarding management’s plans; trends in market conditions
with respect to prices for inputs for our products versus prices
for our products; our ability to leverage approved feedstock
pathways; our ability to leverage our location and infrastructure;
our ability to incorporate lower-cost, non-food advanced biofuels
feedstock at the Riverbank facility; our ability to adopt
value-added by-product processing systems; our ability to expand
into alternative markets for biodiesel and its by-products,
including continuing to expand our sales into international
markets; our ability to maintain and expand strategic relationships
with suppliers; our ability to continue to develop new, and to
maintain and protect new and existing, intellectual property
rights; our ability to adopt, develop and commercialize new
technologies; our ability to refinance our senior debt on more
commercial terms or at all; our ability to continue to fund
operations and our future sources of liquidity and capital
resources; our ability to sell additional notes under our EB-5 note
program and our expectations regarding the release of funds from
escrow under our EB-5 note program; our ability to improve margins;
and our ability to raise additional capital. 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
are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and
predictions and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties.
Actual results or events could differ materially from those set
forth or implied by such forward-looking statements and related
assumptions due to certain factors, including, without limitation,
the risks set forth under the caption “Risk Factors”
below, which are incorporated herein by reference as well as those
business risks and factors described elsewhere in this report and
in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”).
We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
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 Form 10-K is reliable, it has not been
independently verified.
Unless the context requires otherwise, references to
“we,” “us,” “our,” and
“the Company” refer specifically to Aemetis, Inc. and
its subsidiaries.
Item 1.
Business
General
We are
an international renewable fuels and biochemicals company focused
on the production of advanced renewable fuels and chemicals through
the acquisition, development, and commercialization of innovative
technologies that replace traditional petroleum-based products
primarily through the conversion of first-generation ethanol and
biodiesel plants into advanced biorefineries. We operate in two reportable geographic segments:
“North America” and “India.” For revenue
and other information regarding our operating segments, see Note
12- Segment Information, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form
10-K.
We were incorporated in Nevada in 2006.
We own
and operate a 60 million gallon per year ethanol production
facility located in Keyes, California (the “Keyes
Plant”). In addition to ethanol, the Keyes Plant produces Wet
Distillers Grains (“WDG”), Distillers Corn Oil
(“DCO”), and Condensed Distillers Solubles
(“CDS”), all of which are sold to local dairies and
feedlots as animal feed. The primary feedstock used for the
production of low carbon renewable fuel ethanol at the Keyes Plant
is number two yellow dent corn. The corn is procured by J.D.
Heiskell from various Midwestern grain facilities and shipped via
Union Pacific Rail Road to an unloading facility adjacent to the
Keyes Plant.
During
the third quarter of 2017, we entered into an agreement with a
major industrial gas company, The Linde Group
(“Linde”), to sell carbon dioxide
(“CO2”)
produced at the Keyes Plant to Linde for conversion into Compressed
Natural Gas (CNG). In the fourth quarter of 2018, we finished
purchasing a 5.2-acre parcel of land next to the Keyes Plant and
leased the land to Linde to build a gas compression plant and
piping structure to connect to the CO2 produced at the
adjacent Keyes Plant (the “Linde CO2 Project”).
The Linde CO2 Project is
expected to add incremental income for the North America segment
when construction is completed in late 2019.
3
We also
leased a site in Riverbank, CA, near the Keyes Plant, where we plan
to utilize biomass-to-fuel technology that we have licensed from
LanzaTech Technology (“LanzaTech”) and InEnTec
Technology (“InEnTec”) to build a cellulosic ethanol
production facility (the “Riverbank Cellulosic Ethanol
Facility”) capable of converting local California surplus
biomass – principally agricultural waste – into
ultra-low carbon renewable cellulosic ethanol. By producing
ultra-low carbon renewable cellulosic ethanol, we expect to capture
higher value D3 cellulosic renewable identification numbers (RINs)
and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard
(“LCFS”) carbon credits. D3 RINs have a higher value in
the marketplace than D6 RINs due to D3 RINs’ relative
scarcity and mandated pricing formula from the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (the
“EPA”).
During
2018, Aemetis Biogas, LLC. (“ABGL”) was formed to
launch a biogas education and marketing program to local dairies in
Central California, many of whom are already customers of the
distillers’ grain produced by the Keyes Plant. ABGL currently
has 14 signed participation agreements and two fully executed
leases with nearby dairies at the Keyes Plant in order to capture
their volatile methane, which would otherwise be released into the
atmosphere, primarily from their wastewater lagoons. Biogas
is a blend of methane along with CO2 and other
impurities that can be captured from dairies, landfills and other
sources. After a gas cleanup and compression process, biogas
can be converted into bio-methane, which is a direct replacement of
petroleum natural gas and can be transported in existing natural
gas pipelines. We plan to capture biogas from multiple dairies and
pipe the gas to a centralized location at our Keyes Plant where we
will clean the biogas into bio-methane. The bio-methane can be used
in the Keyes Plant to displace petroleum natural gas, or can be
sold at retail to trucking companies or injected into the utility
natural gas pipeline to be utilized in the transportation sector to
displace diesel in trucks. The environmental benefits of the
Aemetis Biogas project are potentially significant because dairy
biogas has a negative carbon intensity under the California LCFS
and conversion into bio-methane for displacement of diesel in
trucks is a valuable use of biogas. The biogas produced by
ABGL will also receive D3 RINS under the federal Renewable Fuel
Standard (“RFS”) which have a higher value than the
current D6 RINS we receive in the traditional ethanol
market.
During
2017, Goodland Advanced Fuels, Inc. (GAFI) was formed to acquire
land, buildings and process equipment in Goodland, Kansas. At
acquisition, the assets were purchased for $15.4 million and
provided a base for the construction and development of a next
generation biofuel facility. GAFI entered into a Note Purchase
Agreement with Third Eye Capital Corporation (“Third Eye
Capital”). GAFI, the Company and its subsidiary Aemetis
Advanced Product Keyes (AAPK) also entered into separate
Intercompany Revolving Notes, pursuant to which GAFI may lend a
portion of the proceeds of the Revolving Loan under the Note
Purchase Agreement. Aemetis has the power to direct the activities
of GAFI and has future plans to construct an advanced biofuels
facility at the Goodland site.
We also
own and operate a biodiesel production facility in Kakinada, India
(the “Kakinada Plant”) with a nameplate capacity of 150
thousand metric tons per year, which is equal to about 50 million
gallons per year. We believe the Kakinada Plant is one of the
largest biodiesel production facilities in India on a nameplate
capacity basis. The Kakinada Plant is capable of processing a
variety of vegetable oil and animal fat waste feedstocks into
biodiesel that meet international product standards. The Kakinada
Plant also distills the crude glycerin byproduct from the biodiesel
refining process into refined glycerin, which is sold to the
pharmaceutical, personal care, paint, adhesive and other
industries.
Strategy
Key
elements of our strategy include:
North America
Leverage technology for the development and
production of additional advanced biofuels and renewable
chemicals. We hold certain exclusive rights to the LanzaTech
and InEnTec technologies (the “LanzaTech and InEnTec
Technologies”) for the conversion of agricultural waste,
forest waste, dairy waste, and construction and demolition waste
into an ultra-low carbon renewable fuel referred to in the biofuels
industry as “cellulosic ethanol”. We intend to utilize
this technology to produce cellulosic ethanol from agricultural
biomass waste abundantly available from orchard waste wood and
nutshells in the California Central Valley. We have initiated a
project to adopt the LanzaTech and InEnTec Technologies at the
Riverbank Cellulosic Ethanol Facility. Our first phase has an
estimated twelve million gallons per year nameplate capacity. We
intend to expand the production facility to an estimated 36 million
gallons per year nameplate capacity, and build additional plants in
California to utilize the estimated 1.6 tons of waste orchard wood,
as well as other waste wood and nutshell feedstocks. We continue to
evaluate new technology and develop technology under our existing
patents, and are conducting research and development to produce
renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels from renewable
feedstocks. Our objective is to continue to commercialize our
portfolio of technologies and expand the adoption of these advanced
biofuels and bio-chemicals technologies.
4
Diversify and expand revenue and cash flow by
continuing to develop and adopt value-added by-product processing
systems and optimize other systems in our existing plants.
In April 2012, we installed a DCO extraction unit at the Keyes
Plant and began extracting corn oil for sale into the livestock
feed market. During 2014, we installed a second oil extraction
system to further improve corn oil yields from this process. During
2017, we entered into agreements to sell substantially all of the
carbon dioxide (CO2) produced at the
Keyes Plant to a leading industrial gas supplier who is building a
liquid CO2 capture plant
adjacent to the Keyes Plant. During 2018, we entered into an
agreement with Mitsubishi Chemical to install a membrane
dehydration system at the Keyes Plant in order to reduce natural
gas usage and lower the carbon intensity of the ethanol produced at
the plant (thereby increasing the value of the ethanol). We
continue to evaluate and, as allowed by available financing and
free cash flow from operations, adopt additional value-added
processes that decrease costs and increase the value of the
ethanol, distillers grain, corn oil and CO2 produced at the
Keyes Plant.
Leverage our position as a plant operator to
develop additional streams of revenues and profitability. In
December 2018, we leveraged our relationship with central valley
dairy farmers by signing two leases and raised funds to construct
dairy digesters that produce and send methane by pipeline to our
Keyes Plant. We are currently signing additional dairies, and plan
to have participating agreements and signed leases with 16 dairies
for the construction of the biogas pipeline. Additionally, we
continue to evaluate technologies from our existing and planned
operations for the development of the property in Goodland,
KS.
Acquire, license our technologies to, or joint
venture with other ethanol and biodiesel plants. There are
approximately 210 operating ethanol plants and more than one
hundred biodiesel plants in the U.S., as well as biofuels plants in
Brazil, Argentina, India and elsewhere in the world that could be
upgraded to expand revenues and improve their cash flow using
technology commercially deployed or licensed by us. After
developing and commercially demonstrating technologies at the
Keyes, Kakinada and/or new Riverbank plants, we will evaluate on an
opportunistic basis the benefit of acquiring ownership stakes in
other biofuel production facilities and entering into joint venture
or licensing agreements with other ethanol, renewable diesel or
renewable jet fuel facilities.
Evaluate and pursue technology acquisition
opportunities. We intend to evaluate and pursue
opportunities to acquire technologies and processes that result in
accretive value opportunities as financial resources and business
prospects make the acquisition of these technologies advisable. In
addition, we may also seek to acquire companies, enter into
licensing agreements or form joint ventures with companies that
offer prospects for the adoption of technologies that would be
accretive to earnings.
India
Capitalize on recent policy changes by the
Government of India. We plan to continue to pursue the
traditional bulk and transportation biodiesel markets in India,
which may become more economically attractive as a result of
potential changes to government tax structures and policies, as
well as new marketing channels that may open as a result changes to
government policy changes. The rationalization of indirect taxation
by the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (the
“GST”), biodiesel sales under government oil marketing
company (“Government Oil Marketing Company”) contracts
and contracts with major oil consumers are expected to become more
readily available.
Diversify our feedstocks from India. We
designed our Kakinada Plant with the capability to produce
biodiesel from multiple feedstocks. In 2009, we began to produce
biodiesel from non-refined palm oil (NRPO). During 2014, we further
diversified our feedstock with the introduction of animal oils and
fats, which we used for the production of biodiesel to be sold into
the European markets. In 2017 and 2018, we used refined, bleached
& deodorized Palm Stearin (RBD Palm Stearin), which is derived
from refining palm oil from crude and was imported from Indonesia.
Additionally, the Kakinada Plant is capable of producing biodiesel
from used cooking oil (“UCO”); however, the importation
of UCO is not currently allowed in India, and as a result, we are
looking for a local supply source of UCO to expand our feedstock
diversity. In 2018, we completed construction of a pretreatment
unit at the Kakinada Plant to convert high free fatty acid
(“FFA”) feedstocks into oil that can be used to produce
biodiesel.
Develop and commercially deploy technologies
to produce high-margin products. During 2018, we upgraded
the plant processes to allow for the processing of high FFA
feedstocks, available at lower cost than our traditional
feedstocks. We plan to continue investing in the conversion of
lower quality, waste oils into higher value biofuels, including
renewable diesel. The technologies for this conversion process may
be licensed from third parties or internally
developed.
Evaluate and pursue technology acquisition
opportunities. We intend to evaluate and pursue
opportunities to acquire technologies and processes that result in
accretive earnings opportunities as financial resources and
business prospects make the acquisition of these technologies
advisable. In addition, we may also seek to acquire companies, or
enter into licensing agreements or form joint ventures with
companies that offer prospects for the adoption of accretive
earnings business opportunities.
5
2018 Highlights
North America
During
2018, we produced four products at the Keyes
Plant: denatured fuel ethanol, WDG, DCO, and
CDS. We sold 100% of the ethanol and WDG produced to
J.D. Heiskell pursuant to a Purchase Agreement established with
J.D. Heiskell (the “Heiskell Purchase
Agreement”). J.D. Heiskell in turn sells 100% of
our ethanol to Kinergy Marketing LLC (“Kinergy”) and
100% of our WDG to A.L. Gilbert Co. (“A.L. Gilbert”), a
local feed and grain business. We sell DCO directly to local animal
feedlots (primarily poultry) as well as other feed mills for use in
various animal feed products. Smaller amounts of CDS were sold to
various local third parties as an animal feed
supplement.
The following table sets forth information about our production and
sales of ethanol and its by-products in 2018 and 2017:
|
2018
|
2017
|
%
Change
|
Ethanol
|
|
|
|
Gallons Sold (in
thousands)
|
65,596
|
60,774
|
7.9%
|
Average Sales
Price/Gallon
|
$1.74
|
$1.75
|
-0.6%
|
WDG
|
|
|
|
Tons Sold (in
thousands)
|
424
|
407
|
4.2%
|
Average Sales
Price/Ton
|
$76.38
|
$64.93
|
17.6%
|
Ethanol
pricing for sales to J.D. Heiskell is determined pursuant to a
marketing agreement between Kinergy and us, and is generally based
on daily and monthly pricing for ethanol delivered to the San
Francisco Bay Area as published by the Oil Price Information
Service (“OPIS”), as well as quarterly contracts
negotiated by Kinergy with numerous fuel blenders. The
price for WDG is determined monthly pursuant to a marketing
agreement between A.L. Gilbert and us, and is generally determined
in reference to the local price of dry distillers grains
(“DDG”), corn, and other protein
feedstuffs.
India
In 2018, we produced two products at the Kakinada Plant: biodiesel
and refined glycerin. Crude glycerin produced as a by-product of
the production of biodiesel was further processed into refined
glycerin. After installation of the pretreatment unit, we can
convert high-FFA oil into a renewable oil feedstock that may be
sold to biodiesel plants in India or exported to foreign plants to
use for the production of biodiesel, renewable diesel and/or jet
fuel.
The following table sets forth information about our production and
sales of biodiesel and refined glycerin in 2018 and
2017:
|
2018
|
2017
|
%
Change
|
Biodiesel
|
|
|
|
Tons sold
(1)
|
19,846
|
12,161
|
63.2%
|
Average Sales
Price/Ton
|
$857
|
$851
|
0.7%
|
Refined
Glycerin
|
|
|
|
Tons
sold
|
4,748
|
3,793
|
25.2%
|
Average Sales
Price/Ton
|
$941
|
$810
|
16.1%
|
(1)
1 metric ton is
equal to 1,000 kilograms (approximately 2,204 pounds).
In 2017, the introduction of GST increased the tax rate to 18% from
11% and affected our revenues and gross margins. On January
25, 2018, GST was reduced from 18% to 12%, which favorably impacted
revenues and margins in 2018.
6
Competition
North America
According
to the U.S. Energy Information Agency (the “EIA”),
there were approximately 210 operating commercial ethanol
production facilities in the U.S. with a combined nameplate
production of approximately 17 billion gallons per year at the end
of 2018. The EIA short-term U.S. ethanol production forecast for
2019 is approximately 15.9 billion gallons. The production of
ethanol is a commodity-based business where producers compete on
the basis of price. The production of ethanol is a commodity-based
business where producers compete on the basis of price. We sell
ethanol into the Northern California market. However, since
insufficient production capacity exists in California to supply the
state’s total fuel ethanol consumption (in excess of 1.5
billion gallons annually), we compete with ethanol transported into
California from Midwestern producers. Similarly, our co-products
are, principally WDG and DCO, sold into local California markets
and compete with DDG and corn oil imported into the California
markets as well as with alternative feed products.
India
With respect to biodiesel sold as fuel, we compete primarily with
the producers of petroleum diesel, consisting of 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. These competitors also purchase our
product for blending and further sales to their customers. We
compete primarily on the basis of price, quality and reliable
delivery, since our plant can produce distilled biodiesel and we
have historically been a more reliable and high-quality supplier
than some other biodiesel producers in India.
With respect to biodiesel sold directly to fleets and other
customers, we supply logistics companies that operate fleets of
trucks, ocean port facilities with extensive trucking activities,
beverage distributors, cement ready-mix suppliers and other
companies that use diesel for transportation. With respect to crude
and refined glycerin, we compete with other glycerin producers and
refiners selling products into the personal care, paints and
adhesive markets primarily on the basis of price and product
quality.
Customers
North America
All of our ethanol and WDG are sold to J.D. Heiskell pursuant to
the Heiskell Purchase Agreement. J.D. Heiskell in turn sells all of
our ethanol to Kinergy and all of our 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 100 dairy and feeding operators in Northern
California.
India
During 2018, we derived 79% and 21% of our sales from biodiesel and
refined glycerin respectively. Two of our biodiesel customers
accounted for more than 10% of our consolidated India segment
revenues at 53% and 13%. None of our refined glycerin customers
have accounted for more than 10% of our consolidated India segment
revenues in 2018. During 2017, we derived 77% and 23% of our sales
from biodiesel and refined glycerin respectively. Two of our
biodiesel customers accounted for more than 10% of our consolidated
India segment revenues at 47% and 13%. None of our refined glycerin
customers have accounted for more than 10% of our consolidated
India segment revenues in 2017.
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 Kinergy and us and is generally based
on daily and monthly pricing for ethanol delivered to the San
Francisco Bay Area in California, as published by OPIS, as well as
the terms of quarterly contracts negotiated by Kinergy with local
fuel blenders and available premiums for fuel with low carbon
intensity as provided by California’s LCFS. The price for WDG
is determined monthly pursuant to a marketing agreement between
A.L. Gilbert and us and is generally determined in reference to the
price of DDG and other protein feedstuffs, based on local pricing
in California’s Central Valley.
7
India
In India, the price of biodiesel is based on the price of petroleum
diesel, which floats with changes in the price determined by the
international markets. India changed to daily dynamic pricing model
where diesel prices are changed on daily basis by the Oil Marketing
Companies. Biodiesel sold into Europe is based on the spot market
price but recent government ban on exports, for the time being,
closed this market for the Company. We sell our biodiesel primarily
to Government Oil Marketing Companies, transport companies,
resellers, distributors and private refiners on an as-needed basis.
We have no long-term sales contracts. Our biodiesel pricing
is related 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
We
entered into a Corn Procurement and Working Capital Agreement with
J.D. Heiskell in March 2011, which we amended in May 2013 (the
“Heiskell Agreement”). Under the Heiskell Agreement, we
agreed to procure number two yellow dent corn from J.D. Heiskell.
We have the ability to obtain corn from other sources subject to
certain conditions. However, in 2017 and 2018, all of our corn
supply was purchased from J.D. Heiskell. Title to the corn and risk
of loss pass to us when the corn is deposited into our weigh scale.
The agreement is automatically renewed for additional one-year
terms. The current term is set to expire on December 31,
2019.
India
In 2018, a significant amount of our biodiesel was derived from
processing crude palm stearin, which was imported from Indonesia,
and the remaining portion was derived from refining feedstocks
based on animal fats. During 2018 and 2017, we imported crude
glycerin for further processing into refined glycerin. In addition
to feedstock, the Kakinada 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 Kakinada 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 Heiskell
Agreement, we entered into a purchase
agreement with J.D. Heiskell, pursuant to which we granted J.D.
Heiskell exclusive rights to purchase 100% of the ethanol and WDG
we produce at prices based upon the price established by the
marketing agreements with Kinergy and A.L. Gilbert. In turn, J.D.
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, pursuant to which A.L. Gilbert agreed to market,
on an exclusive basis, all of the WDG we produce. The
agreement is automatically renewed for additional one-year terms.
The current term is set to expire on December 31,
2019.
In
October 2010, we entered into an
exclusive marketing agreement with Kinergy to market and sell our
ethanol. The agreement is automatically renewed for
additional one-year terms. The current term is set to expire on
August 31, 2019.
We sell
our DCO and CDS directly to local third-party animal
feedlots.
India
We sell our biodiesel and refined glycerin to (i) end-users
utilizing our own sales force and independent sales agents, (ii)
brokers who resell the product to end-users and (iii) Government
Oil Marketing Companies. We pay a sales commission on sales
arranged by independent sales agents.
8
Commodity Risk Management Practices
North America
The cost of corn and the price of ethanol are volatile and the
correlation of the pricing of these commodities form the basis for
the profit margin at our Keyes Plant. We are, therefore, exposed to
commodity price risk. Our risk management strategy is to operate in
the physical market by purchasing corn and selling ethanol on a
daily basis at the then prevailing market price. We monitor these
prices daily to test for an overall positive variable contribution
margin. We periodically explore and utilize methods of mitigating
the volatility of our commodity prices. During 2017 and 2018, we
offered three-month WDG contracts to our customers, which we offset
with the purchase of corn basis, allowing us to fix a portion of
the margin at the Keyes Plant. We continued with three-month WDG
contracts to our customers in 2019.
India
The cost of crude palm stearin 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
Kakinada Plant during periods of low or negative gross margins.
Additionally, we are pursuing relationships with large oil
companies and trading partners pursuant to which we would process
feedstocks and produce biofuels for sales into international
markets on a fixed margin basis.
In addition, to minimize our commodity risk, we modified the
processes within our facility to utilize lower cost crude palm
stearin and Palm based products with high FFA content, which
enables us to reduce our feedstock costs. The price of our
biodiesel is generally indexed to the local price of petroleum
diesel, which floats with changes in the price determined by
the international markets.
We have in the past, and we 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 market conditions and
other factors.
Research and Development
Our R&D efforts consist of developing, evaluating, and
commercializing technologies and expanding the production of
cellulosic ethanol and other renewable bio-chemicals in the United
States and India. The objective of this development activity is to
bring efficient conversion technologies using waste feedstocks to
produce biofuels and biochemicals on a large-scale, commercial
basis. Some of our innovations are protected by issued or pending
patents. We are developing additional technology and expect to file
additional patents that will further strengthen our intellectual
property portfolio. We expect to continue to file and protect
patents related to our business and future plans.
We built an Integrated Demonstration Unit for our cellulosic
ethanol project in 2017, which was successfully built and tested to
produce renewable cellulosic ethanol by combining the LanzaTech and
InEnTec Technologies with our own technology. The expense of
building this unit was charged to R&D expense in 2017. In 2018,
in cooperation with a federally funded agency, we secured a grant
from the California Energy Commission to optimize and demonstrate
the effectiveness of ionic liquids technologies for breaking down
biomass to produce cellulosic ethanol. After completion of
technology development and pilot testing, this technology may be
applied to upgrade the Keyes Plant to add waste wood as a
feedstock, thereby lowering feedstock costs and increasing the
value of the ethanol produced by the plant.
R&D expense was $0.2 million and $2.4 million respectively, in
the years ended 2018 and 2017.
Patents and Trademarks
We
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 hold nine
awarded patents in the United States. Our patents cover
processes to break down plant biomass and a technology to convert
carbon chain chemical structures. We intend to develop,
maintain and secure further intellectual property rights and pursue
new patents to expand upon our current patent base. In December
2018, the Company wrote off $0.9 million of patents associated with
the Z-microbeTM and enzymatic
processes to facilitate the degradation of certain plant biomass as
the Company no longer plans to commercially develop the
technologies itself and to free up resources to pursue other
methods.
9
We have
acquired exclusive rights to patented technology in support of the
development and commercialization of our products, and we also rely
on trade secrets and proprietary technology in developing potential
products. We continue to place significant emphasis on
securing global intellectual property rights and we are pursuing
new patents to expand upon our strong foundation for
commercializing products in development.
We have received, and may receive in the future, claims of
infringement of other parties’ proprietary rights. See
“Item 3. Legal Proceedings”. Infringement or other
claims could be asserted or prosecuted against us in the future,
which 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 us to develop
non-infringing technology or enter into royalty or licensing
arrangements. Such royalty or licensing arrangements, if required,
may require us to license back our technology or may not be
available on terms acceptable to us, or at all.
Environmental and Regulatory Matters
North America
In
December 2018, the EPA finalized the volume requirements and
associated percentage standards that apply under the RFS program in
calendar year 2019 for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel,
advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel.
The
final volumes requirements are set forth below and represent
continued growth over historic levels. The final percentage
standards meet or exceed the volume targets specified by
Congress for total renewable fuel, biomass-based diesel and
advanced biofuel.
Renewable Fuel Volume Requirements for 2015-2019
|
|||||
Year
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
Cellulosic
biofuel (million gallons)
|
123
|
230
|
311
|
288
|
418
|
Biomass-based
diesel (billion gallons)
|
1.73
|
1.9
|
2.0
|
2.1
|
2.1
|
Advanced
biofuel (billion gallons)
|
2.88
|
3.61
|
4.28
|
4.29
|
4.92
|
Renewable
fuel (billion gallons)
|
16.93
|
18.11
|
19.28
|
19.29
|
19.92
|
Source:
Environmental Protection Agency
We are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws,
regulations and permit conditions, 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 may, from time to time, require
us to incur significant capital costs. These include, but are not
limited to, testing and monitoring plant emissions, and where
necessary, obtaining and maintaining mitigation processes to comply
with regulations. They may also require us to make operational
changes to limit actual or potential impacts to the environment. A
significant violation of these laws, regulations, permits or
license conditions could result in substantial fines, criminal
sanctions, permit revocations and/or facility shutdowns. In
addition, environmental laws and regulations change over time, and
any such changes, more vigorous enforcement policies or the
discovery of currently unknown conditions may require substantial
additional environmental expenditures.
10
We are also subject to potential liability for the investigation
and cleanup of environmental contamination at each of the
properties that we own or operate and at off-site locations where
we arrange 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 costs to
investigate or remediate associated damage 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
damage 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 such material
contamination or third-party claims. Based on our current
assessment of the environmental and regulatory risks, we have not
accrued any amounts for environmental matters as of December 31,
2018. The ultimate costs of any liabilities that may be identified
or the discovery of additional contaminants could materially
adversely impact our results of operation or financial
condition.
In addition, the production and transportation of our products may
result in spills or releases of hazardous substances, which could
result in claims from governmental authorities or third parties
relating to actual or alleged personal injury, property damage, or
damage to natural resources. We maintain insurance coverage against
some, but not all, potential losses caused by our operations. Our
general and umbrella liability policy 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 who are not
subject to such stringent requirements.
New laws or regulations relating to the production, disposal or
emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases may require
us to incur significant additional costs with respect to ethanol
plants that we build or acquire. We currently conduct our North
American commercial activities exclusively in California.
Climate change and greenhouse gas emission (“GHG”)
reduction legislation is a topic of consideration by the U.S.
Congress and California State Legislature, which may significantly
impact the biofuels industry’s emissions regulations, as will
the RFS, California’s LCFS, 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, 2018, we had a total of 153 employees, comprised of
13 full-time employees and one part-time equivalent employee in our
corporate offices, 40 full-time equivalent employees at the Keyes
Plant, and 99 full-time equivalent employees in India.
We
believe that our employees are highly skilled, and our success will
depend in part upon our ability to retain our employees and attract
new qualified employees, many of whom are in great demand. We have
never had a work stoppage or strike, and no employees are presently
represented by a labor union or covered by a collective bargaining
agreement. We believe relations with
our employees are positive.
11
Available Information
We file
reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). We make available on our website under
“Investor Relations,” free of charge, our annual
reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current
reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports as soon as
reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials
with or furnish them to the SEC. Our website address is
www.aemetis.com. Our website address is provided as an inactive
textual reference only, and the contents of that website are not
incorporated in or otherwise to be regarded as part of this report.
You can also read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at
the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE,
Washington, DC 20549. You may also obtain additional information
about the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC
at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site
(www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information
statements, and other information regarding issuers that file
electronically with the SEC, including us.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
We
operate in an evolving industry that presents numerous risks beyond
our control that are driven by factors that cannot be predicted.
Should any of the risks described in this 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 risk 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 are currently not profitable and historically, we have incurred
significant losses. If we incur continued losses, we may
have to curtail our operations, which may prevent us from
successfully operating and expanding our business.
Historically,
we have relied upon cash from debt and equity financing activities
to fund substantially all of the cash requirements of our
activities. As of December 31, 2018, we had an
accumulated deficit of approximately $193.2 million. For our fiscal
years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we reported a net loss of
$36.3 million and $31.8 million, respectively. We may incur losses
for an indeterminate period of time and may not achieve consistent
profitability. We expect to
rely on cash on hand, cash, if any, generated from our operations,
borrowing availability under our lines of credit and proceeds from
future financing activities, if any, to fund all of the cash
requirements of our business. In some market environments, we
may have limited access to incremental financing, which could defer
or cancel growth projects, reduce business activity or cause us to
default on our existing debt agreements if we are unable to meet
our payment schedules. An extended period of losses or
negative cash flow may prevent us from successfully operating and
expanding our business.
Our indebtedness and interest expense could limit cash flow and
adversely affect operations and our ability to make full payment on
outstanding debt.
For the
year ended December 31, 2018, we recognized $18.2 million in
interest rate expense (excludes debt related fees and amortization
expense), primarily due to higher debt balances in 2018. Our high
levels of interest expense pose potential risks such
as:
●
A substantial
portion of cash flows from operations are used to pay principal and
interest on debt, thereby reducing the funds available for working
capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, research and
development and other general corporate purposes;
●
Insufficient cash
flows from operations may force us to sell assets, or seek
additional capital, which we may not be able to accomplish on
favorable terms, if at all; and
●
The level of
indebtedness may make us more vulnerable to economic or industry
downturns.
Additionally,
we have guaranteed the obligations of a variable interest entity
that is included in our consolidated financial statements, which
could require us to make payments on the outstanding debt of the
variable interest entity that would limit our cash flow and could
adversely affect our operations. In July 2017, we entered into a
limited guaranty with Third Eye Capital in connection with a note
purchase agreement entered into by our variable interest entity
GAFI and Third Eye Capital (the “GAFI Debt”). As of
December 31, 2018, GAFI’s outstanding balance of principal,
interest and fees on the GAFI Debt equaled $27.1 million, excluding
debt discounts. Any inability by GAFI to repay the GAFI debt
would require us to fulfill our guarantee to Third Eye Capital,
which would limit our cash flow and adversely affect our
operations.
12
Our business is dependent on external financing and cash from
operations to service debt and provide future growth.
The
adoption of new technologies at our ethanol and biodiesel plants
and our working capital requirements are financed in part through
debt facilities. We may need to seek additional
financing to continue or grow our operations. However,
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
protection. 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. 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 would likely have a material adverse effect on our
operations and financial position.
There
can be no assurance that our existing cash flow from operations
will be sufficient to sustain operations and to the extent that we
are dependent on credit facilities to fund operations or service
debt, there can be no assurances that we will be successful at
securing funding from our senior lender or significant
shareholders. Should we require additional financing, there can be
no assurances that the additional financing will be available on
terms satisfactory to us. Our ability to identify and
enter into commercial arrangements with feedstock suppliers in
India depends on maintaining our operations agreement with Gemini
Edibles and Fats India Private Limited (Gemini) and Secunderabad
Oils Limited (SOL), who are currently providing us with working
capital for our Kakinada facility and British Petroleum business
operations respectively. If we are unable to maintain
this strategic relationship, our business may be negatively
affected. In addition, the ability of Gemini and SOL to
continue to provide us with working capital depends in part on the
financial strength of them and their banking
relationships. If Gemini and SOL are 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 Keyes
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. 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 be unable to repay or refinance our Third Eye Capital Notes
upon maturity.
Under
our note facilities with Third Eye Capital, we owe approximately $
91.3 million excluding GAFI notes and debt discounts, as of
December 31, 2018. Our indebtedness and interest payments under
these note facilities are currently substantial and may adversely
affect our cash flow, cash position and stock price. The
maturity date of these notes is April 2020, and the maturity
can be further extended to April 2021 upon payment of certain
fees. We have been able to extend our indebtedness in
the past, but 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 operations. Additionally,
if we are unable to amend our current note purchase agreement with
Third Eye Capital, our ability to pay dividends could be
restrained.
We are
dependent upon our working capital agreements with J.D. Heiskell
and Gemini Edibles and Fats India Private Limited and Secunderabad
Oils Limited.
Our
ability to operate our Keyes Plant depends on maintaining our
working capital agreement with J.D. Heiskell, and our ability to
operate the Kakinada Plant depends on maintaining our working
capital agreement with Gemini and SOL. The Heiskell Agreement
provides for an initial term of one year with automatic one-year
renewals; provided, however, that J.D. 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, 2019. In addition, the agreement may be
terminated at any time upon an event of default, such as payment
default, bankruptcy, acts of fraud or material breach under one of
our related agreements with J.D. Heiskell. The Gemini
and SOL agreements 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 or milo supply, 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.
13
Disruptions in ethanol production infrastructure may adversely
affect our business, results of operations and financial
condition.
Our
business depends on the continuing availability of rail, road,
port, and storage and distribution infrastructure. In particular,
due to limited storage capacity at the Keyes Plant and other
considerations related to production efficiencies, the Keyes Plant
depends on just-in-time delivery of corn and milo. The delivery and
transformation of feedstock requires a significant and
uninterrupted supply of corn and milo, principally delivered by
rail, as well as other raw materials and energy, primarily
electricity and natural gas. The prices of rail, electricity and
natural gas have fluctuated significantly in the past and may
fluctuate significantly in the future. The national rail system, as
well as local electricity and gas utilities, may not be able to
reliably supply the rail logistics, electricity and natural gas
that the Keyes Plant will need or may not be able to supply those
resources on acceptable terms. Any disruptions in the ethanol
production infrastructure, whether caused by labor difficulties,
earthquakes, storms, other natural disasters, or human error or
malfeasance or other reasons, could prevent timely deliveries of
corn, milo or other raw materials and energy and may require the
Keyes Plant to halt production, which could have a material adverse
effect on our business, results of operations and financial
condition.
Our results from operations are primarily dependent on the spread
between the feedstock and energy we purchase and the fuel, animal
feed and other products we sell.
The
results of our ethanol production business in the U.S. are
significantly affected by the spread between the cost of the corn
and natural gas that we purchase and the price of the ethanol, WDG
and DCO that we sell. Similarly, in India 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 distilled biodiesel and refined
glycerin). The markets for ethanol, biodiesel, WDG, DCO
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 suspend production at either of our
plants.
The price of ethanol is volatile and subject to large
fluctuations, and increased ethanol production may cause a decline
in ethanol prices or prevent ethanol prices from rising, either of
which could adversely impact our results of operations, cash flows
and financial condition.
The
market price of ethanol is volatile and subject to large
fluctuations. The market price of ethanol is dependent upon many
factors, including the supply of ethanol and the demand for
gasoline, which is in turn dependent upon the price of petroleum,
which is also highly volatile and difficult to
forecast. Fluctuations in the market price of ethanol
may cause our profitability or losses to fluctuate
significantly. In addition, domestic ethanol production
capacity increased significantly in the last
decade. Demand for ethanol may not increase
commensurately with increases in supply, which could lead to lower
ethanol prices. Demand for ethanol could be impaired due to a
number of factors, including regulatory developments and reduced
United States gasoline consumption. Reduced gasoline consumption
has occurred in the past and could occur in the future as a result
of increased gasoline or oil prices.
Decreasing gasoline prices
may negatively impact the selling price of ethanol which could
reduce our ability to operate profitably.
The
price of ethanol tends to change in relation to the price of
gasoline. Recently, as a result of a number of factors including
the current world economy, the price of gasoline has decreased. In
correlation to the decrease in the price of gasoline, the price of
ethanol has also decreased. Decreases in the price of ethanol
reduce our revenue. Our profitability depends on a favorable spread
between our corn and natural gas costs and the price we receive for
our ethanol. If ethanol prices fall during times when corn and/or
natural gas prices are high, we may not be able to operate
profitably.
We may be unable to execute our business plan.
The
value of our long-lived assets is based on our ability to execute
our business plan and generate sufficient cash flow to justify the
carrying value of our assets. Should we fall short of
our cash flow projections, we may be required to write down the
value of these assets under accounting rules and further reduce the
value of our assets. We can make no assurances that
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 our long-lived
assets.
14
In
addition, we intend to modify or adapt third party technologies at
the Keyes Plant and at the Kakinada Plant to accommodate
alternative feedstocks and improve operations. 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 one or both
plants. Additionally, even if we are able to install and
begin operations of an integrated advanced fuels and/or
bio-chemical plant, we cannot assure you 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. Similarly, our plans to add a
CO2
conversion unit at the Keyes Plant may not be successful as a
result of financing, issues in the design or construction process,
or our ability to sell liquid CO2 at cost effective
prices. Any inability to execute our business plan may have a
material adverse effect on our operations, financial position,
ability to pay dividends, and ability to continue as a going
concern.
We may not be able to recover the costs of our substantial
investments in capital improvements and additions, and the actual
cost of such improvements and additions may be significantly higher
than we anticipate.
Our
strategy calls for continued investment in capital improvements and
additions. For example, we are currently developing the Riverbank
Cellulosic Ethanol Facility in Riverbank, CA to utilize the
LanzaTech and InEnTec Technologies to convert local California
surplus biomass into ultra-low carbon renewable cellulosic ethanol
and evaluating the Goodland facility in Goodland, KS for
construction of an additional cellulosic ethanol facility. The
construction of these capital improvements and additions involve
numerous regulatory, environmental, political and legal
uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and may require
the expenditure of significant amounts of capital, which may exceed
our estimates. These projects may not be completed at the planned
cost, on schedule or at all. The construction of new ethanol and
other biofuel facilities is subject to construction cost overruns
due to labor costs, costs of equipment and materials such as steel,
labor shortages or weather or other delays, inflation or other
factors, which could be material. In addition, the construction of
these facilities is typically subject to the receipt of approvals
and permits from various regulatory agencies. Those agencies may
not approve the projects in a timely manner, if at all, or may
impose restrictions or conditions on the projects that could
potentially prevent a project from proceeding, lengthen its
expected completion schedule and/or increase its anticipated cost.
Moreover, our revenues and cash flows may not increase immediately
upon the expenditure of funds on a particular project. For
instance, if we expand an existing facility or construct a new
facility, the construction may occur over an extended period of
time, and we may not receive any material increases in revenues or
cash flows until the project is completed. As a result, the new
facilities may not be able to achieve our expected investment
return, which could adversely affect our results of
operations.
We are dependent on, and
vulnerable to any difficulties of, our principal suppliers and
customers.
We buy
all of the feedstock for the Keyes Plant from one supplier, J.D.
Heiskell. Under the Heiskell Agreement, we are only
permitted to purchase feedstock from other suppliers upon the
satisfaction of certain conditions. In addition, we have
contracted to sell all of the WDG, CDS, corn oil and ethanol we
produce at the Keyes Plant to J.D. Heiskell. J.D.
Heiskell, in turn, sells all ethanol produced at the Keyes Plant to
Kinergy Marketing and all WDG and syrup to A.L.
Gilbert. If J.D. Heiskell were to fail to deliver
adequate feedstock to the Keyes Plant or fail to purchase all the
product we produce, if Kinergy were to fail to purchase all of the
ethanol we produce, if A.L. Gilbert were to fail to purchase all of
the WDG and syrup we produce, or if any of them were otherwise to
default on our agreements with them or fail to perform as expected,
we may be unable to find replacement suppliers or purchasers, or
both, in a reasonable time or on favorable terms, any of which
could materially adversely affect our results of operations and
financial condition.
We may not receive the funds we expect under our EB-5
program.
Our
EB-5 Phase I program allows for the issuance of up to 72
subordinated convertible promissory notes, each in the amount of
$0.5 million due and payable four years from the date of the note
for a total aggregate principal amount of up to $36.0 million. As
of December 31, 2018, $35.5 million has been raised through the
EB-5 program, of which $35.0 million have been released from
escrow, the EB-5 escrow account is holding funds in the amount of
$0.5 million from one investor pending approval by the USCIS, and
$0.5 million remain to be funded to escrow. Additionally, the USCIS
could deny approval of the loans, and then we would not receive
some or all of the subscribed funds. If the USCIS takes longer to
approve the release of funds in escrow, or does not approve the
loans at all, it would have a material adverse effect on our cash
flows available for operations, and thus could have a material
adverse effect on our results of operations.
On
October 16, 2016, we launched our EB-5 Phase II program, allowing
for the issuance of up to 100 subordinated convertible promissory
notes, on substantially similar terms and conditions as those
issued under our EB-5 Phase II program, for a total aggregate
principal amount of up to $50.0 million. As of December 31, 2018,
$1.5 million have been raised through the EB-5 Phase II, all of
which have been released from escrow.
There
can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully raise
additional funds under our EB-5 Phase II program or that such
funds, if raised, will be approved by USCIS. If we are unable to
raise, receive approval for, or receive any funds under our EB-5
Phase II program, our business may be negatively
affected.
15
We face competition for our bio-chemical and transportation fuels
products from providers of petroleum-based products and from other
companies seeking to provide alternatives to these products, many
of whom have greater resources and experience than we do, and if we
cannot compete effectively against these companies we may not be
successful.
Our
renewable products compete with both the traditional, largely
petroleum-based bio-chemical and fuels products that are currently
being used in our target markets and with the alternatives to these
existing products that established enterprises and new companies
are seeking to produce. The oil companies, large
chemical companies and well-established agricultural products
companies with whom we compete are much larger than we are, and
have, in many cases, well developed distribution systems and
networks for their products.
In the
transportation fuels market, we compete with independent and
integrated oil refiners, advanced biofuels companies and biodiesel
companies. Refiners compete with us by selling traditional fuel
products and some are also pursuing hydrocarbon fuel production
using non-renewable feedstocks, such as natural gas and coal, as
well as processes using renewable feedstocks, such as vegetable oil
and biomass. We also expect to compete with companies that are
developing the capacity to produce diesel and other transportation
fuels from renewable resources in other ways.
With
the emergence of many new companies seeking to produce chemicals
and fuels from alternative sources, we may face increasing
competition from alternative fuels and chemicals companies. As they
emerge, some of these companies may be able to establish production
capacity and commercial partnerships to compete with us. If we are
unable to establish production and sales channels that allow us to
offer comparable products at attractive prices, we may not be able
to compete effectively with these companies.
We also face competition from international suppliers.
Ethanol can be imported into the United States duty-free from some
countries, which may undermine the domestic ethanol
industry. Currently,
international suppliers produce ethanol primarily from sugar cane
and as such, production costs for ethanol in these countries
can be significantly less than those 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.
The high concentration of our sales within the ethanol production
industry could result in a significant reduction in sales and
negatively affect our profitability if demand for ethanol
declines.
We
expect our U.S. operations to be substantially focused on the
production of ethanol and its co-products for the foreseeable
future. We may be unable to shift our business focus away from the
production of ethanol to other renewable fuels or competing
products. Accordingly, an industry shift away from ethanol or the
emergence of new competing products may reduce the demand for
ethanol. A downturn in the demand for ethanol could materially and
adversely affect our sales and profitability.
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 or licenses 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. Violations of these laws, regulations or permit,
or license 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, permits or licenses or we
may not have all permits or licenses 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, permits or
licenses. In addition, we may be required to make
significant capital expenditures on an ongoing basis to comply with
increasingly stringent environmental laws, regulations, and permit
and license requirements.
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
hazardous 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.
16
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.
Emissions
of carbon dioxide resulting from manufacturing ethanol are not
currently subject to 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 is affected by greenhouse gas and climate change
regulation.
The
operations at our Keyes Plant will result in the emission of carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere. In March 2010, the EPA
released its final regulations on the Renewable Fuels Standard
Program, or RFS. We believe the EPA’s final RFS
regulations grandfather the Keyes facility we operate at its
current capacity. However, compliance with future legislation may
require us to take action unknown to us at this time that could be
costly, and 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.
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 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), which was implemented pursuant to the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of
2007 (the “EISA”). The RFS program sets annual quotas
for the quantity of renewable fuels (such as ethanol) that must be
blended into motor fuels consumed in the United States. However,
legislation aimed at reducing or eliminating the renewable fuel use
required by the RFS has been introduced in the United States
Congress. Any change in government policies could have a
material adverse effect on our business and the results of our
operations.
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 EPA 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.
A critical state program is California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard,
("LCFS"), which is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
associated with transportation fuels used in California by ensuring
that the fuel sold meets declining targets for such emissions. The
regulation quantifies lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by
assigning a “carbon intensity” ("CI") score to each
transportation fuel based on that fuel’s lifecycle
assessment. Each petroleum fuel provider, generally the
fuel’s producer or importer (the “Regulated
Party”), is required to ensure that the overall CI score for
its fuel pool meets the annual carbon intensity target for a given
year. A Regulated Party’s fuel pool can include gasoline,
diesel, and their blend stocks and substitutes. This obligation is
tracked through credits and deficits. Fuels with a CI score lower
than the annual standard earn a credit, and fuels that are higher
than the standard result in a deficit. Credits can be traded. Any
changes to California’s LCFS could cause our results
of operations to decline and our financial condition to
suffer.
Concerns regarding the environmental impact of biofuel production
could affect public policy which could impair our ability to
operate at a profit and substantially harm our revenues and
operating margins.
Under
the EISA, the EPA is required to produce a study every three years
of the environmental impacts associated with current and future
biofuel production and use, including effects on air and water
quality, soil quality and conservation, water availability, energy
recovery from secondary materials, ecosystem health and
biodiversity, invasive species and international impacts. Should
such EPA triennial studies, or other analyses find that biofuel
production and use has resulted in, or could in the future result
in, adverse environmental impacts, such findings could also
negatively impact public perception and acceptance of biofuel as an
alternative fuel, which also could result in the loss of political
support. To the extent that state or federal laws are modified or
public perception turns against biofuels, use requirements such as
RFS and LCFS may not continue, which could materially harm our
ability to operate profitably.
17
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 Keyes Plant to
accommodate alternative feedstocks and new chemical and/or
mechanical production processes. We may not be able to
successfully implement these modifications, and they may not
function as we expect them to. These modifications may cost
significantly more to complete than our estimates. The
Keyes Plant may not operate at nameplate capacity once the changes
are complete. If any of these risks materialize, they
could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations
and financial position.
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 success depends in part on recruiting and retaining key
personnel and, if we fail to do so, it may be more difficult for us
to execute our business strategy.
Our
success depends on our continued ability to attract, retain and
motivate highly qualified management, manufacturing and scientific
personnel, in particular our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Eric McAfee. We do not maintain any key person insurance.
Competition for qualified personnel in the renewable fuel and
bio-chemicals manufacturing fields is intense. Our
future success will depend on, among other factors, our ability to
retain our current key personnel, and attract and retain qualified
future key personnel, particularly executive
management. Failure to attract or retain key personnel
could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of
operations.
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 countries 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. Any inability to effectively
manage the risks associated with our foreign operations may have a
material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial
condition.
We could be adversely affected by violations of the U.S. Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act.
Our
operations in countries outside the United States, including our
operations in India, are subject to anti-corruption laws and
regulations, including restrictions imposed by the U.S. Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act (”FCPA”). The FCPA and similar
anti-corruption laws in other jurisdictions generally prohibit
companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to
government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining
business. We operate in parts of the world that have experienced
governmental corruption to some degree and, in certain
circumstances, strict compliance with anti-corruption laws may
conflict with local customs and practices.
Our
employees and agents interact with government officials on our
behalf, including interactions necessary to obtain licenses and
other regulatory approvals necessary to operate our business. These
interactions create a risk that actions may occur that could
violate the FCPA or other similar laws.
18
Although
we have policies and procedures designed to promote compliance with
local laws and regulations as well as U.S. laws and regulations,
including the FCPA, there can be no assurance that all of our
employees, consultants, contractors and agents will abide by our
policies. If we are found to be liable for violations of the FCPA
or similar anti-corruption laws in other jurisdictions, either due
to our own acts or out of inadvertence, or due to the acts or
inadvertence of others, we could suffer from criminal or civil
penalties which could have a material and adverse effect on our
results of operations, financial condition and cash
flows.
A substantial portion of our assets and operations are located in
India, and we are subject to regulatory, economic and political
uncertainties in India.
Certain
of our principal operating subsidiaries are incorporated in India,
and substantial portions of our assets are located in India. We
intend to continue to develop and expand our facilities in
India. The Indian government has exercised and continues
to exercise significant influence over many aspects of the Indian
economy. India’s government has traditionally maintained an
artificially low price for certain commodities, including diesel
fuel, through subsidies, but has recently begun to reduce such
subsidies, which benefits us. We cannot assure you that
liberalization policies will continue. Various factors, such as
changes in the current federal government, could trigger
significant changes in India’s economic liberalization and
deregulation policies and disrupt business and economic conditions
in India generally and our business in particular. Our
financial performance may be adversely affected by general economic
conditions and economic and fiscal policy in India, including
changes in exchange rates and controls, interest rates and taxation
policies, as well as social stability and political, economic or
diplomatic developments affecting India in the future.
Currency fluctuations between the Indian Rupee and the U.S. dollar
could have a material adverse effect on our results of
operations.
A
substantial portion of our revenues is denominated in Rupees. We
report our financial results in U.S. dollars. The exchange rates
between the Rupee and the U.S. dollar have changed substantially in
recent years and may fluctuate substantially in the
future. We do not currently engage in any formal
currency hedging of our foreign currency exposure, and our results
of operations may be adversely affected if the Rupee fluctuates
significantly against the U.S. dollar.
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 cash distributions, dividends or other
intercompany transfers of funds from our subsidiaries to finance
our operations. Our subsidiaries have not made significant
distributions to us and may not have funds available for dividends
or distributions in the future. The ability of our subsidiaries to
transfer funds to us will be dependent upon their respective
abilities to achieve sufficient cash flows after satisfying their
respective cash requirements, including subsidiary-level debt
service on their respective credit agreements. Our current credit
agreement, the Third Eye Capital Note Purchase Agreement, as
amended from time to time, described in the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements, requires us to obtain the prior consent of
Third Eye Capital, as the Administrative Agent of the Note holders,
to make cash distributions or any intercompany fund transfers. The
ability of our Indian operating subsidiary to transfer funds to us
is restricted by Indian laws and may be adversely affected by U.S.
federal income tax laws. Under Indian laws, our capital
contributions, or future capital contributions, to our Indian
operation cannot be remitted back to the U.S. Remittance of funds
by our Indian subsidiary to us may subject us to significant tax
liabilities under U.S. federal income tax laws.
Our Chief Executive Officer has outside business interests that
could require time and attention.
Eric
McAfee, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has outside
business interests which include his ownership of McAfee
Capital. Although Mr. McAfee’s employment
agreement requires that he devote reasonable business efforts to
our company and prohibits him from engaging in any competitive
employment, occupational and consulting services, this agreement
also permits him to devote time to his outside business interests
consistent with past practice. As a result, these
outside business interests could interfere with
Mr. McAfee’s ability to devote time to our business and
affairs.
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 preventing 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.
19
Our ability to utilize our NOL carryforwards may be
limited.
Under
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”), a corporation is generally allowed a deduction
in any taxable year for net operating losses (“NOL”)
carried over from prior taxable years. As of December 31, 2018, we had U.S. federal NOL
carryforwards of approximately $188.0 million and state NOL carryforwards of
approximately $195.0 million.
These federal and state net operating loss and other tax credit
carryforwards expire on various dates between 2027 and 2037. Due to
2017 U.S. Tax Reform, U.S. federal NOL’s created after 2017
no longer expire. Federal NOL carryforwards of $11.0 million as of
December 31, 2018 which have no expiration
date.
Our
ability to deduct these NOL carryforwards against future taxable
income could be limited if we experience an “ownership
change,” as defined in Section 382 of the Code. In general,
an ownership change may result from one or more transactions
increasing the aggregate ownership of certain persons (or groups of
persons) in our stock by more than 50 percentage points over a
testing period (generally three years). Future direct or indirect
changes in the ownership of our stock, including sales or
acquisitions of our stock by certain stockholders and purchases and
issuances of our stock by us, some of which are not in our control,
could result in an ownership change. Any resulting limitation on
the use of our NOL carryforwards could result in the payment of
taxes above the amounts currently estimated and could have a
negative effect on our future results of operations and financial
position.
U.S. tax law changes could materially affect the tax aspects of our
business and the industries in which we compete.
On
December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the
“2017 Tax Act”) was signed into law by President Trump.
Under the 2017 Tax Act, certain corporate tax provisions were
amended, including a reduction in the corporate tax rate, the
implementation of a territorial tax system and the creation of a
one-time repatriation tax on foreign earnings. As a result of the enacted reduction in the
federal corporate income tax rate, we recorded a one-time, non-cash
increase to deferred income tax expense of $19.6 million to revalue
the Company’s net deferred tax asset. The one-time
revaluation was based on our current knowledge, interpretation and
understanding of the 2017 Tax Act and its impact to our business.
Other aspects of the 2017 Tax Act including, but not limited to,
the state tax effect of adjustments made to federal taxes and the
interest expense deduction limitation, may have additional material
impacts on our effective tax rate and net income as reported
under GAAP, and there can be no assurances that such impacts will
be favorable. Additional changes under the 2017 Tax Act
could result in a potentially
significant reduction in the value and utility of our U.S. federal
NOLs and other tax assets, significant one-time charges in the
current or future taxable years, and could increase our future tax
expense. The foregoing items could have a material adverse effect
on our business, cash flow, results of operations or financial
condition.
Non-U.S. stockholders of our common
stock, in certain situations, could be subject to U.S. federal
income tax on the gain from the sale, exchange or other disposition
of our common stock.
Our
ethanol plant in Keyes, California (which constitutes a U.S. real
property interest for purposes of determining whether we are a U.S.
real property holding corporation (a “USRPHC”) under
the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act
(“FIRPTA”)), currently accounts for a significant
portion of our assets. The value of our Keyes Plant relative to our
real property located outside of the United States and other assets
used in our trade or business may be uncertain and may fluctuate
over time. Therefore, we may be, now or at any time while a
non-U.S. stockholder owns our common stock, a USRPHC. If we are a
USRPHC, certain non-U.S. stockholders may be subject to U.S.
federal income tax on gain from the disposition of our stock under
FIRPTA, in which case such non-U.S. stockholders would also be
required to file U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to
such gain. Whether the FIRPTA provisions apply depends on the stock
that a non-U.S. stockholder owns and whether, at the time such
non-U.S. stockholder disposes of our common stock, such common
stock is regularly traded on an established securities market
within the meaning of the applicable U.S. Treasury regulations.
Non-U.S. stockholders should consult with their own tax
advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the
sale, exchange or other disposition of our common
stock.
We are subject to covenants and other operating restrictions under
the terms of our debt, which may restrict our ability to engage in
some business transactions.
Our
debt facilities contain covenants restricting our ability, among
others, to:
●
incur additional
debt;
●
make certain
capital expenditures;
●
incur or permit
liens to exist;
●
enter into
transactions with affiliates;
●
guarantee the debt
of other entities, including joint ventures;
●
pay
dividends;
●
merge or
consolidate or otherwise combine with another company;
and
●
transfer, sell or
lease our assets.
20
These
restrictions may limit our ability to engage in business
transactions that may be beneficial to us, or may restrict our
ability to execute our business plan.
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 or the imposition of civil or criminal
penalties. Our insurance may not be adequate to cover
such potential hazards 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. 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 might take longer to realize than
expected and these 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 condition. In connection with such
acquisitions and strategic transactions, we may incur unanticipated
expenses, fail to realize anticipated benefits, have difficulty
incorporating the acquired businesses, our management may become
distracted from our core business, and we may disrupt relationships
with current and new employees, customers and vendors, incur
significant debt, or have to delay or not proceed with announced
transactions. The occurrence of any of these events
could have an adverse effect on our business.
EdenIQ’s attempt to terminate and failure to close the EdenIQ
Merger, and litigation pertaining to the EdenIQ Merger, may
negatively impact our business and operations.
On
August 31, 2016, the Company filed a lawsuit in Santa Clara County
Superior Court against EdenIQ and its CEO, Brian D. Thome. The
lawsuit is based on EdenIQ’s wrongful termination of a merger
agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) that would have
effectuated the merger of the Company and EdenIQ (the “EdenIQ
Merger”). The relief sought includes specific performance of
the merger agreement and monetary damages, as well as punitive
damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs. By way of its cross-complaint, EdenIQ sought
monetary damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief,
attorneys’ fees and costs. All of the claims asserted
by both the Company and EdenIQ have been denied or dismissed.
The Company and EdenIQ have filed motions for attorney’s fees
and costs, which motions are currently pending. The Company
seeks $1,775,043 by its motion and EdenIQ seeks $8,481,600.40 on
its motion. The Company vigorously disputes EdenIQ’s
position and supports its own position. We cannot predict
the outcome of such litigation. Such litigation may also create a
distraction for our management team and board of directors and
require time and attention. Any litigation relating to the EdenIQ
Merger or EdenIQ’s wrongful termination of and failure to
close the EdenIQ Merger would adversely affect our ability to
leverage EdenIQ’s technologies for the development of
additional advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals and could
adversely impact our ability to execute our business plan, our
financial condition and results of operations.
Our business may be significantly disrupted upon the occurrence of
a catastrophic event or cyberattack.
Our
Keyes and Kakinada Plants are highly automated and rely extensively
on the availability of our network infrastructure and internal
technology systems. The failure of our systems due to a
catastrophic event, such as an earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami,
weather event, telecommunications failure, power failure,
cyberattack or war, could adversely impact our business, results of
operations and financial condition. We have developed disaster
recovery plans and maintain backup systems in order to reduce the
potential impact of a catastrophic event. However, there can be no
assurance that these plans and systems would enable us to return to
normal business operations.
21
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.
Companies
in our industry aggressively protect and pursue their intellectual
property rights. From time to time, we receive notices
from competitors and other operating companies, as well as notices
from “non-practicing entities,” or NPEs, that claim we
have infringed upon, misappropriated or misused other
parties’ proprietary rights. Our success and
future revenue growth will depend, in part, on our ability to
protect our intellectual property. It is possible that
competitors or other unauthorized third parties may obtain, copy,
use or disclose our technologies and processes, or confidential
employee, customer or supplier data. Any of our existing
or future patents may be challenged, invalidated or
circumvented.
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. 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. In December 2018, the Company
wrote off $0.9 million of patents associated with the
Z-microbeTM and enzymatic
processes to facilitate the degradation of certain plant biomass as
the Company no longer plans to commercially develop the
technologies itself and to free up resources to pursue other
methods. In 2018, in cooperation with
a federally funded agency, we secured a grant from the California
Energy Commission to optimize and demonstrate the effectiveness of
ionic liquids technologies for breaking down biomass to produce
cellulosic ethanol. 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. Commercialization risks include
economic financial feasibility at commercial scale, availability of
funding to complete large-scale commercial prototype, ability of
ionic liquids to function at commercial scale and market
acceptance of product.
Technological advances and changes in production methods in the
biomass-based biofuel industry and renewable chemical industry
could render our plants obsolete and adversely affect our ability
to compete.
It
is expected that technological advances in biomass-based biofuel
production methods will continue to occur and new technologies for
biomass-based diesel production may develop. Advances in the
process of converting oils and fats into biodiesel and renewable
diesel, including co-processing, could allow our competitors to
produce advanced biofuels more efficiently and at a substantially
lower cost. New standards or production technologies may require us
to make additional capital investments in, or modify, plant
operations to meet these standards. If we are unable to adapt or
incorporate technological advances into our operations, our
production facilities could become less competitive or obsolete.
Further, it may be necessary for us to make significant
expenditures to acquire any new technology and retrofit our plants
in order to incorporate new technologies and remain competitive. In
order to execute our strategy to expand into the production of
renewable chemicals, additional advanced biofuels, next generation
feedstocks and related renewable products, we may need to acquire
licenses or other rights to technology from third parties. We can
provide no assurance that we will be able to obtain such licenses
or rights on favorable terms. If we are unable to obtain, implement
or finance new technologies, our production facilities could be
less efficient than our competitors, and our ability to sell
biomass-based diesel may be harmed, negatively impacting our
revenues and profitability.
22
Risks related to ownership of our stock
If the trading price of our common stock fails to comply with the
continued listing requirements of NASDAQ, we could face
possible delisting.
NASDAQ delisting could materially adversely affect the market
for our shares.
On
December 24, 2018, we received a letter from the Listing
Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market indicating
that, based
upon the closing bid price of our common stock for the last
30 consecutive business days, we did not meet the minimum bid
price of $1.00 per share required for continued listing on The
NASDAQ Global Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)
(1). On December 28, 2018, we received a letter from the
Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market
indicating that, based upon the most
recent publicly held shares information and the closing bid price
of our common stock for the last 30 consecutive business days, we
did not meet the minimum market value of publicly held shares
(“MVPHS”) of $15,000,000 required for continued listing
on The NASDAQ Global Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)
(3) (C). We have a compliance period of 180 calendar days, or June
24, 2019 with regards to the minimum bid price requirement and June
26, 2019 with regards to the MVPHS requirement, in which to regain
compliance. In the event that we do not regain compliance by the
dates above, we will receive written notification that our stock is
subject to delisting. At that time, we would have the right
to request a hearing to appeal
the NASDAQ determination.
We
cannot be sure that we will be able to regain compliance with the
requirements for continued listing of our common shares on
The NASDAQ Global Market, or that any appeal of a
decision to delist our common shares will be successful.
If our common shares lose their listed status on
The NASDAQ Global Market and we are not successful in
obtaining a listing on another exchange, our common shares would
likely trade on the over-the-counter market.
If our
shares were to trade on the over-the-counter market, selling our
common shares could be more difficult because smaller quantities of
shares would likely be bought and sold, transactions could be
delayed, and security analysts’ coverage of us may be
reduced. In addition, in the event our common shares are delisted,
broker-dealers have certain regulatory burdens imposed upon them,
which may discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in
our common shares, further limiting the liquidity of our common
shares. These factors could result in lower prices and larger
spreads in the bid and ask prices for common shares.
Future sales and issuances of rights to purchase common stock by us
could result in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of
our stockholders and could cause our stock price to
fall.
We may
issue equity or convertible securities in the future. To the
extent, we do so, our stockholders may experience substantial
dilution. We may sell common stock, convertible securities, or
other equity securities in one or more transactions at prices and
in a manner, we determine from time to time. If we sell common
stock, convertible securities, or other equity securities in more
than one transaction, investors may be materially diluted by
subsequent sales and new investors could gain rights superior to
our existing stockholders.
Our stock price is highly volatile, which could result in
substantial losses for investors purchasing shares of our common
stock and in litigation against us.
The
market price of our common stock has fluctuated significantly in
the past and may continue to fluctuate significantly in the future.
The market price of our common stock may continue to fluctuate in
response to one or more of the following factors, many of which are
beyond our control:
|
•
|
fluctuations
in the market prices of ethanol and its co-products including WDG
and corn oil;
|
|
•
|
the
cost of key inputs to the production of ethanol, including corn and
natural gas;
|
|
•
|
the
volume and timing of the receipt of orders for ethanol from major
customers;
|
|
•
|
competitive
pricing pressures;
|
|
•
|
our
ability to produce, sell and deliver ethanol on a cost-effective
and timely basis;
|
|
•
|
the
announcement, introduction and market acceptance of one or more
alternatives to ethanol;
|
|
•
|
losses
resulting from adjustments to the fair values of our outstanding
warrants to purchase our common stock;
|
|
•
|
changes
in market valuations of companies similar to us;
|
|
•
|
stock
market price and volume fluctuations generally;
|
|
•
|
regulatory
developments or increased enforcement;
|
|
•
|
fluctuations
in our quarterly or annual operating results;
|
|
•
|
additions
or departures of key personnel;
|
|
•
|
our
inability to obtain financing; and
|
|
•
|
our
financing activities and future sales of our common stock or other
securities.
|
23
The
price at which you purchase shares of our common stock may not be
indicative of the price that will prevail in the trading market.
You may be unable to sell your shares of common stock at or above
your purchase price, which may result in substantial losses to you
and which may include the complete loss of your investment. In the
past, securities class action litigation has often been brought
against a company following periods of high stock price volatility.
We may be the target of similar litigation in the future.
Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and divert
management’s attention and our resources away from our
business.
Any of
the risks described above could have a material adverse effect on
our results of operations or the price of our common stock, or
both.
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, and
Laird Q. Cagan, a former board member, in the aggregate,
beneficially own 24.4% of our outstanding common stock. In
addition, the other members of our Board and management, in the
aggregate, excluding Mr. McAfee, beneficially own approximately
2.5% of our common stock. Our lender, Third Eye Capital, acting as
principal and agent and its affiliates, beneficially own 7.9% 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 acquisitions 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, 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.
The conversion of convertible securities and the exercise of
outstanding options and warrants to purchase our common stock could
substantially dilute your investment and reduce the voting power of
your shares, impede our ability to obtain additional financing and
cause us to incur additional expenses.
Our
Series B convertible preferred stock is convertible into our common
stock. As of December 31, 2018, there were 1.3 million shares of
our Series B convertible preferred stock outstanding, convertible
into 132,300 shares of our common stock on a 10 to 1 ratio. Certain
of our financing arrangements, such as our EB-5 notes are
convertible into shares of our common stock at fixed prices.
Additionally, there are outstanding warrants and options to acquire
our common stock issued to employees and directors. As of December
31, 2018, there were outstanding warrants and options to purchase
3.0 million shares of our common stock.
Such
securities allow their holders an opportunity to profit from a rise
in the market price of our common stock such that conversion of the
securities will result in dilution of the equity interests of our
common stockholders. The terms on which we may obtain additional
financing may be adversely affected by the existence and
potentially dilutive impact of our outstanding convertible and
other promissory notes, Series B convertible preferred stock,
options and warrants. In addition, holders of our outstanding
promissory notes and certain warrants have registration rights with
respect to the common stock underlying those notes and warrants,
the registration of which involves substantial
expense.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff
Comments
None.
Item
2. Properties
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
extended the lease in February 2015 for an additional five years
ending on May 31, 2020. From July 2009 through July 2012, we sublet
office space consisting of 3,104 rentable square feet to Solargen,
Inc., From June 1, 2013 through December 31, 2016, we sublet office
space consisting of 3,104 rentable square feet to Splunk Inc., at a
monthly rent rate equal to the rent charged to us by our
landlord.
24
Ethanol Plant in Keyes, CA. On
July 6, 2012, we acquired Cilion, Inc., including the Keyes Plant.
The Keyes Plant is situated on approximately 11 acres of land and
it contains 25,284 square feet of plant building and structures.
The property is located next to Union Pacific railroad system to
facilitate the transportation of raw materials. Our tangible and
intangible assets, including the Keyes Plant, are subject to
perfected first liens and mortgages as further described in Note 4.
Debt, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II,
Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
CO2 Land
in Keyes, CA. On December 3,
2018, we acquired the 5.32 acres of parcel land next to our Keyes
Plant in Keyes, CA. The land will be leased and utilized by Linde
LLC to construct piping structure to capture the
CO2
from the Keyes
Plant.
Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in Modesto, CA. On February 3, 2017, we entered into lease
agreement with City of Riverbank Local Redevelopment Authority for
leasing of approximately 77,000 square feet. The space is leased
for 5 years with 10 five-year extensions allowed. The space is
being utilized to build a plant to process cellulosic
ethanol.
Land, Building and Equipment in Goodland, KS. On July 10,
2017, we obtained an option to acquire all of the capital stock of
Goodland Advanced Fuels, Inc., (GAFI), comprising of approximately
93 acres of land, approximately 34,992 square feet of buildings and
equipment as part of a partially completed 40 million gallon per
year dry-mill ethanol plant. Aemetis has the power to direct the
activities of GAFI and has future plans to deploy the cellulosic
ethanol technology at the Goodland location.
We productively utilize the majority of the space in our corporate
offices and the ethanol plant facilities. The lease with the City
of Riverbank and the option to acquire GAFI are intended for future
expansion and deployment of the cellulosic ethanol
technology.
India
Biodiesel Plant in Kakinada, India. The Kakinada Plant is 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 of
finished products.
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.
We productively utilize the majority of the space in these
facilities.
Item
3. Legal Proceedings
On August 31, 2016, the Company filed a lawsuit in Santa Clara
County Superior Court against defendants EdenIQ, Inc.
(EdenIQ). The lawsuit was based on EdenIQ’s wrongful
termination of a merger agreement that would have effectuated the
merger of EdenIQ into a new entity established and owned primarily
by Aemetis. The lawsuit asserted that EdenIQ fraudulently
induced the Company into assisting EdenIQ to obtain EPA approval
for a new technology that the Company would not have done but for
the Company’s belief that the merger would occur. The
relief sought included EdenIQ’s specific performance of the
merger and monetary damages, as well as punitive damages,
attorneys’ fees, and costs. In response to the
lawsuit, EdenIQ filed a cross-complaint asserting causes of action
relating to the Company’s alleged inability to consummate the
merger, the Company’s interactions with EdenIQ’s
business partners, and the Company’s publicity of the status
of the merger. EdenIQ named Third Eye Capital Corporation
(TEC) as a defendant in a second amended cross-complaint that
alleged TEC made a financial commitment to fund the merger
contingent on the EPA’s approval of EdenIQ’s technology
without disclosing that the financing commitment was tied to the
EPA approval. EdenIQ claimed that TEC and the Company
participated in the fraudulent concealment of material information
surrounding the financing of the merger. By way of its
cross-complaint, EdenIQ sought monetary damages, punitive damages,
injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and costs. All of
the claims asserted by both the Company and EdenIQ have been denied
or dismissed. The Company and EdenIQ have filed motions for
attorney’s fees and costs, which motions are currently
pending. The Company seeks $1,775,043 by its motion and
EdenIQ seeks $8,481,600.40 on its motion. The Company
vigorously disputes EdenIQ’s position and supports its own
position.
Item 4. Mine Safety
Disclosures.
Not Applicable.
25
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s
Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the
symbol “AMTX.” Prior to trading on NASDAQ, between
November 15, 2011 and June 5, 2014 our common stock was traded on
the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “AMTX.” Between
December 7, 2007 and November 15, 2011, our common stock traded on
the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “AEBF.” Prior
to December 7, 2007, our common stock traded on the OTC Bulletin
Board under the symbol “MWII.”
The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices of our
common stock for the quarterly reporting periods
indicated:
Quarter Ending
|
High
|
Low
|
2018
|
|
|
December
31,
|
$1.73
|
$0.42
|
September
30,
|
$2.40
|
$0.90
|
June
30,
|
$1.94
|
$1.36
|
March
31,
|
$3.12
|
$0.45
|
2017
|
|
|
December
31,
|
$1.10
|
$0.51
|
September
30,
|
$1.36
|
$0.78
|
June
30,
|
$1.81
|
$1.10
|
March
31,
|
$2.50
|
$1.10
|
Shareholders of Record
According to the records of our transfer agent, we had 246
stockholders of record as of February 25, 2019. This figure does
not include “street name” holders or beneficial holders
of our common stock whose shares are held of record by banks,
brokers and other financial institutions.
Dividends
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common
stock. We currently expect to retain any future earnings for
use in the operation and expansion of our business and to reduce
our outstanding debt and do not anticipate paying any cash
dividends in the foreseeable future. Information with respect to
restrictions on paying dividends is set forth in
Note 4.
Debt of the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form
10-K.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation
Plans
Our shareholders approved our Second Amended and Restated 2007
Stock Plan (“2007 Stock Plan”) at our 2015 Annual
Shareholders Meeting. On July 1, 2011, we acquired
the Zymetis 2006 Stock Plan (“2006 Stock Plan”)
pursuant to the acquisition of Zymetis, Inc. and gave Zymetis, Inc.
option holders the right to convert shares into our common stock at
the same terms as the 2006 Stock Plan. During 2015, we
established an Equity Inducement Plan pursuant to which 100,000
shares were made available specifically to attract human talent.
Additional information regarding the 2007 Stock Plan, 2006 Stock
Plan and other compensatory warrants may be found under the caption
“Equity Compensation Plans,” in the Proxy Statement,
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
26
Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities
None.
Item 6. Selected Financial
Data
Not
applicable.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
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:
●
Overview. Discussion of our business and overall analysis of
financial and other highlights affecting us, to provide context for
the remainder of MD&A.
●
Results of Operations. An analysis of our financial results
comparing the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and
2017.
●
Liquidity and Capital Resources. An analysis of changes in our
balance sheets and cash flows and discussion of our financial
condition.
●
Critical Accounting Estimates. Accounting estimates that we believe
are important to understanding the assumptions and judgments
incorporated in our reported financial results and
forecasts.
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. Our 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. All references to years relate to the calendar year ended
December 31 of the particular year.
Overview
Headquartered
in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is an advanced renewable fuels
and biochemicals company focused on the acquisition, development
and commercialization of innovative technologies that replace
traditional petroleum-based products through the conversion of
second-generation ethanol and biodiesel plants into advanced
biorefineries. Founded in 2006, we own and operate a 60
million gallon per year ethanol facility in the California Central
Valley near Modesto where we manufacture and produce ethanol, wet
distillers’ grains (“WDG”), condensed distillers
solubles (“CDS”), and distillers’ corn oil
(“DCO”). We also own and operate a 50 million
gallon per year renewable chemical and advanced fuel production
facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality
distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin for customers in India and
Europe. We operate a research and development laboratory and
hold a portfolio of patents and related technology licenses for the
production of renewable fuels and biochemicals. Additionally, we
have the option to own a partially completed plant in Goodland,
Kansas (the “Goodland Plant”) through a variable
interest entity (VIE) Goodland Advanced Fuels, Inc., (GAFI), which
was formed to acquire the Goodland Plant. Upon exercise of the
option, we plan to deploy a cellulosic ethanol technology to the
Goodland Plant.
North America
Our
revenue development strategy for the second half of 2017 and 2018
in North America was based on supplying ethanol into the
transportation fuel market in Northern California and supplying
feed products to dairy and other animal feed operations in Northern
California. We are actively seeking higher value markets for our
ethanol in an effort to improve our overall margin and are actively
working with local dairy and feed potential customers to promote
the value of our WDG product in an effort to strengthen demand for
this product. In December 2018, we acquired a 5.2-acre parcel of
land for the construction of a facility by a major industrial gas
company to sell CO2 produced at the
Keyes Plant, which will add incremental income for the North
America segment. In addition to these efforts, we are developing an
advanced cellulosic ethanol project in Riverbank, CA near our Keyes
Plant for the deployment of the combined LanzaTech and InEnTec
Technologies primarily using waste orchard wood and shells from the
Central Valley. Technology agreements have been signed, the site
location has been leased, and an Integrated Demonstration Unit
(“IDU”) has been built, which we expect will
demonstrate the effectiveness of the technologies to produce
cellulosic ethanol at profitable yields.
27
We produce four products at the Keyes Plant: denatured fuel
ethanol, WDG, DCO and CDS. In 2018, we sold 100% of the ethanol and
WDG we produced to J.D. Heiskell pursuant to a Purchase
Agreement established with J.D. Heiskell. DCO was sold to J.D. Heiskell and other local
animal feedlots (primarily poultry). Smaller amounts of CDS were
sold to various local third parties. Ethanol pricing is determined
pursuant to a marketing agreement between us and Kinergy, and is
generally based on daily and monthly pricing for ethanol delivered
to the San Francisco Bay Area, California, as published by 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 A.L. Gilbert and us and is generally
determined in reference to the local price of DDG and other feed
products. North American revenue is dependent on the price
of ethanol, WDG, and DCO. Ethanol pricing is influenced by
local and national inventory levels, local and national ethanol
production, corn prices and gasoline demand. WDG is influenced by
the price of corn, the supply and price of DDG, and demand from the
local dairy and feed markets. Our revenue is further
influenced by our decision to operate the Keyes Plant at any
capacity level, maintenance requirements, and the influences of the
underlying biological processes. During 2018, the most
significant factors impacting revenue were the price received for
ethanol and the price received for WDG.
India
Our
revenue strategy in India is based on continuing to sell biodiesel
to our bulk fuel customers, beginning sales to retail customers
using recent regulatory changes in India that allow sales of
biodiesel at retail fuel stations, and pursuing tender offers
placed by India government oil companies for bulk purchases of
fuels. In July 2017, India's Goods and Services Tax
(“GST”) raised the combined tax rate from 11% to 18% on
our sales into the Indian domestic markets. In January 2018, the
GST was reduced to 12%. The January 2018 GST taxation decrease
positively impacted our ability to sell into our local markets. The
India Government imposed restrictions on imports of biodiesel
mixtures, which will positively impact local sales of biodiesel. In
addition, this opened doors to supply biodiesel for manufacturing
purposes such as ready-mix suppliers and infrastructure companies
which developed interest in our product. We believe the deployment
of these strategies will allow for revenue growth in
2019.
North America Segment
Revenue
Substantially
all of our North America revenues during the years ended December
31, 2018 and 2017 were from sales of ethanol and WDG. During the
twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we produced and
sold 65.6 million gallons and 60.8 million gallons of ethanol and
424 thousand tons and 407 thousand tons of WDG,
respectively.
Cost of Goods Sold
Substantially
all of our feedstock is procured by J.D. Heiskell. Our cost of
feedstock includes rail, truck or ship 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 Keyes Plant, including the
cost of electricity and natural gas, maintenance, insurance, direct
labor, depreciation and freight. Transportation includes the costs
of in-bound delivery of corn by rail, inbound delivery of grain by
ship, rail, and truck, and out-bound shipments of ethanol and WDG
by truck.
Pursuant
to a Corn Procurement and Working Capital Agreement with J.D.
Heiskell, we purchase all of our corn or milo from J.D. Heiskell.
Title to the corn or milo passes to us when the corn is deposited
into our weigh bin and entered into the production process. The
credit term of the corn or milo 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
the Chicago Board of Trade pricing including transportation and
basis, plus a handling fee.
Sales, Marketing and General Administrative Expenses
(SG&A)
SG&A
expenses consist of employee compensation, professional services,
travel, depreciation, taxes, insurance, rent and utilities, license
and permit fees, penalties, 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 to market and sell our
ethanol and an agreement with A.L. Gilbert to market and sell our
WDG. The agreements will expire on August 31, 2019 and
December 31, 2019, respectively and automatically renew for
additional one-year terms. Pursuant to these agreements, our
marketing costs for ethanol and WDG are less than 2% of
sales.
28
Research and Development Expenses (R&D)
In
2018, substantially all of our R&D expenses were related to
research and development activities in
Minnesota.
In
2017, we built an IDU to prove the production of advanced
cellulosic ethanol from deployment of the combined LanzaTech and
InEnTec Technologies using primarily orchard wood and shells from
the Central Valley. All costs related to this IDU were part of
research and development activities for the Riverbank Cellulosic
Ethanol Facility.
India Segment
Revenue
Substantially
all of our India segment revenues during the years ended December
31, 2018 and 2017 were from sales of biodiesel and refined
glycerin. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, we sold
19.8 thousand metric tons of biodiesel and 4.7 thousand metric tons
of refined glycerin. During the twelve months ended December 31,
2017, we sold 12.2 thousand metric tons of biodiesel and 3.8
thousand metric tons of refined glycerin.
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 at any
given time can vary from positive to negative. Factory overhead
includes direct and indirect costs associated with the Kakinada
Plant, including the cost of repairs and maintenance, consumables,
maintenance, on-site security, insurance, depreciation and inbound
freight.
We
purchase crude palm stearin, a non-edible feedstock, for our
biodiesel unit from neighboring natural oil processing plants at a
discount to refined palm oil or import from international market
when prices are viable. Raw material is received by truck and title
passes when the goods are loaded at our vendors’ facilities.
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,
licenses and permits, penalties, and sales and marketing fees.
Pursuant to an operating agreement with Gemini, we receive
operational support and working capital. We compensate Gemini with
a percentage of the profits generated from operations. Payments of
interest are identified as interest expense while payments of
profits are identified as compensation for the operational support
component of this agreement. We therefore include the portion of
profits paid to Gemini as a component of SG&A, which 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, 2018 Compared to Year Ended December 31,
2017
Revenues
Our
revenues are derived primarily from sales of ethanol and WDG in
North America and biodiesel and refined glycerin in
India.
Fiscal Year Ended December 31 (in thousands)
|
2018
|
2017
|
Inc/(dec)
|
% change
|
|
|
|
|
|
North
America
|
$150,045
|
$136,739
|
$13,306
|
10%
|
India
|
21,481
|
13,418
|
8,063
|
60%
|
Total
|
$171,526
|
$150,157
|
$21,369
|
14%
|
29
North America. The increase in revenues by 10% was due to
increases in the sales volume of ethanol by 8% to 65.6 million
gallons during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 60.8
million gallons during the year ended December 31, 2017. Sales
volume of WDG increased by 4% to 424 thousand tons compared to 407
thousand tons during the year ended December 31, 2017. In addition,
the average price of WDG increased by 18% to $76.38 per ton in the
year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $64.93 per ton in the year
ended December 31, 2017. The average price of ethanol decreased
slightly to $1.74 for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to
$1.75 per gallon in the year ended December 31, 2017. For the year
ended December 31, 2018, we generated approximately 76% of revenues
from sales of ethanol, 22% of revenues from sales of WDG and 2% of
revenues from DCO and CDS sales compared to 78% of revenues from
sales of ethanol, 19% of revenues from sales of WDG and 3% of
revenues from DCO and CDS sales for the year ended December 31,
2017. For the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Keyes
Plant operations averaged 119% and 110% of the 55 million gallon
per year nameplate capacity.
India. The increase in revenues in the India segment for the
year ended December 31, 2018 reflects an increase in sales volume
of biodiesel and refined glycerin, primarily as a result of the GST
tax decrease from 18% to 12% in January 2018. Biodiesel sales
volume increased by 63% to 19.8 thousand tons while the average
price increased only by 0.7% to $857 per metric ton. Refined
glycerin sales volumes increased by 25% to 4.7 thousand tons while
the average price per metric ton increased by 16% to $941 per
metric ton. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we generated
approximately 79% of revenue from sales of biodiesel and 21% of
revenue from sales of glycerin, compared to 77% of revenue from
sales of biodiesel and 23% of revenue from sales of glycerin for
the year ended December 31, 2017.
Cost of Goods Sold
Fiscal Year Ended December 31 (in thousands)
|
2018
|
2017
|
Inc/(dec)
|
% change
|
|
|
|
|
|
North
America
|
$145,947
|
$133,606
|
$12,341
|
9%
|
India
|
20,174
|
13,176
|
6,998
|
53%
|
Total
|
$166,121
|
$146,782
|
$19,339
|
13%
|
North America. We ground 22.9 million bushels of corn at an
average price of $4.91 per bushel during the year ended December
31, 2018 compared to 21.5 million bushels of corn at an average
price of $4.73 per bushel during the year ended December 31, 2017,
an increase in volume of 7% and an increase in average cost of
feedstock on a per bushel basis of 4% for the year ended
December 31, 2018 as compared to 2017.
India. The increase in cost of goods sold reflects the 60%
increase in sales of biodiesel and refined glycerin in 2018. The
volume of feedstock used during the year ended December 31, 2018
increased by 90% to 15.7 thousand metric tons of crude palm stearin
while the cost of feedstock for biodiesel decreased by an average
of 16% to $750 per metric ton compared to the year ended December
31, 2017. The average price of crude glycerin increased by 52% to
$893 per metric ton while the volume increased by 25% to 4.3
thousand metric tons compared to the year ended December 31,
2017.
Gross Profit
Fiscal Year Ended December 31 (in thousands)
|
2018
|
2017
|
Inc/(dec)
|
% change
|
|
|
|
|
|
North
America
|
$4,098
|
$3,133
|
$965
|
31%
|
India
|
1,307
|
242
|
1,065
|
440%
|
Total
|
$5,405
|
$3,375
|
$2,030
|
60%
|
North America. Gross profit increased by 31% in the year
ended December 31, 2018 primarily due to increases in the average
price of WDG by 18%, volume of ethanol sales by 8%, and volume of
WDG sales by 4%, which outpaced increases in the cost of
feedstock.
30
India. The increase in gross profit was attributable mainly
to an increase in average sales price of refined glycerin by 16% to
$941 per metric ton, an increase in sales volume of biodiesel by
63%, and an increase in sales volume of refined glycerin by 25% in
the year ended December 31, 2018 coupled with a decrease in
feedstock prices of biodiesel by 16% compared to the year ended
December 31, 2017.
Operating Expenses
R&D
Fiscal Year Ended December 31
(in thousands)
|
2018
|
2017
|
Inc/(dec)
|
% change
|
|
|
|
|
|
North
America
|
$246
|
$2,367
|
$(2,121)
|
-90%
|
India
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Total
|
$246
|
$2,367
|
$(2,121)
|
-90%
|
R&D
expenses decreased mainly due to recognition of the expenses toward
building and testing the IDU for cellulosic ethanol of $1.8 million
in our AAPK entity in the year ended December 31, 2017. In the year
ended December 31, 2018, we incurred expenses for lab supplies,
rent and utilities of $46 thousand, professional and other fees of
$129 thousand, and amortization of intangibles of $71 thousand
driven by the relocation of our research and development facility
from Maryland to Minnesota.
Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A)
Fiscal Year Ended December 31
(in thousands)
|
2018
|
2017
|
Inc/(dec)
|
% change
|
|
|
|
|
|
North
America
|
$15,204
|
$12,134
|
$3,070
|
25%
|
India
|
881
|
1,057
|
(176)
|
-17%
|
Total
|
$16,085
|
$13,191
|
$2,894
|
22%
|
SG&A
expenses consist primarily of salaries and related expenses for
employees, marketing expenses related to sales of ethanol and WDG
in North America and biodiesel and other products in India, as well
as professional fees, other corporate expenses, and related
facilities expenses.
North America. SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue
in the year ended December 31, 2018 increased to 10% as compared to
9% in the year ended December 31, 2017. The increase in overall
SG&A expenses in the year ended December 31, 2018 was
primarily attributable to: (i) an increase in non-recurring legal
fees of $2.5 million and $0.1 million in other professional fees,
(ii) an increase in taxes, penalties and utilities of
$0.5 million, and (iii) an increase in marketing and supplies
$0.2 million, offset by a $0.2 million decrease in salaries,
depreciation, and travel expenses compared to the year ended
December 31, 2017.
India. SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue in the
year ended December 31, 2018 decreased to 4% compared to 8% for the
years ended December 31, 2017. Overall SG&A expenses decreased
during the year ended December 31, 2018 by 17% compared to the year
ended December 31, 2017. The decrease was due to a decrease in
operating support charges, salaries, utilities, professional fees
and other expenses totaling $257 thousand offset by an increase in
taxes and office supplies and services totaling $80
thousand.
31
Other Income/Expense
Fiscal Year Ended December 31
(in thousands)
Other
(income)/expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Inc/(dec)
|
% change
|
North
America
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
rate expense
|
$17,556
|
$13,593
|
$3,963
|
29%
|
Debt
related fees and amortization expense
|
7,520
|
5,398
|
2,122
|
39%
|
Accretion
of Series A preferred units
|
44
|
-
|
44
|
100%
|
Loss
on impairment of intangible assets
|
865
|
-
|
865
|
100%
|
Other
(income) expense
|
(1,208)
|
328
|
(1,536)
|
-468%
|
|
|
|
|
|
India
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
rate expense
|
614
|
313
|
301
|
96%
|
Other
(income) expense
|
(37)
|
(51)
|
14
|
27%
|
Total
|
$25,354
|
$19,581
|
$5,773
|
29%
|
Other (Income)/Expense. Other (income) expense consists
primarily of interest and amortization expense attributable to debt
facilities acquired by our parent company and our subsidiaries. The
debt facilities include stock or warrants issued as fees. The fair
value of stock and warrants are amortized as amortization expense,
except when the extinguishment accounting method is applied, in
which case refinanced debt costs are recorded as extinguishment
expense.
North America. Interest rate expense was higher in the year
ended December 31, 2018 due to higher debt balances in 2018 as we
added waiver fees to our senior debt and refinancing fees to our
subordinated debt. In addition, GAFI debt related interest rate
expense of $2.9 million was included in the North America segment.
The increase in amortization expense was due to expensing the
present value of redemption fees of $3.1 million and $0.5 million
waiver fees associated with Amendment No. 14 entered into in March
2018, covenant waiver fees of $0.3 million for the quarter ended
June 30, 2018, and amortization of Amendment No.13 fees and
Subordinated Notes refinancing fees during the year ended December
31, 2018. In addition, GAFI related amortization expense of $0.7
million was recognized in the year ended December 31, 2018.
Further, $0.5 million in amortization expense was recognized
related to stock appreciation rights issued in connection with
Amendment No. 1 of the GAFI Note Purchase Agreement, with the
original fair value of $1.3 recognized as a debt issuance cost. The
increase in other income in the year ended December 31, 2018 was
due to selling of Carbon allowances and LCFS credits for $1.2
million and the change in fair value of SARs of $145 thousand in
the year ended December 31, 2018, offset by recognition of
Amendment No.14 guarantee fees of $125 thousand to McAfee Capital
approved by the Board of Directors in the fourth quarter of 2018.
In addition, the outstanding intangible asset balance of $0.9
million was impaired completely in the fourth quarter as the
Company plans to pursue a different set of patents for enzymatic
process. According
to accounting treatment for Series A Preferred Unit financing, we
have to accrete the change in the redemption value over the
estimated redemption period of six years. We recorded the accretion
of $44 thousand as of December 31, 2018.
India. Interest expense increased because of utilization of
capital from two working capital partners during the year ended
December 31, 2018. The slight decrease in other income was caused
by other miscellaneous income offset by the fluctuations in foreign
exchange gains and losses during the year ended December 31,
2018.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash
and cash equivalents were $1.2 million at December 31, 2018, of
which $1.2 million was held in our North American entities,
including $17 thousand held by GAFI, and $28 thousand held in our
Indian subsidiary. Our current ratio was 0.23 and 0.32,
respectively, at December 31, 2018 and 2017. We expect that our
future available capital resources will consist primarily of cash
generated from operations, remaining cash balances, EB-5 program
borrowings, amounts available for borrowing, if any, under our
senior debt facilities and our subordinated debt facilities, and
any additional funds raised through sales of equity.
32
Liquidity
Cash
and cash equivalents, current assets, current liabilities and debt
at the end of each period were as follows (in
thousands):
|
As of
|
|
|
December 31,
2018
|
December 31,
2017
|
Cash
and cash equivalents $
|
1,188
|
$428
|
Current
assets (including cash, cash equivalents, and
deposits)
|
10,311
|
11,462
|
Current
and long term liabilities (excluding all debt)
|
32,286
|
20,406
|
Current
& long term debt
|
175,117
|
153,786
|
Our
principal sources of liquidity have been cash provided by
operations and borrowings under various debt arrangements. As of
December 31, 2018, the EB-5 escrow account is holding funds in the
amount of $0.5 million from one investor pending approval by the
USCIS. Funding of $0.5 million was released to the Company on April
26, 2018 and the balance of $0.5 million is expected to be released
from the escrow account in 2019.
We
launched an EB-5 Phase II funding in 2016, under which we expect to
issue $50.0 million in additional EB-5 Notes on substantially
similar terms and conditions as those issued under our EB-5 Phase I
funding. As of December 31, 2018, the EB-5 escrow funding of $1.5
million was released to the Company. Our principal uses of cash
have been to refinance indebtedness, fund operations, and for
capital expenditures. We anticipate these uses will continue to be
our principal uses of cash in the future. Global financial and
credit markets have been volatile in recent years, and future
adverse conditions of these markets could negatively affect our
ability to secure funds or raise capital at a reasonable cost, or
at all.
We
operate in a volatile market in which we have limited control over
the major components of input costs and product revenues, and are
making investments in future facilities and facility upgrades that
improve the overall margin while lessening the impact of these
volatile markets. As such, we expect cash provided by
operating activities to fluctuate in future periods primarily
because of changes in the prices for corn, ethanol, WDG, DCO, CDS,
biodiesel, waste fats and oils, non-refined palm oil and natural
gas. To the extent that we experience periods in which the
spread between ethanol prices and corn and energy costs narrow or
the spread between biodiesel prices and waste fats and oils or palm
oil and energy costs narrow, we may require additional working
capital to fund operations.
Management
believes that through the following actions, the Company will have
the ability to generate capital liquidity to carry out the business
plan for 2019:
●
Operate the Keyes
Plant and continue to improve operational performance, including
the adoption of new technologies or process changes that allow for
energy efficiency, cost reduction or revenue enhancements to the
current operations.
●
Expand the ethanol
sold at the Keyes Plant to include the cellulosic ethanol to be
generated at the Riverbank Cellulosic Ethanol Facility a cellulosic
ethanol production facility in nearby Riverbank, California, and to
utilize lower cost, non-food advanced feedstocks to significantly
increase margins by 2020.
●
Monetize the
CO2
produced at the Keyes Plant by executing on the agreement with
Linde for the delivery of gas to their neighboring facility to be
built during 2019.
●
Construct and
operate biogas digesters to capture and monetize biogas by
2020.
●
Rely on the
approval of a $125 million U.S. Department of Agriculture loan
guarantee to raise the funds necessary to construct and operate the
Riverbank Cellulosic Ethanol Facility using the licensed technology
from LanzaTech Technology (Lanza Tech) and InEnTec Technology
(InEnTec) to generate federal and state carbon credits available
for ultra-low carbon fuels.
●
Secure higher
volumes of shipments of fuels at the Kakinada Plant by developing
the sales channels and expanding the existing domestic
markets.
●
Continue to locate
funding for existing and new business opportunities through a
combination of working with our senior lender, restructuring
existing loan agreements, selling the current offering for $50
million from the Phase II of the EB-5 program, or by vendor
financing arrangements.
33
At
December 31, 2018, the outstanding balance of principal, interest
and fees, net of discounts, on all Third Eye Capital Notes equaled
$89.9 million excluding the GAFI debt. The current maturity date
for all of the Third Eye Capital financing arrangements is April 1,
2020; provided, however, that pursuant to Amendment No. 14, we have
the right to extend the maturity date of the Third Eye Capital
Notes to April 1, 2021 upon notice and payment of a 5%
extension fee. We intend to repay the Third Eye Capital Notes
through operational cash flow, proceeds from the issuance of the
EB-5 Notes and/or a senior debt refinancing and/or an equity
financing.
At
December 31, 2018, GAFI’s outstanding balance of principal,
interest and fees, net of discounts, on all Third Eye Capital Notes
equaled $25.8 million. The current maturity date for all of the
Third Eye Capital financing arrangements is July 10, 2019 with
option to extend with one-year renewals. GAFI intends to repay the
Third Eye Capital Notes through proceeds from the issuance of a
GAFI EB-5 offering.
Our
senior lender has provided a series of accommodating amendments to
the existing and previous loan facilities as described in further
detail in Note 4.Debt of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements in Part IV of this Form 10-K. However, there can
be no assurance that our senior lender will continue to provide
further amendments or accommodations or will fund additional
amounts in the future.
We also
rely on our working capital lines with J.D. Heiskell in California,
and Gemini and SOL in India to fund our commercial arrangements for
the acquisitions of feedstock. J.D. Heiskell currently provides us
with working capital for the Keyes Plant, Gemini currently provides
us with working capital for the Kakinada Plant and SOL provides us
inter-corporate deposit for British Petroleum business
operations. The ability of J.D. Heiskell, Gemini, and SOL to
continue to provide us with working capital depends in part on both
of their respective financial strength and banking
relationships.
34
Change in Working Capital and Cash Flows
The
below table (in thousands) describes the changes in current and
long-term debt during the year ended December 31,
2018:
|
Change
in total debt
|
$21,331
|
Increases
to debt:
|
|
|
Accrued
interest
|
17,825
|
|
Amendment
No.14 fee
|
500
|
|
TEC
debt Extension/redemption fee
|
3,051
|
|
January
2018 Promissory note including $10K withheld as fees by
TEC
|
160
|
|
Feb
2018 Promissory note including $0.1 million withheld as fees by TEC
and $283 thousand paybale at due date
|
2,283
|
|
April
2018 & Oct 2018 Promissory note including $10K withheld as fees
by TEC
|
360
|
|
Sub
debt extension fees
|
680
|
|
India
working capital draws and changes due to foreign
currency
|
15,163
|
|
GAFI
Amendment No. 1 including $75K fee withheld as fees by
TEC
|
1,575
|
|
EB-5
escrow and EB-5 Phase 2 received
|
2,000
|
|
Note
indebtedness covenant wavier fee for Q2'18, Q3'18, and
Q4'18
|
750
|
|
GAFI
Amendment No. 2 including $175K fee and $200K in prepaid interest
withheld as fees by TEC
|
2,019
|
|
Change
in debt issuance costs, net of amortization
|
535
|
|
|
Total
increases to debt
|
$46,901
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Decreases
to debt:
|
|
|
Principal
and interest payments to senior lender
|
(4,675)
|
|
Interest
payments to EB-5 investors
|
(454)
|
|
Principal,
fees and interest payments on working capital loans in
India
|
(15,816)
|
|
GAFI
interest and fee payments
|
(4,625)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
decreases to debt
|
$(25,570)
|
Working
capital changes resulted in (i) a $0.4 million increase in
inventories due to crude palm stearin purchased in the third
quarter pending processing by India operations due to weather
conditions and (ii) a $1.5 million decrease in prepaid expenses
mainly due to the use of $1.5 million prepaid interest on GAFI Term
Loan offset by additions of $0.2 million to prepaid interest and
(iii) a $0.3 million increase in other current assets was due to
$0.1 million increase in GAFI, $0.5 million increase in Aemetis,
Inc. other current assets and $0.3 million decrease in India other
current assets, $1.1 million decrease in accounts receivable of
Aemetis, Inc. and offset by a $0.8 million increase in
cash.
Net
cash used by operating activities during the year ended December
31, 2018 was $5.5 million consisting of non-cash charges of $14.0
million, net changes in operating assets and liabilities of $16.8
million, and net loss of $36.3 million. The non-cash charges
consisted of: (i) $7.7 million in amortization of debt issuance
costs and other amortization, (ii) $4.6 million in depreciation
expenses, (iii) $1.0 million in stock-based compensation expense,
(iv) $0.9 million of impairment loss on intangibles, and (v) $0.1
million of fair value changes in SARs. Net changes in operating
assets and liabilities consisted primarily of an increase in
inventories of $0.7 million and other assets of $0.4 million,
offset by: (i) a $2.2 million increase in accounts payable, (ii) a
$1.1 million decrease in accounts receivable, (iii) a $1.7 million
decrease in prepaids, (iv) a $0.4 million increase in other
liabilities, and (v) a $12.5 million increase in accrued
interest.
35
Cash
used by investing activities during the year ended December 31,
2018 was $4.1 million, consisting of capital expenditures of $1.3
million from India operations and $2.7 million from U.S.
operations.
Cash
provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31,
2018 was $10.4 million, consisting primarily of debt proceeds of
$2.0 million received from the EB-5 Phase I and Phase II programs,
$2.5 million received from Third Eye Capital promissory notes,
$15.6 million from working capital partners in India for UBPL
operations, $3.1 million received from GAFI, and $8.3 million
received in Series A preferred unit financing net of $1.3 million
of Series A preferred unit issuance costs , partially offset by
payments of $15.2 million in principal payments to working capital
partners in India for UBPL operations, $1.8 million for GAFI
subsequent Term loan and $2.8 million to Third Eye
Capital.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We had no outstanding off-balance sheet arrangements as of
December 31, 2018.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of
operations are based on our consolidated financial statements,
which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”). 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
In May
2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new guidance
on the recognition of revenue. The guidance stated that an entity
should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods
or services to customers in an amount that reflects the
consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in
exchange for those goods or services. The standard was effective
for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017,
including interim periods within that reporting period. In March
and April 2016, the FASB issued further revenue recognition
guidance amending principal versus agent considerations regarding
whether an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer
of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that
reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be
entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The Company
adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018 using the modified
retrospective approach. There was no cumulative impact to retained
earnings. We assessed all of our revenue streams to identify any
differences in the timing, measurement or presentation of revenue
recognition.
We
derive revenue primarily from sales of ethanol and related
co-products in North America, and biodiesel and refined glycerin in
India based on supply agreements and purchase order contracts. We
assessed the following criteria under the guidance: (i) identify
the contracts with the customer, (ii) identify the performance
obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price,
(iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations,
and (v) recognize revenue when the entity satisfies the performance
obligations.
In
North America, we sell the majority of our production to one
customer under a supply contract, with individual sales
transactions occurring under this contract. Given the similarity of
these transactions, we have assessed them as a portfolio of similar
contracts. The performance obligation is satisfied by delivery of
the physical product to the tank of J.D. Heiskell or to one of its
contracted trucking companies. At this point in time, the customer
has the ability to direct the use of the product and receive
substantially all of its benefits. The transaction price is
determined based on daily market prices negotiated by Kinergy for
ethanol and by A.L. Gilbert for WDG and DCO. There is no
transaction price allocation needed.
The
below table shows our sales in North America by product
category:
North
America (in
thousands)
|
||
|
For the year ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Ethanol
sales
|
$113,855
|
$106,419
|
Wet
distiller's grains sales
|
32,362
|
26,422
|
Other
sales
|
3,828
|
3,898
|
|
$150,045
|
$136,739
|
36
In
India where we sell products on purchase orders (written or verbal)
or by contract with governmental or international parties, the
performance obligation is satisfied by delivery and acceptance of
the physical product. When the contracts are sufficiently similar
in nature, we have assessed these contracts as a portfolio of
similar contracts as allowed under the practical expedient. Doing
so does not result in a materially different outcome compared to
individually accounting for each contract. All domestic and
international deliveries are subject to certain specifications as
identified in the contracts. The transaction price is determined
based on reference market prices for biodiesel and refined glycerin
every day net of taxes. There is no transaction price allocation
needed.
The
below table shows our sales in India by product
category:
India (in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
For the year ended December 31,
|
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Biodiesel
sales
|
$17,009
|
$10,365
|
Refined
Glycerin sales
|
4,467
|
3,053
|
Other
sales
|
5
|
-
|
|
$21,481
|
$13,418
|
We also
assessed principal versus agent criteria as we buy our feedstock
from our customers and process and sell finished goods to those
customers pursuant to contractual agreements.
In
North America, we buy corn as feedstock in producing ethanol from
our working capital partner J.D. Heiskell and we sell all ethanol,
WDG, and corn oil produced in this process to J.D. Heiskell. Our
finished goods tank is leased by J.D. Heiskell and they require 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 control
and bear the risk of gain or loss on the processing of corn which
is purchased at market prices into ethanol and (ii) we have a legal
title to the goods during the processing time. 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.
Transportation and marketing charges are known within days of the
transaction and are recorded at the actual amounts. The Company has
elected an accounting policy under which these charges have been
treated as fulfillment activities provided after control has
transferred. As a result, these charges are recognized in cost of
goods sold and SG&A expenses, respectively, when revenue is
recognized. Revenues are recorded at the gross invoiced
amount.
In
India, we occasionally enter into contracts under which we purchase
feedstock from the customer, process the feedstock into biodiesel,
and sell to the same customer. In those cases, we receive the legal
title to feedstock from our customers once it is on our premises.
We control the processing and production of biodiesel based on the
contract terms and specifications. The pricing for both feedstock
and biodiesel is set independently. We hold the title and risk to
biodiesel as long as it resides on our premises. Hence, we are the
principal in both North America and India sales scenarios where the
customer and vendor are the same.
Based
upon the timing of the transfer of control of our products to our
customers, there are no contract assets or liabilities as of
December 31, 2018.
We have
elected to adopt the practical expedient that allows for ignoring
the significant financing component of a contract when estimating
the transaction price when the transfer of promised goods to the
customer and customer payment for such goods are expected to be
within one year of contract inception. Further, we have elected to
adopt the practical expedient in which incremental costs of
obtaining a contract are expensed when the amortization period
would otherwise be less than one year.
Recoverability of Our
Long-Lived Assets
Property 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
plants in North America and India. When property, plant and
equipment are acquired as part of an acquisition, the items are
recorded at fair value on the purchase date. It is our policy to
depreciate capital assets over their estimated useful lives using
the straight-line method.
37
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Our
long-lived assets consist of property, plant 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.
The
impairment test for long-lived assets requires us to make 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 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.
Our
subsidiaries, Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, which operates our
Keyes Plant, and UBPL, which operates our Kakinada Plant, represent
our significant long-lived assets. Both plants were tested for
impairment and the undiscounted future cash flows of each plant
exceeded the carrying value on our books, so no impairment was
recorded for our Company’s long-lived
assets.
Testing for Modification or Extinguishment Accounting
During 2018 and 2017, 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 recorded our debt at
fair value based on factors available to us for similar borrowings
and used the extinguishment accounting method to account for the
debt extinguishment.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 1 of the Financial Statements for a description of
new accounting pronouncements.
38
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative
Disclosures About Market Risk
Not applicable.
Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data
Financial Statements are listed in the Index to Consolidated
Financial Statements on page 47 of this Report.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with
Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and
Procedures
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, 2018.
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 CEO and CFO
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 at
providing 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 SEC rules and forms, and is
accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO
and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure.
Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
Our management, including the CEO and 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 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.
39
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting.
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 GAAP. Our internal control
over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures
that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable
detail, accuratelyand 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 GAAP, 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 CEO and CFO, 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 Tread way Commission- 2013. Based on the
results of management’s assessment and evaluation,
principally due to the accounting for the preferred stock issued in
the current year (described below), our CEO and CFO concluded that
our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as
described below.
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,
2017, 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 specific additions to our
identified key controls to address the identified material
weaknesses as discussed below, our implementation of these controls
have not been completed as of the filing date of this
report.
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. A
material weaknesses was identified in our failure to design and
maintain effective controls over our supervision and review
of the completeness and accuracy of the evaluation conducted by a
third party specialist that we engaged to assist us with the review
of a complex preferred share issuance.
●
Management
recognized the complexity of certain preferred share issuance
transactions and engaged a specialist to address the gap in its own
internal capabilities, but management did not adequately evaluate
the experience and familiarity of the retained specialist with the
evaluation of transactions in this particularly complex area of
accounting. This failure in our specialist selection control
framework resulted in the improper accounting for the preferred
stock transaction.
As part of our ongoing efforts to remediate the weaknesses in our
internal controls identified, we will, among other
things:
(1)
Continue to seek
outside specialists to assist in the analysis of complex,
non-routine transactions where management believes our existing
accounting policy and control organization has inadequate knowledge
and experience and requires support.
(2)
Improve the design
of our internal controls related to the evaluation and selection of
any third party specialist retained to assist with the analysis of
complex, non-routine transactions, including scrutinizing the
experience and familiarity of the firm and the specific individuals
assigned to the review in respect of similar transactions and, in
certain circumstances seek the opinion of second
specialist.
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. We believe
that the foregoing actions and the resulting improvements in our
internal control over financial reporting will remediate the
material weakness that we identified. There are, however, inherent
limitations in all control systems and no evaluation of controls
can provide absolute assurance that all deficiencies have been
detected.
40
Item 9B. Other Information
Reserve Liquidity Facility
On
March 11, 2019, we and a subsidiary entered into a one-year reserve
liquidity facility governed by a promissory note, payable to Third
Eye Capital, in the principal amount of $8 million. We do not
currently expect to draw upon the note. However, we determined that
it was prudent to maintain a liquidity reserve in case of
unforeseen needs. Borrowings under the facility are available from
March 11, 2019 until maturity on April 1, 2020. Interest on
borrowed amounts accrues at a rate of 30% per annum, paid monthly
in arrears, or 40% if an event of default has occurred and
continues. The outstanding principal balance of the indebtedness
evidenced by the promissory note, plus any accrued but unpaid
interest and any other sums due thereunder, shall be due and
payable in full at the earlier to occur of (a) the closing of any
new debt or equity financing, refinancing or other similar
transaction between Third Eye Capital or any fund or entity
arranged by them and the Company or its affiliates, (b) receipt by
the Company or its affiliates of proceeds from any sale, merger,
equity or debt financing, refinancing or other similar transaction
from any third party and (c) April 1, 2020. The promissory note is
secured by liens and security interests upon the property and
assets of the Company as described in that certain Amended and
Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 6, 2012. If any
amounts are drawn under the facility, the Company will pay a
non-refundable fee in the amount of $200,000, payable from the
proceeds of the first drawing under the facility.
The
foregoing descriptions of the promissory note do not purport to be
complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the
full text of the promissory note, which is filed as Exhibit 10.73
hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
Third Eye Capital Amendment
On
March 11, 2019, Third Eye Capital agreed to Limited Waiver and
Amendment No. 15 to the Note Purchase Agreement (Amendment No. 15),
to waive the ratio of note indebtedness covenant until January 1,
2020. As a consideration for this amendment, the Company also
agreed to pay Third Eye Capital an amendment fee of $1.0 million to
be added to the redemption fee.
The
foregoing descriptions of the promissory note do not purport to be
complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the
full text of the promissory note, which is filed as Exhibit 10.74
hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers
and Governance
The information required by this Item 10 is included in our Proxy
Statement for our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11. Executive
Compensation
The information required by this Item 11 is included in our Proxy
Statement for our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters
The information required by this Item 12 is included in our Proxy
Statement for our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and
Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this Item 13 is included in our Proxy
Statement for our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and
Services
The information required by this Item 14 is included in our Proxy
Statement for our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is
incorporated herein by reference.
41
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial
Statement Schedules
(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:
●
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
●
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
●
Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
●
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
●
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit
●
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:
INDEX TO
EXHIBITS
|
|
Incorporated by Reference
|
Filed Herewith
|
|||
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
Form
|
File No.
|
Exhibit
|
Filing Date
|
|
At Market Issuance Sales Agreement dated March 23, 2016 with FBR
Capital Markets & Co. and MLV & Co. LLC and Aemetis
Inc.
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
1.1
|
Mar 28, 2016
|
|
|
Articles of Incorporation
|
10-Q
|
000-51354
|
3.1
|
Nov. 14, 2008
|
|
|
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation
|
10-Q
|
000-51354
|
3.1.1
|
Nov. 14, 2008
|
|
|
Certificate of Designation of Series B Preferred Stock
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
3.2
|
Dec. 13, 2007
|
|
|
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
3.3
|
Dec. 13, 2007
|
|
|
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation
|
Pre14C
|
111136140
|
|
Oct. 11, 2011
|
|
|
Certificate
of Change in Articles of Incorporation are a result of 1 for 10
reverse split to Authorized Shares and Common Shares Outstanding on
May 5, 2014
|
10-Q
|
000-51354
|
3.1
|
May 31,
2014
|
|
|
Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
3.1.7
|
March
16, 2017
|
|
|
Bylaws
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
3.4
|
Dec. 13, 2007
|
|
|
Specimen Common Stock Certificate
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
4.1
|
Dec. 13, 2007
|
|
|
Specimen Series B Preferred Stock Certificate
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
4.2
|
Dec. 13, 2007
|
|
|
Form of Common Stock Warrant
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
4.3
|
Dec. 13, 2007
|
|
|
Form of Series B Preferred Stock Warrant
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
4.4
|
Dec. 13, 2007
|
|
|
Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Plan
|
14A
|
000-51354
|
|
Apr. 3, 2015
|
|
|
Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Plan form of Stock Option Award
Agreement
|
14A
|
000-51354
|
|
Apr. 15, 2008
|
|
|
Eric McAfee Executive Employment Agreement dated September 1,
2011
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.2
|
Sep. 8, 2011
|
|
|
Andrew Foster Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 22,
2007
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.7
|
Dec. 13, 2007
|
|
42
Todd Waltz Executive Employment Agreement, dated March 15,
2010
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
|
May 20, 2009
|
|
|
Sanjeev Gupta Executive Employment Agreement, dated September 1,
2007
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.11
|
May 20, 2009
|
|
|
Agreement of Loan for Overall Limit dated June 26, 2008 between
Universal Biofuels Private Limited and State Bank of
India
|
10-Q
|
000-51354
|
10.12
|
Aug. 14, 2008
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
Zymetis, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.31
|
Oct. 31, 2012
|
|
|
Zymetis Inc. Incentive Stock Option Agreement
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.32
|
Oct. 31, 2012
|
|
|
Zymetis Inc. Non-Incentive Stock Option Agreement
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.33
|
Oct. 31, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
Sept. 8, 2011
|
|
|
Form of Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Jan. 1, 2012
|
|
|
Form of 5% Subordinated Note
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.2
|
Jan. 1, 2012
|
|
|
Form of Common Stock Warrant
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.3
|
Jan. 1, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
Apr. 19, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
Apr. 19, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
Apr. 19, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
Form of Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Jun. 6, 2012
|
|
|
Form of 5% Subordinated Note
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Jun. 6, 2012
|
|
|
Form of Common Stock Warrant
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Jun. 6, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
Jun. 28, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
Jun. 28, 2012
|
|
|
Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.3
|
Jun. 28, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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
|
|
43
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
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
Technology License Agreement dated August 9, 2012 between Chevron
Lummus Global LLC and Aemetis Advanced Fuels, Inc.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Aug. 22, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
Oct. 31, 2012
|
|
|
Purchasing Agreement dated March 9, 2011 between J.D. Heiskell
Holdings LLC and Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.*
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.65
|
Oct. 31, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
Oct. 31, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
Oct. 31, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
Oct. 23, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
Oct. 23, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
Oct. 23, 2012
|
|
|
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
|
Oct. 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
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.72
|
Apr. 4, 2013
|
|
44
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
|
Jan. 7, 2013
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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
|
Mar. 11, 2013
|
|
|
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).
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.77
|
Apr. 4, 2013
|
|
|
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.
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.76
|
Apr. 4, 2013
|
|
|
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
|
Apr. 16, 2013
|
|
|
Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement
dated as of April 19, 2013 by and among Aemetis Advanced Fuels
Keyes, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Aemetis Facility Keyes, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation, Aemetis, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and
Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation, as agent for
Third Eye Capital Insight Fund
|
8-K/A
|
000-51354
|
10.2
|
May 14, 2013
|
|
|
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
|
Apr. 16, 2013
|
|
|
Agreement For Satisfaction of Note by Share and Note Issuance dated
as of April 18, 2013 between Aemetis, Inc., Aemetis International,
Inc. and Laird Q. Cagan for himself and on behalf of all other
holders of interests in the Revolving Line of Credit dated August
17, 2009 as amended.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Apr. 24, 2013
|
|
45
Amended and Restated Heiskell Purchasing Agreement dated May 16,
2013, by and between Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aemetis, Inc. and J.D.
Heiskell Holdings, LLC, a California limited liability company
doing business as J.D. Heiskell & Co.*
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
May 23, 2013
|
|
|
Amended and Restated Aemetis Keyes Corn Procurement and Working
Capital Agreement, dated May 2, 2013, by and between Aemetis
Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., and J.D. Heiskell Holdings,
LLC
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.2
|
May 23, 2013
|
|
|
Limited Waiver and Amendment No.5 to Amended and Restated Note
Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2013 by and among Aemetis,
Inc., Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. Aemetis Facility Keyes,
Inc., 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
|
July 31, 2013
|
|
|
Limited Waiver and Amendment No.6 to Amended and Restated Note
Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2013 by and among
Aemetis, Inc.; Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.; Aemetis Facility
Keyes, Inc.; Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation,
as agent for Third Eye Capital Credit Opportunities Fund - Insight
Fund, and Sprott PC Trust.
|
8-K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Nov. 1, 2013
|
|
|
Limited Waiver and Amendment No.7 to Amended and Restated Note
Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2014 by and among Aemetis,
Inc.; Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.; Aemetis Facility Keyes,
Inc.; Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation, as
agent for Third Eye Capital Credit Opportunities Fund - Insight
Fund, and Sprott PC Trust.
|
10-Q
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Mar. 31, 2014
|
|
|
Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 8 to Amended and Restated Note
Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2014 by and among
Aemetis, Inc.; Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.; Aemetis Facility
Keyes, Inc.; Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation,
as agent for Third Eye Capital Credit Opportunities Fund - Insight
Fund, and Sprott PC Trust.
|
10-Q/A
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Nov. 13, 2014
|
|
|
Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 9 to Amended and Restated Note
Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 12, 2015 by and among
Aemetis, Inc.; Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.; Aemetis Facility
Keyes, Inc.; Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation,
as agent for Third Eye Capital Credit Opportunities Fund - Insight
Fund, and Sprott PC Trust.
|
10K
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Mar. 12,2015
|
|
|
Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 10 to Amended and Restated Note
Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2015 by and among
Aemetis, Inc.; Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.; Aemetis Facility
Keyes, Inc.; Third Eye Capital
Corporation, an Ontario corporation, as agent for Third Eye Capital
Credit Opportunities Fund - Insight Fund, and Sprott PC
Trust.
|
10-Q
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
May 7, 2015
|
|
|
Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 11 to Amended and Restated Note
Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 6, 2015 by and among
Aemetis,
Inc.; Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.; Aemetis Facility Keyes,
Inc.; Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation, as
agent for Third Eye Capital Credit Opportunities Fund - Insight
Fund, and Sprott PC Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7,
2015).
|
10-Q
|
000-51354
|
10.1
|
Nov. 5, 2015
|
|
46
Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 12 to Amended and Restated Note
Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2016 by and among
Aemetis, Inc.; Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.; Aemetis Facility
Keyes, Inc.; Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation,
as agent for Third Eye Capital Credit Opportunities Fund - Insight
Fund, and Sprott PC Trust.
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.68
|
Mar. 28, 2016
|
|
|
Binding
letter of intent for the purchase of certain property, plant and
equipment in Goodland, Kansas by Aemetis Advanced Fuels Goodland,
Inc., or such other subsidiary of Aemetis Inc., dated March 22,
2016 from Third Eye Capital Corporation, in its capacity as
attorney-in-fact for New Goodland Energy Center, LLC.
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.69
|
Mar. 28, 2016
|
|
|
Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 13 to Amended and Restated Note
Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2017 by and among Aemetis,
Inc.; Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.; Aemetis Facility Keyes,
Inc.; Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation, as
agent for Third Eye Capital Credit Opportunities Fund - Insight
Fund, and Sprott PC Trust.
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.70
|
Mar. 16, 2017
|
|
|
Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 14 to Amended and Restated Note
Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2018 by and among
Aemetis, Inc.; Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.; Aemetis Facility
Keyes, Inc.; Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation,
as agent for Third Eye Capital Credit Opportunities Fund –
Insight Fund, and Sprott PC Trust.
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.71
|
Mar. 27, 2018
|
|
|
Promissory Note, dated as of March 27, 2018 by and among Aemetis,
Inc.; Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.; Aemetis Facility Keyes,
Inc., Aemetis, Inc.; and Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario
corporation,
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.72
|
Mar. 27, 2018
|
|
|
10.73
|
Promissory Note, dated as of March 11, 2019 by and among Aemetis,
Inc.; Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.; Aemetis Facility Keyes,
Inc., Aemetis, Inc.; and Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario
corporation,
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.73
|
Mar. 14, 2019
|
X
|
10.74
|
Limited
Waiver and Amendment No. 15 to Amended and Restated Note Purchase
Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2019 by and among Aemetis, Inc.;
Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc.; Aemetis Facility Keyes, Inc.;
Third Eye Capital Corporation, an Ontario corporation, as agent for
Third Eye Capital Credit Opportunities Fund – Insight Fund,
and Sprott PC Trust.
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
10.74
|
Mar.
14, 2019
|
X
|
Code of Ethics
|
10-K
|
000-51354
|
14
|
May 20, 2009
|
|
|
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
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.
47
AEMETIS, INC.
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
Page
Number
|
49
|
|
Consolidated Financial Statements
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
|
50
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
|
51
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
|
52
|
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders' Deficit
|
53
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
54 -85
|
48
Report of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Aemetis,
Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of
Aemetis, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31,
2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of operations
and comprehensive loss, stockholders' deficit and cash flows for
the years then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated
financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In
our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of the Company as of
December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and
its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our
audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are
required to be independent with respect to the Company in
accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and
the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the
PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error
or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged
to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial
reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an
understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not
for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of
the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of
material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to
error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those
risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis,
evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as
well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial
statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
/s/ RSM US LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2012.
Des Moines, Iowa
March 14, 2019
49
AEMETIS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017
(In
thousands except for par value)
|
December 31,
2018
|
December 31,
2017
|
Assets
|
|
|
Current
assets:
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$1,188
|
$428
|
Accounts
receivable
|
1,096
|
2,219
|
Inventories
|
6,129
|
5,737
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
942
|
2,435
|
Other
current assets
|
956
|
643
|
Total
current assets
|
10,311
|
11,462
|
|
|
|
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
78,492
|
78,837
|
Other
assets
|
3,018
|
4,032
|
Total
assets
|
$91,821
|
$94,331
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and stockholders' deficit
|
|
|
Current
liabilities:
|
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
$13,500
|
$10,457
|
Current
portion of long term debt
|
2,396
|
2,039
|
Short
term borrowings
|
14,902
|
13,586
|
Mandatorily
redeemable Series B convertible preferred stock
|
3,048
|
2,946
|
Accrued
property taxes
|
3,337
|
3,677
|
Other
current liabilities
|
5,396
|
3,311
|
Total
current liabilities
|
42,579
|
36,016
|
Long
term liabilities:
|
|
|
Senior
secured notes
|
89,884
|
73,986
|
EB-5
notes
|
36,500
|
34,000
|
GAFI
secured and revolving notes
|
25,461
|
24,351
|
Long
term subordinated debt
|
5,974
|
5,824
|
Series
A preferred units
|
7,005
|
-
|
Other
long term liabilities
|
-
|
15
|
Total
long term liabilities
|
164,824
|
138,176
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders'
deficit:
|
|
|
Series
B convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 7,235 authorized;
1,323 shares issued and outstanding each period, respectively
(aggregate liquidation preference of $3,969 for each period
respectively)
|
1
|
1
|
Common
stock, $0.001 par value; 40,000 authorized; 20,345 and 20,088
shares issued and outstanding each period,
respectively
|
20
|
20
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
85,917
|
84,679
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
(193,204)
|
(160,188)
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss
|
(3,576)
|
(2,904)
|
Total
stockholders' deficit attributable to Aemetis, Inc.
|
(110,842)
|
(78,392)
|
Non-controlling
interest - GAFI
|
(4,740)
|
(1,469)
|
Total
stockholders' deficit
|
(115,582)
|
(79,861)
|
Total
liabilities and stockholders' deficit
|
$91,821
|
$94,331
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial
statements
50
AEMETIS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE
LOSS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017
(In
thousands, except for earnings per share)
|
For the years ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Revenues
|
$171,526
|
$150,157
|
|
|
|
Cost
of goods sold
|
166,121
|
146,782
|
|
|
|
Gross
profit
|
5,405
|
3,375
|
|
|
|
Research
and development expenses
|
246
|
2,367
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
16,085
|
13,191
|
|
|
|
Operating
loss
|
(10,926)
|
(12,183)
|
|
|
|
Other
(income) expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
Interest
rate expense
|
18,170
|
13,906
|
Debt
related fees and amortization expense
|
7,520
|
5,398
|
Accretion
of Series A preferred units
|
44
|
-
|
Loss
on impairment of intangibles
|
865
|
-
|
Other
(income) expense
|
(1,245)
|
277
|
|
|
|
Loss
before income taxes
|
(36,280)
|
(31,764)
|
|
|
|
Income
tax expense
|
7
|
6
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
$(36,287)
|
$(31,770)
|
|
|
|
Less:
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
|
(3,271)
|
(1,469)
|
|
|
|
Net
loss attributable to Aemetis, Inc.
|
$(33,016)
|
$(30,301)
|
|
|
|
Other
comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
|
Foreign
currency translation gain (loss)
|
(672)
|
484
|
Comprehensive
loss
|
$(36,959)
|
$(31,286)
|
|
|
|
Net
loss per common share attributable to Aemetis, Inc.
|
|
|
Basic
|
$(1.63)
|
$(1.53)
|
Diluted
|
$(1.63)
|
$(1.53)
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding
|
|
|
Basic
|
20,252
|
19,833
|
Diluted
|
20,252
|
19,833
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial
statement
51
AEMETIS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017
(In thousands)
|
For the year ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Operating activities:
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
$(36,287)
|
$(31,770)
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|
|
Share-based
compensation
|
981
|
1,101
|
Stock
issued for services
|
22
|
118
|
Depreciation
|
4,580
|
4,622
|
Debt
related fees and amortization expense
|
7,520
|
5,399
|
Intangibles
and other amortization expense
|
140
|
392
|
Accretion
of Series A preferred units
|
44
|
-
|
Loss
on sale/disposal of assets
|
9
|
-
|
Impairment
loss on intangible assets
|
865
|
-
|
Change
in fair value of SARs
|
(145)
|
-
|
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
1,079
|
(1,015)
|
Inventories
|
(721)
|
(2,370)
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
1,692
|
371
|
Other
current and long-term assets
|
(380)
|
(425)
|
Accounts
payable
|
2,207
|
2,580
|
Accrued
interest expense and fees, net of payments
|
12,463
|
10,812
|
Other
liabilities
|
425
|
1,497
|
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(5,506)
|
(8,688)
|
|
|
|
Investing activities:
|
|
|
Capital
expenditures
|
(4,074)
|
(1,116)
|
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(4,074)
|
(1,116)
|
|
|
|
Financing activities:
|
|
|
Proceeds
from borrowings
|
20,071
|
14,798
|
Repayments
of borrowings
|
(18,010)
|
(10,037)
|
GAFI
proceeds from borrowings
|
3,144
|
3,614
|
GAFI
repayments of borrowings
|
(1,775)
|
-
|
Proceeds
from Series A preferred units financing
|
6,961
|
-
|
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
10,391
|
8,375
|
|
|
|
Effect
of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
|
(51)
|
371
|
Net
cash and cash equivalents increase (decrease) for
period
|
760
|
(1,058)
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
428
|
1,486
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$1,188
|
$428
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information, cash paid:
|
|
|
Cash
paid for interest, net of capitalized interest of $135 thousand and
$0 for years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017,
respectively
|
$5,590
|
$3,092
|
Income
taxes paid
|
6
|
6
|
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information, non-cash
transactions:
|
|
|
Subordinated
debt extension fees added to debt
|
680
|
680
|
Fair
value of warrants issued to subordinated debt holders
|
235
|
321
|
Repurchase
of common stock added to TEC promissory note
|
-
|
451
|
TEC
debt extension, waiver fees, promissory notes fees added to
debt
|
4,255
|
5,615
|
GAFI
plant, property & equipment acquired with debt
|
-
|
15,431
|
Payment
of TEC bridge loan added to GAFI Revolving loan
|
-
|
3,669
|
Debt
exchanged for prepaid interest on GAFI Term loan
|
200
|
2,250
|
Stock
Appreciation Rights issued for GAFI Amendment No. 1
|
1,277
|
-
|
GAFI
Amendment No. 1 & 2 fees added to debt
|
250
|
-
|
Capital
expenditures not paid yet
|
905
|
-
|
Settlement
of subordinated debt through issuing stock
|
-
|
132
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial
statement
52
AEMETIS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017
(In thousands)
|
Series B
Preferred Stock
|
Common
Stock
|
Additional
Paid-in
|
Accumulated
|
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive
|
Noncontrolling
|
|
||
|
Shares
|
Dollars
|
Shares
|
Dollars
|
Capital
|
Deficit
|
loss
|
Interest
|
Total
|
Balance at December 31, 2016
|
1,328
|
$1
|
19,858
|
$20
|
$83,441
|
$(129,887)
|
$(3,388)
|
$-
|
$(49,813)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion of
Series B preferred to common stock
|
(5)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,101
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,101
|
Shares issued
to consultants and other services
|
-
|
-
|
100
|
-
|
118
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
118
|
Issuance and
exercise of warrants
|
-
|
-
|
240
|
-
|
338
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
338
|
Repurchase of
common stock
|
-
|
-
|
(275)
|
-
|
(451)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(451)
|
Issuance of
shares for interest and note extinguishment
|
-
|
-
|
165
|
-
|
132
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
132
|
Other
comprehensive income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
484
|
-
|
484
|
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(30,301)
|
-
|
(1,469)
|
(31,770)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2017
|
1,323
|
1
|
20,088
|
20
|
84,679
|
(160,188)
|
(2,904)
|
$(1,469)
|
(79,861)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
981
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
981
|
Shares issued
to consultants and other services
|
-
|
-
|
30
|
-
|
22
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
22
|
Issuance and
exercise of warrants
|
-
|
-
|
225
|
-
|
235
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
235
|
Other
comprehensive income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(672)
|
-
|
(672)
|
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(33,016)
|
-
|
(3,271)
|
(36,287)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2018
|
1,323
|
$1
|
20,345
|
$20
|
$85,917
|
$(193,204)
|
$(3,576)
|
$(4,740)
|
$(115,582)
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial
statements.
53
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
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 subsidiary AE Biofuels, Inc., a
Delaware corporation;
●
Biofuels Marketing,
Inc., 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;
●
Aemetis Advanced
Fuels, Inc., a Nevada corporation;
●
Aemetis Advanced
Products Keyes, Inc., a Delaware corporation;
●
Aemetis Property
Keyes, Inc., a Delaware corporation;
●
Aemetis Advanced
Biorefinery Keyes, Inc., a Delaware corporation; and
●
Aemetis Biogas LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company.
Nature of Activities. Headquartered in Cupertino,
California, Aemetis is an advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals
company focused on the acquisition, development and
commercialization of innovative technologies that replace
traditional petroleum-based products through the conversion of
first-generation ethanol and biodiesel plants into advanced
biorefineries. Founded in 2006, we own and operate a 60
million gallon per year ethanol plant in the California Central
Valley near Modesto where we manufacture and produce ethanol, wet
distillers’ grains (“WDG”), condensed distillers
solubles (“CDS”), and distillers’ corn oil
(“DCO”). We also own and operate a 50 million
gallon per year renewable chemical and advanced fuel production
facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality
distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin for customers in India and
Europe. Aemetis is building a biogas digester, pipeline and gas
cleanup project to convert dairy waste gas into renewable natural
gas, and is developing a plant to convert waste orchard wood into
cellulosic ethanol. We operate a research and development
laboratory and hold a portfolio of patents and related technology
licenses for the production of renewable fuels and
biochemicals.
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation. These consolidated
financial statements include the accounts of Aemetis. Additionally,
we consolidate all entities in which we have a controlling
financial interest either directly or by option to acquire the
interest. A controlling financial interest is usually obtained
through ownership of a majority of the voting interests. However,
an enterprise must consolidate a variable interest entity
(“VIE”) if the enterprise is the primary beneficiary of
the VIE, even if the enterprise does not own a majority of the
voting interests. The primary beneficiary is the party that has
both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most
significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and the
obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from
the VIE that could potentially be significant to the
VIE.
In July
2017, Goodland Advanced Fuels, Inc. (“GAFI”) acquired a
partially completed ethanol plant in Goodland, Kansas, and as part
of the transaction, GAFI entered into a note purchase agreement
(the “GAFI Note Purchase Agreement”) for a revolving
loan (“GAFI Revolving Loan”) and term loan (“GAFI
Term Loan”, and together with the GAFI Revolving Loan, the
“GAFI Loans”) with Third Eye Capital Corporation
(“Third Eye Capital”). The transaction provided Aemetis
with both an option agreement (“GAFI Option Agreement”)
to acquire all of the outstanding stock from GAFI at $0.01 per
share, as well as the ability for Aemetis, and its subsidiary
Aemetis Advanced Products Keyes, Inc. (“AAPK”), to
borrow portions of the GAFI Revolving Loan. In exchange, Aemetis
and AAPK each provided a limited guaranty (“GAFI Limited
Guaranty”). GAFI is thinly capitalized by its sole
shareholders, and dependent on the terms of the agreements with
Third Eye Capital and Aemetis to support its own activities.
Additionally, the combination of the GAFI Limited Guaranty and the
GAFI Option Agreement provide sufficient basis for Aemetis to
direct the activities of GAFI. Upon application of the
consolidation guidance in ASC 810 Consolidation, we determined that GAFI
is a variable interest entity with Aemetis as the primary
beneficiary. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements
include the account of GAFI. See “Part I, Item 1. Financial
Statements – Note 6. Variable Interest Entity.” All
intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation, including transactions between GAFI and Aemetis,
Inc.
54
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
All
intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation including any transactions between GAFI and Aemetis,
Inc.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with U.S. GAAP 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. In May 2014, the FASB issued new
guidance on the recognition of revenue. The guidance stated that an
entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised
goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the
consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in
exchange for those goods or services. The standard was effective
for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017,
including interim periods within that reporting period. In March
and April 2016, the FASB issued further revenue recognition
guidance amending principal vs. agent considerations regarding
whether an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer
of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that
reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be
entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The Company
adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018 using the modified
retrospective approach. There was no cumulative impact to retained
earnings. We assessed all of our revenue streams to identify any
differences in the timing, measurement or presentation of revenue
recognition.
We
derive revenue primarily from sales of ethanol and related
co-products in North America, and biodiesel and refined glycerin in
India based on the supply agreements and purchase order contracts.
We assessed the following criteria under the guidance: (i) identify
the contracts with customer, (ii) identify the performance
obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price,
(iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations,
and (v) recognize revenue when the entity satisfies the performance
obligations.
In
North America, we sell the majority of our production to one
customer under a supply contract, with individual sales
transactions occurring under this contract. Given the similarity of
these transactions, we have assessed them as a portfolio of similar
contracts. The performance obligation is satisfied by delivery of
the physical product to the tank of J.D. Heiskell or to one of
their contracted trucking companies. At this point in time, the
customer has the ability to direct the use of the product and
receive substantially all of its benefits. The transaction price is
determined based on daily market prices negotiated by Kinergy for
ethanol and by A.L. Gilbert on WDG and DCO. There is no transaction
price allocation needed.
The
below table shows our sales in North America by product
category:
North
America (in
thousands)
|
||
|
For the year ended December 31,
|
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Ethanol
sales
|
$113,855
|
$106,419
|
Wet
distiller's grains sales
|
32,362
|
26,422
|
Other
sales
|
3,828
|
3,898
|
|
$150,045
|
$136,739
|
In
India where we sell products on purchase orders (written or verbal)
or by contract with governmental or international parties, the
performance obligation is satisfied by delivery and acceptance of
the physical product. When the contracts are sufficiently similar
in nature, we have assessed these contracts as a portfolio of
similar contracts as allowed under the practical expedient. Doing
so does not result in a materially different outcome compared to
individually accounting for each contract. All domestic and
international deliveries are subject to certain specifications as
identified in contracts. The transaction price is determined based
on reference market prices for biodiesel and refined glycerin every
day net of taxes. There is no transaction price allocation
needed.
The
below table shows our sales in India by product
category:
55
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
India (in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
For the year ended December 31,
|
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Biodiesel
sales
|
$17,009
|
$10,365
|
Refined
Glycerin sales
|
4,467
|
3,053
|
Other
sales
|
5
|
-
|
|
$21,481
|
$13,418
|
We also
assessed principal versus agent criteria as we buy our feedstock
from our customers and process and sell finished goods to those
customers in some contractual agreements.
In
North America, we buy corn as feedstock in producing ethanol from
our working capital partner J.D. Heiskell and we sell all ethanol,
WDG, and corn oil produced in this process to J.D. Heiskell. Our
finished goods tank is leased by J.D. Heiskell and they require 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 control
and bear the risk of gain or loss on the processing of corn which
is purchased at market prices into ethanol and (ii) we have legal
title to the goods during the processing time. 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.
Transportation and marketing charges are known within days of the
transaction and are recorded at the actual amounts. The Company has
elected an accounting policy under which these charges have been
treated as fulfillment activities provided after control has
transferred. As a result, these charges are recognized in cost of
goods sold and selling, general, & administrative expenses,
respectively, when revenue is recognized. Revenues are recorded at
the gross invoiced amount.
In
India, we occasionally enter into contracts where we purchase
feedstock from the customer, process the feedstock into biodiesel,
and sell to the same customer. In those cases, we receive the legal
title to feedstock from our customers once it is on our premises.
We control the processing and production of biodiesel based on
contract terms and specifications. The pricing for both feedstock
and biodiesel is set independently. We hold the title and risk to
biodiesel as long as it resides on our premises. Hence, we are the
principal in both North America and India sales scenarios where our
customer and vendor may be the same.
Based
upon the timing of the transfer of control of our products to our
customers, there are no contract assets or liabilities as of
December 31, 2018.
We have
elected to adopt the practical expedient that allows for ignoring
the significant financing component of a contract when estimating
the transaction price when the transfer of promised goods to the
customer and customer payment for such goods are expected to be
within one year of contract inception. Further, we have elected to
adopt the practical expedient in which incremental costs of
obtaining a contract are expensed when the amortization period
would otherwise be less than one year.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold includes those costs
directly associated with the production of revenues, such as raw
material consumed, factory overhead and other direct production
costs. During periods of idle plant capacity, costs otherwise
charged to cost of goods sold are reclassified to selling, general
and administrative expense.
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
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.
56
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
Accounts Receivable. The Company sells ethanol, WDG, CDS,
and DCO 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. Usually, invoices are due within 30 days on net
terms. Accounts receivables consist of product sales made to large
creditworthy customers. Trade accounts receivable are presented at
original invoice amount, net of any 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 it 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 un-collectability
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 conditions of the Company’s
customers were to deteriorate, additional allowances may be
required. We did not reserve any
balance for allowance for doubtful accounts in the years ended
December 31, 2018 and 2017.
Inventories. Finished
goods, raw materials, and work-in-process inventories are valued
using methods which approximate the lower of cost (first-in,
first-out) or net realizable value ("NRV"). Distillers’
grains and related products are stated at NRV. In the valuation of
inventories, NRV is determined as estimated selling price in the
ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of
completion, disposal, and transportation.
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 Keyes Plant, Goodland Plant and
Kakinada Plant. The Goodland Plant is partially completed and is
not ready for operation; hence, we are not depreciating these
assets yet. Otherwise, it is the Company’s policy to
depreciate capital assets over their estimated useful lives using
the straight-line method.
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 In
estimating our forecasts, we used significant assumptions with
regard to the cost of inputs mainly palm stearin, and outputs
mainly biodiesel. These assumptions were commodity market driven
but we also considered the government regulations, import and
export tariffs, availability of alternate low-cost inputs, and
potential customer agreements. We evaluated all assumptions based
on conditions which the Company believes will become available to
increase production at profitable margins in the
future.
Intangibles: In December 2018, the Company wrote off $0.9
million of patents associated with the Z-microbeTM and enzymatic
processes to facilitate the degradation of certain plant biomass as
the Company shifted away from this technology.
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, 2018 and 2017, the
Company recorded a full valuation allowance against its net
deferred tax assets due to operating losses incurred since
inception. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon
future earnings, if any, the timing and amount of which are
uncertain. Accordingly, the net deferred tax assets were fully
offset by a valuation allowance.
The
Company is subject to income tax audits by the respective tax
authorities in all of the jurisdictions in which it operates. The
determination of tax liabilities in each of these jurisdictions
requires the interpretation and application of complex and
sometimes uncertain tax laws and regulations. The recognition and
measurement of current taxes payable or refundable and deferred tax
assets and liabilities requires that the Company make certain
estimates and judgments. Changes to these estimates or a change in
judgment may have a material impact on the Company’s tax
provision in a future period.
57
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
2017 U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
On
December 22, 2017, the United States enacted tax reform legislation
through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”),
which significantly changed the existing U.S. tax laws by, but not
limited to, (i) reducing the corporate federal tax rate from 35% to
21%, (ii) requiring companies to pay a one-time transition tax on
certain un-repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries, (iii)
moving from a worldwide tax system to a territorial tax system,
(iv) eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT) and
changing how existing AMT credits can be realized, (v) providing
that bonus depreciation will allow for full expensing of qualified
property, (vi) creating a new limitation on deductible interest
expense, and (vii) changing rules related to uses and limitations
of net operating loss carryforwards created in tax years beginning
after December 31, 2017.
The SEC
staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (“SAB 118”),
which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the
Tax Act. SAB 118 provides a measurement period that should
not extend beyond one year from the Tax Act enactment date for
companies to complete the accounting under ASC 740. In
accordance with SAB 118, a company must reflect the income tax
effects of those aspects of the Tax Act for which the accounting
under ASC 740 is complete. To the extent that a
company’s accounting for certain income tax effects of the
Tax Act is incomplete but it is able to determine a reasonable
estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial
statements. If a company cannot determine a provisional
estimate to be included in the financial statements, it should
continue to apply ASC 740 on the basis of the provisions of the tax
law that were in effect immediately before the enactment of the Tax
Act.
In
connection with our initial provisional analysis of the impact of
the Tax Act, the Company revalued its tax-effected deferred tax
assets, resulting in a $19.6 million reduction in the
Company’s tax-effected deferred tax assets, with a
corresponding reduction in the Company’s valuation
allowance. There was no material change to the
Company’s provisional analysis of the impact of the Tax Act
in 2018.
In
2018, the Company adopted certain tax accounting policies related
to the new global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”)
provisions under the Tax Act such that the Company will: (1)
account for all GILTI related book-tax differences as period costs
and (2) use the Incremental Cash Tax Savings approach in evaluating
its valuation allowance assessment related to the GILTI
inclusion.
Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) per Share. Basic net
income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income or loss
attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number
of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income
(loss) per share reflects the dilution of common stock equivalents
such as options, convertible preferred stock, debt and warrants to
the extent the impact is dilutive. As the Company incurred a net
loss for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, potentially
dilutive securities have been excluded from the diluted net loss
per share computations as their effect would be
anti-dilutive.
The
following table shows the number of potentially dilutive shares
excluded from the diluted net loss per share calculation as of
December 31, 2018 and 2017:
|
As
of
|
|
|
December
31,
2018
|
December
31,
2017
|
Series
B preferred (post split basis)
|
132
|
132
|
Common
stock options and warrants
|
2,984
|
2,519
|
Debt
with conversion feature at $30 per share of common
stock
|
1,236
|
1,201
|
SARs
conversion if stock issued at $0.71 per share to cover $2.1
million
|
2,964
|
-
|
Total
number of potentially dilutive shares excluded from the diluted net
loss per share calculation
|
7,316
|
3,852
|
Comprehensive Loss. 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 loss and accumulated other
comprehensive loss 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.
58
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
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 and the resulting translation adjustments
directly recorded to a separate component of accumulated other
comprehensive loss. Income and expense accounts are translated at
average exchange rates during the year. Transactional 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, or decision-making group, in deciding how
to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Aemetis
recognized two reportable geographic segments: “North
America” and “India.”
The
“North America” operating segment includes the
Company’s 60 million gallons per year capacity Keyes Plant in
California, the cellulosic ethanol facility in Riverbank, the
cluster of biogas digesters on dairies near Keyes, California, the
Goodland Plant, Kansas and the research and development facility in
Minnesota.
The
“India” operating segment encompasses the
Company’s 50 million gallon per year capacity Kakinada Plant
in India, the administrative offices in Hyderabad, India, and the
holding companies in Nevada and Mauritius.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Financial instruments include
accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, current
and non-current portion of subordinated debt, SARs liability, notes
payable, and long-term debt. Due to the unique terms of our
notes payable and long-term debt and the financial condition of the
Company, the fair value of the debt is not readily
determinable. The fair value, determined using level 3
inputs, of all other current financial instruments is estimated to
approximate carrying value due to the short-term nature of these
instruments.
Share-Based Compensation. The Company recognizes share based
compensation expense in accordance with ASC 718 Stock Compensation requiring the
Company to recognize expenses related to the estimated 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.
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.
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.
Debt 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
includes 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.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements.
In
February 2016, the FASB issued guidance that amends the existing
accounting standards for leases. Consistent with existing guidance,
the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash
flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its
classification. Under the new guidance, a lessee will be required
to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the
balance sheet. Leases will be classified as either finance or
operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense
recognition in the income statement. The new guidance is effective
for us beginning January 1, 2019, and for interim periods within
that year. We will be required to recognize and measure leases
existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest
comparative period presented using a modified retrospective
approach, with certain practical expedients available. On July 30,
2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11 amendments to ASC 842 as Optional
transition relief approach in which entities may elect not to
recast the comparative periods presented when transitioning to ASC
842 and lessors may not select to separate lease and non-lease
components when certain conditions are met.
We plan
to adopt the standard as of January 1, 2019 using the optional
transition relief approach. We will elect the practical expedients
permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard,
which among other things, allows us to carryforward the historical
lease classification. We will make an accounting policy election to
keep leases with a term of 12 months or less off of the balance
sheet. We will recognize those lease payments in the Consolidated
Statements of Operations on a straight-line basis over the lease
term.
59
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
We
estimate adoption of the standard will result in recognition of
additional net lease assets and lease liabilities of approximately
$1.2 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2019. We do not
believe the standard will materially affect our consolidated net
earnings.
We do
not believe the new standard will have a notable impact on our
liquidity. The standard will have no impact on our debt-covenant
compliance under our current agreements
In June
2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation - Stock
Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based
Payment Accounting (“ASU 2018-07”), which expands the
scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for
acquiring goods and services from nonemployees, with certain
exceptions. ASU 2018-07 supersedes the guidance in ASC 505-50,
Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees, which previously included
the accounting for non-employee awards. The standard is effective
for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018,
and early adoption is permitted. We plan to adopt the standard as
of January 1, 2019 and we do not believe the standard will
materially affect our measurement and recognition of nonemployee
share-based compensation.
2. Inventories
Inventories consist of the following:
|
December 31,
2018
|
December 31,
2017
|
Raw
materials
|
$3,647
|
$2,829
|
Work-in-progress
|
1,327
|
1,605
|
Finished
goods
|
1,155
|
1,303
|
Total
inventories
|
$6,129
|
$5,737
|
As of
December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company recognized a
lower of cost or market reserve of $0.2 million each, respectively,
related to inventory.
3. Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment consist of the
following:
|
December 31,
2018
|
December 31,
2017
|
Land
|
$4,116
|
$2,747
|
Plant
and buildings
|
82,445
|
82,652
|
Furniture
and fixtures
|
1,056
|
1,003
|
Machinery
and equipment
|
3,928
|
3,972
|
Construction
in progress
|
3,581
|
941
|
GAFI
property, plant & equipment
|
15,408
|
15,408
|
Total
gross property, plant & equipment
|
110,534
|
106,723
|
Less
accumulated depreciation
|
(32,042)
|
(27,886)
|
Total
net property, plant & equipment
|
$78,492
|
$78,837
|
60
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
Interest capitalized in property, plant, and equipment was $135
thousand and none for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017,
respectively.
Depreciation
on the components of the property, plant and equipment is
calculated using the straight-line method to allocate their
depreciable amounts over their estimated useful lives as
follows:
|
Years
|
|
Plant and buildings
|
|
20 - 30
|
Machinery and equipment
|
|
5 - 7
|
Furniture and fixtures
|
|
3 - 5
|
The
Company recorded depreciation expense
of approximately $4.6 million each for the years ended December 31,
2018 and 2017.
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. Based
on the analysis, both the Keyes Plant and Kakinada Plant did
not require impairment adjustment as of December 31, 2018 and
2017.
4. Debt
Debt
consists of the notes from the Company’s senior lender, Third
Eye Capital, acting as Agent for the Purchasers (Third Eye
Capital), other working capital lenders and subordinated lenders as
follows:
|
December 31,
2018
|
December 31,
2017
|
Third
Eye Capital term notes
|
$7,024
|
$6,931
|
Third
Eye Capital revolving credit facility
|
47,225
|
35,371
|
Third
Eye Capital revenue participation term notes
|
11,794
|
11,636
|
Third
Eye Capital acquisition term notes
|
23,841
|
20,048
|
Cilion
shareholder seller notes payable
|
5,974
|
5,824
|
Subordinated
notes
|
10,080
|
8,725
|
EB-5
promissory notes
|
38,536
|
36,039
|
Unsecured
working capital loans
|
4,822
|
4,861
|
GAFI
Term and Revolving loans
|
25,821
|
24,351
|
Total debt
|
175,117
|
153,786
|
Less
current portion of debt
|
17,298
|
15,625
|
Total long term debt
|
$157,819
|
$138,161
|
61
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
Third Eye Capital Note Purchase Agreement
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 (the “Note Purchase
Agreement”). Pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, Third
Eye Capital extended credit in the form of (i) senior secured term
loans in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $7.2
million to replace existing notes held by Third Eye Capital (the
“Term Notes”); (ii) senior secured revolving loans in
an aggregate principal amount of $18.0 million (“Revolving
Credit Facility”); (iii) senior secured term loans in the
principal amount of $10.0 million to convert the prior revenue
participation agreement to a note (“Revenue Participation
Term Notes”); and (iv) senior secured term loans in an
aggregate principal amount of $15.0 million (“Acquisition
Term Notes”) used to fund the cash portion of the acquisition
of Cilion, Inc. (the Term Notes, Revolving Credit Facility, Revenue
Participation Term Notes and Acquisition Term Notes are referred to
herein collectively as the “Original Third Eye Capital
Notes”).
On
January 31, 2017, a Promissory Note (the “January 2017
Note”, together with the Original Third Eye Capital Notes,
the “Third Eye Capital Notes”) for $2.1 million was
advanced by Third Eye Capital to Aemetis, Inc., as a short-term
credit facility for working capital and other general corporate
purposes with an interest rate of 14% per annum maturing on the
earlier of (a) receipt of proceeds from any financing, refinancing,
or other similar transaction, (b) extension of credit by payee, as
lender or as agent on behalf of certain lenders, to the Company or
its affiliates, or (c) May 30, 2017. In addition, as part of the
January 2017 Note agreement, Aemetis used $0.5 million of the total
proceeds to buy back 275 thousand common shares that were held by
Third Eye Capital. In consideration of the January 2017 Note, $133
thousand of the total proceeds were paid to Third Eye Capital as
financing charges. On July 10, 2017, the January 2017 Note was paid
in full.
On
March 1, 2017, Third Eye Capital agreed to Amendment No. 13 to the
Note Purchase Agreement to: (i) extend the maturity date of the
Third Eye Capital Notes to April 1, 2018 in exchange for a 5%
extension fee consisting of adding $3.1 million to the outstanding
principal balance of the Note Purchase Agreement and allowing for
the further extension of the maturity date of the Third Eye Capital
Notes to April 1, 2019, at the Company’s election, for an
additional extension fee of 5% of the then outstanding Third Eye
Capital Notes outstanding balance, (ii) waive the free cash flow
financial covenant under the Note Purchase Agreement for the three
months ended December 31, 2016, (iii) provide that such covenant
will be deleted prospectively from the Note Purchase Agreement,
(iv) waive the default under the Note Purchase Agreement relating
to indebtedness outstanding to Laird Cagan and (v) waive the
covenant under the Note Purchase Agreement to permit the Company to
pay off the defaulted Laird Cagan subordinated note by issuing
stock. The borrowers agreed to use their best efforts to close the
transaction to purchase assets in Goodland, Kansas from Third Eye
Capital as described in a non-binding offer to purchase letter
between an affiliate of the Company and Third Eye Capital, which
closed on July 10, 2017. As consideration for such amendment and
waiver, the borrowers agreed to pay Third Eye Capital an amendment
and waiver fee of $750 thousand to be added to the outstanding
principal balance of the Revolving Credit Facility. We evaluated
the Amendment of the Notes and applied modification accounting
treatment in accordance with ASC 470-50 Debt – Modification and
Extinguishment.
On
April 28, 2017, a Promissory Note (the “April 2017
Note”, and together with the Original Third Eye Capital
Notes, the “Third Eye Capital Notes”) for $1.5 million
was advanced by Third Eye Capital to Aemetis, Inc., as a short-term
credit facility for working capital and other general corporate
purposes with an interest rate of 14% per annum maturing on the
earliest of (a) closing of the Financing, (b) receipt of proceeds
from any financing, refinancing or other similar transaction, (c)
extension of credit by the Lender, or Agent on behalf of certain
lenders or the Noteholders, to the Debtors or their affiliates, and
(d) June 15, 2017. In addition, $1.0 million of this note
represents fees payable by GAFI upon the closing of the Goodland
transaction. On July 10, 2017, the April 2017 Note was paid in full
and the fees payable by GAFI were paid.
On
January 4, 2018, a Promissory Note (the January 2018 Note) for $160
thousand was advanced by Third Eye Capital to Aemetis, Inc., as a
short-term credit facility for working capital and other general
corporate purposes with an interest rate of 14% per annum maturing
on the earlier of (a) receipt of proceeds from any financing,
refinancing, or other similar transaction, (b) extension of credit
by payee, as lender or as agent on behalf of certain lenders, to
the Company or its affiliates, or (c) April 1, 2018. In
consideration of the January 2018 Note, $10 thousand of the total
proceeds were paid to Third Eye Capital as financing charges. On
April 1, 2018, the January 2018 Note was paid in full.
On
February 27, 2018, a Promissory Note (the “February 2018
Note”, and together with the Original Third Eye Capital
Notes, the “Third Eye Capital Notes”) for $2.1 million
was advanced by Third Eye Capital to Aemetis, Inc., as a short-term
credit facility for working capital and other general corporate
purposes with an interest rate of 14% per annum maturing on the
earlier of (a) receipt of proceeds from any financing, refinancing,
or other similar transaction, (b) extension of credit by payee, as
lender or as agent on behalf of certain lenders, to the Company or
its affiliates, or (c) April 30, 2018. In consideration of the
February 2018 Note, $0.1 million of the total proceeds were paid to
Third Eye Capital as financing charges. The maturity date of the
note was December 31, 2018 with $183 thousand in fees due and
payable at the time of the redemption of the Note. On December 20,
2018, the February 2018 Note was paid in full.
62
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
On
March 27, 2018, Third Eye Capital agreed to Limited Waiver and
Amendment No. 14 to the Note Purchase Agreement (“Amendment
No. 14”) to: (i) extend the maturity date of the Third Eye
Capital Notes two years to April 1, 2020 in exchange for an
amendment fee consisting of 6% (3% per year) of the outstanding
note balance in the form of an increase in the fee payable in the
event of a redemption of the Third Eye Capital Notes (as defined in
the Note Purchase Agreement); (ii) provide that the maturity date
may be further extended at our election to April 1, 2021 in
exchange for an extension fee of 5%; (iii) provide for an optional
quarterly waiver of the ratio of note indebtedness covenant until
January 1, 2019 with the payment of a waiver fee of $0.25 million;
and (iv) remove the redemption fee described in (i) above from the
calculation of the ratio of note indebtedness covenant. In addition
to the fee discussed in (i), as consideration for such amendment
and waiver, the borrowers also agreed to pay Third Eye Capital an
amendment and waiver fee of $0.5 million to be added to the
outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Credit
Facility.
We
evaluated Amendment No. 14 in accordance with ASC 470-60
Troubled Debt
Restructuring. According to guidance, we considered
Amendment No. 14 to be a troubled debt restructuring. We assessed
all the terms to confirm if there is a concession granted by the
creditor. The maturity date of the Third Eye Capital Notes was
extended to April 1, 2020 for a 6% fee, compared to the extension
fee of 5% provided by Amendment No. 13 to the Note Purchase
Agreement (Amendment No. 13), for a one-year extension. No interest
is accrued on these fees. In order to assess whether the creditor
granted a concession, we calculated the post-restructuring
effective interest rate by projecting cash flows on the new terms
and solved for a discount rate equal to the carrying amount of
pre-restructuring of debt, and by comparing this calculation to the
terms of Amendment No. 13, we determined that Third Eye Capital
provided a concession in accordance with the provisions of ASC
470-60 Troubled Debt
Restructuring and thus applied troubled debt restructuring
accounting. The extension fee, due at maturity, was discounted at
the effective interest rate of the Third Eye Capital Notes, and an
immediate charge was taken to recognize the fees into amortization
expense on the income statement related to the troubled debt
restructuring of $3.1 million and amendment fees of $0.5 million.
Using the effective interest method of amortization, the remaining
extension fee of $1.4 million will be amortized over the stated
remaining life of the Third Eye Capital Notes.
On
March 27, 2018, Third Eye agreed to a one-year reserve liquidity
facility governed by a promissory note, payable in the principal
amount of up to $6 million. Borrowings under the facility are
available from March 27, 2018 until maturity on April 1, 2019.
Interest on borrowed amounts accrues at a rate of 30% per annum,
paid monthly in arrears, or 40% if an event of default has occurred
and continues. The outstanding principal balance of the
indebtedness evidenced by the promissory note, plus any accrued but
unpaid interest and any other sums due thereunder, shall be due and
payable in full at the earlier to occur of (a) the closing of any
new debt or equity financing, refinancing or other similar
transaction between Third Eye Capital or any fund or entity
arranged by them and the Company or its affiliates, (b) receipt by
the Company or its affiliates of proceeds from any sale, merger,
equity or debt financing, refinancing or other similar transaction
from any third party and (c) April 1, 2019. The promissory note is
secured by liens and security interests upon the property and
assets of the Company. If any amounts are drawn under the facility,
the Company will pay a non-refundable fee in the amount of
$200,000, payable from the proceeds of the first drawing under the
facility. We did not draw any amounts under the facility and no
balance was outstanding as of December 31, 2018 under this
facility. On March 11, 2019, Third Eye agreed to increase the
amount available under the reserve liquidity facility up to $8.0
million and extend the maturity date to April 1, 2020 with the same
terms as above.
On
March 11, 2019, Third Eye Capital agreed to Limited Waiver and
Amendment No. 15 to the Note Purchase Agreement ("Amendment No.
15"), to waive the ratio of note indebtedness covenant until
January 1, 2020. As a consideration for this amendment, the Company
also agreed to pay Third Eye Capital an amendment fee of $1.0
million to be added to the redemption fee.
Based
on the Amendment No.15, the ratio of note indebtedness covenant is
waived for the quarters ended March 31, 2019, June 30, 2019,
September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2019. According to ASC
470-10-45 debt covenant classification guidance, if it is probable
that the Company will not be able to cure the default at
measurement dates within the next 12 months, the related debt needs
to be classified as current. As the Amendment No.15 waived the
ratio of the note indebtedness covenant over the next 12 months,
the notes are classified as long-term debt.
Terms of Third Eye Capital Notes
A.
Term
Notes. As of December
31, 2018, the Company had $7.0 million in principal and interest
outstanding under the Term Notes. The Term Notes accrue interest at
14% per annum. The Term Notes mature on April 1, 2020.
63
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
B.
Revolving Credit
Facility. The
Revolving Credit Facility accrues interest at the prime rate plus
13.75% (19.25% as of December 31, 2018), payable monthly in
arrears. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on April 1, 2020. As
of December 31, 2018, AAFK had $47.2 million in principal and
interest and waiver fees outstanding under the Revolving Credit
Facility net of $0.5 million unamortized discount issuance costs,
of which $0.5 million were interest-accruing covenant waiver fees
added on each period ended June 30, 2018, September 30, 2018, and
December 31, 2018 to the Revolving Credit Facility.
C.
Revenue Participation Term
Notes. The Revenue
Participation Term Note bears interest at 5% per annum and matures
on April 1, 2020. As of December 31, 2018, AAFK had $11.8 million
in principal and interest outstanding on the Revenue Participation
Term Notes.
D.
Acquisition Term
Notes. The
Acquisition Term Notes accrue interest at the prime rate plus
10.75% (16.25% per annum as of December 31, 2018) and mature on
April 1, 2020. As of December 31, 2018, Aemetis Facility Keyes,
Inc. had $23.8 million in principal and interest and redemption
fees outstanding net of unamortized discount issuances costs of
$1.0 million. The outstanding principal balance includes a total of
$6.0 million in redemption fees, including $4.5 million which was
added to the Acquisition Term Notes on March 27, 2018 as part of
Amendment No. 14.
The
Third Eye Capital Notes contain various covenants, including but
not limited to, debt to plant value ratio, minimum production
requirements, and restrictions on capital expenditures. The terms
of the Notes allow the lender to accelerate the maturity in the
occurrence of any event that could reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect, such as any change in the business,
operations, or financial condition.
We have
no remaining availability on the Revolving Credit
Facility.
The
Third Eye Capital Notes are secured by first priority liens on all
real and personal property of, and assignment of proceeds from all
government grants and guarantees from Aemetis, Inc. The Third Eye
Capital Notes all contain cross-collateral and cross-default
provisions. McAfee Capital, LLC (“McAfee Capital”),
owned by Eric McAfee, the Company’s Chairman and CEO,
provided a guaranty of payment and performance secured by all of
its Company shares. In addition, Eric McAfee provided a blanket
lien on substantially all of his personal assets, and McAfee
Capital provided a guarantee in the amount of $8.0
million.
Cilion shareholder seller notes payable. In connection with
the Company’s merger with Cilion, Inc., (Cilion) on July 6,
2012, the Company issued $5.0 million in notes payable to Cilion
shareholders (Cilion Notes) as merger compensation, subordinated to
the Third Eye Capital Notes. The Cilion Notes bear interest at 3%
per annum and are due and payable after the Third Eye Capital Notes
have been paid in full. As of December 31, 2018, Aemetis Facility
Keyes, Inc. had $6.0 million in principal and interest outstanding
on the Cilion Notes.
Subordinated Notes. On January 6 and January 9, 2012, AAFK
entered into Note and Warrant Purchase Agreements with two
accredited investors pursuant to which it issued $0.9 million and
$2.5 million in original notes to the investors (Subordinated
Notes). The Subordinated Notes mature every six months. Upon
maturity, the Subordinated Notes are generally extended with a fee
of 10% added to the balance outstanding plus issuance of warrants
exercisable at $0.01 with a two-year term. Interest accrues at 10%
and is due at maturity. Neither AAFK nor Aemetis, Inc. may make any
principal payments under the Subordinated Notes until all loans
made by Third Eye Capital to AAFK are paid in full.
The
Subordinated Notes were amended to extend the maturity date on
January 1, 2018 and again on July 1, 2018 with six months extension
for maturity until December 31, 2018. We evaluated these amendments
and the refinancing terms of the notes and applied modification
accounting treatment in accordance with ASC 470-50 Debt – Modification and
Extinguishment.
On
January 1, 2019, the Subordinated Notes were amended to extend the
maturity date until the earlier of (i) June 30, 2019; (ii)
completion of an equity financing by AAFK or Aemetis, Inc. in an
amount of not less than $25.0 million; or (iii) after the
occurrence of an Event of Default, including failure to pay
interest or principal when due and breaches of note covenants. A
10% cash extension fee was paid by adding the fee to the balance of
the new note and warrants to purchase 113 thousand shares of common
stock were granted with a term of two years and an exercise price
of $0.01 per share. We will evaluate the January 1, 2019 amendment
and the refinancing terms of the notes and apply accounting
treatment in accordance with ASC 470-50 Debt – Modification and
Extinguishment.
64
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
At
December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had, in
aggregate, the amount of $10.1 million and $8.7 million in
principal and interest outstanding, respectively, under the
Subordinated Notes.
EB-5 promissory notes. EB-5 is a U.S. government program
authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act 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. The Company entered into a Note
Purchase Agreement dated March 4, 2011 (as further amended on
January 19, 2012 and July 24, 2012) with Advanced BioEnergy,
LP, a California limited partnership authorized as a Regional
Center to receive EB-5 investments, for the issuance of up to 72
subordinated convertible promissory notes (the “EB-5
Notes”) bearing interest at 2-3%. Each note was issued in the
principal amount of $0.5 million and due and payable four years
from the date of each note, for a total aggregate principal amount
of up to $36.0 million (the “EB-5 Phase I funding”).
The original maturity date on the promissory notes can be extended
automatically for a one or two-year period initially and is
eligible for further one-year automatic extensions as long as there
is no notice of non-extension from investors and the
investors’ immigration process is in progress. The notice of
non-extension should be given at 12-month period to take effect for
the next maturity date. As a result, the notes have been recognized
as non-current. The EB-5 Notes are convertible after three years at
a conversion price of $30 per share.
Advanced
BioEnergy, LP arranges investments with foreign investors, who each
make loans to the Keyes Plant in increments of $0.5 million. The
Company has sold an aggregate principal amount of $36.0 million of
EB-5 Notes under the EB-5 Phase I funding since 2012 to the date of
this filing. As of December 31, 2018, $35.0 million released from
the escrow amount to the Company, with $0.5 million remaining in
escrow and $0.5 million to be funded to escrow. As of December 31,
2018, $35.0 million in principal and $2.0 million in accrued
interest was outstanding on the EB-5 Phase I Notes.
On
October 16, 2016, the Company launched its EB-5 Phase II funding,
with plans to issue $50.0 million in additional EB-5 Notes on
substantially similar terms and conditions as those issued under
the Company’s EB-5 Phase I funding to refinance indebtedness
and capital expenditures of Aemetis, Inc. and GAFI. The Company
entered into a Note Purchase Agreement dated with Advanced
BioEnergy II, LP, a California limited partnership authorized as a
Regional Center to receive EB-5 Phase II investments, for the
issuance of up to 100 EB-5 Notes bearing interest at 3%. Each note
will be issued in the principal amount of $0.5 million and due and
payable five years from the date of each note, for a total
aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million (the “EB-5
Phase II funding”).
Advanced
BioEnergy II, LP arranges investments with foreign investors, who
each make loans to the Riverbank Cellulosic Ethanol Facility in
increments of $0.5 million. The Company has sold an aggregate
principal amount of $1.5 million of EB-5 Notes under the EB-5 Phase
II funding since 2016 to the date of this filing. As of December
31, 2018, $1.5 million was released from escrow to the Company and
$48.5 million remains to be funded to escrow. As of December 31,
2018, $1.5 million in principal was outstanding on the EB-5 Phase
II Notes.
Unsecured working capital loans. On April 16, 2017, the
Company entered into an operating agreement with Gemini Edibles and
Fats India Private Limited ("Gemini"). Under this agreement, Gemini
agreed to provide the Company with working capital, on an as needed
basis, to fund the purchase of feedstock and other raw materials
for the Kakinada Plant. Working capital advances bear interest at
12%. In return, the Company agreed to pay Gemini an amount equal to
30% of the plant’s monthly net operating profit and
recognized these as operational support charges in the financials.
In the event that the Company’s biodiesel facility operates
at a loss, Gemini owes the Company 30% of the losses as operational
support charges. Either party can terminate the agreement at any
time without penalty. Additionally, Gemini received a first
priority lien on the assets of the Kakinada Plant. During the year
ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company made principal and
interest payments to Gemini of approximately $12.2 million and $5.8
million, respectively. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the
Company had approximately $4.6 million and $3.5 million outstanding
under this agreement, respectively.
In
November 2008, the Company entered into an operating agreement with
Secunderabad Oils Limited (“Secunderabad Oils”). The
2008 agreement provided the working capital and had the first
priority lien on assets in return for 30% of the plant’s
monthly net operating profit. These expenses were recognized as
operational support charges by the Company in the financials. All
terms of the 2008 agreement with Secunderabad Oils were terminated
to amend the agreement as below. On July 15, 2017, the agreement
with Secunderabad Oils was amended to provide the working capital
funds for British Petroleum business operations only in the form of
inter-corporate deposit for an amount of approximately $2.3 million
over a 95 days period at the rate of 14.75% per annum interest
rate. The term of the agreement continues until the either party
terminates it. Secunderabad Oils has a second priority lien on the
assets of the Company’s Kakinada Plant after this agreement.
On April 15, 2018, the agreement was amended to purchase the raw
material for business operations at 12% per annum interest rate.
During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company made
principal and interest payments to Secunderabad Oils of
approximately $3.7 million and $2.4 million, respectively. As of
December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had $0.3 million and $1.3
million outstanding under this agreement,
respectively.
65
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
Variable Interest Entity (GAFI) Term loan and Revolving
loan
On July
10, 2017, GAFI entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (“Note
Purchase Agreement”) with Third Eye Capital (Noteholders).
See further discussion regarding GAFI in Note 6. Pursuant to the
Note Purchase Agreement, the Noteholders agreed, subject to the
terms and conditions of the Note Purchase Agreement and relying on
each of the representations and warranties set forth therein, to
make (i) a single term loan to GAFI in an aggregate amount of $15
million (“Term Loan”) and (ii) revolving advances not
to exceed ten million dollars in the aggregate (“Revolving
Loan”). The interest rate per annum applicable to the Term
Loan is equal to ten percent (10%). The interest rate per annum
applicable to the Revolving Loans is the greater of Prime Rate plus
seven and three quarters percent (7.75%) and twelve percent
(12.00%). The applicable interest rate as of December 31, 2018 was
13.25%. The maturity date of the Loans (“Maturity
Date”) is July 10, 2019, provided that the Maturity Date may
be extended at the option of GAFI for up to two additional one-year
periods upon prior written notice and upon satisfaction of certain
conditions and the payment of a renewal fee for such extension. An
initial advance under the Revolving Loan was made for $2.2 million
as a prepayment of interest on the Term Loan for the first eighteen
months of interest payments. In addition, a fee of $1.0 million was
paid in consideration to Noteholders.
On June
28, 2018, GAFI entered into Amendment No.1 to the GAFI Term Loan
with Third Eye Capital for an additional amount of $1.5 million
with a fee of $75 thousand added to the loan from Third Eye Capital
at a 10% interest rate. The fee of $75 thousand was recognized as
expense on the Amendment date. Pursuant to Amendment No.1, Aemetis,
Inc. entered into a Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement to issue
1,050,000 Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) to Third Eye Capital on
August 23, 2018, with an exercise date of one year from the
issuance date with a call option for the Company at $2.00 per share
during the first 11 months of the agreement either to pay $2.1
million in cash or issue common stock worth of $2.1 million based
on 30-day weighted average price of the stock on the call date, and
a put option for Third Eye Capital at $1.00 per share during the
11th month
of the agreement where the Company can redeem the SARs for $1.1
million in cash. In the event that none of the above options is
exercised, the SARs will be automatically exercised one year from
the issuance date based upon the 30-day weighted average and paid
in cash and cash equivalents. We used an outside valuation expert
to value the SARs using the Monte Carlo method, and recorded the
stock price fair value of the SARs of $1.3 million as fees on
Amendment No. 1 and will be amortized over the term of the loan
according to ASC 470-50 Debt
– Modification and Extinguishment. The Company also
recorded a liability for the fair value of $1.3 million which will
be re-measured at every quarter end until the SARs are exercised.
On December 20, 2018, $1.6 million from Amendment No.1 was
paid.
On December 3, 2018, GAFI entered into Amendment No. 2 to the GAFI
Term Loan with Third Eye Capital for an additional amount of $3.5
million from Third Eye Capital at a 10% interest rate. GAFI
borrowed $1.8 million against this Amendment No. 2 with a $175
thousand fee added to the loan and $0.2 million was withheld from
the $1.8 million for interest payments. $1.5 million is available
to draw under GAFI Amendment No. 2 for the CO2 project. Among
other requirements, the Company is also required to make the
following mandatory repayments of the CO2 Term Loan: i) on a
monthly basis, an amount equal to 75% of any payments received by
the Company for CO2 produced by Linde
LLC, ii) an amount equal to 100% of each monthly payment received
by the Company for land use by Linde for CO2 plant, iii) on a
monthly basis, an amount equal to the product of: $0.01 multiplied
by the number of bushels of corn grain used in the ethanol
production at the Keyes Plant. Based on the mandatory payments, an
amount of $0.4 million is estimated to be paid in the next 12
months and is classified as current debt as of December 31, 2018.
We evaluated the Amendment No. 2 to the Term Loan and applied
modification accounting treatment in accordance with ASC 470-50
Debt – Modification and Extinguishment.
As of
December 31, 2018 and 2017, GAFI had $15.7 million net of discounts
issuance costs of $1.3 million outstanding on the Term Loan and
$10.1 million on the Revolving Loan respectively.
Debt
repayments for the Company’s loan obligations
follow:
Twelve months ended December 31,
|
Debt Repayments
|
2019
|
$17,298
|
2020
|
132,081
|
2021
|
25,500
|
2022
|
1,473
|
2023
|
1,500
|
Total
debt
|
177,852
|
Debt
issuance costs
|
(2,735)
|
Total
debt, net of discount issuance costs
|
$175,117
|
66
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
5. Commitments and Contingencies
Operating Leases
As of December 31, 2018, 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:
Twelve months ended December 31,
|
Future Rent Payments
|
2019
|
$712
|
2020
|
430
|
2021
|
210
|
2022
|
35
|
Total
|
$1,387
|
The Company recognized rent expense of $0.6 million for each of the
years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
The Company entered into a payment plan with Stanislaus County for
unpaid property taxes on June 28, 2018 by paying $1.5 million as a
first payment. Under the annual payment plan, the Company is set to
pay 20% of the outstanding redemption amount, in addition to the
current year property taxes and any interest incurred on the unpaid
balance to date annually, on or before April 10 starting in 2019.
As of December 31, 2018, the balance in property tax accrual was
$3.3 million.
Legal Proceedings
On August 31, 2016, the Company filed a lawsuit in Santa Clara
County Superior Court against defendants EdenIQ, Inc.
(EdenIQ). The lawsuit was based on EdenIQ’s wrongful
termination of a merger agreement that would have effectuated the
merger of EdenIQ into a new entity established and owned primarily
by Aemetis. The lawsuit asserted that EdenIQ fraudulently
induced the Company into assisting EdenIQ to obtain EPA approval
for a new technology that the Company would not have done but for
the Company’s belief that the merger would occur. The
relief sought included EdenIQ’s specific performance of the
merger and monetary damages, as well as punitive damages,
attorneys’ fees, and costs. In response to the
lawsuit, EdenIQ filed a cross-complaint asserting causes of action
relating to the Company’s alleged inability to consummate the
merger, the Company’s interactions with EdenIQ’s
business partners, and the Company’s publicity of the status
of the merger. EdenIQ named Third Eye Capital Corporation
(TEC) as a defendant in a second amended cross-complaint that
alleged TEC made a financial commitment to fund the merger
contingent on the EPA’s approval of EdenIQ’s technology
without disclosing that the financing commitment was tied to the
EPA approval. EdenIQ claimed that TEC and the Company
participated in the fraudulent concealment of material information
surrounding the financing of the merger. By way of its
cross-complaint, EdenIQ sought monetary damages, punitive damages,
injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and costs. All of
the claims asserted by both the Company and EdenIQ have been denied
or dismissed. The Company and EdenIQ have filed motions for
attorney’s fees and costs, which motions are currently
pending. The Company seeks $1,775,043 by its motion and
EdenIQ seeks $8,481,600.40 on its motion. The Company
vigorously disputes EdenIQ’s position and supports its own
position.
67
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
6.
Variable
Interest Entity
GAFI
was formed to acquire the partially completed Goodland Plant. GAFI
entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with Third Eye Capital to
acquire the plant. GAFI, the Company and its subsidiary AAPK also
entered into separate Intercompany Revolving Notes, pursuant to
which GAFI may, from time to time, lend a portion of the proceeds
of the Revolving Loan incurred under the Note Purchase Agreement.
Aemetis, Inc. and AAPK (Guarantors) also agreed to enter into
certain Limited Guaranty. Pursuant to the Limited Guaranty, the
Guarantors guarantee the prompt payment and performance of all
unpaid principal and interest on the Loans and all other
obligations and liabilities of GAFI to Noteholders in connection
with the Note Purchase Agreement. The obligations of the Guarantors
pursuant to the Limited Guaranty are secured by a first priority
lien over all assets of the Guarantors pursuant to separate general
security agreements entered into by each Guarantor. The aggregate
obligations and liabilities of each Guarantor is limited to the sum
of (i) the aggregate amount advanced by GAFI to such Guarantor
under and in accordance with the Intercompany Revolving Notes and
(ii) the obligation of the Guarantor pursuant to its indemnity and
expense obligations under the Limited Guaranty prior to the date on
which the Option is exercised. Additionally, on July 10, 2017, the
Company entered into an Option Agreement by and between GAFI and
the sole shareholder of GAFI, pursuant to which Aemetis was granted
an irrevocable option to purchase all, but not less than all, of
the capital stock of GAFI for an aggregate purchase price equal to
$0.01 per share (total purchase price of $10.00). This Option
provides for automatic triggering in the event of certain default
circumstances. After the automatic exercise upon default, the
Limited Guaranty no longer applies and the Guarantors are
responsible for the outstanding balances of the GAFI term and
revolving loan. Additionally, Third Eye Capital was granted a
warrant for the purchase of 250 shares, representing 20% of the
outstanding shares of GAFI, for a period of 10 years at an exercise
price of $0.01 per share. In consideration for signing the Option,
the sole shareholder of GAFI subscribed to the 100,000 common stock
of the Aemetis, Inc. On July 10, 2017, the Company issued the
100,000 shares and recognized $0.1 million related stock
compensation during the year ended December 31, 2017.
After
consideration of the above agreements, we concluded that GAFI did
not have enough equity to finance its activities without additional
subordinated financial support. Additionally, GAFI’s
shareholder did not have a controlling financial interest in the
entity. Hence, we concluded that GAFI is a VIE. The primary
beneficiary of a VIE is the party that has both the power to direct
the activities that most significantly affect the economic
performance of the VIE and the obligation to absorb losses or
receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
In determining whether Aemetis is the primary beneficiary, a number
of factors are considered, including the structure of the entity,
contractual provisions that grant any additional rights to
influence or control the economic performance of the VIE, and
obligation to absorb significant losses. Through providing Limited
Guaranty and signing the Option Agreement, the Company took the
risks related to operations, financing the Goodland Plant, and
agreed to meet the financial covenants for GAFI to be in existence.
Based upon this assessment, Aemetis has the power to direct the
activities of GAFI and has been determined to be the primary
beneficiary of GAFI and accordingly, the assets, liabilities, and
operations of GAFI are consolidated into those of the Company. The
assets and liabilities were initially recognized at fair
value.
68
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
The
following are the Balance Sheets and Statements of Operations of
GAFI:
|
Goodland Advanced Fuels, Inc.
|
|
|
Balance Sheets
|
|
|
As of
|
|
|
December 31,
2018
|
December 31,
2017
|
Assets
|
|
|
Current assets:
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$17
|
$184
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
215
|
1,581
|
Other
assets
|
103
|
-
|
Total
current assets
|
335
|
1,765
|
|
|
|
Property,
plant and equipment
|
15,408
|
15,408
|
Promissory
note receivable from Aemetis
|
6,182
|
5,709
|
Total
assets
|
$21,925
|
$22,882
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and stockholder deficit
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
accrued liabilities
|
$44
|
$-
|
Secured
and revolving notes
|
26,621
|
24,351
|
Total
liabilities
|
26,665
|
24,351
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
(4,740)
|
(1,469)
|
Total
liabilities and stockholder deficit
|
$21,925
|
$22,882
|
|
Goodland Advanced Fuels, Inc. Statements of
Operations
|
|
|
For the year ended
|
For the period from July 1, 2017 to
|
|
December 31,
2018
|
December 31,
2017
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
$455
|
$260
|
Operating
loss
|
(455)
|
(260)
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
Interest
rate expense
|
2,865
|
1,249
|
Debt
related fees and amortization expense
|
690
|
250
|
Other
income
|
(739)
|
(290)
|
Net
loss
|
$(3,271)
|
$(1,469)
|
69
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
GAFI,
the Company and its subsidiaries Aemetis Advanced Products Keyes,
Inc. (“AAPK”) and Aemetis Property Keyes, Inc.
(“APK”) also entered into separate intercompany
revolving promissory notes (the “GAFI Intercompany
Notes”), dated July 10, 2017, pursuant to which GAFI may,
from time to time, lend a portion of the proceeds of the GAFI
Revolving Loan borrowed under the Amended GAFI Note Purchase
Agreement to the Company. Aemetis paid GAFI fees of $1.0 million
associated with entry into the Note purchase agreement with TEC,
and accordingly holds an account receivable from GAFI.
The
Company borrowed $1.5 million on June 28, 2018 and it was paid back
on December 20, 2018. On December 3, 2018, APK borrowed $1.6
million from GAFI to purchase the land for CO2 project. As of
December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company, AAPK, APK had $6.2 million
and $5.7 million outstanding on the GAFI Intercompany Notes. The
outstanding balances are eliminated upon
consolidation.
7. Biogas
LLC – Series A Preferred Financing
On
December 20, 2018, Aemetis Biogas LLC (the “ABGL”)
entered into a Series A Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement
(“Preferred Unit Agreement”) by selling Series A
preferred units to Protair-X Americas, Inc. (the
“Purchaser”), with Third Eye Capital Corporation acting
as an agent for the purchaser (the “Agent”). ABGL plans
to construct and collect biogas from about eleven dairy located
near the Keyes Plant (the “Project”). Biogas is a blend
of methane along with CO2 and other
impurities that can be captured from dairies, landfills and other
sources. After a gas cleanup and compression process, biogas
can be converted into bio-methane, which is a direct replacement of
petroleum natural gas and can be transported in existing natural
gas pipelines.
ABGL is
authorized to issue 11,000,000 Common Units, and up to 6,000,000
convertible, redeemable, secured, preferred membership units (the
“Series A Preferred Units”). ABGL issued 6,000,000
Common Units to the Company. ABGL also issued 1,660,000 Series A
Preferred Units to the Purchaser for $8,300,000 with the ability to
issue an additional 4,340,000 Series A Preferred Units at $5.00 per
Unit for a total of up to $30,000,000 in funding. Additionally,
5,000,000 common units are held in reserve as potential conversion
units issuable to the Purchaser upon certain triggering events
discussed below.
The
Preferred Unit Agreement include i) preference payments of $0.50
per unit on the outstanding Series A preferred units commencing on
the second anniversary, ii) conversion rights for up to 1,200,000
common units or up to maximum number of 5,000,000 common units
(also at a one Series A Preferred unit to one Common Unit basis) if
certain triggering events occur, iv) one Board seat of the three
available to be elected by Preferred Unit holders, iii) mandatory
redemption value at $15 per unit payable at an amount equal to 75%
of free cash flow generated by ABGL, up to $90 million in the
aggregate (if all units are issued), iv) full redemption of the
units on the sixth anniversary, v) minimum cash flow requirements
from each digester, and vi) $0.9 million paid as fees to the Agent
from the proceeds.
Triggering
events occur upon ABGL’s failure to redeem units, comply with
covenants, any other defaults or cross defaults, or to perform
representations or warranties. Upon a triggering event; i) the
obligation of the Purchaser to purchase additional Series A
preferred units is terminated, ii) cash flow payments for
redemption payments increased from 75% to 100% of free cash flows,
iii) total number of common units into which preferred units may be
converted increases from 1,200,000 common units to 5,000,000 common
units on a one for one basis.
Pursuant
to signing the agreement with the Purchaser, the ABGL issued
1,660,000 Series A preferred units for an amount of $8.3 million in
first tranche of investment. ABGL paid $6.0 million of this amount
to Aemetis, Inc. in the form of management fees for managing and
executing the Project. We assessed the above terms and concluded
that the minority shareholders lacks substantive participating
rights, principally based on the ownership percentage, manager
representation, and expertise in the industry. Therefore, ABGL is
controlled by Aemetis, Inc. and accordingly consolidated into the
Company. The Series A Preferred Units are recorded as mandatorily
redeemable and treated as a liability as the conversion option was
deemed to be non-substantive. The Company is accreting up to the
redemption value of $24.9 million over the estimated future cash
flow periods of six years using the effective interest method. In
addition, the Company identified freestanding future tranche rights
and the accelerated redemption feature related to a change in
control provision as derivatives which required bifurcation. These
derivative features were assessed to have minimal value as of the
original issuance date and December 31, 2018 based on the
evaluation of the other conditions included in the
agreement.
8. Stockholders’ Equity
The Company is authorized to issue up to 40 million shares of
common stock, $0.001 par value per share and 65 million shares of
preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share.
70
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
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
|
2018
|
2017
|
Series
B preferred stock
|
7,235
|
1,323
|
1,323
|
Undesignated
|
57,765
|
—
|
—
|
|
65,000
|
1,323
|
1,323
|
Our Articles of Incorporation authorize the Company’s
board to issue up to 65 million 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 a 0.1 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 stockholders. 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 to be 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.
71
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
Conversion. Holders of Series B
preferred stock have the right, at their option at any time, to
convert any shares into common stock. Every 10 shares 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 declared effective, 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 thousand shares with an
original purchase price of $1.8 million 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, 2018 and
2017, the Company had accrued an outstanding obligation of $3.0
million and $2.9 million, 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
During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company
granted 227 thousand common
stock warrants, for the extension of certain Notes for each
period, respectively. The accredited investors received 2-year
warrants exercisable at $0.01 per share as part of note
agreements.
The weighted average fair value calculations for warrants granted
are based on the following weighted average
assumptions:
Description
|
For the year ended December 31
|
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Dividend-yield
|
0%
|
0%
|
Risk-free
interest rate
|
2.25%
|
1.32%
|
Expected
volatility
|
92.2%
|
68.5%
|
Expected
life (years)
|
2
|
2
|
Market
value per share on grant date
|
$1.05
|
$1.43
|
Exercise
price per share
|
$0.01
|
$0.01
|
Fair
value per share on grant date
|
$1.04
|
$1.42
|
For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, Note investors
exercised 227 thousand and 241
thousand warrant shares at exercise prices of $0.01 per share,
respectively.
72
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
A summary of historical warrant activity for the years ended
December 31, 2018 and 2017 follows:
|
Warrants Outstanding & Exercisable
|
Weighted - Average Exercise Price
|
Average Remaining Term in Years
|
Outstanding
December 31, 2016
|
344
|
$3.33
|
3.88
|
Granted
|
227
|
0.01
|
|
Exercised
|
(241)
|
0.01
|
|
Expired
|
-
|
-
|
|
Outstanding
December 31, 2017
|
330
|
$3.47
|
3.02
|
Granted
|
227
|
0.01
|
|
Exercised
|
(227)
|
0.01
|
|
Expired
|
(235)
|
3.82
|
|
Outstanding
December 31, 2018
|
95
|
$2.59
|
6.95
|
All of the above outstanding warrants are vested and exercisable as
of December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $37
thousand of total compensation expense related to warrants
recognized.
10. Stock-Based Compensation
Plan Stock Options
Aemetis
authorized the issuance of 3.2 million shares of common stock under
its Zymetis 2006 Stock Plan and Amended and Restated 2007 Stock
Plan (together, the “Company Stock Plans”), which
include both incentive and non-statutory stock options. These
options generally expire five to ten years from the date of grant
with a general vesting term of 1/12th every three months
and are exercisable at any time after vesting subject to
continuation of employment.
On
January 18, 2018 and May 17, 2018, 725 and 423 thousand stock
option grants were issued to employees and directors under the
Company Stock Plans respectively. As of December 31, 2018, 2.9
million options are outstanding under the Company Stock
Plans.
Inducement Equity Plan Options
In
March 2015, the Directors of the Company approved an Inducement
Equity Plan authorizing the issuance of 100,000 non-statutory
options to purchase common stock. As of December 31, 2018, 12
thousand options were outstanding.
Common Stock Reserved for Issuance
The following is a summary of awards granted under the above
Plans:
|
Shares Available
for Grant
|
Number of Shares
Outstanding
|
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
as of December 31, 2016
|
98
|
1,632
|
$4.37
|
Authorized
|
655
|
-
|
-
|
Granted
|
(899)
|
899
|
1.41
|
Forfeited/expired
|
342
|
(342)
|
7.32
|
Balance
as of December 31, 2017
|
196
|
2,189
|
$2.70
|
Authorized
|
655
|
-
|
-
|
Granted
|
(1,148)
|
1,148
|
1.07
|
Exercised
|
-
|
(2)
|
0.67
|
Forfeited/expired
|
446
|
(446)
|
4.35
|
Balance
as of December 31, 2018
|
149
|
2,889
|
$1.80
|
73
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
Vested and unvested awards outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and
2017 follow:
|
Number of Shares
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
Remaining Contractual Term (In Years)
|
Average Intrinsic Value1
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
Vested
and Exercisable
|
1,923
|
$2.01
|
7.34
|
$-
|
Unvested
|
966
|
1.38
|
8.81
|
-
|
Total
|
2,889
|
$1.80
|
7.80
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
|
|
Vested
and Exercisable
|
1,515
|
$2.94
|
5.83
|
$-
|
Unvested
|
674
|
2.16
|
8.62
|
-
|
Total
|
2,189
|
$2.70
|
6.68
|
$-
|
———————
(1) Intrinsic value based on the
$0.61 and $0.55 closing price of Aemetis stock on December 31, 2018
and 2017 respectively, as reported on the NASDAQ
Exchange.
Stock-based compensation for employees
Stock-based compensation is accounted for in accordance with the
provisions of ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, which
requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense
for all stock-based awards made to employees and directors based on
estimated fair values on the grant date. We estimate the fair value
of stock-based awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is
ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the
requisite service periods using the straight-line
method.
For the
years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 the Company recorded option
expense in the amount of $1.0 million and $1.1 million,
respectively.
Valuation and Expense Information
All
issuances of stock options or other issuances of equity instruments
to employees as the consideration for services received by us are
accounted for based on the fair value of the equity instrument
issued. The fair value of options granted to employees is estimated
on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model.
This valuation model for stock based compensation expense requires
us to make assumptions and judgments about the variables used in
the calculation, including the fair value of our common stock, the
expected term (the period of time that the options granted are
expected to be outstanding), the volatility of our common stock, a
risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends. We also estimate
forfeitures of unvested stock options. To the extent actual
forfeitures differ from the estimates, the difference will be
recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are
revised. No compensation cost is recorded for options that do not
vest. We use the simplified calculation of expected life described
in the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, Share-Based
Payment, and volatility is based on an average of the historical
volatilities of the common stock of four entities with
characteristics similar to those of the Company. The risk-free rate
is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of
grant for periods corresponding with the expected life of the
option. We use an expected dividend yield of zero, as we do not
anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. Expected
forfeitures are assumed zero due to the small number of plan
participants.
74
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
The weighted average fair value calculations for options granted
during years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 are based on the
following assumptions:
Description
|
For the
year ended
December
31,
|
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Dividend-yield
|
0%
|
0%
|
Risk-free
interest rate
|
2.71%
|
2.22%
|
Expected
volatility
|
82.99%
|
76.96%
|
Expected
life (years)
|
6.48
|
6.42
|
Market
value per share on grant date
|
$1.07
|
$1.41
|
Fair
value per share on grant date
|
$0.79
|
$0.99
|
As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $0.8 million of total
unrecognized compensation expense for employees which the Company
will amortize over the weighted remaining term of 1.7
years.
In addition, the Company issued 100 thousand shares of the
Company’s restricted common stock on July 10, 2017 to the
GAFI sole shareholder in consideration for option agreement at the
subscription grant price of $1.18. In addition, the Company issued
165 thousand shares of the Company’s restricted common stock
to promissory note holder on December 12, 2017 at the subscription
grant price of $0.80 per share to pay off a promissory note.
Stock-based compensation awards issued to non-employees are
recorded in expense and additional paid-in capital in
stockholders’ deficit over the applicable service periods
based on the fair value of the awards or consideration received at
the vesting date.
The
Company entered into a Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement to issue
1,050,000 Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) to Third Eye Capital on
August 23, 2018 as part of Amendment No.1 to GAFI Note Purchase
Agreement with an exercise date of one year from the issuance date.
The SARs Agreement contains a call option for the Company at $2.00
per share during the first 11 months of the agreement either pay
$2.1 million in cash or issue common stock worth of $2.1 million
based on 30-day weighted average price of the stock on the call
date, and a put option for the Third Eye Capital at $1.00 per share
during the 11th month of the
agreement where Third Eye Capital can redeem the SARs for $1.1
million in cash and cash equivalents. If none of the above options
is exercised, SARs are automatically exercised and paid for in cash
and cash equivalents one year from the date of the issuance date
based upon the 30-day weighted average price of the Company’s
stock price. We used an outside valuation expert to value the SARs
using the Monte Carlo method. This valuation model requires us to
make assumptions and judgments about the variables used in the
calculation, such assumptions include the following: the fair value
of our common stock, which was at $1.28. On August 23, 2018, the
volatility of our common stock for a year at 127%, and a risk-free
interest rate for one year at 2.43%. Based on this valuation, we
recorded a fair value of the SARs of $1.28 million as fees on
Amendment No. 1 to the GAFI term loan and these fees are amortized
over the term of the loan according to ASC 470-50 Debt – Modification and
Extinguishment. The Company also recorded a liability for
the fair value of $1.28 million in other liabilities which will be
re-measured at every quarter end using the Monte Carlo valuation
method until the SARs are exercised.
The
SARs were re-measured at December 31, 2018 using the following
assumptions:
Description
|
At
December 31, 2018
|
|
|
Risk-free
interest rate
|
2.60%
|
Expected
volatility
|
125%
|
Market
value per share on grant date
|
$0.61
|
Fair
value per share on grant date
|
$1.08
|
75
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
The
Company considers the stock appreciation rights to be level 3 of
the fair value hierarchy based upon the applicable
guidance.
|
Total
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
SARs
liability
|
$1,132
|
$-
|
$-
|
$1,132
|
The
following table reflects the activity for liabilities measured at
fair value using Level 3 inputs from August 23, 2018 to December
31, 2018:
|
SARs Liability Balance
|
Balance
on August 23, 2018
|
$1,277
|
Related
change in fair value
|
(145)
|
Balance
as of December 31, 2018
|
$1,132
|
11. Agreements
Working Capital Arrangement. Pursuant to a Corn Procurement
and Working Capital Agreement with J.D. Heiskell, the Company
agreed to procure whole yellow corn and grain sorghum, primarily
from J.D. Heiskell. The Company has the ability to obtain grain
from other sources subject to certain conditions; however, in the
past all the Company’s grain purchases have been from J.D.
Heiskell. Title and risk of loss of the corn pass to the Company
when the corn is deposited into the Keyes Plant weigh bin. The term
of the Corn Procurement and Working Capital Agreement expires on
December 31, 2019 and the term can be automatically renewed for
additional one-year terms. J.D. Heiskell further agrees to sell all
ethanol the Company produces to Kinergy or other marketing
purchasers designated by the Company and all WDG the Company
produces to A.L. Gilbert. The Company markets and sells DCO to A.L.
Gilbert and other third parties. The Company’s relationships
with J.D. Heiskell, Kinergy, and A.L. Gilbert are well established
and the Company believes that the relationships are beneficial to
all parties involved in utilizing the distribution logistics,
reaching out to widespread customer base, managing inventory, and
building working capital relationships. Revenue is recognized upon
delivery of ethanol to J. D. Heiskell as revenue recognition
criteria have been met and any performance required of the Company
subsequent to the sale to J.D. Heiskell is inconsequential. These
agreements are ordinary purchase and sale agency agreements for the
Keyes Plant.
The
J.D. Heiskell sales activity associated with the Purchasing
Agreement, Corn Procurement and Working Capital Agreements during
the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as
follows:
|
As
of and for the year ended
December
31,
|
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Ethanol
sales
|
$113,855
|
$106,419
|
Wet
distiller's grains sales
|
32,362
|
26,422
|
Corn
oil sales
|
3,393
|
3,707
|
Corn
purchases
|
112,687
|
101,768
|
Accounts
receivable
|
433
|
1,171
|
Accounts
payable
|
1,882
|
2,449
|
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 Ethanol Marketing Agreement matures on August 31,
2019 and with A.L Gilbert on December 31, 2019 with automatic
one-year renewals thereafter. For the years ended December 31, 2018
and 2017, the Company expensed marketing costs of $2.6 million and
$2.5 million, respectively, under the terms of both ethanol and wet
distillers’ grains agreements.
76
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
12. Segment Information
Aemetis
recognizes two reportable geographic segments: “North
America” and “India.” The “North
America” operating segment includes the Keyes Plant in Keyes,
the cellulosic ethanol facility in Riverbank, the cluster of biogas
digesters on dairies near Keyes, California, the Goodland Plant,
Kansas and the research and development facility in
Minnesota.
The
“India” operating segment includes the Company’s
50 million gallon per year nameplate capacity biodiesel
manufacturing Kakinada Plant, the administrative offices in
Hyderabad, India, and the holding companies in Nevada and
Mauritius. The Company’s biodiesel is marketed and sold
primarily to customers in India through brokers and by the Company
directly.
Summarized financial information by reportable segment for the
years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 follow:
|
For the year ended December 31,
2018
|
For the year ended December 31, 2017
|
||||
|
North America
|
India
|
Total Consolidation
|
North America
|
India
|
Total Consolidated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
$150,045
|
$21,481
|
$171,526
|
$136,739
|
$13,418
|
$150,157
|
Cost
of goods sold
|
145,947
|
20,174
|
166,121
|
133,606
|
13,176
|
146,782
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
profit
|
4,098
|
1,307
|
5,405
|
3,133
|
242
|
3,375
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research
and development expenses
|
246
|
-
|
246
|
2,367
|
-
|
2,367
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
15,204
|
881
|
16,085
|
12,134
|
1,057
|
13,191
|
Interest
expense
|
25,076
|
614
|
25,690
|
18,991
|
313
|
19,304
|
Accretion
of Series A preferred units
|
44
|
-
|
44
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Loss
on impairment of intangibles
|
865
|
-
|
865
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Other
expense (income)
|
(1,208)
|
(37)
|
(1,245)
|
328
|
(51)
|
277
|
Loss
before income taxes
|
$(36,129)
|
(151)
|
(36,280)
|
$(30,687)
|
(1,077)
|
(31,764)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital
expenditures
|
$2,746
|
$1,328
|
$4,074
|
$802
|
$314
|
$1,116
|
Depreciation
|
3,968
|
612
|
4,580
|
4,001
|
621
|
4,622
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Assets
|
$78,149
|
$13,672
|
$91,821
|
$80,479
|
$13,852
|
$94,331
|
North America: In 2018 and
2017, the majority 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
99.7% and 99.9% of the Company’s North America segment
consolidated revenues in 2018 and 2017
respectively.
India: During 2018,
two customers accounted for 53% and 13%, of the consolidated India
segment revenues compared to two customers accounting for 47% and
13% of the consolidated India segment revenues in
2017.
13. Related Party Transactions
The
Company owes Eric McAfee, the Company’s Chairman and CEO, and
McAfee Capital, owned by Eric McAfee, $0.4 million in connection
with employment agreements and expense reimbursements previously
accrued as salaries expense and currently held as an accrued
liability. The balance accrued related to these employment
agreements was $0.4 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. For
the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company expensed
$39 thousand and $49 thousand, respectively, to reimburse actual
expenses incurred by McAfee Capital and related entities. The
Company previously prepaid $0.2 million to Redwood Capital, a
company controlled by Eric McAfee, for the Company’s use of
flight time on a corporate jet. As of December 31, 2018, $0.1
million remained as a prepaid expense.
77
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
As
consideration for the reaffirmation of guaranties required by
Amendment's No. 13 and 14 to the Note Purchase Agreement which the
Company entered into with Third Eye Capital on March 1, 2017 and
March 27, 2018 respectively, the Company also agreed to pay $0.2
million for each year in consideration to McAfee Capital in
exchange for its willingness to provide the guaranties. The balance
of $400 thousand and $342 thousand for guaranty fee remained as an
accrued liability as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017
respectively.
The
Company owes various board members amounts totaling $1.1 million
and $1.7 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, in
connection with board compensation fees, which are included in
accounts payable on the balance sheet. For each of the years ended
December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company expensed $0.4 million each
year, in connection with board compensation fees.
14. 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.
Income tax expense for each of the years ended December 31, 2018
and 2017 consisted of $7 thousand and $6 thousand of state and
local taxes.
During
the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, there is minimal tax
expense recognized. 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,
|
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
United
States
|
$(36,131)
|
$(30,687)
|
Foreign
|
(149)
|
(1,077)
|
Pretax
Income
|
$(36,280)
|
$(31,764)
|
Income tax benefit differs from the amounts computed by applying
the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate (21%) to loss before
income taxes as a result of the following:
|
Year
Ended
December
31,
|
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Income tax expense
(benefit) at the federal statutory rate
|
$(7,619)
|
$(10,799)
|
Tax Rate
Re-measurement - 2017 Tax Cut
|
-
|
19,600
|
State tax expense
(benefit)
|
(632)
|
(1,689)
|
Foreign tax
differential
|
450
|
1,154
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
150
|
299
|
Interest
expense
|
-
|
33
|
GILTI
Inclusion
|
97
|
-
|
Other
|
(47)
|
(24)
|
Credits
|
-
|
(24)
|
Valuation
allowance
|
7,608
|
(8,544)
|
Income Tax
Expense
|
$7
|
$6
|
|
|
|
Effective Tax
Rate
|
-0.02%
|
-0.02%
|
|
|
|
78
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
The components of the net deferred tax asset or (liability) are as
follows:
|
Year
Ended
December
31,
|
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Org, Start-up and
Intangible Assets
|
$4,723
|
$5,045
|
Stock Based
Comp
|
301
|
223
|
Prop., Plant, and
Equip.
|
(13,631)
|
(14,551)
|
NOLs and R&D
Credits
|
56,270
|
53,874
|
Interest Expense
Carryover
|
4,722
|
-
|
Ethanol
Credits
|
1,500
|
1,500
|
Debt
Extinguishment
|
-
|
91
|
Other,
net
|
450
|
545
|
Subtotal
|
54,335
|
46,727
|
Valuation
Allowance
|
(54,335)
|
(46,727)
|
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.
The Company does not provide for U.S. income taxes for any
undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries, as the Company considers
these permanently reinvested in the operations of such subsidiaries
and have a cumulative foreign loss. At December 31, 2018 and
2017, these undistributed losses totaled $12.1 million, and $12.0
million, respectively. If any earnings were distributed, some
countries may impose withholding taxes. Following the passage
of the 2017 U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the U.S. imposed a
transition tax on the accumulated earnings of the Company’s
foreign subsidiaries through December 31, 2017. Since the
foreign subsidiaries have a cumulative loss, there was no U.S.
federal tax impact related to the transition tax. Not all
future earnings of the foreign subsidiaries will be subject to U.S.
income taxes as the U.S. has moved to a modified territorial system
for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. Finally, 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. state 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 when the statutory period for assessing tax on a given
tax return, period expire 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, 2018, 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 three 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, 2018:
United States — Federal
|
|
2007 – present
|
|
United States — State
|
|
2008– present
|
|
India
|
|
2010 – present
|
|
Mauritius
|
|
2006 – present
|
|
79
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
As of December 31, 2018, the Company had federal net operating loss
carryforwards of approximately $188.0 million and state net
operating loss carryforwards of approximately $195.0 million. The
Company also has approximately $1.5 million of alcohol and
cellulosic biofuel credit carryforwards. These federal and state
net operating loss and other tax credit carryforwards expire on
various dates between 2027 and 2037. Under the tax law of 2017, net
operating loss and credit carryforwards available to offset future
income in any given year may be limited by U.S. or India statute
regarding net operating loss carryforwards and timing of
expirations or upon the occurrence of certain events, including
significant changes in ownership interests. Due to 2017 U.S.
Tax Reform, U.S. Federal NOLS created after 2017 no longer expire.
Federal NOLS carry forwards of $11.0 million as of December 31,
2018 which have no expiration date. The Company’s
India subsidiary also will have net operating loss carryforwards as
of March 31, 2019, its tax fiscal year end, of approximately $8.0
million in U.S. dollars, which expire from March 31, 2019 to March
31, 2026.
15. Parent Company Financial Statements (Unaudited)
The following is a summary of the Parent Company financial
statements for the years ended December 31, 2018 and
2017:
80
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
Aemetis, Inc. (Parent Company)
Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017
Assets
|
2018
|
2017
|
Current
assets
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$-
|
$29
|
Receivables
due from subsidiaries
|
5,057
|
6,946
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
364
|
251
|
Total
current assets
|
5,421
|
7,226
|
|
|
|
Investment
in AE Advanced Products Keyes , Inc.
|
1,057
|
1,617
|
Total
investments in Subsidiaries, net of advances
|
1,057
|
1,617
|
|
|
|
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
12
|
15
|
Other
assets
|
54
|
54
|
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
$6,544
|
$8,912
|
|
|
|
Liabilities & stockholders' deficit
|
|
|
Current
liabilities
|
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
$5,026
|
$3,568
|
Mandatorily
redeemable Series B convertible preferred
|
3,048
|
2,946
|
GAFI-
payables, net of SARs discount issuance costs
|
1,090
|
3,357
|
SARs
liability
|
1,132
|
-
|
Other
current liabilities
|
2,215
|
1,679
|
Total
current liabilities
|
12,511
|
11,550
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subsidiary
obligation in excess of investment
|
|
|
Investment
in AE Advanced Fuels, Inc.
|
89,854
|
69,273
|
Investment
in Aemetis Americas, Inc
|
205
|
205
|
Investment
in Aemetis Biofuels, Inc.
|
2,738
|
2,738
|
Investment
in Aemetis Technologies, Inc.
|
4,030
|
2,947
|
Investment
in Aemetis Property Keyes, Inc.
|
432
|
100
|
Investment
in Biofuels Marketing, Inc.
|
349
|
349
|
Investment
in Aemetis International, Inc.
|
963
|
142
|
Investment
in Aemetis Biogas LLC
|
6,304
|
-
|
Total
subsidiary obligation in excess of investment
|
104,875
|
75,754
|
|
|
|
Stockholders' deficit
|
|
|
Series
B Preferred convertible stock
|
1
|
1
|
Common
stock
|
20
|
20
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
85,917
|
84,679
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
(193,204)
|
(160,188)
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss
|
(3,576)
|
(2,904)
|
Total
stockholders' deficit
|
(110,842)
|
(78,392)
|
Total liabilities & stockholders' deficit
|
$6,544
|
$8,912
|
|
|
|
81
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
Aemetis, Inc. (Parent Company)
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
For the
Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
|
2018
|
2017
|
|
|
|
Equity
in subsidiary losses
|
$(29,009)
|
$(22,341)
|
|
|
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
8,742
|
7,317
|
|
|
|
Operating
loss
|
(37,751)
|
(29,658)
|
|
|
|
Other
expense
|
|
|
Interest
expense
|
1,281
|
503
|
Other
(income) expense
|
(6,023)
|
134
|
|
|
|
Loss
before income taxes
|
(33,009)
|
(30,295)
|
|
|
|
Income
tax expense
|
7
|
6
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
(33,016)
|
(30,301)
|
|
|
|
Other
comprehensive loss
|
|
|
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
(672)
|
484
|
Comprehensive
loss
|
$(33,688)
|
$(29,817)
|
82
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
Aemetis, Inc. (Parent Company)
Statements of Cash Flows
For the
years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
|
2018
|
2017
|
Operating activities:
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
(33,016)
|
(30,301)
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
981
|
1,101
|
Stock
issued for services
|
22
|
118
|
SARs
Amortization
|
477
|
-
|
Depreciation
|
8
|
6
|
Subsidiary
portion of net losses
|
29,009
|
22,341
|
Change
in fair value of SARs liability
|
(145)
|
|
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
(113)
|
19
|
Accounts
payable
|
1,459
|
529
|
Accrued
interest expense
|
209
|
503
|
Other
liabilities
|
275
|
64
|
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(834)
|
(5,620)
|
|
|
|
Investing activities:
|
|
|
Subsidiary
advances, net
|
2,119
|
5,149
|
Net
cash provided by investing activities
|
2,119
|
5,149
|
|
|
|
Financing activities:
|
|
|
Proceeds
from borrowings under secured debt facilities
|
1,500
|
500
|
Repayments
of borrowings under secured debt facilities
|
(2,814)
|
-
|
Net
cash (used)/provided by financing activities
|
(1,314)
|
500
|
|
|
|
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
(29)
|
29
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
29
|
-
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$-
|
$29
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information, cash paid:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
payments
|
-
|
-
|
Income
tax expense
|
7
|
6
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information, non-cash
transactions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair
value of warrants issued to subordinated debt holders
|
235
|
321
|
Repurchase
of common stock added to TEC promissory note
|
-
|
451
|
Payment
of TEC bridge loan added to GAFI Revolving loan
|
-
|
3,669
|
Stock
Appreciation Rights issued for GAFI Amendment No. 1
|
1,277
|
-
|
Settlement
of subordinated debt through issuing stock
|
-
|
132
|
83
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
16. Subsequent Events
Subordinated Notes
On January 1, 2019, the maturity on two accredited investor's
Subordinated Notes was extended until the earlier of (i) June 30,
2019; (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. A 10
percent cash extension fee was paid by adding the fee to the
balance of the new Note and 113 thousand in common stock warrants
were granted with a term of two years and an exercise price of
$0.01 per share.
Third Eye Amendment
On March 11, 2019, Third Eye agreed to a Limited Waiver and
Amendment No. 15 to the Note Purchase Agreement, to waive the ratio
of note indebtedness covenant until January 1, 2020. As
consideration for such amendment and waiver, the Company agreed to
pay Third Eye Capital an amendment and waiver fee of $1.0 million
to be added to the redemption fee on the note.
Third Eye Reserve Liquidity Facility
On March 11, 2019, Third Eye agreed to increase the amount
available under a one-year reserve liquidity facility governed by a
promissory note for eight million dollars and extend the maturity
date to April 1, 2020. Borrowings under the facility are available
from March 11, 2019 until maturity on April 1, 2020. Interest on
borrowed amounts accrues at a rate of 30% per annum, paid monthly
in arrears, or 40% if an event of default has occurred and
continues. The outstanding principal balance of the indebtedness
evidenced by the promissory note, plus any accrued but unpaid
interest and any other sums due thereunder, shall be due and
payable in full at the earlier to occur of (a) the closing of any
new debt or equity financing, refinancing or other similar
transaction between Third Eye Capital or any fund or entity
arranged by them and the Company or its affiliates, (b) receipt by
the Company or its affiliates of proceeds from any sale, merger,
equity or debt financing, refinancing or other similar transaction
from any third party and (c) April 1, 2020. The promissory note is
secured by liens and security interests upon the property and
assets of the Company. If any amounts are drawn under the facility,
the Company will pay a non-refundable fee in the amount of
$200,000, payable from the proceeds of the first drawing under the
facility.
17.
Management’s Plan
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared
contemplating the realization of assets and satisfaction of
liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has been
reliant on their senior secured lender to provide additional
funding and has been required to remit substantially all excess
cash from operations to the senior secured lender. There is a $1.5
million available under the GAFI Amendment No.2 to use for the CO2
project. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $6.0 million
available to draw on Reserve Liquidity Faciliy to fund future cash
flow requirements. On March 11, 2019, the maturity of the Reserve
Liquidity facility was extended to April 1, 2020 and the available
amount under the facility was increased to $8.0
million.
Management
believes that through the following actions, the Company will have
the ability to generate capital liquidity to carry out the business
plan for 2019:
●
Operate the Keyes
Plant and continue to improve operational performance, including
the adoption of new technologies or process changes that allow for
energy efficiency, cost reduction or revenue enhancements to the
current operations.
●
Expand the ethanol
sold at the Keyes Plant to include the cellulosic ethanol to be
generated at the Riverbank Cellulosic Ethanol Facility a cellulosic
ethanol production facility in nearby Riverbank, California, and to
utilize lower cost, non-food advanced feedstocks to significantly
increase margins by 2020.
●
Monetize the
CO2
produced at the Keyes Plant by executing on the agreement with
Linde for the delivery of gas to their neighboring facility to be
built during 2019.
●
Construct and
operate biogas digesters to capture and monetize biogas by
2020.
●
Rely on the
approval of a $125M U.S. Department of Agriculture loan guarantee
to raise the funds necessary to construct and operate the Riverbank
Cellulosic Ethanol Facility using the licensed LanzaTech Tech and
InEnTec Technology.
84
AEMETIS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular data in thousands, except par value and per share
data)
●
Secure higher
volumes of shipments of fuels at the India plant by developing the
sales channels and expanding the existing domestic
markets.
●
Continue to locate
funding for existing and new business opportunities through a
combination of working with our senior lender, restructuring
existing loan agreements, selling the current offering for $50
million from the Phase II EB-5 program, or by vendor financing
arrangements.
Management
believes that a combination of the above-mentioned actions as well
as the subsequent debt financing described in Note 16, will provide
the funding necessary to alleviate substantial doubt about the
Company’s ability to continue as a going
concern.
85
SIGNATURES
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.
|
Aemetis, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date:
March 14, 2019
|
By:
|
/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 of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
March 14, 2019
|
Eric A. McAfee
|
|
(Principal Executive Officer and Director)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/Todd
Waltz
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
March 14, 2019
|
Todd Waltz
|
|
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Francis
Barton
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2019
|
Fran Barton
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lydia I.
Beebe
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2019
|
Lydia I. Beebe
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ John R.
Block
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2019
|
John R. Block
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Dr. Steven
Hutcheson
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2019
|
Dr. Steven Hutcheson
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
86
Exhibit 10.73
AMENDED AND RESTATED PROMISSORY NOTE
March
11, 2019
FOR
VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, AEMETIS ADVANCED FUELS KEYES,
INC., a Delaware corporation (“AAFK”),
AEMETIS FACILITY KEYES, INC., a Delaware corporation
(“Keyes
Facility”, and together with AAFK, “Borrowers”)
and AEMETIS, INC., a Nevada corporation (“Parent”, and
together with Borrowers, the “Obligors”)
jointly and severally promise to pay to the order of THIRD EYE
CAPITAL CORPORATION (the “Lender”) the
Aggregate Principal Amount as set forth below, at its offices or
such other place as the Lender may designate in
writing.
This
Amended and Restated Promissory Note (the “Note”) is an amendment and
restatement of the original Promissory Note dated March 27, 2018
(the “Original
Note”). All debts and other obligations under the
Original Note shall be continuing with the only terms thereof being
modified as provided in this Note, and this Note shall not be
deemed to evidence or result in a novation of such debt or other
obligations. This Note is being issued to the Lender in connection
with the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement made as of
July 6, 2012 (as amended, restated, supplemented, revised, or
replaced from time to time, the “NPA”) by and among the Obligors,
Third Eye Capital Corporation, as agent for the Noteholders (the
“Agent”) and the
Noteholders. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall
have the meaning given to them in the NPA. Notwithstanding anything
indicated herein or in the NPA, this Note is deemed to be one of
the Notes under the NPA, is a Note Purchase Document and this Note
and the obligations hereunder are subject to the provisions of the
NPA.
1.
Availability. Subject to all of the
terms and conditions of this Note, the Lender agrees to make
available, for the Borrower’s use during the term and prior
to the Maturity Date, total credit of up to, but not exceeding, the
principal amount of Eight Million ($8,000,000) Dollars (the
“Principal
Amount”) plus the Capitalized Interest (collectively,
herein referred to as the “Aggregate Principal
Amount”).
2.
Use of Proceeds. The Principal Amount of
this Note advanced to the Obligors shall be used for working
capital purposes and to pay the Fee (as defined
below).
3.
Advances. The Obligors may receive
advances under this Note up to the Principal Amount at their
discretion (each, an “Advance”) by providing five (5)
Business Days’ prior written notice of their request for an
Advance hereunder and the proposed use of proceeds of such Advance,
provided that such Advances shall be in a minimum amount of
$100,000 and in increments of $50,000.
4.
Interest. From the date hereof until the
repayment of this Note in full, interest on the Aggregate Principal
Amount outstanding shall be calculated at the rate of 30% per
annum, and paid monthly in arrears on the last day of each month
(each, an “Interest
Calculation Date”); provided, however, that upon and
during the occurrence of an Event of Default under the NPA or this
Note or the non-payment of this Note by the Maturity Date, the
interest rate shall be increased to 40% per annum. At the
election of the Obligors, on each Interest Calculation Date, all of
the interest accrued on the then Aggregate Principal Amount and not
previously capitalized as of such Interest Calculation Date (all
such interest being referred to in this Agreement as
“Capitalized
Interest”), will be added to the Aggregate Principal
Amount advanced to the Borrower hereunder as of such Interest
Calculation Date. The Aggregate Principal Amount (as so increased
by such Capitalized Interest) will bear interest at the interest
rate indicated herein from and after such Interest Calculation
Date.
5.
Maturity Date. The outstanding principal
balance of the indebtedness evidenced hereby, plus any accrued but
unpaid interest, obligations, fees and any other sums owing
hereunder, shall be due and payable in full at the earlier to occur
of: (a) the closing of any new debt or equity financing,
refinancing or other similar transaction between the Lender or any
fund or entity arranged by the Lender and any Obligor or any
Affiliate thereof; (b) the receipt by an Obligor or Affiliate
thereof of proceeds from any sale, merger, equity or debt financing
(including without limitation any EB-5 financing), refinancing or
other similar transaction from any third party; and (c) April 1,
2020 (the “Maturity
Date”).
6.
Advance Fee. Upon any Obligor making a
request for an Advance, the Obligor shall pay to the Lender a
one-time fee (the “Fee”) in the amount of $200,000
which shall be deemed earned and non-refundable on the date of such
initial Advance and shall be payable from the proceeds of such
initial Advance made pursuant to this Note.
7.
Acknowledgement of Security. The
Obligors hereby acknowledge, confirm and agree that this Note, and
the obligations hereunder, are secured by valid and enforceable
liens and security interests upon and in the property and assets of
the Obligors as described in the NPA and the other Note Purchase
Documents and reaffirm their obligations pursuant to all applicable
Note Purchase Documents to which they are a party.
8.
Additional Obligations of the Obligors.
As further consideration of the Lender providing the funds
contemplated under this Note, the Obligors hereby agree, upon the
request of the Lender, to take such action, and execute and deliver
such further documents as may be reasonably necessary or
appropriate to give effect to the provisions and intent of this
Note.
9.
Waivers. Each Obligor hereby waives
demand, presentment for payment, notice of dishonor, protest, and
notice of protest and diligence in collection or bringing suit.
Time is of the essence.
10.
Attorneys’ Fees. Each Obligor
agrees to pay the reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs
incurred by the Lender in collecting on or enforcing the terms of
this Note, whether by suit or otherwise.
11.
Paramountcy. In the event of any
conflicts between the provisions of this Note and any provisions of
the NPA, solely in connection with this Note, the provisions of
this Note shall prevail and be paramount.
12.
Severability. In the event any one or
more of the provisions of this Note shall for any reason be held to
be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, in whole or in part or in
any respect, or in the event that any one or more of the provisions
of this Note operate or would prospectively operate to invalidate
this Note, then and in any such event, such provision(s) only shall
be deemed null and void and shall not affect any other provision of
this Note and the remaining provisions of this Note shall remain
operative and in full force and effect and in no way shall be
affected, prejudiced, or disturbed thereby.
13.
Miscellaneous. This Note and the
obligations hereunder may not be assigned by Obligors without the
prior written consent of the Lender. This Note and the rights
hereunder may be assigned by Lender without the consent of the
Obligors. As used herein, the terms “Obligors” and
“Lender” shall be deemed to include their respective
successors, legal representatives and assigns, whether by voluntary
action of the parties or by operation of law. Each Obligor hereby
submits to jurisdiction in the State of Delaware and this Note
shall be governed by and be construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Delaware. This Note may not be modified except by
written agreement signed by the Obligors and the
Lender.
[Remainder of page left intentionally blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Obligor has
caused this Note to be executed and delivered under seal as of the
date first set forth above.
BORROWERS:
AEMETIS
ADVANCED FUELS KEYES, INC.
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By:
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/s/
Eric A.
McAfee
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Name: Eric A.
McAfee
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Title: Chief
Executive Officer
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AEMETIS
FACILITY KEYES, INC.
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By:
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/s/
Eric A.
McAfee
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Name: Eric A.
McAfee
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Title: Chief
Executive Officer
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PARENT:
AEMETIS,
INC.
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By:
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/s/
Eric A.
McAfee
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Name: Eric A.
McAfee
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Title: Chief
Executive Officer
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Signature Page to A&R Promissory Note dated March 11,
2019
Accepted
and Acknowledged by:
THIRD EYE CAPITAL CORPORATION
By: /s/
Arif N. Bhalwani
Name:
Arif N. Bhalwani
Title:
Managing Director
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Exhibit 10.74
LIMITED WAIVER AND AMENDMENT NO. 15 TO
AMENDED AND RESTATED NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This
Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 15 to Amended and Restated Note
Purchase Agreement (this “Amendment”), is dated as of
March11, 2019, is made by and among (i) AEMETIS ADVANCED FUELS KEYES, INC., a
Delaware corporation (“AEFK”), AEMETIS FACILITY KEYES, INC., a Delaware
corporation (“Keyes
Facility”, together with AEFK, the “Borrowers”), AEMETIS, INC., a Nevada corporation
(“Parent”), and
(ii) THIRD EYE CAPITAL
CORPORATION, an Ontario corporation, as agent for the
Noteholders (“Administrative Agent”), THIRD EYE CAPITAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES FUND
– INSIGHT FUND and SPROTT PRIVATE CREDIT TRUST
(collectively, the “Noteholders”).
RECITALS
A. The Borrowers,
Administrative Agent and Noteholders entered into the Amended and
Restated Note Purchase Agreement dated as of July 6, 2012, as
amended from time to time including most recently by an Amendment
No. 14 dated as of March 27, 2018 (as the same may be amended,
restated, supplemented, revised or replaced from time to time, the
“Agreement”).
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment shall have
the meaning given to them in the Agreement.
B. The Borrowers have
requested, and the Administrative Agent has agreed to: (i) amend
that Promissory Note dated March 27, 2018; and (ii) waive certain
financial covenants included in the Agreement, in each case on the
terms and conditions contained herein.
AGREEMENT
SECTION
1. Reaffirmation
of Indebtedness. The Borrowers hereby confirm that as of
February 28, 2019, the outstanding principal balance of the Notes
(excluding accrued interest) is $88,644,650.18.
SECTION
2. Recitals
Part of Agreement. The foregoing recitals are hereby
incorporated into and made a part of the Agreement, including all
defined terms referenced therein.
SECTION
3.
Waiver.
Based on the information provided to the Administrative Agent by
the Borrowers, the Borrowers have reported that they will not
comply with the “Note Indebtedness to Keyes Plant
Values” requirement pursuant to Section 6.2(b) of the
Agreement for the Fiscal Quarters ending March 31, 2019, June 30,
2019, September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2019, which
non-compliance will, in each case, constitute an Event of Default
under the Agreement (the “Note Indebtedness
Violation”). Subject to the terms of this Amendment, the
Administrative Agent waives, as of the date hereof, the Note
Indebtedness Violation.
SECTION
4. Fee
Letter Amendment. Subsection 4(a) of the Fee Letter is
hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the
following:
“(a)
The defined term
“Redemption Fee” in the Purchase Agreement shall mean
the amount of $6,994,000 payable on redemption in full of the Notes
on the Maturity Date or otherwise in accordance with this
Agreement.”
SECTION
5. Conditions
to Effectiveness. This Amendment shall be effective on the
date first written above but subject to satisfaction of the
following conditions precedent:
(A) Administrative
Agent shall have received a signed Amended & Restated Agent
Advance Promissory Note dated the date hereof in the amount of
$8,000,000 from the Borrowers.
(B) Administrative
Agent shall have received a Reaffirmation of Unconditional Personal
Guaranty, duly executed by the Chairman.
(C) Administrative
Agent shall have received a Reaffirmation of Guaranty, duly
executed by the Company Parties (other than the
Borrowers).
(D) Administrative
Agent shall have received a Reaffirmation of Guaranty, duly
executed by McAfee Capital, LLC.
(E) Borrowers
shall, and will cause the other Company Parties to, have performed
and complied with all of the covenants and conditions required by
this Amendment and the Note Purchase Documents to be performed and
complied with upon the effective date of this
Amendment.
(F) Administrative
Agent shall have received all other approvals, opinions, documents,
agreements, instruments, certificates, schedules and materials as
Administrative Agent may reasonably request. With respect thereto,
the Borrowers will (unless waived by the Administrative Agent) use
their commercially reasonable efforts to cause their subsidiary
International Biofuels, Ltd. to enter into a limited guarantee and
pledge all of the Capital Stock it holds in Universal Biofuels
Private, Ltd. (an Indian corporation) to the Administrative
Agent.
Each
Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the failure to perform, or to
cause the performance of, the covenants and agreements in this
Amendment will constitute an Event of Default under the Agreement
and Administrative Agent and Noteholders shall have the right to
demand the immediate repayment in full in cash of all outstanding
Indebtedness owing to Administrative Agent and Noteholders under
the Agreement, the Notes and the other Note Purchase Documents. In
consideration of the foregoing and the transactions contemplated by
this Amendment, each Borrower hereby: (i) ratifies and
confirms all of the obligations and liabilities of such Borrower
owing pursuant to the Agreement and the other Note Purchase
Documents, and (ii) agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses of
Administrative Agent and Noteholders in connection with this
Amendment.
SECTION
6. Agreement
in Full Force and Effect as Amended. Except as specifically
amended or waived hereby, the Agreement and other Note Purchase
Documents shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby
ratified and confirmed as so amended. Except as expressly set forth
herein, this Amendment shall not be deemed to be a waiver,
amendment or modification of, or consent to or departure from, any
provisions of the Agreement or any other Note Purchase Document or
any right, power or remedy of Administrative Agent or Noteholders
thereunder, nor constitute a course of dealing or other basis for
altering any obligation of the Borrowers, or a waiver of any
provision of the Agreement or any other Note Purchase Document, or
any other document, instrument or agreement executed or delivered
in connection therewith or of any Default or Event of Default under
any of the foregoing, in each case whether arising before or after
the execution date of this Amendment or as a result of performance
hereunder or thereunder. This Amendment shall not preclude the
future exercise of any right, remedy, power, or privilege available
to Administrative Agent or Noteholders whether under the Agreement,
the other Note Purchase Documents, at law or otherwise. All
references to the Agreement shall be deemed to mean the Agreement
as modified hereby. This Amendment shall not constitute a novation
or satisfaction and accord of the Agreement or any other Note
Purchase Documents, but rather shall constitute an amendment
thereof. The parties hereto agree to be bound by the terms and
conditions of the Agreement and Note Purchase Documents as amended
by this Amendment, as though such terms and conditions were set
forth herein. Each reference in the Agreement to “this
Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof,”
“herein” or words of similar import shall mean and be a
reference to the Agreement as amended by this Amendment, and each
reference herein or in any other Note Purchase Documents to
“the Agreement” shall mean and be a reference to the
Agreement as amended and modified by this Amendment.
SECTION
7. Representations
by Parent and Borrowers. Each of the Parent and the
Borrowers hereby represents and warrants to Administrative Agent
and Noteholders as of the execution date of this Amendment as
follows: (A) it is duly incorporated, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation;
(B) the execution, delivery and performance by it of this
Amendment and all other Note Purchase Documents executed and
delivered in connection herewith are within its powers, have been
duly authorized, and do not contravene (i) its articles of
incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents, or
(ii) any applicable law; (C) no consent, license, permit,
approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or
declaration with any Governmental Entity or other Person, is
required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance,
validity or enforceability of this Amendment or any other Note
Purchase Documents executed and delivered in connection herewith by
or against it; (D) this Amendment and all other Note Purchase
Documents executed and delivered in connection herewith have been
duly executed and delivered by it; (E) this Amendment and all
other Note Purchase Documents executed and delivered in connection
herewith constitute its legal, valid and binding obligation
enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, except as
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general
principles of equity; (F) it is not in default under the
Agreement or any other Note Purchase Documents and no Event of
Default exists, has occurred and is continuing or would result by
the execution, delivery or performance of this Amendment; and
(G) the representations and warranties contained in the
Agreement and the other Note Purchase Documents are true and
correct in all material respects as of the execution date of this
Amendment as if then made, except for such representations and
warranties limited by their terms to a specific date.
SECTION
8. Miscellaneous.
(A) This
Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts (including
by facsimile or email), and by the different parties hereto on the
same or separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be
an original instrument but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same agreement. Whenever the context and construction
so require, all words herein in the singular number herein shall be
deemed to have been used in the plural, and vice versa. The use of
the word “including” in this Amendment shall be by way
of example rather than by limitation. The use of the words
“and” or “or” shall not be inclusive or
exclusive.
(B) This
Amendment may not be changed, amended, restated, waived,
supplemented, discharged, canceled, terminated or otherwise
modified without the written consent of the Borrowers and
Administrative Agent. This Amendment shall be considered part of
the Agreement and shall be a Note Purchase Document for all
purposes under the Agreement and other Note Purchase
Documents.
(C) This
Amendment, the Agreement and the Note Purchase Documents constitute
the final, entire agreement and understanding between the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and may not
be contradicted by evidence of prior, contemporaneous or subsequent
oral agreements between the parties, and shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the parties
hereto and thereto. There are no unwritten oral agreements between
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof.
(D) This
Amendment and the rights and obligations of the parties under this
Amendment shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in
accordance with the choice of law provisions set forth in the
Agreement and shall be subject to the waiver of jury trial and
notice provisions of the Agreement.
(E) Neither
the Parent nor any Borrower may assign, delegate or transfer this
Amendment or any of their rights or obligations hereunder. No
rights are intended to be created under this Amendment for the
benefit of any third party donee, creditor or incidental
beneficiary of the Borrowers or any Company Party. Nothing
contained in this Amendment shall be construed as a delegation to
Administrative Agent or Noteholders of the Borrowers or any Company
Party’s duty of performance, including any duties under any
account or contract in which Administrative Agent or Noteholders
have a security interest or lien. This Amendment shall be binding
upon the Borrowers, the Parent and their respective successors and
assigns.
(F) All
representations and warranties made in this Amendment shall survive
the execution and delivery of this Amendment and no investigation
by Administrative Agent or Noteholders shall affect such
representations or warranties or the right of Administrative Agent
or Noteholders to rely upon them.
(G) THE
BORROWERS AND THE PARENT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUCH PERSON’S
PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS ARE ABSOLUTE AND UNCONDITIONAL WITHOUT ANY
RIGHT OF RECISSION, SETOFF, COUNTERCLAIM, DEFENSE, OFFSET,
CROSS-COMPLAINT, CLAIM OR DEMAND OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER
THAT CAN BE ASSERTED TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE ALL OR ANY PART OF ITS
LIABILITY TO REPAY THE “OBLIGATIONS” OR TO SEEK
AFFIRMATIVE RELIEF OR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE FROM
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY NOTEHOLDER. THE BORROWERS AND THE
PARENT HEREBY VOLUNTARILY AND KNOWINGLY RELEASE AND FOREVER
DISCHARGE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH NOTEHOLDER AND THEIR
RESPECTIVE PREDECESSORS, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS, EMPLOYEES,
SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS (COLLECTIVELY, THE “RELEASED
PARTIES”), FROM ALL POSSIBLE CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS, CAUSES
OF ACTION, DAMAGES, COSTS, EXPENSES, AND LIABILITIES WHATSOEVER,
KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, ANTICIPATED OR UNANTICIPATED, SUSPECTED OR
UNSUSPECTED, FIXED, CONTINGENT, OR CONDITIONAL, AT LAW OR IN
EQUITY, ORIGINATING IN WHOLE OR IN PART ON OR BEFORE THE DATE THIS
AMENDMENT IS EXECUTED, WHICH SUCH PERSON MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE
AGAINST THE RELEASED PARTIES, IF ANY, AND IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER
ANY SUCH CLAIMS ARISE OUT OF CONTRACT, TORT, VIOLATION OF LAW OR
REGULATIONS, OR OTHERWISE, AND ARISING FROM ANY
“LOANS”, INCLUDING ANY CONTRACTING FOR, CHARGING,
TAKING, RESERVING, COLLECTING OR RECEIVING INTEREST IN EXCESS OF
THE HIGHEST LAWFUL RATE APPLICABLE, THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS AND
REMEDIES UNDER THE AGREEMENT OR OTHER NOTE PURCHASE DOCUMENTS, AND
NEGOTIATION FOR AND EXECUTION OF THIS AMENDMENT.
{Signatures appear on following pages.}
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment
effective as of the date first noted above.
BORROWERS:
AEMETIS
ADVANCED FUELS KEYES, INC.
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By:
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/s/
Eric A.
McAfee
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Name: Eric A.
McAfee
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Title: Chief
Executive Officer
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AEMETIS
FACILITY KEYES, INC.
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By:
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/s/
Eric A.
McAfee
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Name: Eric A.
McAfee
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Title: Chief
Executive Officer
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PARENT:
AEMETIS,
INC.
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By:
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/s/
Eric A.
McAfee
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Name: Eric A.
McAfee
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Title: Chief
Executive Officer
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ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:
THIRD
EYE CAPITAL CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/
Arif N.
Bhalwani
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Name: Arif N.
Bhalwan
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Title: Managing
Director
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