AEMETIS, INC - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD—LOOKING STATEMENTS

On one or more occasions, we may make forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, 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 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 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 Keyes plant; our ability to adopt value-add 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 extend or refinance our senior debt on terms reasonably acceptable to us or at all; our ability to continue to fund operations and our future sources of liquidity and capital resources; our ability to fund, develop, build, maintain and operate digesters, facilities and pipelines for our California Dairy Renewable Natural Gas segment; our ability to fund, develop and operate our carbon capture sequestration projects, including obtaining required permits; our ability to receive awarded grants by meeting all of the required conditions, including meeting the minimum contributions; 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 generate and sell or utilize various credits, including LCFS and IRS 45Q tax credits; our ability to improve margins; and our ability to raise additional capital. Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “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 markets 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”), including without limitation, our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 - Financial Statements.

AEMETIS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited, In thousands except for par value)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

AEMETIS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)

(Unaudited, in thousands except for loss per share)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

AEMETIS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited, in thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

AEMETIS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

(Unaudited, in thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

1. Nature of Activities and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Activities. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis referred to herein as “Aemetis,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) is an international renewable natural gas and renewable fuels company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative negative carbon intensity products and technologies that replace traditional petroleum-based products. We operate in three reportable segments consisting of “California Ethanol,” “California Dairy Renewable Natural Gas,” and “India Biodiesel.” We have other operating segments determined not to be reportable segments and are collectively represented by the “All Other” category. At Aemetis, our mission is to generate sustainable and innovative renewable fuel solutions that benefit communities and restore our environment. We do this by building a local circular bioeconomy utilizing agricultural waste to produce low carbon, advanced renewable fuels that reduce greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions and improve air quality by replacing traditional petroleum-based products.

Our California Ethanol segment consists of a 65 million gallon per year capacity ethanol production facility located in Keyes, California (the “Keyes Plant”) that we own and operate. In addition to low carbon renewable fuel ethanol, the Keyes Plant produces Wet Distillers Grains (“WDG”), Distillers Corn Oil (“DCO”), Carbon Dioxide (“CO₂”) and Condensed Distillers Solubles (“CDS”), all of which are sold as animal feed to local dairies and feedlots, with CO₂ sold to food, beverage, and industrial customers. We have several energy efficiency initiatives focused on significantly lowering the carbon intensity of our fuels. In the third quarter of 2022, a ZEBREX^TM ethanol dehydration system completed installation and began commissioning, a key first step in the electrification of the Keyes Plant, which will significantly reduce the use of petroleum-based natural gas as process energy. During the last two weeks of December 2022, we undertook an extended maintenance cycle and accelerated the implementation of several important ethanol energy efficiency plant upgrades noted above. Our decision was partly driven by the high natural gas prices in Northern California during the period. Furthermore, after monitoring natural gas pricing and margin profitability, we decided to extend the maintenance cycle through the end of the first quarter of 2023. As such, revenues from the Keyes Plant during the first quarter of 2023 were limited to sales of stored inventory at the plant. With natural gas pricing in a reasonable range and the maintenance turn-around complete, we expect to restart the plant during the second quarter of 2023.

Our California Dairy Renewable Natural segment, which consists of our subsidiary Aemetis Biogas LLC, “Aemetis Biogas” or “ABGL,” constructs and operates bio-methane anaerobic digesters at local dairies near the Keyes Plant (many of whom also purchase WDG produced by the Keyes Plant as animal feed); transports the biogas via pipeline to the Keyes Plant site; and converts the biogas to Renewable Natural Gas (“RNG”) which is then delivered to customers through the PG&E natural gas pipeline.

The Aemetis Biogas network includes the Aemetis Biogas Central Dairy Project which operates 40 miles of completed biogas pipeline; six operating dairy digesters; five dairy digesters that are under construction; a centralized biogas-to-RNG conversion facility located at the Keyes Plant site; and a renewable natural gas interconnection with the PG&E utility gas pipeline.

The dairy digesters are connected via an underground private pipeline owned by ABGL to a gas cleanup and compression unit at the Keyes Plant to produce dairy RNG. Upon receiving the bio-methane from the dairies, impurities are removed, and the bio-methane is converted to negative carbon intensity RNG that is injected into the statewide PG&E gas utility pipeline for use as transportation fuel or used as renewable process energy at the Keyes Plant.

Our India Biodiesel segment owns and operates a plant in Kakinada, India (“Kakinada Plant”) with a nameplate capacity of 150 thousand metric tons per year, or about 50 million gallons per year, producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin for customers in India and Europe. 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 oils and animal fat waste feedstocks into biodiesel that meets international product standards. Our Kakinada Plant can also distill 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. The Kakinada Plant shipped the tender offer orders placed during the third quarter of 2022 in the fourth quarter of 2022. As such, revenues from the Kakinada Plant during the first quarter of 2023 were limited to sales of stored inventory at the plant to private customers. In April 2023, Kakinada Plant was awarded a new tender offer to ship $34.0 million worth of biodiesel. 

Our All Other segment consists of: Carbon Zero biofuels production plants to produce renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel; Carbon Capture and Sequestration compression system and injection wells; a research and development facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and our corporate offices in Cupertino, California.

Our Carbon Zero biofuels production plants are designed to produce low or negative carbon intensity sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) and renewable diesel fuel (“RD”) utilizing low carbon hydroelectric electricity, renewable hydrogen and non-edible renewable oils sourced from existing Aemetis biofuels plants and other sources. The first Carbon Zero plant is scheduled to be built in Riverbank, California at the 125-acre former Riverbank Army ammunition plant.  The Riverbank plant is expected to utilize zero carbon hydroelectric and other renewable power available onsite to produce SAF, RD, and other byproducts. 

Our Carbon Capture subsidiary was established to build Carbon Capture and Sequestration (“CCS”) projects that generate LCFS and IRS 45Q tax credits by compressing and injecting CO₂ into deep wells which are monitored for emissions to ensure the long-term sequestration of carbon underground. In July 2022, Aemetis purchased 24 acres located on the Riverbank Industrial Complex site in Riverbank, California to develop a CCS injection well.

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. 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. ABGL was assessed to be a VIE and through the Company’s ownership interest in all of the outstanding common stock, the Company has been determined to be the primary beneficiary and accordingly, the assets, liabilities, and operations of ABGL are consolidated into those of the Company.

All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheet as of  March 31, 2023, the consolidated condensed statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the  three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the consolidated condensed statements of cash flows for the  three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, and the consolidated condensed statements of stockholders’ deficit for the  three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 are unaudited. The consolidated condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2022, was derived from the 2022 audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto. The consolidated condensed financial statements in this report should be read in conjunction with the  2022 audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,  2022. The accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.

In the opinion of Company’s management, the unaudited interim consolidated condensed financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022 and reflect all adjustments, consisting primarily of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of its statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The results of operations for the  three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for any subsequent quarter, for the full fiscal year or any future periods.

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, 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. We derive revenue primarily from sales of ethanol and related co-products in North America, and biodiesel and refined glycerin in India pursuant to supply agreements and purchase order contracts. We assessed the following criteria under the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606 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.

California Ethanol: On May 13, 2020, we entered into an amendment to the Corn Procurement and Working Capital Agreement with J.D. Heiskell (the “Corn Procurement and Working Capital”), pursuant to which we buy all corn from J.D. Heiskell and sell all WDG and corn oil we produce to J.D. Heiskell. Effective October 1, 2021, we entered into Fuel Ethanol Purchase and Sale Agreement with Murex LLC (“Murex”), in which we sell all our ethanol to Murex through individual sales transactions. Given the similarity of the individual sales transactions with Murex, we have assessed them as a portfolio of similar contracts. The performance obligation is satisfied by delivery of the physical product to one of our customer’s contracted trucking companies. Upon delivery, 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 Murex for ethanol and by our marketing partner A.L. Gilbert Company (“A.L. Gilbert”) for WDG. The transaction price is allocated to one performance obligation.

The below table shows our sales in our California Ethanol segment by product category:

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.

For ethanol, we only have customer relationships with Murex, hence the principal and agent criteria are not applied. However, we are still buying corn and selling WDG and corn oil to J.D.Heiskell. We analyzed the principal versus agent relationship criteria below.

We consider the purchase of corn as a cost of goods sold and the sale of WDG and, corn oil, upon trucks leaving the Keyes Plant, 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. The pricing for both WDG and corn oil is set independently. Revenues from WDG and corn oil 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. We have 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 and administrative expenses, respectively, when revenue is recognized. Revenues are recorded at the gross invoiced amount. Hence, we are the principal in California Ethanol segment where our customer and vendor may be the same.

California Dairy Renewable Natural Gas: In December 2018, we utilized our relationships with California’s Central Valley dairy farmers by signing leases and raising funds to construct dairy digesters, a 40 mile pipeline, a centralized biogas cleanup and a renewable natural gas interconnection with PG&E pipeline. We are currently producing RNG from six digesters connected to 40 miles of pipeline, then flowing this gas to our RNG cleanup hub and delivering the gas through an interconnect to the PG&E pipeline at the Keyes Plant. The RNG upgrade unit at the Keyes Plant is designed deliver utility-grade RNG for sale as transportation fuel to California customers via pipeline delivery.

We have 30 signed agreements with dairies to construct dairy digesters. Our revenue development strategy for the Dairy Renewable Natural Gas segment relies upon continuing to collect bio-methane gas from the existing dairy digesters, continuing to build out the network of dairy digesters, extending the pipeline in Northern California to grow the supply of RNG available for sale and utilizing the biogas-to-RNG upgrade unit to distribute utility-grade RNG to customers statewide. We plan to store the RNG until the LCFS credit pathway for each dairy has been established, after which we will sell the stored gas by delivering it into the utility gas pipeline . As of  March 31, 2023 , we have 31.0 thousand MMBtu of RNG in storage. The RNG in storage is recorded at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The value per LCFS as of  March 31, 2023  was $70 per metric ton and the value per D3 Cellulosic RIN was $1.96; for an estimated market value $53.37 per MMBtu, assuming a CI score of -427.

India Biodiesel: We sell products pursuant to purchase orders (written or verbal) or by contract with governmental or international parties, in which performance is satisfied by delivery and acceptance of the physical product. Given that 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 daily based on reference market prices for biodiesel, refined glycerin, and PFAD net of taxes. Transaction price is allocated to one performance obligation.

The below table shows our sales in our India Biodiesel segment by product category:

In India, we also assessed principal versus agent criteria as we buy our feedstock from our customers and process and sell finished goods to those same customers in certain contractual agreements. 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 according to agreements when we enter into in these situations. Hence, we are the principal in India sales scenarios where our customer and vendor may be the same.

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, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash. 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. Amounts included in restricted cash represent those required to be set aside by the Construction Loan Agreement with Greater Nevada Credit Union ("GNCU") and will be released upon approval by GNCU. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the Consolidated Balance Sheet to the total of the same such amounts shown in the statement of cash flows.

Accounts Receivable. The Company sells ethanol and WDG through third-party marketing arrangements generally without requiring collateral directly to customers on a variety of terms including advanced payment terms, based on the size and creditworthiness of the customer. DCO is marketed and sold to A.L. Gilbert and other customers under the J.D. Heiskell Purchasing Agreement. The Company sells CDS directly to customers on standard 30 day payment terms. 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. We did not reserve any balance for allowances for doubtful accounts as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for balances that appear to have specific collection issues. The collection process is based on the age of the invoice and requires attempted contacts with the customer at specified intervals. If, after a specified number of days, the Company has been unsuccessful in its collection efforts, a bad debt allowance is recorded for the balance in question. Delinquent accounts receivables 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 condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, additional allowances may be required. 

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.

Variable Interest Entities. We determine at the inception of each arrangement whether an entity in which we have made an investment or in which we have other variable interests in is considered a variable interest entity (“VIE”). We consolidate VIEs when we are the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the party that meets both of the following criteria: (1) has the power to make decisions that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIE; and (2) has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that in either case could potentially be significant to the VIE. Periodically, we assess whether any changes in our interest or relationship with the entity affects our determination of whether the entity is still a VIE and, if so, whether we are the primary beneficiary. If we are not the primary beneficiary in a VIE, we account for the investment or other variable interests in a VIE in accordance with applicable U.S. GAAP.

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 plant and buildings, furniture, machinery, equipment, land, and biogas dairy digesters. Capital expenses for in-process project are accumulated in construction in progress and will be capitalized and depreciated once the capital projects are finished and are in service. The Company’s plant in Goodland, Kansas (the ”Goodland Plant”) is partially completed and is not ready for operation. 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 group may not be recoverable. When events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group 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. The Company has not recorded any impairment during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.

California Energy Commission Low-Carbon Fuel Production Program. The Company has been awarded $4.2 million in matching grants from the California Energy Commission Low-Carbon Fuel Production Program (“LCFPP”). The LCFPP grant reimburses the Company for costs to design, procure, and install processing facility to clean-up, measure and verify negative-carbon intensity dairy renewable natural gas fuel at the production facility in Keyes, California. The Company has received $3.8 million from the LCFPP as of March 31, 2023, as reimbursement for actual costs incurred. Due to the uncertainty associated with the approval process under the grant program, the Company recognized the grant as a reduction of costs in the period when payment is received.

In October 2020, the Company was awarded $7.8 million in matching grants from the CDFA Dairy Digester Research and Development program. The CDFA grant reimburses the Company for costs required to permit and construct six of the Company’s biogas capture systems under contract with central California dairies. The Company has received $3.9 million from the CDFA 2020 grant program as of March 31, 2023, as reimbursement for actual costs incurred. Due to the uncertainty associated with the approval process under the grant program, the Company recognized the grant as a reduction of costs in the period when payment is received.

California Energy Commission Low Carbon Advanced Ethanol Grant Program. In May 2019, the Company was awarded the right to receive reimbursements from the California Energy Commission Community-Scale and Commercial-Scale Advanced Biofuels Production Facilities grant under the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program in an amount up to $5.0 million (the “CEC Reimbursement Program”) in connection with the Company’s expenditures toward the development of the Riverbank Carbon Zero Facility. To comply with the guidelines of the CEC Reimbursement Program, the Company must make a minimum of $7.9 million in matching contributions to the Riverbank project. The Company receives funds under the CEC Reimbursement Program for actual expenses incurred up to $5.0 million as long as the Company makes the minimum matching contribution. Given that the Company has not made the minimum matching contribution, the grant for reimbursement of capital expenditures of $1.7 million is presented with long-term liabilities as of March 31, 2023, and December 31, 2021. Due to the uncertainty associated with meeting the minimum matching contribution, the reimbursement will be recognized when the Company makes the minimum matching contribution.

U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture Forest Service Grant. Aemetis Advanced Products Keyes (“AAPK”) has been awarded $245 thousand in matching grants from the U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture Forest Service (“US Forest Service”) under the Wood Innovation and Community Wood program. The grant reimburses the Company for continued development of technologies and processes to valorize forest waste for the production of cellulosic ethanol.  AAPK has received $216 thousand from the US Forest Service as reimbursement for actual allowable program costs incurred through March 31, 2023.

California Energy Commission Grant for Solar Microgrid, DSC and Battery Backup System. Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes (“AAFK”) has been awarded an $8.0 million grant to design, construct and commission a grid-connected 1.56 MW photovoltaic microgrid and 1.25MW/2.5MWh Battery Energy Storage System integrated with an artificial intelligence-driven distributed control system (DCS). The Company has made the required $1.6 million in matching contributions to qualify to receive grant reimbursements. AAFK received $4.2 million in grant funds from this program as reimbursement for actual expenditures incurred through March 31, 2023. Due to the uncertainty associated with the approval process under the grant program, the Company recognized the grant as a reduction of costs in the period when payment is received.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Grant. AAPK has been awarded $2 million in matching grants from the CAL FIRE Business and Workforce Development Grant Program (“CAL Fire”) in May 2022. This CAL Fire grant program reimburses AAPK for costs to design, construct, and commission a 2 million gallon per year cellulosic ethanol facility able to convert conifer biomass from forested regions of the Sierra Nevada into an ultra‐low carbon biofuel derived from 100% forest biomass (“CAL Fire Conversion Program”). AAPK must contribute $5.8 million in cost share contributions to the project to receive grant proceeds. AAPK has received no grant funds from the CAL Fire Conversion Program as reimbursement for actual costs through  March 31, 2023.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Grant. AAPK was awarded $500 thousand in grants from CAL Fire in May 2022. This CAL Fire grant program reimburses AAPK for costs to advance a new‐to‐the world technology that circumvents current limitations surrounding the extraction of cellulosic sugars by pioneering a novel route for deconstructing woody biomass using ionic liquids (“CAL Fire Extraction Program”). AAPK has received no grant funds from the CAL Fire Extraction Program as reimbursement for actual costs through  March 31, 2023.

U.S Forest Service Community Wood Grant. Aemetis Advanced Products Riverbank (“AAPR”) was awarded $642 thousand in matching grants from the U.S Forest Service Wood Innovations Program (“USFS”) in May 2022. The USFS grant program reimburses AAPR for costs to design, construct, and commission a plant to produce cellulosic ethanol using preliminary research and development in partnership with the Joint Bioenergy Institute (JBEI). USFS grant funds will be used to complete the FEL-3 design phase of the entire process, construct a biomass pretreatment unit to extract sugars at the Aemetis Riverbank site and ferment sugars into ethanol at the Keyes Plant. AAPR must contribute $2.4 million in cost share contributions to the project to receive grant proceeds. AAPK has received no grant funds from the USFS grant program as reimbursement for actual costs through  March 31, 2023.

California Energy Commission Grant for Mechanical Vapor Recompression System. Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes (“AAFK”) has been awarded a $6.0 million grant to design, construct and commission a mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) system. The additional evaporation stages will eliminate natural gas consumption and related greenhouse gas emissions in the evaporation portion of the process by installing metering equipment and software to monitor and optimize the plant’s energy consumption. The MVR system will compress vapor to a higher pressure and temperature so that it can be recycled multiple times as steam heat in the evaporation process, which will dramatically reduce natural gas use. The grant requires $5.3 million in matching contributions. AAFK has received no grant funds from this program as reimbursement for actual expenditures incurred through March 31, 2023. Due to the uncertainty associated with the approval process under the grant program, the Company will recognize future grant proceeds received as a reduction of costs in the period when payment is received.

Pacific Gas and Electric SEM Manufacturer’s Incentive Program. During the fourth quarter of 2022, AAFK received $374 thousand in PG&E SEM Incentive Program reimbursements for installing more efficient beer feed heat exchangers. Third party consultants verified the reduction in natural gas usages from the new heat exchangers to obtain the incentive program funds.

California Energy Commission PG&E A2313 Pipeline Interconnection Grant. The Company has received $5 million in matching grants from the California Energy Commission PG&E A2313 Pipeline Interconnection program (“CEC PG&E Pipeline Interconnect”) during the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The CEC PG&E Pipeline Interconnect grant reimburses the Company for actual costs to design, procure, and install facility and pipeline to interconnect renewable natural gas pipeline with the PG&E utility pipeline. In October 2022 the Company successfully connected and commissioned pipeline interconnection with the PG&E utility pipeline. After three months of renewable natural gas delivery verified the interconnection, the CEC PG&E program funds were released. The Company has received all $5 million available from the PG&E program as reimbursement for actual costs incurred as of March 31, 2023. Given the nature of funds received as reimbursement for actual costs incurred, the funds were applied against the actual costs.

Basic and Diluted Net Loss per Share. Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net 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 net losses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, 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 March 31, 2023 and 2022:

Comprehensive Income (Loss). ASC 220 Comprehensive Income (Loss) 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.

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) expense, net.

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.  The Company further evaluates its operating segments to determine its reportable segments. Aemetis recognizes three reportable segments “California Ethanol”, “California Dairy Renewable Natural Gas”, and “India Biodiesel.”

The “California Ethanol” reportable segment includes the Company’s 65 million gallon per year Keyes plant and the adjacent land leased for the production of CO₂.

The “California Dairy Renewable Natural Gas” reportable segment includes the dairy digesters, pipeline and gas condition hub for the production of biogas from dairies near Keyes, California.

The “India Biodiesel” reportable 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.

The Company has additional operating segments that were determined not to be reportable segments, including the Carbon Zero biofuels production plants to produce renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel; the Carbon Capture and Sequestration compression system and injection wells; a research and development facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and our corporate offices in Cupertino, California.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Financial instruments include accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, current and non-current portion of subordinated debt, notes receivable, notes payable, Series A preferred units, 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 470-60 Troubled Debt Restructuring and ASC 470-50 Debt–Modification and Extinguishments for modification and extinguishment accounting. The evaluation for troubled debt restructuring includes assessing qualitative and quantitative factors such as whether the creditor granted a concession and if the Company is experiencing financial difficulties. The quantitative analysis includes the calculation of the post-restructuring effective interest rate by projecting cash flows on the new terms comparing this calculation to the terms of prior amendments. If the post restructuring effective interest rate is less than the prior terms effective interest rate, we assess this as having been granted a concession. The troubled debt restructuring accounting would be applied to any debt which meets the qualitative factors and quantitative factor of concession granted. If the debt would not fall into Troubled Debt Restructuring then we apply ASC 470-50 Debt-Modification and Extinguishment. 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.

For a complete summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies, please refer to the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 9, 2023.

2. Inventories

Inventories consist of the following:

As of March 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, the Company recognized a lower of cost or net realizable value impairment of $355 thousand and none respectively, related to inventory.

3. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:

For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, interest capitalized in property, plant, and equipment was $1.8 million and $2.1 million, respectively. 

Construction in progress includes costs for the biogas construction projects (dairy digesters and pipeline), Riverbank projects (sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel plant as well as carbon capture characterization well), and energy efficiency projects at the Keyes Plant. Depreciation on the components of property, plant and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate their depreciable amounts over their estimated useful lives as follows:

For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded depreciation expense of $1.8 million and $1.3 million, respectively. 

4. Debt

Debt consists of the following:

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 (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) with Third Eye Capital Corporation (“Third Eye Capital”). 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 (the “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 (the “Revenue Participation Term Notes”); and (iv) senior secured term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $15.0 million (the “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 March 8, 2022, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 22 to the Note Purchase Agreement (“Amendment No. 22”) to: (i) provide a waiver for the Blocked Account Agreement Violation in which the Borrowers failed to deliver Blocked Account Control Agreements by December 31, 2021, (ii) provide for a waiver for the Subordinated Debt Violation, in which the Company made a repayment to a Subordinated Debt lender, and (iii) provide for a waiver of the consolidated unfunded capital expenditures covenant for the quarters through December 31, 2021.  As consideration for such waivers, the borrowers also agreed to pay Third Eye Capital an amendment and waiver fee of $0.1 million in cash.

On May 11, 2022, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 23 to the Note Purchase Agreement (“Amendment No. 23”) to: (i) provide a waiver for the Blocked Account Agreement Violation in which the Borrowers failed to deliver Blocked Account Control Agreements by March 31, 2022, (ii) provide for a waiver of the ratio of note indebtedness covenant for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 and (iii) provide for a waiver of the unfunded capital expenditures covenant for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 in which the Company exceeded the $100,000 capital expenditures limit. As consideration for such amendment and waivers, the borrowers also agreed to pay Third Eye Capital an amendment and waiver fee of $0.1 million.

On August 8th, 2022, Third Eye Capital agreed to Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 24 to the Note Purchase Agreement ("Amendment No. 24") to: (i) provide that the maturity date of the Third Eye Capital Notes may be further extended at our election to April 1, 2024 in exchange for an extension fee equal to 1% of the Note Indebtedness in respect to each Note, provided that such fee may be added to the outstanding principal balance of each Note on the effective date of each such extension, and (ii) provide for a waiver for certain covenant defaults. As consideration for such amendment and waivers, the borrowers also agreed to pay Third Eye Capital an amendment and waiver fee of $0.3 million in cash (the "Amendment No. 24 Fee").

On  March 6, 2023, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 25 to the Note Purchase Agreement (“Amendment No. 25”) to: provide a waiver for the Keyes Plant Minimum Quarterly Production violation for the quarter ended  March 31, 2023, in which the Borrowers will not meet the minimum production of 10 million gallons requirement. As consideration for such waivers, the borrowers also agreed to pay Third Eye Capital an amendment and waiver fee of $0.1 million.

On  May 4, 2023, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 26 to the Note Purchase Agreement (“Amendment No. 26”) to: provide a waiver for (i) the Keyes Plant Minimum Quarterly Production violation for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, in which the Borrowers will not meet the minimum production of 10 million gallons requirement and (ii) the lender agrees to waive the cash payment of certain fees which are required by the Third Eye Capital Notes and allowed these fees to be added to the outstanding balance of the Revolving Notes. As consideration for such waivers, the borrowers also agreed to pay Third Eye Capital an amendment and waiver fee of $0.1 million.

According to ASC 470-10-45 Debt–Other Presentation Matters, 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. To assess this guidance, the Company performed ratio and cash flow analysis using its cash flow forecast and debt levels for plant to debt ratio covenant and obtained waivers for the minimum ethanol production covenant for Q1’23 and Q2'23 in Amendments No. 25 and No. 26. The Company forecasted sufficient cash flows over the next 12 months to reduce debt levels of Third Eye Capital and meet the operations of the Company. Based on this analysis, the Company believes that it is reasonably possible that through a combination of cash flows from operations, sales from EB-5 investments, and proceeds from the sale of common stock, it will be able to meet the ratio of the note indebtedness covenant over the next 12 months. As such, the notes are classified as long-term debt.

On March 6, 2020, 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 $18 million. On March 14, 2021, Third Eye Capital agreed to increase the amount available under the reserve liquidity facility to $70.0 million. Interest on borrowed amounts accrues at a rate of 30% per annum, paid monthly in arrears and may be capitalized and due upon maturity, 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) 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 (b) April 1, 2023. Any amounts may be re-borrowed up to repaid amounts up until the maturity date of April 1, 2023. The promissory note is secured by liens and security interests upon the property and assets of the Company. In return, the Company will pay a non-refundable standby fee at 2% per annum of the difference between the aggregate principal amount outstanding and the commitment, payable monthly in cash. In addition, if any initial advances are drawn under the facility, the Company will pay a non-refundable one-time fee in the amount of $0.5 million provided that such fee may be added to the principal amount of the promissory note on the date of such initial advance. On August 9, 2021, Third Eye Capital agreed to decrease the amount available under the reserve liquidity notes governed by a promissory note to $40.0 million. On March 6, 2023, Third Eye Capital agreed to increase the reserve liquidity facility to $50 million and extend this for one year to April 1, 2024.

Terms of Third Eye Capital Notes

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 Third Eye Capital 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 on the Company, such as any change in the business, operations, or financial condition. The Company has evaluated the likelihood of such an acceleration event and determined such an event to not be probable in the next twelve months. The terms of the notes allow interest to be capitalized.

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 the Company’s North American subsidiaries. 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.

Third Eye Capital Revolving Credit Facility for Fuels and Carbon Lines. On March 2, 2022, GAFI and Aemetis Carbon Capture, Inc. (“ACCI”) entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with Third Eye Capital , as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lender party thereto (the “New Credit Facility”). The New Credit Facility provides for two credit facilities with aggregate availability of up to $100 million, consisting of a revolving credit facility with GAFI for up to $50 million (the “Fuels Revolving Line”) and a revolving credit facility with ACCI for up to $50 million (the “Carbon Revolving Line” and together with the Fuels Revolving Line, the “Revolving Lines”). The revolving loans made under the Fuels Revolving Line have a maturity date of March 1, 2025 and will accrue a rate of interest per annum equal to the greater of (i) the prime rate plus 6.00% and (ii) ten percent (10.0%), and the revolving loans made under the Carbon Revolving Line will have a maturity date of March 1, 2026 and accrue a rate of interest per annum equal to the greater of (i) the prime rate plus 4.00% and (ii) eight percent (8.0%). The revolving loans made under the Fuels Revolving Line are available for working capital purposes and the revolving loans made under the Carbon Revolving Line are available for projects that reduce, capture, use or sequester carbon with the objective of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. In connection with the New Credit Facility, the Company agreed to issue to the lender under the New Credit Facility: (i) warrants entitling the lender to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price equal to $10.20 per share, exercisable for a five-year period from March 2, 2022; and (ii) warrants entitling holders thereof to purchase 250,000 shares of common stock of the Company, at an exercise price equal to $20.00 per share, exercisable for a ten-year period from March 2, 2022. In addition, under the Fuels Revolving Line, we issued 100,000 shares of common stock to existing note holders under the GAFI note purchase agreement. The shares were accounted at fair value and are being amortized over the life of the Fuels Revolving Line. Upon closing of the New Credit Facility, the Company drew on the revolving lines to repay $16.0 million on the higher interest rate AAFK Revolving Credit Facility, $6.1 million in property taxes, and to fund the capital projects and working capital projects.

As of March 31, 2023, GAFI had principal and interest outstanding of $4.8 million classified as current debt and $26.1 million classified as long-term debt and $1.9 million unamortized debt issuance costs. As of March 31, 2023, ACCI had principal and interest outstanding of $0.5 million classified as current debt and $24.9 million classified as long-term debt and $2.2 million in unamortized debt issuance costs. The current portion of the Revolving Lines are part of a $6.7 million specific advance between Third Eye Capital and the Company that have been agreed to be repaid by July 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 we have an additional $1.4 million of available borrowings under this advance agreement.

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 as merger compensation subordinated to the senior secured Third Eye Capital Notes. The liability bears interest at 3% per annum and is due and payable after the Third Eye Capital Notes have been paid in full. As of March 31, 2023, Aemetis Facility Keyes, Inc. had $6.9 million in principal and interest outstanding under the Cilion shareholder seller notes payable.

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 renewable at the Company's election for six month periods 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% per annum and is due at maturity. Neither AAFK nor Aemetis may make any principal payments under the Subordinated Notes until all loans made by Third Eye Capital to AAFK are paid in full.

On January 1, 2023, the maturity on two Subordinated Notes’ was extended until the earlier of (i) June 30, 2023; (ii) after the occurrence of an Event of Default, including failure to pay interest or principal when due and breaches of note covenants. A $90 thousand and $250 thousand cash extension fee was paid by adding the fee to the balance of the new Subordinated Notes and 113 thousand common stock warrants were granted with a term of two years and an exercise price of $0.01 per share.

The Company evaluated the January 1, 2023 amendments and the refinancing terms of the notes and applied modification accounting treatment in accordance with ASC 470-50 Debt – Modification and Extinguishment.

At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had, in aggregate, the amount of $16.1 million and $15.9 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. On February 27, 2019, Advanced BioEnergy, LP, and the Company entered into an Amendment to the EB-5 Notes which restated the original maturity date on the promissory notes with automatic six-month extensions as long as the investors’ immigration processes are in progress. Except for six early investor EB-5 Notes, the Company was granted 12 months from the date of the completion of immigration process to redeem these EB-5 Notes. Given the COVID-19 pandemic and processing delays for immigration process, Advanced BioEnergy, LP extended the maturity dates for debt repayment based on their projected processing timings as long as the investors do not give notice of withdrawal or an I-829 gets approved. Accordingly, the notes have been recognized as long-term debt while investor notes who obtained green card approval have been classified as current debt. The EB-5 Notes are convertible after three years at a conversion price of $30 per share.  

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 March 31, 2023, $35.5 million has been released from the escrow amount to the Company, with $0.5 million remaining to be funded to escrow. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, $37.4 million and $37.2 million was outstanding, respectively, on the EB-5 Notes sold under the EB-5 Phase I funding.

On October 16, 2016, the Company launched its EB-5 Phase II funding (the “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 Goodland Advanced Fuels Inc., (“GAFI”). On November 21, 2019, the minimum investment was raised from $0.5 million per investor to $0.9 million per investor. 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 funding investments, for the issuance of up to 100 EB-5 Notes bearing interest at 3%. On May 1, 2020 Supplement No. 3 amended the offering documents and lowered the total eligible new EB-5 Phase II funding investors to 60. Eight EB-5 investors have funded at the $0.5 million per investor amount, with 52 new EB-5 Phase II funding investors remaining eligible at the new $0.9 million per investors amount under the current offering. Job creation studies show it may be possible to add additional investors and increase the total offering amount in the future. Each EB-5 note will be issued in the principal amount and due and payable five years from the date of each EB-5 note, for a total aggregate principal amount of up to $50.8 million.

The Company has sold an aggregate principal amount of $4.0 million of EB-5 Notes under the EB-5 Phase II funding since 2016 to the date of this filing. As of March 31, 2023, $4.0 million has been released from escrow to the Company and $46.8 million remains to be funded to escrow. As of March 31, 2023, and  December 31, 2022, $4.2 million was outstanding on the EB-5 Notes under the EB-5 Phase II funding.

Working capital loans. On July 26, 2022, the Company entered into a short-term loan with Secunderabad Oils Limited in an amount not to exceed $1.88 million. On August 1, 2022, the Company entered into a short-term loan with Leo Edibles & Fats Limited in an amount not to exceed $1.27 million. The loans bears interest at 18% and are payable monthly.  The loans are repayable on demand by the lender or within one year from the date of issuance. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had $2.7 million and no balance under these agreements.

Secured loans. In the first quarter of 2023, the Company entered into several short-term loans with IndusInd Bank and HDFC Bank. The loans are secured by fixed deposits made by the Company. The loans bear interest at rates that range from 6% to 8%.  The loans mature between November 15, 2023 and May 3, 2024. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had $3.5 million and no balance under these agreements.

Construction Loan Agreement. On October 4, 2022, the Company entered into a Construction Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) with Greater Nevada Credit Union (“GNCU”). Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the lender has made available an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25 million. The loan is secured by all personal property collateral and real property collateral of the Aemetis Biogas 1 LLC. The loan bears interest at a rate of 5.95% per annum and has an USDA annual renewal fee of 0.25%, with interest only payments to be paid in monthly installments, and a maturity date of March 4, 2023, at which time the entire unpaid principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest, is expected to be repaid from the proceeds of a term loan this is 80% USDA guaranteed and issued by GNCU pursuant to a USDA Conditional Commitment. The Loan Agreement contains certain financial covenants to be measured as of the last day of each fiscal year beginning fiscal year end 2023, and annually for the term of the loan. The Loan Agreement also contains other affirmative and negative covenants, representations and warranties and events of default customary for loan agreements of this nature. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had $21.7 million and $20.2 million outstanding and unamortized discount issuances costs of none and $0.3 million under the Loan Agreement. 

On March 4, 2023, GNCU agreed to the First Amendment to Promissory Note to the Loan Agreement to extend the maturity date of the Loan Agreement to August 1, 2023 and increase the interest rate to 9.0%.  As consideration for the amendment, the borrowers agreed to pay GNCU a lenders fee and expenses of $9 thousand. We analyzed the agreement according to ASC 470-60 Troubled Debt Restructuring and we determined that GNCU provided a concession when comparing the initial credit agreement with a lower interest rate and higher fees to the new debt amendment with a higher interest rate and lower fees. In accordance with the provisions of ASC 470-60 Troubled Debt Restructuring, we applied troubled debt restructuring accounting, resulting in no gain or loss from the application of this accounting.

Financing Agreement for capital expenditures. The Company entered into an agreement with Mitsubishi Chemical America, Inc. (“Mitsubishi”) to purchase ZEBREX^TM membrane dehydration equipment to conserve energy and improve operating efficiencies at the Keyes Plant. The Company also entered into a financing agreement with Mitsubishi for $5.7 million for this equipment. Payments pursuant to the financing transaction will commence after the installation date and interest will be charged based on the certain performance metrics after operation of the equipment. We recorded the asset in property, plant and equipment, net and recorded the related liability of $1.2 million in short term borrowings and $4.6 million in other long-term debt, respectively as of March 31, 2023.

Scheduled debt repayments for the Company’s loan obligations by year are as follows:

5. Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

We have identified assets as the corporate office, warehouse, monitoring equipment and laboratory facilities over which we have control and obtain economic benefits fully. We classified these identified assets as operating leases after assessing the terms under classification guidance. We have entered into several leases for trailers and carbon units with purchase option at the end of the term. We have concluded that it is reasonably certain that we would exercise the purchase option at the end of the term, hence the leases were classified as finance leases. All of our leases have remaining term of less than a year to 15 years.

We made an accounting policy election to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off of the balance sheet. We will recognize those lease payments in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as we incur the expenses.

When discount rates implicit in leases cannot be readily determined, the Company uses the applicable incremental borrowing rate at lease commencement to perform lease classification tests on lease components and measure lease liabilities and right-of-use (“ROU”) assets. The incremental borrowing rate used by the Company was based on weighted average baseline rates commensurate with the Company’s secured borrowing rate over a similar term. At each reporting period, when there is a new lease initiated, the rates established for that quarter will be used.

On December 14, 2021, we entered into a real estate purchase agreements and lease disposition and development agreement with the City of Riverbank. We plan to utilize the purchased and leased properties, located at 5300 Claus Road in the city of Riverbank, California, for the construction of the Carbon Zero Facility. The lease commenced on April 1, 2022. The Company evaluated the lease in accordance with ASC 842 – Lease Accounting and classified the lease as a finance lease.

The components of lease expense and sublease income were as follows:

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

Supplemental non-cash flow information related to ROU asset and lease liabilities was as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:

Maturities of operating lease liabilities were as follows:

The Company acts as sublessor in certain leasing arrangements, primarily related to land and buildings.  Fixed sublease payments received are recognized on a straight-line basis over the sublease term. Sublease income and head lease expense for these transactions are recognized on a gross basis on the consolidated financial statements. This was recorded in the Selling, general and administrative expense section of the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.

The components of lease income for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022 were as follows:

Future lease commitments to be received by the Company as of March 31, 2023 were as follows:

Property taxes

On March 3, 2022, the Company paid $6.1 million to Stanislaus County for property taxes past due.

Legal Proceedings

The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of its business. While the ultimate outcome of these matters is not presently determinable, it is in the opinion of management that the resolution of outstanding claims will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position or results of operations of the Company. The Company's view of the matters not listed may change in the future as the litigation and events related thereto unfold.

6. Aemetis Biogas LLC – Series A Preferred Financing and Variable Interest Entity

On December 20, 2018, ABGL entered into a Series A Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement for the sale of Series A Preferred Units to Protair-X Americas, Inc., with Third Eye Capital acting as an agent.

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 at $5.00 per common unit for a total of $30,000,000 in funding. Additionally, 5,000,000 common units of ABGL are held in reserve as potential conversion units issuable to the Purchaser upon certain triggering events discussed below.

The Preferred Unit Agreement includes (i) preference payments of $0.50 per unit on the outstanding Series A Preferred Units commencing on the second anniversary, with any outstanding preference payments shall have an interest per annum rate equal to ten percent (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 Series A 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. Until paid, the obligations of ABGL under the Preferred Unit Agreement are secured by the assets of ABGL in an amount not to exceed the sum of (i) $30,000,000, plus (ii) all interest, fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations and indemnification obligations of ABGL.

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 increases from 75% to 100% of free cash flows, and (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. As of March 31, 2023, ABGL has not generated minimum quarterly operating cash flows by operating the dairies. As a result of the violation of this covenant, free cash flows, when they occur, may be applied for redemption payments at the increased rate of 100% instead of the initial rate of 75% of free cash flows.

From inception of the agreement to date, ABGL issued 3,200,000 Series A Preferred Units on first tranche for a value of $16.0 million and also issued 2,800,000 of Series A Preferred Units on second tranche for a value of $14.0 million, reduced by a redemption of 20,000 Series A Preferred Units for $0.3 million. 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 March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 based on the evaluation of the other conditions included in the agreement.

On August 8, 2022, ABGL, Protair-X America, Inc. (“Protair”), and Third Eye Capital entered into a Waiver and Amendment to Series A Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement (“PUPA Amendment") which amends that certain Series A Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement (“PUPA”) dated as of December 20, 2018. The PUPA Amendment provides for: (i) a waiver of certain covenants prohibiting the internal reorganization of ABGL subsidiaries and the incurrence of indebtedness by ABGL and its subsidiaries pursuant to a USDA loan, provided that, among other things, Third Eye Capital shall have received a repayment of at least $7.3 million to be applied to the Carbon Revolving Line contemporaneously with the closing of the Construction Loan Agreement; (ii) a waiver of certain operational defaults under the PUPA; and (iii) an amendment which (a) requires ABGL to redeem all of the outstanding Series A Preferred Units by December 31, 2022 (the “Final Redemption Date”) for $116 million; and (b) provides ABGL the right to redeem all of the outstanding Series A Preferred Units by September 30, 2022 for $106 million. The PUPA Amendment further provides the failure to redeem the Series A Preferred Units by the Final Redemption Date would constitute a triggering event requiring ABGL to enter into a credit agreement with Protair and Third Eye Capital effective as of January 1, 2023. We evaluated the terms of the PUPA Amendment and applied extinguishment accounting treatment in accordance with ASC 470-50 Debt – Modification and Extinguishment and recorded a loss on extinguishment of $49.4 million in the third quarter of 2022.

On  January 1, 2023, ABGL entered into the Second Waiver and Amendment to Series A Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement (“PUPA Second Amendment") providing for: (i) a waiver for not complying to redeem all Series A Preferred Units by  December 31, 2022, and (ii) provides ABGL the right to redeem all of the outstanding Series A Preferred Units by  May 31, 2023, for $125 million. The PUPA Second Amendment further provides that failure to redeem the Series A Preferred Units by the redemption date, ABGL is required to enter into a credit agreement with Protair and Third Eye Capital effective as of  June 1, 2023 and maturing on May 31, 2024, in substantially the form attached to the PUPA Second Amendment. We determined that Third Eye Capital provided a concession to redeem the preferred shares at lower effective borrowing rate than the credit agreement interest rate or prior amendment rate. In accordance with the provisions of ASC 470-60 Troubled Debt Restructuring, we applied troubled debt restructuring accounting, resulting in no gain or loss from the application of this accounting. In addition, given that the Company could turn the agreement into a credit agreement, the Company is accreting these tranches from an initial carrying value at December 31, 2022 of $116.0 million to $159.0 million over the seventeen months ending May 31, 2024. Hence, the preferred redemption balance is classified as long term liability as of March 31, 2023. 

The Company recorded Series A Preferred Unit liabilities, net of debt discounts pursuant to these agreements, classified as long-term Series A Preferred Units, of $122.5 million and $116.0 million as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Variable interest entity assessment

After consideration of ABGL’s operations and the above agreement, we concluded that ABGL did not have enough equity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support. ABGL is capitalized with Series A Preferred Units that are recorded as liabilities under U.S. GAAP. Hence, we concluded that ABGL is a VIE. Through the Company's ownership interest in all of the outstanding common stock, its current ability to control the board of directors, the management fee paid to Aemetis and control of subordinated financing decisions, Aemetis has been determined to be the primary beneficiary and accordingly, the assets, liabilities, and operations of ABGL are consolidated into those of the Company. Total assets, before intercompany eliminations, of ABGL as of March 31, 2023 were $78.8 million which serve as collateral for the Series A Preferred Units. The Series A Preferred Units are not collateralized by any other assets or guarantees from Aemetis or its subsidiaries.

7. Stock-Based Compensation

2019 Stock Plan

On April 29, 2019, the Aemetis 2019 Stock Plan (the “2019 Stock Plan”) was approved by stockholders of the Company. This plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Statutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units, Performance Shares and other stock or cash awards as the Administrator may determine in its discretion. The 2019 Stock Plan’s term is 10 years and supersedes all prior plans. The 2019 Stock Plan authorized the issuance of 200,000 shares of common stock for the 2019 calendar year, in addition to permitting transferring and granting any available and unissued or expired options under the Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Plan in an amount up to 177,246 shares of common stock.

With the approval of the 2019 Stock Plan, the Zymetis 2006 Stock Plan, and Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Plan (collectively, the “Stock Plans”) were terminated for granting any options under either plan. However, any options granted before the 2019 Stock Plan approved will remain outstanding and can be exercised, and any expired options will be available to grant under the 2019 Stock Plan.

Common Stock Reserved for Issuance

The following is a summary of awards granted under the Stock Plans:

As of March 31, 2023, there were 3.4 million options vested under the Stock Plans.

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.

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. Under ASU 2016-09 Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payments Accounting, we have elected to recognize forfeitures as they occur. 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 to be zero due to the small number of plan participants.

During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company granted 1.2 million and 0.9 million options, respectively. The weighted average fair value calculations for the options granted during these periods are based on the following assumptions:

During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company granted 243,850 and 60,300 restricted stock awards, respectively, with a fair value on date of grant of $3.75 and $11.31, respectively, per award.

As of  March 31, 2023, the Company had $12.8 million of total unrecognized compensation expense for employees, which the Company will amortize over the 2.1 years of weighted average remaining term.

8. Outstanding Warrants

The weighted average fair value calculations for warrants granted are based on the following weighted average assumptions:

A summary of historical warrant activity follows:

All of the above outstanding warrants are vested and exercisable as of March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had no unrecognized compensation expense related to warrants, respectively.

9. 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, 2023, and the term can be automatically renewed for additional one-year terms. WDG continues to be sold to A.L.Gilbert and DCO is sold to other customers under the J.D. Heiskell Purchase Agreement. The Company’s relationships with J.D. Heiskell, 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. These agreements are ordinary purchase and sale agency agreements for the Keyes Plant. On May 13, 2020, J.D. Heiskell and the Company entered into Amendment No.1 to the J.D. Heiskell Purchasing Agreement to remove J.D. Heiskell’s obligations to purchase ethanol from the Company under the J.D. Heiskell Purchasing Agreement.

As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, Aemetis made prepayments to J.D. Heiskell of $0.4 million and $2.4 million, respectively.

The J.D. Heiskell sales and purchases activity associated with the J.D. Heiskell Purchase Agreement and J.D. Heiskell Procurement Agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

Ethanol and Wet Distillers Grains Marketing Arrangement. The Company entered into a Fuel Ethanol Purchase and Sale Agreement with Murex, which matures on October 31, 2023, with automatic one-year renewals thereafter. The Company also entered into a Wet Distillers Grains Marketing Agreement with A.L. Gilbert, which matures on December 31, 2023, with automatic one-year renewals thereafter.

Accounts receivable associated with our marketing partners was $0 and $0.6 million as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company expensed marketing costs of $3.0 thousand and $700 thousand, respectively, under the terms of both the Ethanol Marketing Agreement and the Wet Distillers Grains Marketing Agreement. These marketing costs are presented as part of Selling, General, and Administration expense.

Supply Trade Agreement. On July 1, 2022, 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 a supply of feedstock up to a credit limit of $12.7 million. If the Company fails to pay the invoice within the ten-day credit period, the outstanding amount will bear interest at 12%.  The term of the agreement is for one year. Either party can terminate the agreement by giving notice one month notice in writing. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had accounts payable of $2.1 million and no outstanding balance, respectively, under this agreement.

As of March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company has no forward sales commitments.

10. Segment Information

Aemetis recognizes three reportable segments: “California Ethanol”, “California Dairy Renewable Natural Gas”, and “India Biodiesel.”

The “California Ethanol” reportable segment includes the Company’s 65 million gallon per year Keyes Plant, and the adjacent land leased for the production of CO₂.

The “California Dairy Renewable Natural Gas” reportable segment includes, the dairy digesters, pipeline and gas condition unit for the production of biogas from dairies near Keyes, California.

The “India Biodiesel” reportable 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.

The Company has additional operating segments that were determined not to be reportable segments, including the Carbon Zero facility in Riverbank, and the Carbon Capture project in California.  Additionally, the corporate offices, Goodland Plant in Kansas and the research and development facility in Minnesota are included in the “All Other” category.

Summarized financial information by reportable segment for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 follows: 

A reconciliation of reportable segment revenues to total consolidated revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 follows:

Total assets by reportable segments as of  March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 follows:

California Ethanol: The Company amended the Corn Procurement and Working Capital Agreement and the J.D. Heiskell Purchasing Agreement to procure corn from J.D. Heiskell and sell all WDG and corn oil the Company produces to J.D. Heiskell. Sales of ethanol to one customer accounted for 77% of the Company’s California Ethanol segment revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Sales of ethanol, WDG, and corn oil to two customers accounted for 73% and 27% of the Company’s California Ethanol segment revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Dairy Renewable Natural Gas: 100% of our Dairy Renewable Natural Gas segment revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2023 were from sales of biogas to one customer. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, all sales were from sale of biogas to the Keyes Plant for use in boilers, which allowed qualification of carbon credits for the ethanol produced in the Keyes Plant.

India Biodiesel: One biodiesel customer accounted for 80% of the Company’s consolidated India segment revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

11. Related Party Transactions

The Company owes Eric McAfee, the Company’s Chairman and CEO, and McAfee Capital LLC (“McAfee Capital”), owned by Eric McAfee, $0.4 million in connection with employment agreements and expense reimbursements previously accrued as salaries expense and accrued liabilities. 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 March 31, 2023, $0.1 million remained as a prepaid expense.

On January 12, 2022, the Audit Committee of the Company approved a one-time guarantee fee of $2.0 million to McAfee Capital in connection with McAfee Capital’s extension of certain guarantees of the Company’s indebtedness with Third Eye Capital. The Company paid this fee by issuing 180,000 shares of common stock of the Company.

In the first quarter of 2023, the Audit Committee of the Company approved a one-time guarantee fee of $0.4 million to McAfee Capital in connection with McAfee Capital’s guarantees of the Company’s indebtedness with Third Eye Capital. As of March 31, 2023, $0.1 million has been accrued as the guarantee fee.

The Company owes various members of the Board amounts totaling $0.4 million and $0.3 million as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, in connection with board compensation fees, which are included in accounts payable on the balance sheet. For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company expensed $0.1 million respectively, in connection with board compensation fees.

12. Subsequent Events

On  May 4, 2023, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 26 to the Note Purchase Agreement (“Amendment No. 26”) to: provide a waiver for (i) the Keyes Plant Minimum Quarterly Production violation for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, in which the Borrowers will not meet the minimum production of 10 million gallons requirement and (ii) the lender agrees to waive the cash payment of certain fees which are required by the Third Eye Capital Notes and allowed these fees to be added to the outstanding balance of the Revolving Notes. As consideration for such waivers, the borrowers also agreed to pay Third Eye Capital an amendment and waiver fee of $0.1 million.

13. Mangement's Plan

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared contemplating the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. As a result of negative capital, negative market conditions resulting in prolonged idling of the Keyes Plant, negative operating results, and collateralization of substantially all of the company assets, the Company has been reliant on its senior secured lender to provide additional funding and has been required to remit substantially all excess cash from operations to the senior secured lender. In order to meet its obligations during the next twelve months, the Company will need to either refinance the Company’s debt or receive the continued cooperation of its senior lender. This dependence on the senior lender raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company plans to pursue the following strategies to improve the course of the business.

For the Keyes Plant, we plan to restart the plant during the second quarter now that the extended maintenance cycle is complete, operate the plant and continue to improve its financial performance by adopting new technologies or process changes that allow for energy efficiency, cost reduction or revenue enhancements, as well as, execute upon awarded grants that improve energy and operational efficiencies resulting in lower cost, lower carbon demands and overall margin improvement.

For Aemetis Biogas we plan to operate the biogas digesters to capture and monetize biogas as well as continue to build new dairy digesters and extend the existing pipeline in order to capture the higher carbon credits available in California. Funding for continued construction is based upon obtaining government guaranteed loans and executing on existing and new state grant programs.

For the Riverbank project, we plan to raise the funds necessary to construct and operate the Carbon Zero plant in Riverbank, CA using loan guarantees and public financings based upon the licensed technology that generate federal and state carbon credits available for ultra-low carbon fuels utilizing lower cost, non-food advanced feedstocks to significantly increase margins.

For all facilities in the United States, we plan to utilize the provision of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 by qualifying for renewable energy credits, whether in the form of an Investment Tax Credit, Producers Tax Credit or other credits and monetize the credits using the provisions of this congressional act.

For the Kakinada Plant, we plan to continue to develop sales channels for domestic products as the costs of feedstock normalize against the price of diesel, as recently announced governmental incentives take effect to promote the blending of biodiesel, and as feedstocks such as refined animal tallow are used domestically and exported. Additionally, we are in the process of obtaining approval to export refined animal tallow and biodiesel produced using animal tallow into international markets as the use of refined animal tallow received approval from the Pollution Control Board of India for production of biodiesel. The repatriation of funds from India to the parent company in the U.S. is reliant on favorable governmental approvals. 

In addition to the above we plan to continue to locate funding for existing and new business opportunities through a combination of working with our senior lender, restructuring existing loan agreements, selling bonds in the taxable and tax-exempt markets, selling equity through the ATM and otherwise, selling the current EB-5 Phase II offering, or by vendor financing arrangements.

Item 2. 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 condensed financial statements and notes to assist readers in understanding our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. MD&A is organized as follows:

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated condensed 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 II, 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

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis referred to herein as “Aemetis,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) is an international renewable natural gas and renewable fuels company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative negative carbon intensity products and technologies that replace traditional petroleum-based products. We operate in three reportable segments consisting of “California Ethanol,” “California Dairy Renewable Natural Gas,” and “India Biodiesel.” We have other operating segments determined not to be reportable segments and are collectively represented by the “All Other” category. At Aemetis, our mission is to generate sustainable and innovative renewable fuel solutions that benefit communities and restore our environment. We do this by building a local circular bioeconomy utilizing agricultural waste to produce low-carbon, advanced renewable fuels that reduce greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions and improve air quality by replacing traditional petroleum-based products. 

Our California Ethanol segment consists of a 65 million gallon per year capacity ethanol production facility located in Keyes, California (the “Keyes Plant”) that we own and operate. In addition to low carbon renewable fuel ethanol, the Keyes Plant produces Wet Distillers Grains (“WDG”), Distillers Corn Oil (“DCO”), Carbon Dioxide (“CO2”) and Condensed Distillers Solubles (“CDS”), all of which are sold as animal feed to more than 80 local dairies and feedlots, with CO₂ sold to food, beverage, and industrial customers. We have several energy efficiency initiatives focused on significantly lowering the carbon intensity of our fuels, primarily by decreasing our use of petroleum-based natural gas. These energy efficiency projects include: high efficiency heat exchangers; the Mitsubishi ZEBREX^TM ethanol dehydration system; a two-megawatt solar microgrid with battery storage; the Allen Bradley Decision Control System (DCS) to manage and optimize energy use and other plant operations; and the Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) system to reuse steam.  These projects are expected to reduce petroleum natural gas use by converting key Keyes Plant processes to use electricity rather than natural gas and powering systems using low-carbon-intensity hydroelectric electricity or electricity produced onsite from solar panels.

In the third quarter of 2022, we completed the installation and began the operation of the ZEBREX^TM ethanol dehydration system at the Keyes Plant, a key first step in the electrification of the Keyes Plant, that is expected to significantly reduce the use of petroleum-based natural gas as process energy at the plant. The electrification, along with the future installation of the two-megawatt zero carbon intensity solar microgrid system and the mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) system, will significantly reduce GHG emissions from the production facility and decrease the carbon intensity (CI) of fuel produced at the Keyes Plant.  The lower CI of ethanol produced at the Keyes Plant will allow us to realize a higher price for the ethanol produced and sold at the Keyes Plant.

During the last two weeks of December 2022, we undertook an extended maintenance cycle and accelerated the implementation of several important ethanol energy efficiency plant upgrades noted above. Our decision was partly driven by the high natural gas prices in Northern California during the period. Furthermore, after monitoring natural gas pricing and margin profitability, we decided to extend the maintenance cycle through the end of the first quarter of 2023. As such, revenues from the Keyes Plant during the first quarter of 2023 were limited to sales of stored inventory at the plant.

Our California Dairy Renewable Natural gas segment, which consists of our subsidiary Aemetis Biogas LLC, "Aemetis Biogas" or “ABGL,” constructs and operates bio-methane anaerobic digesters at local dairies near the Keyes Plant (many of whom also purchase WDG produced by the Keyes Plant as animal feed); transports the biogas via pipeline to the Keyes Plant site; converts the biogas to Renewable Natural Gas (“RNG”), which is then delivered to customers through the PG&E natural gas pipeline.

The Aemetis Biogas network includes the Aemetis Biogas Central Dairy Project, which operates 40 miles of completed biogas pipeline; six operating dairy digesters; five dairy digesters that are under construction; a centralized biogas-to-RNG conversion facility located at the Keyes Plant site; and a renewable natural gas interconnection with the PG&E utility gas pipeline. A total of 30 dairies have signed contracts with Aemetis Biogas in connection with participation in the Aemetis Biogas Central Dairy Project. 

The dairy digesters are connected via an underground private pipeline owned by ABGL to a gas cleanup and compression unit at the Keyes Plant to produce dairy RNG. Upon receiving the bio-methane from the dairies, impurities are removed, and the bio-methane is converted to negative carbon intensity RNG that is injected into the statewide PG&E gas utility pipeline for use as transportation fuel or used as renewable process energy at the Keyes Plant.

Our India Biodiesel segment owns and operates a plant in Kakinada, India (“Kakinada Plant”) with a nameplate capacity of 150 thousand metric tons per year, or about 50 million gallons per year, producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin for customers in India and Europe. We believe the Kakinada Plant is one of the largest biodiesel production facilities in India on a nameplate capacity basis. Kakinada Plant is capable of processing a variety of vegetable oils and animal fat waste feedstocks into biodiesel that meets international product standards. Our Kakinada Plant can also distill 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.

Our All Other segment consists of: Carbon Zero biofuels production plants to produce renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel; Carbon Capture and Sequestration compression system and injection wells; a research and development facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and our corporate offices in Cupertino, California.

Our Carbon Zero biofuels production plants are designed to produce low or negative carbon intensity sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) and renewable diesel fuel (“RD”) utilizing low carbon hydroelectric electricity, renewable hydrogen and non-edible renewable oils sourced from existing Aemetis biofuels plants and other sources. The first Carbon Zero plant is scheduled to be built in Riverbank, California at the 125-acre former Riverbank Army ammunition plant.  The Riverbank plant is expected to utilize zero carbon hydroelectric and other renewable power available onsite to produce 90 million gallons per year of SAF, RD, and other byproducts. The plant is expected to supply the aviation and truck markets with ultra-low carbon renewable fuels to reduce GHG emissions and other pollutants associated with conventional petroleum-based fuels. By producing ultra-low carbon renewable fuels, the Company expects to capture high value D3 Renewable Identification Numbers (“RINs”) under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (“RFS”), generate California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (“LCFS”) credits, and produce Inflation Reduction Act tax credits.

Our Carbon Capture subsidiary was established to build Carbon Capture and Sequestration (“CCS”) projects that generate LCFS and IRS 45Q tax credits by compressing and injecting CO₂ into deep wells which are monitored for emissions to ensure the long-term sequestration of carbon underground. California’s Central Valley has been identified as one of the world’s most favorable regions for large-scale CO₂ injection projects due to the subsurface geologic formation that absorbs and retains CO₂ gas. The two initial Aemetis CCS injection projects are expected to capture and sequester more than two million metric tons per year of CO₂ at the Aemetis biofuels plant sites in Keyes and Riverbank, California. In July 2022, Aemetis purchased 24 acres located on the Riverbank Industrial Complex site in Riverbank, California to develop a CCS injection well with more than 1 million metric tonnes per year of CO₂ sequestration capacity. The Company plans to construct a characterization well at each site to obtain soil information for permitting as required for the EPA Class VI CO₂ injection well permit application.

Our Minneapolis, Minnesota research and development laboratory develops efficient conversion technologies using low carbon intensity and waste feedstocks to produce low or below zero carbon intensity biofuels and biochemicals. We are focused on processes that extract sugar from cellulosic feedstocks and then utilize the remaining biomass to produce low carbon renewable hydrogen for the production of sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel and potential sale of renewable hydrogen to third parties as transportation fuel.

California Ethanol Revenue

Revenue generation for our California Ethanol segment relies upon 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 implementing plans that will bring higher value for our fuel ethanol in an effort to improve our overall margins and to add incremental income to the California Ethanol segment, including, the implementation of the Solar Microgrid System, the installation of the Zebrex ethanol dehydration system, the installation of mechanical vapor recompression, and other energy efficiency technologies. The energy efficiency upgrades to the Keyes Plant will result in higher LCFS value through the reduction of the carbon intensity of the fuel ethanol produced at the plant. On December 22, 2022, the Keyes Plant entered an extended maintenance cycle and accelerate the implementation of several important ethanol energy efficiency plant upgrades. With natural gas pricing in a reasonable range and the maintenance turn-around complete, we expect to restart the plant during the second quarter of 2023.

Ethanol is sold directly to our fuel marketing partner Murex LLC (“Murex”). We own the ethanol stored in our finished goods tank. WDG are sold to A.L. Gilbert and DCO is sold to other customers under the J.D. Heiskell Purchase Agreement. Smaller amounts of CDS are sold to various local third parties. The CO₂ produced by the Keyes Plant is sold to Messer Gas. 

California Ethanol revenue is dependent on the price of ethanol, WDG, CDS, CO₂, and DCO. Ethanol pricing is influenced by local and national production and inventory levels,  imported ethanol, corn prices,  and gasoline demand, and is determined pursuant to a marketing agreement with a single fuel marketing customer and is generally based on daily and monthly pricing for ethanol delivered to the San Francisco Bay Area, California, as published by Oil Price Information Service (“OPIS”), as well as quarterly contracts negotiated by our marketing company with local fuel blenders. The price for WDG is influenced by the price of corn, the supply and price of distillers dried grains, and demand from the local dairy and feed markets and determined monthly pursuant to a marketing agreement with A.L. Gilbert and is generally determined in reference to the local price of dried distillers’ grains and other comparable feed products. Our revenue is further influenced by the price of natural gas, and our decision to operate the Keyes Plant at various capacity levels, conduct required maintenance, and respond to biological processes affecting output.

California Dairy Renewable Natural Gas Revenue

In December 2018, we utilized our relationships with California’s Central Valley dairy farmers by signing leases and raising funds to construct dairy digesters, a 40-mile pipeline, and a biogas-to-RNG facility to deliver fuels for sale to utility gas pipeline. We are currently producing RNG from six digesters connected by our pipeline, then flowing this gas to our RNG cleanup and compression hub at the Keyes Plant. The RNG upgrade unit at the Keyes Plant enables the production and delivery of utility-grade RNG for sale as transportation fuel to California customers via the PG&E pipeline delivery interconnection.

In addition to the existing and operating dairy digesters, we currently have five additional dairy digesters that are under construction. We have approximately 30 signed agreements with dairies to construct dairy digesters. Our revenue development strategy for the Dairy Renewable Natural Gas segment relies upon continuing to collect bio-methane gas from the existing dairy digesters, continuing to build out the network of dairy digesters, extending the pipeline to grow the supply of RNG available for sale and utilizing the biogas-to-RNG upgrade unit to distribute utility-grade RNG to customers statewide. We are currently storing the produced RNG until the LCFS CI pathway for each dairy has been approved, after which we will sell the stored gas to transportation customers statewide.

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

For all facilities in the United States, we plan to utilize the provision of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 by qualifying for renewable energy credits, whether in the form of an Investment Tax Credit, Producers Tax Credit or other credits and monetize the credits using the provisions of this congressional act.

India Biodiesel Revenue

Our revenue strategy in India is based on continuing to sell biodiesel to our bulk fuel customers, fuel station customers, mining customers, industrial customers and tender offers placed by Government Oil Marketing Companies (“OMCs”) for bulk purchases of fuels. Recently, the government of India updated the national biofuels policy and adopted a new tax on diesel fuel to promote biodiesel blending.  As a result, the OMCs are pricing the tenders at economically viable levels, allowing for biodiesel producers in India to begin production.

During the second quarter of 2023, we received an OMC's tender offer for 31,697 kiloliters (approximately 27,418 metric tons), which we are in process of fulfilling the order.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2023, Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

Revenues

Our revenues are derived primarily from sales of ethanol and WDG for our California Ethanol segment, renewable natural gas for our Dairy Renewable Natural Gas segment, biodiesel and refined glycerin for our India Biodiesel, and sublease rental income from All Other.

California Ethanol. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company generated revenue from the ethanol remaining in inventory at December 31, 2022, consisting of 147 thousand gallons at a price of $2.50 per gallon. Sales of WDG, corn oil, CDS and CO₂ were not material. Revenues from California Ethanol segment for the three months ended March 31, 2023, were $475 thousand, compared to $52.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in revenues was due to an extended maintenance cycle and accelerated the implementation of several important ethanol energy efficiency plant upgrades to the Keyes Plant during the first quarter of 2023. 

Dairy Renewable Natural Gas. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we produced and sold 21.3 thousand MMBtu of physical molecules to an external party, at an average price of $9.67 per MMBtu, while placing the carbon credits in storage for sale once the LCFS pathway for the carbon credits are verified. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, we produced and sold to an intercompany party 14.0 thousand MMBtus of dairy biogas.

India Biodiesel.  For the three months ended March 31, 2023, we generated 81% of our revenues from the sale of biodiesel, and 19% of our sales from other sales compared to 100% of our sales from other sales for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Revenues from India Biodiesel segment for the three months ended March 31, 2023, were $1.5 million, compared to $8 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The increase in revenues was primarily attributable to the biodiesel sales to mining customers as the biodiesel price is commercially viable. Biodiesel sales volume increased by 100% to 1.0 thousand metric tons in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to 0 metric tons in the three months ended March 31, 2022. 

Cost of Goods Sold

California Ethanol. Due to an extended maintenance cycle and an accelerated implementation of several important ethanol energy efficiency plant upgrades at the Keyes Plant during the first quarter of 2023, we did not grind any corn in the three months ended March 31, 2023.  Fixed costs for costs of goods sold in the amount of $2.7 million were reclassified to selling, general and administrative expense. As a result, for the three months ended March 31, 2023, we incurred $43.7 million less in corn costs, $3.1 million less in natural gas costs, $1.7 million less in chemical costs, and $1.9 million less in transportation costs compared to the same period in 2022. 

Dairy Renewable Natural Gas. Cost of Goods Sold expenses relate to dairy manure payments, maintenance on the dairy digesters, production bonuses, and depreciation.

India Biodiesel. The increase in costs of goods sold was attributable to the increase in production of biodiesel to meet mining customer's demand. In the three months ended March 31, 2023 biodiesel feedstock volume was 1.0 thousand metric tons, compared to 0 metric tons in the same period as 2022. During the three months ended March 31, 2023 the average price per biodiesel metric ton was $876 compared to $0 in the same period as 2022.

Gross profit (loss)

California Ethanol. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, gross loss of California Ethanol segment was $12 thousand, compared to $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.The decrease in gross loss was attributable to an extended maintenance cycle and accelerated implementation of several important ethanol energy efficiency plant upgrades at the Keyes Plant during the first quarter of 2023. 

Dairy Renewable Natural Gas. The increase in gross loss in the three months ended March 31, 2023 relates to an increase in manure and maintenance costs associated with having six dairies online, compared two dairies in the same period ended March 31, 2022.

India Biodiesel. The increase in gross profit was attributable to the increase in sales and production of biodiesel to meet mining customer requirements.

Operating (income)/expense and non-operating (income)/expense

Substantially all of our research and development expenses were related to research and development activities in Minnesota.

Selling, general, and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses consist primarily of salaries and related expenses for employees, marketing expenses related to sales of ethanol and WDG in California Ethanol and biodiesel and other products in India Biodiesel, as well as professional fees, other corporate expenses, and related facilities expenses.

Other operating income consists of sublease rental income.

Other expense (income) expense consists primarily of interest and amortization expense attributable to our debt facilities and those of our subsidiaries and accretion of our Series A preferred units. 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.

Three Months Ended March 31, (in thousands)

The increase in SG&A expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was due to increases in (i) stock compensation and salaries and wages of $1.6 million due to issuing a grant of RSAs, (ii) Depreciation and Amortization of $1.2 million due to reclassifying cost of goods sold depreciation to SG&A depreciation, and (iii) Taxes, Insurances, Rent and Utilities increase of $0.8 million.

Interest expense increased in the three months ended March 31, 2023 due to obtaining the Construction Loan, having higher debt balances on the Revolving Loans and Revolving Credit Facilities, and having higher variable interest rates compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase in accretion and other expenses of the Series A Preferred Units was due to accelerated accretion due to the PUPA Amendment. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents were $4.1 million at March 31, 2023, of which $1.4 million was held in North America and the rest was held at our Indian subsidiary. Our current ratio at March 31, 2023 decreased to 0.20 compared to our current ratio of 0.21 at December 31, 2022. We expect that our future available liquidity resources will consist primarily of cash generated from operations, remaining cash balances, borrowings available, if any, under our senior debt facilities and our subordinated debt facilities, and any additional funds raised through sales of equity. The use of proceeds from all equity raises and debt financings are subject to approval by our senior lender.

Liquidity

Cash and cash equivalents, current assets, current liabilities and debt at the end of each period were as follows (in thousands):

Our principal sources of liquidity have been cash provided by the sale of equity, operations, and borrowings under various debt arrangements.

We launched an EB-5 Phase II funding in 2016, under which we expect to issue $50.8 million in additional EB-5 Notes on substantially similar terms and conditions as those issued under our EB-5 Phase I funding. On November 21, 2019, the minimum investment amount was raised from $0.5 million per investor to $0.9 million per investor. As of March 31, 2023, EB-5 Phase II funding in the amount of $4.0 million had been released from escrow to us. 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, glycerin, 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.

As a result of negative capital, negative market conditions, negative operating results, and collateralization of substantially all of the company assets, the Company has been reliant on its senior secured lender to provide additional funding and has been required to remit substantially all excess cash from operations to the senior secured lender. In order to meet its obligations during the next twelve months, the Company will need to either refinance the Company’s debt or receive the continued cooperation of its senior lender. This dependence on the senior lender raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company plans to pursue the following strategies to improve the course of the business.

For the Keyes Plant, we plan to restart the plant during the second quarter now that the extended maintenance cycle is complete, operate the plant and continue to improve its financial performance by adopting new technologies or process changes that allow for energy efficiency, cost reduction or revenue enhancements, as well as, execute upon awarded grants that improve energy and operational efficiencies resulting in lower cost, lower carbon demands and overall margin improvement.

For Aemetis Biogas, we plan to operate the biogas digesters to capture and monetize biogas as well as continue to build new dairy digesters and extend the existing pipeline in order to capture the higher carbon credits available in California. Funding for continued construction is based upon obtaining government guaranteed loans and executing on existing and new state grant programs.

For the Riverbank project, we plan to raise the funds necessary to construct and operate the Carbon Zero plant in Riverbank, CA using loan guarantees and public financings based upon the licensed technology that generate federal and state carbon credits available for ultra-low carbon fuels utilizing lower cost, non-food advanced feedstocks to significantly increase margins.

For all facilities in the United States, we plan to utilize the provision of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 by qualifying for renewable energy credits, whether in the form of an Investment Tax Credit, Producers Tax Credit or other credits and monetize the credits using the provisions of this congressional act.

For the Kakinada Plant, we plan to continue to develop sales channels for domestic products as the costs of feedstock normalize against the price of diesel, as recently announced governmental incentives take effect to promote the blending of biodiesel, and as feedstocks such as refined animal tallow are used domestically and exported. Additionally, we are in the process of obtaining approval to export refined animal tallow and biodiesel produced using animal tallow into international markets as the use of refined animal tallow received approval from the Pollution Control Board of India for production of biodiesel. The repatriation of funds from India to the parent company in the U.S. is reliant on favorable governmental approvals. 

At March 31, 2023, the outstanding balance of principal, interest and fees, net of discounts, on all Third Eye Capital Notes equaled $164 million. The maturity dates for the Third Eye Capital financing arrangements are April 1, 2024, for $112 million, March 1, 2025, for $29 million and March 1, 2026, for $23 million.

As of the date of this report, the Company has $50.0 million additional borrowing capacity to fund future cash flow requirements under the Reserve Liquidity Notes with a maturity date April 1, 2024.

We also rely on our working capital lines with Gemini, Secunderabad Oils, and Leo Edibles & Fats India Ltd. in India to fund our commercial arrangements for the acquisitions of feedstock. We currently provide our own working capital for the Keyes Plant; Gemini and Secunderabad Oils currently provide us with working capital for the Kakinada Plant. The ability of Gemini, Secunderabad Oils, and Leo Edibles to continue to provide us with working capital depends in part on both of their respective financial strength and banking relationships.

Change in Working Capital and Cash Flows

The below table (in thousands) describes the changes in current and long-term debt during the three months ended March 31, 2023:

Working capital changes resulted in (i) a $7.9 million increase in inventories due to UBPL procuring inventory in anticipation of obtaining a new government tender in the second quarter of 2023, partially offset by (ii) a $1.0 million decrease in accounts receivable due to lower California Ethanol revenue, (iii) a $2.7 million decrease in prepaid expenses mainly due to the use of a J.D. Heiskell pre-payment, (iv) a decrease in other current assets of $0.9 million, and (v) a $0.2 million decrease in cash.

Net cash used in operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2023, was $11.3 million, consisting of non-cash charges of $11.7 million, net cash provided by operating assets and liabilities of $3.4 million, and net loss of $26.4 million. The non-cash charges consisted of: (i) $2.0 million in amortization of debt issuance costs and other intangible assets, (ii) $1.8 million in depreciation expenses, (iii) $2.7 million in stock-based compensation expense, (iv) $5.6 million in preferred unit accretion and other expenses of Series A preferred units, and (v) $0.3 million change in deferred tax benefit. Net changes in operating assets and liabilities consisted primarily of (i) an increase in accrued interest of $5.4 million, (ii) prepaid expenses decrease of $2.3 million, (iii) an increase in accounts payable of $3.0 million, (iv) a decrease in accounts receivable of $1.0 million, and (v) a decrease in other assets of $0.5 million. This was partially offset by an increase in (i) inventories of $7.9 million and (ii) a decrease in other liabilities of $0.8 million.

Cash used by investing activities was $0.9 million, of which $7.6 million were used by capital projects, partially offset by grant proceeds and other reimbursements of $6.8 million.

Cash provided by financing activities was $11.4 million, consisting of $2.6 million from issuance of common stock and $11.6 million from proceeds from borrowings, partially offset by repayments of borrowings of $2.7 million and payments on finance leases of $0.1 million.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with 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 net sales and expenses for each period. We believe that of our most significant accounting policies and estimates, defined as those policies and estimates 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 are: revenue recognition; recoverability of long-lived assets, Series A Preferred unit liability, and debt modification and extinguishment accounting. These significant accounting principles are more fully described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

None reported beyond those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

We had no off-balance sheet arrangements during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Item 3.          Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

Not Applicable.

Item 4.          Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

Management (with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), conducted 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, although remediation plans were initiated to address the material weaknesses over financial reporting as identified in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the disclosure controls and procedures along with the related internal controls over financial reporting were not effective to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and is compiled and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

As discussed in greater detail under Item 9A, Controls and Procedures, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, we initiated a remediation plan to address the material weakness in our internal control related to information technology general controls and information technology systems.

For a more comprehensive discussion of the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting identified by management as of December 31, 2022, and the remedial measures undertaken to address these material weaknesses, investors are encouraged to review Item 9A, Controls and Procedures, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

PART II -- OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings