CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. - Annual Report: 2008 (Form 10-K)
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
þ | ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
o | TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 333-145939
CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.
(Name of small business issuer in its charter)
Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
33-0754902 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
7386 Pershing Ave., University City, Missouri (Address of principal executive offices) |
63130 (Zip Code) |
(Issuers telephone number): (314) 802-8670
Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act: None
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: None
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section
13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 12 months (or for such shorter
period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K
(229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants
knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of
this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a
non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated
filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
(Check one):
Large accelerated filer o | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company þ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the
Act). Yes o No þ
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates as of
March 24, 2009 $1,830,212
As of March 24, 2009, the number of shares outstanding of the Companys common stock was
61,392,253.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrants Proxy Statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are
incorporated into Part III of this Form 10-K where indicated.
CLEANTECH BIOFUELS, INC.
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Exhibit 32.2 |
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Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
From time to time, we make written or oral statements that are forward-looking, including
statements contained in this report and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) and in our reports to stockholders. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, provide a safe harbor for such
forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included
herein regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected
costs, prospects, plans, objectives and other future events and circumstances are forward-looking
statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as
anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, intends, may, plans, projects, would,
should and similar expressions or negative expressions of these terms. Such statements are only
predictions and, accordingly, are subject to substantial risks, uncertainties and assumptions.
Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations
disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. We caution you that any forward-looking
statement reflects only our belief at the time the statement is made. Although we believe that the
expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee our
future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Refer to our Risk Factors section
of this report for a full description of factors we believe could cause actual results or events to
differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. These factors include:
| the commercial viability of our technologies, |
| our ability to maintain and enforce our exclusive rights to our technologies, |
| our ability to raise additional capital on favorable terms to continue developing our
technologies; |
| the demand for and production costs of various energy products made from our biomass, |
| competition from other alternative energy technologies, and |
| other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC. |
Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are based upon
reasonable assumptions, it is not possible to foresee or identify all factors that could have a
material and negative impact on our future performance. The forward-looking statements in this
report are made on the basis of managements assumptions and analyses, as of the time the
statements are made, in light of their experience and perception of historical conditions, expected
future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate under the circumstances.
PART I
ITEM 1. Business
The following discussion of our company overview and plan of operation should be read in
conjunction with the financial statements and related notes to the financial statements included
elsewhere in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that relate to future
events or our future financial performance. These statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity or
performance to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity or performance.
These risks and other factors include, among others, those listed under Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Information.
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Company Overview
We are a development stage company that has recently changed its focus from being a fully
integrated cellulosic ethanol producer to being a provider of cellulosic biomass derived from
municipal solid waste, also known as MSW, for any energy product. Previously, our business focused
on utilizing the following three technologies to produce ethanol:
| a pressurized steam classification technology, which we refer to as the PSC
technology, invented at the University of Alabama, Huntsville that used a pressurized steam
classification vessel to convert MSW into cellulosic material while simultaneously
segregating and eliminating any inorganic materials in the solid waste and cleaning
recyclable materials in the MSW; |
| a sulfuric acid hydrolysis process, which we refer to as the Brelsford technology,
developed by Brelsford Engineering, Inc. that employs an acid hydrolysis process to convert
cellulosic material into fermentable sugars, which can then be fermented into ethanol, and; |
| a nitric acid hydrolysis process, which we refer to as our HFTA technology, developed
by scientists working at the University of California, Berkeley, that incorporates
anticipated improvements in chemical reaction by which acid hydrolysis occurs. |
In January 2008 we purchased a small scale unit designed to operate the HFTA technology from the
University of California Berkeley and moved this unit to the Hazen Research facility in Golden
Colorado. The unit was reconstructed and used to analyze the sugar content obtainable from a
variety of biomass derived from different sources of garbage and waste paper. Based on these
results, we determined that there are sufficient amounts of sugars obtainable from the biomass we
derive from garbage to warrant further development and potential commercialization of the HFTA
technology.
In September 2008, we acquired the exclusive rights to the Biomass Recovery System developed by
Anthony Noll that we refer to as our Biomass Recovery Process. Our rights to use the Biomass
Recovery Process technology permit us to use the biomass we derive from MSW to produce all energy
products. In addition, in October 2008, we acquired the patent for the PSC technology from World
Waste Technologies (WWT), who previously had purchased the patent from the University of Alabama
Huntsville. As a result we became the licensor of the PSC technology to Bio-Products International,
Inc. (Bio-Products) under its Master License Agreement. Bio-Products was the sublicensor of the
PSC technology to us.
During the fourth quarter of 2008, we received a termination notice from Brelsford Engineering,
Inc. for non-payment of certain fees. The company has decided to not use this technology going
forward in our operations and thus have written off the remaining asset as of December 31, 2008.
The impairment loss of $97,500 is included in research and development expense on the statement of
operations for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Since early 2008, we had been in litigation against Bio-Products regarding our use of the PSC
technology. In March 2009, we entered into a Settlement Agreement with Bio-Products settling all
of these claims.
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, in addition to a customary mutual release, Bio-Products
entered into a covenant not to sue whereby Bio-Products and its related parties agreed to permit us
to use the Biomass Recovery Process technology worldwide, for any product that we desire and with
no royalty due to Bio-Products. We also terminated our License Agreement with Bio-Products and
have no further obligations thereunder. We continue to be the licensor to Bio-Products under the
Master License Agreement and we continue to own the patent for the PSC technology. As a result of
the Settlement Agreement, we are now capable of using the Biomass Recovery Process technology to
produce any energy product that we desire and are no longer limited to production of fuel grade
ethanol in the United States.
We were originally incorporated in 1996 as Long Road Entertainment, Inc., and were formed to
operate as a holding company for businesses in the theater, motion picture and entertainment
industries. We ceased conducting that business in 2005 and were dormant until the fall of 2006, at
which time our founder and then controlling stockholder decided to pursue the sale of the company.
In anticipation of that sale, we changed our name to Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.
On March 27, 2007, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization in which we
agreed to acquire SRS Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation that is the holder of the technology
licenses. Pursuant to the merger agreement, SRS Acquisition Sub, our wholly-owned subsidiary,
merged into SRS Energy with SRS Energy as the surviving corporation. We consummated the merger on
May 31, 2007 resulting in SRS Energy becoming our wholly-owned subsidiary. Effective August 2,
2007, we changed our name to CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.
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SRS Energy was originally formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Supercritical Recovery Systems,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, in July 2004. At that time, Supercritical Recovery Systems was a
licensee of various technologies for the processing of waste materials into usable products. While
investigating different technologies, Supercritical Recovery Systems was introduced to the PSC and
Brelsford technologies and secured licenses to the technologies in SRS Energy. Prior to our
acquisition of SRS Energy, Supercritical Recovery Systems distributed approximately 80% of its
ownership of SRS Energy to the stockholders of Supercritical Recovery Systems. Since our
acquisition of SRS Energy, Supercritical Recovery Systems has ceased its business activities with
respect to licensing other technologies.
We have no operating history as a producer of biomass feedstocks or any energy products and have
not constructed any operating plants to date. We have not earned any revenues to date and expect
that our current capital and other existing resources will be sufficient only to complete a portion
of the testing of our technologies and to provide a limited amount of working capital. We will
require substantial additional capital to implement our business plan and we may be unable to
obtain the capital required to build any commercial plants.
Plan of Operation
We continue to investigate and seek to acquire new technologies, while researching and developing
our existing technologies. As a result, we continue to refine our development plan. Over 2008, we
shifted our focus on being a fully integrated provider, to commercializing our technology for
cleaning and separating MSW into its component parts. In anticipation of this expansion of our
rights to use the Biomass Recovery Process for additional products, we have begun developing two
commercial projects using our technology.
Biomass Feedstock Production
We are currently negotiating a lease for a facility to construct an operating commercial plant in
Chicago, Illinois. The site we intend to lease currently has a commercial waste transfer station in
operation by a third party. In anticipation of completing the lease, the owner of the property has
commenced the permitting process to obtain the permits necessary for us to convert the commercial
waste transfer station into a residential MSW transfer station and install our vessels for
processing the waste delivered to the transfer station into cellulosic biomass. We will be required
to pay the expenses incurred to date for permitting at the site upon completing our lease. The
biomass we expect to produce will be sold to utilities or other energy producers operating near the
plant for combustion in existing co-fired boilers. We have provided our biomass to different
utility owners for testing the BTU value and emissions profile and universally have been advised by
the utilities that our biomass can be used as a feedstock for combustion together with coal.
We have completed construction of a vessel that can process 10-12 tons of MSW per day and
anticipate operating this vessel beginning in early April 2009 to produce biomass from MSW from the
City of Chicago. We will provide this biomass produced during this testing phase to utilities and
other mass consumers of energy operating in the Chicago area in sufficient quantities to permit
them to test the ability to handle our biomass in their existing material handling operations. Upon
completing this stage of our testing, we intend to seek long-term off-take contracts for the
purchase of our biomass and begin construction of a larger scale plant to process sufficient
biomass to the requirements of our agreements and any other market opportunities to sell the
biomass in the Chicago area.
Upon operating our plant in Chicago and after refining our know-how with respect to implementation
of the technology, we intend to seek to partner with waste haulers, landfill owners and
municipalities to implement the technology across the United States and internationally.
The further implementation of the commercial plant described above would require significant
additional capital, which we currently do not have. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be
able to raise this additional capital. We anticipate that financing for this project will be
provided in large part via tax exempt bond financing. In addition we intend to seek funding and
loan guarantees from local, state and federal authorities. On January 23, 2009, our partner in the
Chicago project submitted an application to the City of Chicago for a $100,000 grant to develop an
organic waste processing station in the city. We believe that further opportunities to utilize
governmental assistance will become available for this project.
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Diesel Fuel Production.
We are partnering with Green Power, Inc. (Green Power) to build a 200 ton per day MSW processing
station to provide biomass for an existing 100 ton per day diesel fuel production plant. Green
Power has constructed a facility in Pasco, Washington capable of processing up to 100 tons of
organic biomass material per day into diesel. The diesel produced is not biodiesel, but rather a
high grade fuel diesel. Green Power has tested the system with wood waste and other organic matter
and the results have proven superior, however it is difficult and costly to obtain long term
supplies of organic matter to operate the plant on a continuous basis. We believe that the organic
matter we derive from MSW (biomass and plastics) will provide an excellent feedstock for the Green
Power process.
The test vessel to be operated to produce biomass from Chicago MSW as described previously will be
moved to Pasco, Washington within the next few weeks. We will operate this small vessel for
sufficient time to enable an independent verification of the inputs and outputs to the system as
well as completing a full feasibility study for the technology.
If the results from this stage of operations are successful, we plan to construct a system to
process 200 tons of MSW (creating approximately 100 tons of usable biomass) daily at the Pasco
plant. We anticipate the total costs to construct and operate the full system will be $4.0 million
to $5.0 million. We have applied to the USDA for a grant pursuant to its Repowering America
Program to offset part of this cost. Additionally, the company and Green Power have had
preliminary discussions about a possible equity investment in our company in an amount that will
enable us to complete this construction, regardless of whether governmental assistance becomes
available.
New Technologies; Commercializing Existing Technologies
Because of our unique ability to produce a clean, homogenous biomass feedstock, we are frequently
presented with the opportunity to partner with or acquire new technologies. In addition to
developing our current technologies, we will continue to add technologies that complement our core
operations to our suite of solutions. We believe that our current technologies and aspects of
those in development will enable us to eventually expand our business to use organic material from
other waste streams such as municipal bio-solids from waste water facilities and animal waste for
fuel production.
To commercialize this technology, we intend to:
| construct and operate a commercial plant that processes MSW into cellulosic biomass for
combustion in existing co-fired boilers for electricity production in Chicago, Illinois; |
| identify and partner with landfill owners, waste haulers and municipalities to identify
locations suitable for our technology; and |
| pursue additional opportunities to implement our technology in commercial settings at
transfer stations and landfills in the United States and elsewhere in the world. |
Our ethanol conversion technology, like all other cellulosic ethanol conversion technologies in
development, has not been proven on a commercial level. To develop our technology for converting
our biomass into ethanol and other biofuels, we intend to:
| complete the research and development of our licensed technologies, which we believe
when combined can convert MSW into ethanol; and |
| explore, develop and/or license additional technologies for processing waste into energy
products as opportunities to do so present themselves. |
Industry Overview
Today there are two types of MSW Disposal:
| Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (MSWLFs) includes municipal solid waste, industrial
waste, construction and demolition debris, and bioreactors. |
| Mass Burn/Incineration Plants |
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Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
MSWLFs primarily receive household waste and commercial waste. MSWLFs can also receive
non-hazardous sludge, industrial solid waste, and construction and demolition debris. All MSWLFs
must comply with the federal regulations in 40 CFR Part 258 (Subtitle D of RCRA), or equivalent
state regulations.
Disposing of waste in a landfill involves burying waste, and this remains a common practice in most
countries. Historically, landfills were often established in disused quarries, mining voids or
borrow pits. A properly-designed and well-managed landfill can be a hygienic and relatively
inexpensive method of disposing of waste materials. Older, poorly-designed or poorly-managed
landfills can create a number of adverse environmental impacts such as wind-blown litter,
attraction of vermin, and generation of liquid leachate. Another common byproduct of landfills is
gas (mostly composed of methane and carbon dioxide), which is produced as organic waste breaks down
anaerobically. This gas can create odor problems, kill surface vegetation, and contributes to
global warming.
Waste haulers or municipalities pay tipping fees on a per ton basis to dispose of garbage at a
landfill. The average landfill tipping fee in 2004 was $34.29 per ton which is based on the gate
rate for a ton of garbage. A gate rate is similar to the published prices for airline tickets or
hotels, before discounts or contract prices (which could be higher or lower) are considered. The
gate rate is the true daily market value of the tipping fee. The average tipping fee in the United
States has risen consistently since 1985 when it was $8.20 per ton. In 2004 in the United States,
the Northeast (CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, and VT) had the highest tipping fees at an average of $70.53
per ton, while the South Central (AZ, AR, LA, NM, OK, and TX) and West Central (CO, KS, MT, NE, ND,
SD, UT, and WY) states had the lowest tipping fees at $24.06 and $24.13 per ton, respectively.
Mass Burn/Incineration Plants
Mass Burn
Mass burn is combusting MSW without any pre-processing or separation. The resulting steam is
employed for industrial uses or for generating electricity. Mass burn facilities are sized
according to the daily amount of solid waste they expect to receive. Most mass burn plants can
remove non-combustible steel and iron for recycling before combustion using magnetic separation
processes. Other non-ferrous metals can be recovered from the leftover ash.
Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Plants
Current operating WTE plants burn MSW in a controlled environment to create steam or electricity.
Through this process the volume of solid waste is reduced by about 90%. In 2004, there were 89 WTE
plants operating in 27 states. WTE was used to manage 33.1 million tons, or 14%, of trash in the
U.S in 2003. Energy is sold to electric generating utilities which distribute it to local homes and
businesses. WTE plants in the U.S. generate enough electricity to power nearly 2.3 million homes.
Modular Incinerators
Modular incinerators are small mass burn plants, with a capacity of 15 to 100 tons per day. The
boilers for modular incinerators are built in a factory and shipped to the WTE site, rather than
being built on the WTE site itself. The advantage of a modular WTE incinerator is flexibility. If
more capacity is needed, modular WTE units can be added. These facilities are used primarily by
small communities and industrial sites. Costs limit the use of this technology because the return
on investment in terms of energy produced over time is much lower than in mass burn plants.
Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) Plants
RDF plants process solid waste before it is burned. A typical plant will remove non-combustible
items, such as glass, metals and other recyclable materials. The remaining solid waste is then
shredded into smaller pieces for
burning. RDF plants require significantly more sorting and handling than mass burn, but can recover
recyclables and remove some potentially environmentally harmful materials prior to combustion. RDF
can be burned in power boilers at factories or even at large housing complexes. Sometimes RDF
materials are densified (compacted at high pressure) to make fuel pellets. The pellet fuel may
also include various sludges, by-products of municipal or industrial sewage treatment plants.
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MSW contains a diverse mix of waste materials, some benign and some very toxic. Effective
environmental management of MSW plants aims to exclude toxics from the MSW-fuel and to control air
pollution emissions from the WTE plants. Toxic materials include trace metals such as lead, cadmium
and mercury, and trace organics, such as dioxins and furans. Such toxins pose an environmental
problem if they are released into the air with plant emissions or if they are dispersed in the soil
and allowed to migrate into ground water supplies and work their way into the food chain. The
control of such toxics and air pollution are key features of environmental regulations governing
MSW fueled electric generation.
U.S. EPA rules are among the most stringent environmental standards for WTE facilities in the
world. These rules mandate that all facilities use the most modern air pollution control equipment
available to ensure that WTE smokestack emissions are as clean as possible, and are safe for human
health and the environment.
Burning any fuel, including MSW, can produce a number of pollutants, such as carbon monoxide,
sulfur dioxide, and fine particles containing heavy metals. Other toxic organic compounds, such as
dioxins, are also potential emissions from any combustive activity where certain chemical compounds
are present, a situation that could take place in the WTE process. Air emission control devices in
a WTE facility usually include:
| Dry Scrubbers these wash the air emissions from the WTE process (called the gas
stream) and remove any acidic gases by passing the gas stream through a liquid. |
| Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) these use high voltage electricity to remove up to
98% of all particles remaining in the gas stream after passing through the scrubbers,
including any heavy metal particles. |
| Fabric Filters (baghouses) these consist of a series of nearly two thousand fabric
bags made of heat-resistant material which filter remaining particles from the gas stream.
This includes any large concentrations of condensed toxic organic compounds (such as
dioxins) and heavy metal compounds. |
Incinerators and RDF processors are paid tipping fees for the garbage that they accept. Typically,
these fees are more costly than the fees paid to landfill operators. Average tipping fees are lower
at landfills than at combustion facilities, largely because of the high capital costs at combustion
facilities. In 1982, the average landfill tipping fee was $8.02 per ton while the average
combustion tipping fee was $12.91 per ton. In 2004, the average landfill tipping fee had risen to
$34.29 per ton while the average combustion tipping fee rose to $61.64 per ton.
Environmental Matters
We believe our company will be subject to international, federal, state and local laws and
regulations with regard to air and water quality, hazardous and solid waste disposal and other
environmental matters upon commercial operations. There is always a risk that the federal agencies
may enforce certain rules and regulations differently than state and local environmental
administrators. Federal, state and local rules are subject to change, and any such changes could
result in greater regulatory burdens on plant operations. We could also be subject to
environmental or nuisance claims from adjacent property owners or residents in the areas arising
from possible foul smells or other air or water discharges from the plant. We do not know the
potential cost of these requirements or potential claims. Environmental laws and regulations that
may affect us in the future may include, but are not limited to:
| The Clean Air Act, as well as state laws and regulations impacting air emissions,
including State Implementation Plans related to existing and new national ambient air
quality standards for ozone and particulate matter. Owners and/or operators of air emission
sources are responsible for obtaining permits and for annual compliance and reporting. |
| The Clean Water Act which requires permits for facilities that discharge wastewaters
into the environment. |
| The Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act,
which requires certain solid wastes, including hazardous wastes, to be managed pursuant to
a comprehensive regulatory regime. |
| The National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to consider
potential environmental impacts in their decisions, including siting approvals. |
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Government Approvals
The Company is not subject to any government approvals or oversight for its current operations
other than normal corporate governance and taxes. Once we begin developing our own commercial
production facilities, however, we will be subject to multiple federal, state and local
environmental laws and regulations, such as those described above and for employee health and
safety. In addition, some of these laws and regulations will require our facilities to operate
under permits that are subject to renewal or modification. A violation of these laws and
regulations or permit conditions can result in substantial fines, natural resource damages,
criminal sanctions, permit revocations and/or facility shutdowns.
Our Technologies
We believe we can convert MSW into cellulosic material using our Biomass Recovery Process, and then
using a variety of technologies including our own HFTA technology as well as third party
technologies to process that cellulosic material into a variety of energy products.
Biomass Recovery Process
MSW contains valuable resources if they can be recovered economically. Waste haulers often bring
unsorted waste by truck to MRFs for sorting and removal of selected materials prior to disposal in
sanitary landfills. To date, however, the amounts of materials recovered are relatively small,
typically on the order of 20 percent of the total volume of waste.
The PSC technology was developed at the University of Alabama, Huntsville and improved by Anthony
Noll into the technology we refer to as the Biomass Recovery Process. The process separates
curbside MSW into organic and inorganic materials using a patented and proprietary process that
involves a unique combination of steam, pressure and agitation. The separation is accomplished by
placing waste material in a rotating pressure vessel, or autoclave. In the autoclave, the material
is heated to several hundred degrees, which sterilizes the waste material, while the pressure and
agitation cause a pulping action. This combination is designed to result in a large volume
reduction, yielding the following two sterilized resource streams for further manufacturing of new
products:
| Cellulosic biomass, a decontaminated, homogeneous feedstock that we expect will
represent approximately 55 to 60 percent of the MSW and will be suitable for conversion to
multiple energy uses. |
| Separated recyclables (steel cans and other ferrous materials, aluminum cans, plastics,
and glass), which we expect will represent about 25 percent of the MSW input and are sorted
and can be sold to recyclers. |
The process also creates residual waste (fines, rocks, soil, textiles and non-recyclable
fractions), which we expect will represent the remaining 15 to 20 percent of the MSW input. We
will not be able to recover any value in this residual waste. We will be required to deliver this
waste to landfills thereby reducing the tipping fees we are paid.
The process is currently working in a commercial plant in Coffs Harbor, Australia. We believe that
our process represents a significant improvement over other autoclave technologies currently in use
because of:
| the relationship between agitation of the waste material, moisture, and the temperature
and pressure of steam in the vessel uses less energy while obtaining a cleaner biomass
resource; |
| the method of introduction of steam into the autoclave vessel, the pressure range, along
with the method of full depressurization, and treatment of the steam being vented from the
process to prevent air pollution make our process more environmentally friendly than any
other means to handle MSW; |
| the method of mixing the heat and steam with the waste uniformly throughout the vessel
create a homogenous feedstock for fuel production; and, |
| the direct and critical correlation between the length and diameter of the vessel,
internal flighting and the total tonnage of waste to be processed for proper mixing and
product yield. |
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HFTA Technology
During the course of our technology development we discovered the HFTA technology, which we believe
to be an alternative to the widely-used sulfuric acid process for producing cellulosic ethanol. The
HFTA system uses a nitric acid hydrolysis process developed and patented at the University of
California at Berkeley and licensed to HFTA, a company formed by the inventors of the technology
and affiliated research scientists. This system is a two-stage process, the first stage being a
dilute nitric acid hydrolysis step to produce C5 sugars from the hemicellulose fraction of the
feedstock, and the second step being a higher-temperature, dilute nitric acid hydrolysis of the
cellulose fraction of the feedstock to produce additional C6 sugars.
We believe this system may have several significant advantages over sulfuric acid based systems.
Sulfuric acid under heat and pressure is corrosive to many metals. Consequently, equipment designed
to use a sulfuric acid hydrolysis process must use higher-grade, more expensive alloys. Excess
sulfuric acid from the process is removed by adding lime to the acid and sugar water solution,
which creates gypsum. This gypsum, which must be removed from the sugar solution before
fermentation, is not of high enough grade for commercial use, which means it must be disposed in a
landfill. In addition, because the solubility of gypsum decreases with increasing temperatures it
tends to coat the downstream fermentation equipment, requiring expensive and time consuming
maintenance.
Nitric acid, on the other hand, is completely miscible with water, meaning that it creates a
homogenous solution when mixed with water. As a result, small amounts are sufficient to catalyze
the hydrolysis reaction. Nitric acid also passivates stainless steel, effectively forming a
protective coating on them. This coating has been shown to provide corrosion protection at the
operating temperatures, acid concentrations, and simulated abrasiveness of flowing process
materials used in the HFTA process. The nitric acid solution is neutralized with ammonia, and the
resulting ammonium nitrate can be sold as fertilizer, used to feed the yeast in the fermentation
stage or converted into nitrogen and water using another proprietary process, allowing a
substantial amount of the water used in the HFTA to be recycled. The process reduces the
maintenance required for plant facilities compared to sulfuric acid-based systems, and is more
environmentally friendly, as no insoluble solids are produced. The neutralization process
eliminates lime systems, much of the waste-water treatment requirements, landfill services, gypsum
scaling and contamination of the lignin boiler-fuel byproduct (with resultant sulfur emissions in
boiler flue gas) when compared to the use of other acids.
Principal Products or Services and their Markets
If we determine that our licensed technologies are commercially viable and we are able to raise a
significant amount of additional capital, we may be in a position to begin operations and enter
into long-term contracts with municipalities, solid waste haulers, and operators of landfills and
materials recovery facilities to process a large portion of their waste stream into biomass and
recyclable materials.
Energy
We expect the primary product we will sell will be biomass from our Biomass Recovery Process to be
used for energy production. Our biomass can be used in multiple varieties of energy production
systems. We expect the uses for our biomass to expand as new energy production technologies are
developed.
MSW Processing Services
We believe that the opportunity to help communities, haulers and landfill managers reduce the
amount of material transported and deposited in landfills is large and growing. The Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act of 1991, referred to as RCRA, requires landfills to install expensive
liners and other equipment to control leaching toxics. Due to the increased costs and expertise
required to manage landfills under RCRA, many small, local landfills
closed during the 1990s. Larger regional landfills were built requiring increased transportation
costs for the waste haulers. As a result, landfill space is increasingly scarce and disposal costs
have been increasing.
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Currently, landfill operators charge a tipping fee to deliver MSW to a landfill, waste-to-energy
facility, recycling facility, transfer station or similar facility. Tipping fees vary widely based
on geographic location and the number of available places to dispose of MSW in a given location.
Because of the increasing cost pressures on waste haulers and based on current tipping fee pricing,
we believe we will be able to negotiate a payment of part of their tipping fee from waste haulers
who deliver MSW to us for processing that would range from as low as $10 per ton in some central
parts of the country to over $70 per ton in the Northeast and some parts of the Southeast. The
availability of tipping fees at favorable rates will be a key component of our business.
Recyclable Byproducts
We anticipate that our process will generate other recyclable byproducts from the processing of
MSW, such as aluminum and other metals. We believe the Biomass Recovery Process will produce scrap
aluminum, tin, steel, glass and plastic (typically 20 to 25 percent of the total waste stream). The
markets for these recovered products are volatile and subject to rapid and unpredictable market
changes making it impossible at this time to provide estimated per ton cost to revenue information.
Sources and Availability of Raw Materials
The emergence of technologies to convert municipal waste to energy is opening new opportunities.
What was once perhaps the greatest sanitation and health challenge for communities may now become
an economic and environmental asset. Instead of adding to landfills already nearing capacity
limits, converting MSW to biomass can provide one of the building blocks to a more sustainable
energy future.
American people produce more than 245 million tons of MSW annually. Only about 20 percent of this
waste is currently recovered and recycled. We estimate that an additional 50 to 60 percent could
potentially be recovered. As various waste processing technologies are refined, competition for
this future resource will intensify. As a result, it will be important for us to attempt to lock
up as much of it as possible through long-term feedstock supply agreements with operators of
materials recovery facilities and landfills.
Intellectual Property License Terms
Biomass North America Licensing, Inc.
In September 2008, we acquired a license in the United States and Canada to use patent pending
technology owned by Biomass North America, LLC (Licensor), to clean and separate MSW. As part of
the compensation, the Company issued 1,895,000 shares of the Companys common stock to the owners
of the Licensor and also deposited an additional 4,000,000 shares of the Companys Common Stock
into an escrow account. The escrowed shares are not deemed issued or vested until the Company
commences a commercial development utilizing this technology.
The license requires that the Company pay a royalty in the amount of $1.00 per ton of bone-dry
biomass produced using the Biomass technology. The license agreement is for a term of 21 years or
the life of any patent issued for the Biomass technology. The Company has an exclusive license in
the United States and Canada to use the Biomass technology, except that a principal owner of the
Licensor has the right of first offer to manage and operate with respect to any development
commenced using the licensed technology within 100 miles of the City of Chicago, Illinois. The
license agreement further provides that all parties will work in good faith to complete a
commercial development in the City of Chicago using the Biomass technology.
HFTA Technology
In March 2008, we entered into an agreement for an exclusive worldwide license to use the HFTA
technology for the production of ethanol from MSW. The terms set out in the agreement required us
to pay an initial license fee of $25,000 to HFTA on execution of the agreement and a second license
fee in the amount of $150,000 on September 1, 2009 if we are using the technology at that time.
Additionally, upon executing the license agreement, we
deposited 2,887,687 shares of our common stock into an escrow account. The shares held in escrow
will be released to HFTA as follows: (i) one-third upon completion of the proof of concept phase if
at that time we elect to continue to use the HFTA technology in the demonstration phase or six
months from the date of the agreement, whichever is earlier (the first third of the shares were
released in September 2008) and (ii) two-thirds upon completion of the demonstration phase if at
that time we elect to incorporate the HFTA technology into the small commercial plant. In addition,
we are required to pay a process royalty of 4% of the sales price of ethanol less taxes and
applicable fees if the sales price is in excess of $1.50 per gallon, 3% of the sales price if it is
between $1.50 and $1.30 per gallon, and 2% of the sales price if it is less than $1.30 per gallon.
We are also required to pay certain minimum royalties, less the amount of any process royalties
paid, commencing in the calendar year ending December 31, 2010 and in subsequent years as follows:
(i) 2010 -$25,000; (ii) 2011 $25,000; (iii) 2012 $60,000; (iv) increasing by $20,000 per year
for each year thereafter until it reaches $120,000 per year; and (v) $120,000 per year thereafter.
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Patent
The company purchased Patent No. 6,306,248 (the Patent) pursuant to a Patent Purchase Agreement
with WWT. The Patent is the basis for the pressurized steam classification technology that cleans
and separates municipal solid waste into its component parts, which we refer to as the PSC
technology. The company is now a licensor to Bio-Products for this patent. Bio-Products is the
exclusive licensee of the PSC technology (but not the Biomass Recovery Process) and has the right
to sublicense the PSC technology to any party. Under the Master License Agreement, we are entitled
to be paid 5% of any revenue derived by Bio-Products from the use of the technology and 40% of any
sublicensing fees paid to Bio-Products for the use of the technology. The Master License Agreement
is for a term of 20 years that commenced on August 18, 2003.
Employees
The Company currently has three full-time employees, its Chief Executive Officer, Edward P.
Hennessey, Jr., its General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer, Michael Kime, and its Chief
Financial Officer, Thomas Jennewein.
Access to SEC Filings
Interested readers can access, free of charge, all of our filings with the SEC and any amendments
to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, through the Investor Relations/SEC Filings section of our website at
www.cleantechbiofuels.net as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such
materials with, or furnish them to, the SEC. We will also provide a copy of these documents, free
of charge, to any stockholder upon written request addressed to: CleanTech Biofuels, Inc., 7386
Pershing Ave, University City, MO 63130.
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
You should carefully consider the following risk factors and other information contained in this
annual report on Form 10-K when evaluating our business and financial condition. Additional risks
not presently known to us and risks that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business
operations.
Risks Related to Our Business
We have no operating experience and may not be able to implement our business plan.
As an early stage company, there is no material operating history upon which to evaluate our
business and prospects. We do not expect to commence any significant operations until we test and
refine information from our small scale vessel for biomass production. As a result, we will sustain
losses without corresponding revenues, which will result in the Company incurring a net operating
loss that will increase continuously for the foreseeable future. We cannot provide any assurance
that we will be profitable in any given period or at all.
In addition, we currently have only three full-time employees, our Chief Executive Officer, General
Counsel/Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, each of whom spend at least 40 hours a
week on our business. Collectively, they have less experience in operating an alternative energy
company compared to many of our
competitors. Moreover, given our newness and the rapid changes in the industry, we face challenges
in planning and forecasting accurately. Our lack of expertise and resources may have a negative
impact on our ability to implement our strategic plans, which may result in our inability to
commence meaningful operations, achieve profitable operations or otherwise succeed in other aspects
of our business plan.
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We need to obtain significant additional capital to complete the development of our technologies,
and the failure to secure additional capital will prevent us from commercializing our technology
and executing our plan of operation.
Based on our current proposed plans and assumptions, we estimate we have sufficient cash to operate
for the next one to two months. Accordingly, in order to fund the development of our business
plan, we will be required to:
| obtain additional debt or equity financing, |
| secure significant government grants, and/or |
| enter into a strategic alliance with a larger energy company to provide funding. |
The amount of funding needed to complete the development of our technology will be very substantial
and may be in excess of the amount of capital we are able to raise. In addition, we have not
identified the sources for the additional financing that we will require, and we do not have
binding commitments from any third parties to provide this financing. Our ability to obtain
additional funding will be subject to a number of factors, including market conditions, the results
and quality of our biomass and investor sentiment. These factors may make the timing, amount, terms
and conditions of additional funding unattractive. For these reasons sufficient funding, whether on
terms acceptable to us or not, may not be available. If we are unable to obtain sufficient
financing on a timely basis, the development of our technology, facilities and/or products could be
delayed and we could be forced to limit or terminate our operations altogether. Further, any
additional funding that we obtain in the form of equity will reduce the percentage ownership held
by our existing security holders.
Our Biomass Recovery Process technology may have design and engineering issues that may increase
the costs of using the technology.
The Biomass Recovery Process technology involves the use of a rotating pressure vessel, or
autoclave, to combine heat, pressure and agitation to convert MSW into biomass. Although
technologies that involve the separation and processing of MSW using large-scale autoclaves have
not been widely adapted in commercial applications, a vessel using this process is currently
operating in Australia. We have completed a small scale research and testing vessel that will
initially process MSW for testing purposes and ultimately process MSW for our customer in Pasco,
Washington for diesel fuel.
Although we believe the autoclaves will operate properly on a commercial scale, we may encounter
design and engineering problems when we try to implement this technology on a large-scale for
biomass and energy production. Any design, engineering or other issue may cause delays, increase
production and development costs and require us to shut down our operation.
We may not have sufficient legal protection of our technologies and other proprietary rights, which
could result in the loss of some or all of our rights or the use of our intellectual properties by
our competitors.
Our success depends substantially on our ability to use our owned and/or licensed technologies and
to keep our licenses in full force, and for our technology licensors to maintain their patents,
maintain trade secrecy and not infringe the proprietary rights of third parties. We cannot be sure
that the patents of others will not have an adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.
Further, we cannot be sure that others will not independently develop similar or superior
technologies, duplicate elements of our technologies or design around them. Even if we are able to
obtain or license patent protection for our process or products, there is no guarantee that the
coverage of these patents will be sufficiently broad to protect us from competitors or that we will
be able to enforce our patents against potential infringers. Patent litigation is expensive, and we
may not be able to afford the costs. Third parties could also assert that our process or products
infringe patents or other proprietary rights held by them.
It is possible that we may need to acquire other licenses to, or to contest the validity of, issued
or pending patents or claims of third parties. We cannot be sure that any license would be made
available to us on acceptable terms, if at all, or that we would prevail in any such contest. In
addition, we could incur substantial costs in defending ourselves in suits brought against us for
alleged infringement of another partys patents or in bringing patent infringement suits against
other parties based on our licensed patents.
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We also rely on trade secrets, proprietary know-how and technology that we will seek to protect, in
part, by confidentiality agreements with our prospective joint venture partners, employees and
consultants. We cannot be sure that these agreements will not be breached, that we will have
adequate remedies for any breach, or that our trade secrets and proprietary know-how will not
otherwise become known or be independently discovered by others.
We will be dependent on our ability to negotiate favorable feedstock supply and biomass off-take
agreements.
In addition to proving and commercializing our technology, the viability of our business plan will
depend on our ability to develop long-term supply relationships with municipalities, municipal
waste haulers or operators of material recovery facilities, also known as MRFs, and landfills to
provide us with the necessary waste streams on a long-term basis. We also will depend on these
haulers, operators and facilities to take residual waste streams from our plants and to deliver or
accept these streams for land filling. We currently have no such relationships or agreements. If
we are unable to create these relationships and receive supply agreements on terms favorable to us
we may not be able to implement our business plan and achieve profitability.
We may not be able to attract and retain management and other personnel we need to succeed.
We currently have only three full-time employees, our Chief Executive Officer, General
Counsel/Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. As a result, our success depends on
our ability to recruit senior management and other key technology development, construction and
operations employees. We cannot be certain that we will be able to attract, retain and motivate
such employees. The inability to hire and retain one or more of these employees could cause delays
or prevent us from implementing our business strategy. The majority of our new hires will be
engineers, project managers and operations personnel. There is intense competition from other
companies and research and academic institutions for qualified personnel in the areas of our
activities. If we cannot attract and retain, on acceptable terms, the qualified personnel necessary
for the development of our business, we may not be able to commence operations or grow at an
acceptable pace.
We will incur increased costs as a result of being a public company.
As an operating public company, we are incurring significant legal, accounting and other expenses
we did not incur as a private company and our corporate governance and financial reporting
activities have become more time-consuming. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules
subsequently implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission, has required changes in
corporate governance practices of public companies. For example, as a result of becoming an
operating public company, we are required to have independent directors, create board committees
and approve and adopt policies regarding internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures,
including the preparation of reports on internal control over financial reporting. In addition, we
are incurring significant additional costs associated with our public company reporting
requirements. We also expect these rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more
expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance and we may be required to
accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or
similar coverage. As a result, it may be more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified
persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers.
Our failure to adequately adhere to the new corporate governance practices or the failure or
circumvention of our controls and procedures could seriously harm our business.
Compliance with the new and evolving corporate governance practices has taken a significant amount
of management time and attention, particularly with regard to disclosure controls and procedures
and internal control over financial reporting. Although we have reviewed our disclosure and
internal controls and procedures in order to determine whether they are effective, our controls and
procedures may not be able to prevent errors or frauds in the future. Faulty judgments, simple
errors or mistakes, or the failure of our personnel to adhere to established controls
and procedures may make it difficult for us to ensure that the objectives of the control system are
met. A failure of our controls and procedures to detect other than inconsequential errors or fraud
could seriously harm our business and results of operations.
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Our senior managements lack of experience managing a publicly traded company will divert
managements attention from operations and harm our business.
Our management team has limited experience managing a publicly traded company and complying with
federal securities laws, including compliance with recently adopted disclosure requirements on a
timely basis. Our management is required to design and implement appropriate programs and policies
in response to increased legal, regulatory compliance and reporting requirements, and any failure
to do so could lead to the imposition of fines and penalties and harm our business.
Risks Related to our Industry
As a new small company, we will be at a competitive disadvantage to most of our competitors, which
include larger, established companies that have substantially greater financial, technical,
manufacturing, marketing, distribution and other resources than us.
The alternative energy industry in the United States is highly competitive and continually evolving
as participants strive to distinguish themselves and compete in the industry. Competition is likely
to continue to increase with the emergence and commercialization of new alternative energy
technologies. If we are not successful, we will not be able to compete with other energy
technologies. Moreover, the success of alternative energy generation technologies may cause larger,
conventional energy companies with substantial financial resources to enter the alternative energy
industry. These companies, due to their greater capital resources and substantial technical
expertise, may be better positioned to develop and exploit new technologies. Our inability to
respond effectively to our competition could result in our inability to commence meaningful
operations, achieve profitable operations or otherwise succeed in other aspects of our business
plan.
Our success is dependent on continued high energy prices.
Prices for energy can vary significantly over time and decreases in price levels could adversely
affect our profitability and viability. Worldwide energy prices are subject to a myriad of factors
almost all of which are completely beyond our ability to control. Frequently, unforeseen events can
have a dramatic impact on the price paid for energy. Negative changes in energy prices could cause
our business model to be unviable and our technology worthless.
Waste processing and energy production is subject to inherent operational accidents and disasters
from which we may not be able to recover, especially if we have only one or a very small number of
facilities.
Our anticipated operations would be subject to significant interruption if any of our proposed
facilities experience a major accident or are damaged by severe weather or other natural disasters.
In particular, processing waste and producing energy products is subject to various inherent
operational hazards, such as equipment failures, fires, explosions, abnormal pressures, blowouts,
transportation accidents and natural disasters. Some of these operational hazards may cause
personal injury or loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment or
environmental damage, and may result in suspension of operations and the imposition of civil or
criminal penalties. Currently we do not have any insurance to cover those risks. We intend to seek
insurance appropriate for our business before we commence significant operations. The insurance
that we plan to obtain, if obtained, may not be adequate to cover fully the potential operational
hazards described above.
Alternative technologies could make our business obsolete.
Even if our technology currently proves to be commercially feasible, there is extensive research
and development being conducted in alternative energy sources. Technological developments in any
of a large number of competing processes and technologies could make our technology obsolete and we
have little ability to manage that risk.
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Risks Related to Government Regulation and Subsidization
Enforcement of energy policy regulations could change.
Energy policy in the United States is evolving rapidly. Within the past three years, the United
States Congress has passed separate major pieces of legislation addressing energy policy and
related regulations. We anticipate that energy policy will continue to be a very important
legislative priority on a national, state and local level. As energy policy continues to evolve,
the existing rules and regulations that benefit our industry may change. It is difficult, if not
impossible, to predict changes in energy policy that could occur on a federal, state or local level
in the future. The elimination of or a change in any of the current rules and regulations could
create a regulatory environment that prevents us from developing a commercially viable or
profitable business.
Costs of compliance may increase with changing environmental and operational safety regulations.
As we pursue our business plan, we will become subject to various federal, state and local
environmental laws and regulations, including those relating to the discharge of materials into the
air, water and ground, the generation, storage, handling, use, transportation and disposal of
hazardous materials, and the health and safety of our employees. In addition, some of these laws
and regulations require our contemplated facilities to operate under permits that are subject to
renewal or modification. These laws, regulations and permits can often require expensive pollution
control equipment or operational changes to limit actual or potential impacts to the environment. A
violation of these laws and regulations or permit conditions can result in substantial fines,
natural resource damages, criminal sanctions, permit revocations and/or facility shutdowns.
Furthermore, upon implementing our plan, we may become liable for the investigation and cleanup of
environmental contamination at any property that we would own or operate and at off-site locations
where we may arrange for the disposal of hazardous substances. If these substances have been or are
disposed of or released at sites that undergo investigation and/or remediation by regulatory
agencies, we may be responsible under CERCLA, or other environmental laws for all or part of the
costs of investigation and/or remediation, and for damages to natural resources. We may also be
subject to related claims by private parties alleging property damage and personal injury due to
exposure to hazardous or other materials at or from those properties. Some of these matters may
require expending significant amounts for investigation, cleanup, or other costs.
In addition, new laws, new interpretations of existing laws, increased governmental enforcement of
environmental laws, or other developments could require us to make additional significant
expenditures. Continued government and public emphasis on environmental issues can be expected to
result in increased future investments for environmental controls any future production facility.
Present and future environmental laws and regulations applicable to MSW processing and energy
production, more vigorous enforcement policies and discovery of currently unknown conditions may
require substantial expenditures that could have a material adverse effect on the results of our
contemplated operations and financial position.
The hazards and risks associated with processing MSW and producing and/or transporting various
energy products (such as fires, natural disasters, explosions, and abnormal pressures and blowouts)
may also result in personal injury claims or damage to property and third parties. As protection
against operating hazards, we intend to maintain insurance coverage against some, but not all,
potential losses. We could, however, sustain losses for uninsurable or uninsured risks, or in
amounts in excess of existing insurance coverage. Events that result in significant personal injury
or damage to our property or third parties or other losses that are not fully covered by insurance
could have a material adverse effect on the results of our contemplated operations and financial
position.
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Risks related to our Common Stock and Stock Price Fluctuation
Our stock is thinly traded, so you may be unable to sell at or near ask prices or at all.
Effective March 13, 2008, our common stock began trading on the OTCBB. Shares of our common stock
are thinly-traded, meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our common shares at
or near ask prices at any given time may be relatively small or non-existent. This situation is
attributable to a number of factors, including:
| we only recently re-commenced operations; |
| we are a small company that is relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers,
institutional investors and others in the investment community that generate or influence
sales volume; and |
| stock analysts, stock brokers and institutional investors may be risk-averse and be
reluctant to follow an unproven, early stage company such as ours or purchase or recommend
the purchase of our shares until such time as we became more seasoned and viable. |
As a consequence, our stock price may not reflect an actual or perceived value. Also, there may be
periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares is minimal or non-existent, as
compared to a seasoned issuer that has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will
generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. A broader or more
active public trading market for our common shares may not develop or if developed, may not be
sustained. Due to these conditions, you may not be able to sell your shares at or near ask prices
or at all if you need money or otherwise desire to liquidate your shares.
Even if an active trading market develops, the market price for our common stock may be highly
volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations.
We believe that newer alternative energy companies and companies that effect reverse mergers, such
as our company, are particularly susceptible to speculative trading that may not be based on the
actual performance of the company, which increases the risk of price volatility in a common stock.
In addition, the price of the shares of our common stock could decline significantly if our future
operating results fail to meet or exceed the expectations of market analysts and investors. Some of
the factors that could affect the volatility of our share price include:
| significant sales of our common stock or other securities in the open market; |
| speculation in the press or investment community; |
| actual or anticipated variations in quarterly operating results; |
| changes in earnings estimates; |
| publication (or lack of publication) of research reports about us; |
| increases in market interest rates, which may increase our cost of capital; |
| changes in applicable laws or regulations, court rulings, and other legal actions; |
| changes in market valuations of similar companies; |
| additions or departures of key personnel; |
| actions by our stockholders; and |
| general market and economic conditions. |
Trading in our common stock is subject to special sales practices and may be difficult to sell.
Our common stock is subject to the Securities and Exchange Commissions penny stock rule, which
imposes special sales practice requirements upon broker-dealers who sell such securities to persons
other than established customers or accredited investors. Penny stocks are generally defined to be
an equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share. For purposes of the rule,
the phrase accredited investors means, in general terms, institutions with assets in excess of
$5,000,000, or individuals having a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or having an annual income
that exceeds $200,000 (or that, when combined with a spouses income, exceeds $300,000). For
transactions covered by the rule, the broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination
for the purchaser and receive the purchasers written agreement to the transaction prior to the
sale. Consequently, the rule may affect the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and
also may affect the ability of our shareholders in this offering to sell their securities in any
market that might develop.
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Stockholders should be aware that, according to Securities and Exchange Commission Release No.
34-29093, the market for penny stocks has suffered from patterns of fraud and abuse. Such patterns
include:
| control of the market for the security by one or a few broker-dealers that are often
related to the promoter or issuer; |
| manipulation of prices through prearranged matching of purchases and sales and false and
misleading press releases; |
| boiler room practices involving high-pressure sales tactics and unrealistic price
projections by inexperienced sales persons; |
| excessive and undisclosed bid-ask differentials and markups by selling broker-dealers;
and |
| the wholesale dumping of the same securities by promoters and broker-dealers after
prices have been manipulated to a desired level, along with the resulting inevitable
collapse of those prices and with consequent investor losses. |
Our management is aware of the abuses that have occurred historically in the penny stock market.
Although we do not expect to be in a position to dictate the behavior of the market or of
broker-dealers who participate in the market, management will strive within the confines of
practical limitations to prevent the described patterns from being established with respect to our
common stock.
Substantial future sales of our common stock shares in the public market could cause our stock
price to fall.
If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock, or the public market perceives
that stockholders might sell substantial amounts of our common stock, the market price of our
common stock could decline significantly. Such sales also might make it more difficult for us to
sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that our management
deems appropriate. As of December 31, 2008, we had 61,270,153 shares of our common stock
outstanding. We also have outstanding convertible notes (including accrued interest) with warrants
convertible into approximately 3,050,000 shares of our common stock, outstanding Series A
Convertible Debentures (including accrued interest) convertible into approximately 1,030,000 shares
of our common stock, 5,925,000 shares of our common stock in escrow to be released upon future
conditions and requirements and three outstanding warrants, each immediately exercisable and
representing the right to purchase in the aggregate 4,746,990 shares of our common stock. An
additional 9,000,000 shares of our common stock have been reserved for issuance pursuant to our
2007 Stock Option Plan.
Potential issuance of additional common and preferred stock could dilute existing stockholders.
We are authorized to issue up to 240,000,000 shares of common stock. To the extent of such
authorization, our board of directors has the ability, without seeking stockholder approval, to
issue additional shares of common stock in the future for such consideration as the board of
directors may consider sufficient. We are also authorized to issue up to one million shares of
preferred stock, the rights and preferences of which may be designated in series by the board of
directors. Such designation of new series of preferred stock may be made without stockholder
approval, and could create additional securities which would have dividend and liquidation
preferences over the common stock offered hereby. Preferred stockholders could adversely affect the
rights of holders of common stock by:
| exercising voting, redemption and conversion rights to the detriment of the holders of
common stock; |
| receiving preferences over the holders of common stock regarding a surplus of funds in
the event of our dissolution or liquidation; |
| delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company; and |
| discouraging bids for our common stock. |
Additionally, our Series A Convertible Debentures and some of our outstanding options and warrants
to purchase common stock have anti-dilution protection. This means that if we issue securities for
a price less than the price at which these securities are convertible or exercisable for shares of
common stock, the securities will become eligible to acquire more shares of common stock at a lower
price, which will dilute the ownership of our common stockholders.
Finally, we have filed a registration statement pursuant to a registration rights agreement with
some of our stockholders. The registration rights agreement provides, among other things, that we
keep the registration statement associated with those shares continuously effective. If we are
unable to comply with these provisions of the registration rights agreements, we may be obligated
to pay those stockholders liquidated damages in the form of warrants to purchase additional common
stock.
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In all the situations described above, the issuance of additional common stock in the future will
reduce the proportionate ownership and voting power of our current stockholders.
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
ITEM 2. Properties
We currently lease 1,800 square feet of office space in St. Louis, Missouri. The lease is for a
term of three years and has a monthly lease payment of $1,800, plus utilities. We took possession
of the leased space in January, 2008.
ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings
Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. v. Bio-Products International, Inc. On January 9, 2008, Cleantech
Biofuels, Inc. and our wholly-owned subsidiary, SRS Energy, Inc. (SRS Energy) (collectively, the
company, we, us, our), filed suit in Missouri Circuit Court seeking damages against
Bio-Products International, Inc. (Bio-Products), Clean Earth Solutions, Inc. (CES), and various
shareholders and officers of those companies (collectively, the Defendants) for, among other
things, fraudulent acts, civil conspiracies, and tortuous interference with our business. In
addition, we filed a demand for arbitration seeking, among other things, a declaration that we are
in full compliance with the terms of the License Agreement between SRS Energy and Bio-Products
dated August 17, 2005 (the License Agreement).
On March 4, 2009, we settled all disputes among the Defendants related to our previously disclosed
litigation as described above and in previous SEC filings in our Form 10-KSB, Forms 10-Q and Forms
8-K. In connection with the settlement, we and the Defendants agreed to a mutual general release of
all claims against each party and their affiliates. In addition, we, as the licensor of the
Bio-Products Technology under the Master License Agreement, clarified Bio-Products right to use
the Bio-Products Technology by releasing Bio-Products of any prior lack of compliance under the
Master License Agreement. Likewise, Bio-Products, as the licensee of the Bio-Products Technology,
agreed that our use of the Biomass Technology in its current form and certain potential
improvements thereof, does not infringe on Bio-Products rights with respect to the Bio-Products
Technology, and any use of such technology by us is not subject to any obligations to Bio-Products.
The parties also agreed to mutually terminate the License Agreement and all of our obligations
thereunder. The settlement did not affect our ownership of the Patent or our continuance as the
licensor of the Bio-Products Technology to Bio-Products under the Master License Agreement.
Duluth Venture Capital Partners, LLC v. Cleantech Biofuels, Inc., et al. We are a defendant in a
lawsuit filed on January 6, 2009 by the law firm of Hand &Hand, L.L.C. on behalf of Duluth Venture
Capital Partners, L.L.C., one of our stockholders. The suit was filed in Superior Court for the
State of California. The other defendants to the suit are our officers and directors, our transfer
agent, Keith Mazer and World Capital Funding. The suit alleges among other things that Duluth
Venture Capital Partners, LLC was entitled to transfer certain shares of the common stock of the
Company for which stop orders had been previously issued. The case was subsequently moved to
Federal court in the Southern District of California. On March 10, 2009, we filed a motion to
dismiss the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also alleges that World Capital Funding and/or Keith Mazer is the beneficial owner of
certain shares of our common stock owned by Brite Star Associates, L.L.C., Fountain Consulting,
L.L.C., St. Ives Consulting, Inc., Trinity Enterprises, and Padstow Estates, Inc. Each of these
entities is a Selling Stockholder who had completed and delivered a Selling Stockholder
Questionnaire to the Company representing the beneficial ownership of the shares as set forth in
our public filings.
In the interest of caution, given the subject matter of the allegations, we issued a Stop Order for
all shares of common stock owned by the entities set forth in the lawsuit filed on behalf of Duluth
Venture Capital Partners, LLC. After conducting a further investigation of this matter, we
determined that we did not have sufficient evidence to verify the validity or invalidity of the
claims made in the lawsuit and the information set out in the Selling Stockholder Questionnaires
obtained from the stockholders named in that lawsuit.
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In order to prevent any unwarranted transfers of our common stock while the issue of correct
beneficial ownership of these shares is being resolved, we have suspended the registration rights
for the following Selling Stockholders. On February 24, 2009, we filed a Supplement to our
prospectus dated January 2, 2008 and the prospectus supplement dated January 10, 2008, removing
such stockholders from our Selling Stockholders, thereby making the shares restricted:
Selling Stockholder | Shares Suspended | |||
Brite Star Associates, Inc. |
1,777,867 | |||
Fountain Consulting, Inc. |
1,482,000 | |||
St Ives Consulting, Inc. |
1,368,000 | |||
Trinity Enterprises, L.L.C. |
1,966,667 | |||
Padstow Estates, Inc. |
1,966,667 |
Ram Resources, L.L.C. v. CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. On November 6, 2008 RAM Resources, LLC filed a
request for temporary injunction in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County seeking to have us remove
the restrictive legend on 552,335 shares of our common stock owned by RAM Resources, LLC. The
shares held by RAM Resources we reissued in private transactions and as such are subject to the
requirements of Rule 144 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, including Rule 144(i).
Based on our understanding of Rule 144(i) and conversations with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission, we believe that it is not permissible to remove a restrictive legend on shares
of our stock in advance of a sale of those shares. On November 7, 2008, an order requiring us to
authorize the removal of the restrictive legend on 552,335 shares of our common stock owned by RAM
Resources, LLC was entered. This order was later reaffirmed by the court after a preliminary
injunction hearing. We have complied with this order and we understand that RAM Resources, LLC has
obtained a certificate for 552,335 shares of stock without restrictive legend. We have established
a procedure for clearing shares of our stock for removal of restrictive legends that complies with
the requirements of Rule 144(i) and are seeking to settle this litigation by developing a mutually
satisfactory process to enable RAM Resources, LLC to comply with Rule 144(i). If RAM Resources,
LLC does not agree to comply with the procedures we have established to ensure that all of the
conditions of Rule 144(i) are met at the time of sales of previously restricted stock, we will be
required to defend this claim and seek a resolution that ensures compliance with Rule 144(i) by RAM
Resources, LLC.
ITEM 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None.
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PART II
ITEM 5. Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities
Our common stock was listed on the Pink Sheets under the symbol CLTH.PK. On March 13, 2008 we
became listed on the OTCBB under CLTH. The following table sets forth for the periods indicated
the high and low prices per share of our common stock as quoted by the Pink Sheets or the OTCBB, respectively:
Price Range of | ||||||||
Common Stock (1) | ||||||||
Fiscal Year | High | Low | ||||||
Year Ended December 31, 2006 |
||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 0.80 | $ | 0.40 | ||||
Second Quarter |
$ | 2.00 | $ | 0.70 | ||||
Third Quarter |
$ | 0.80 | $ | 0.31 | ||||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 0.80 | $ | 0.30 | ||||
Year Ended December 31, 2007 |
||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 2.00 | $ | 0.65 | ||||
Second Quarter |
$ | 1.01 | $ | 0.65 | ||||
Third Quarter |
$ | 1.00 | $ | 0.15 | ||||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 0.55 | $ | 0.25 | ||||
Year Ended December 31, 2008 |
||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 1.50 | $ | 0.55 | ||||
Second Quarter |
$ | 1.32 | $ | 0.80 | ||||
Third Quarter |
$ | 1.20 | $ | 0.21 | ||||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 0.75 | $ | 0.07 |
(1) | all periods presented are adjusted for the 100 to 1 reverse stock split that occurred on
February 21, 2007 |
On March 24, 2009, the closing price of our common stock, as quoted on the OTCBB, was $0.05 per
share. As of March 24, 2009, we had 139 stockholders of record.
We had no equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2006. In connection with the merger with
SRS Energy, we assumed SRS Energys 2007 Stock Option Plan, which was adopted by the SRS Energy
Board of Directors on April 16, 2007 and approved by the SRS Energy shareholders on April 16, 2007.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Number of Securities | ||||||||||||
Number of securities to be | Remaining Available for | |||||||||||
issued upon Exercise of | Weighted-Average | Future Issuance Under Equity | ||||||||||
Outstanding Options, | Exercise Price of | Compensation Plans | ||||||||||
Warrants and Rights and | Outstanding Options, | (excluding securities reflected | ||||||||||
Plan Category | Restricted Stock | Warrants and Rights | in column (a)) | |||||||||
(a) | (b) | (c) | ||||||||||
Equity compensation
plans approved by
security
holders: 2007
Stock Option
Plan |
7,290,000 | $ | 0.23 | 1,710,000 | ||||||||
Equity compensation
plans not approved
by security holders |
| | | |||||||||
Totals |
7,290,000 | 1,710,000 | ||||||||||
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Dividend Policy
We have no material operating history and therefore have had no earnings to distribute to
stockholders. Even though we have recommenced operations, we do not anticipate paying any cash
dividends in the foreseeable future. Rather, we currently intend to retain our earnings, if any,
and reinvest them in the development of our business. Any future determination to pay cash
dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will be dependent upon our
financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, restrictions under any existing
indebtedness and other factors the board of directors may deem relevant.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
On April 16, 2007, SRS Energy, Inc., currently our wholly-owned subsidiary, completed a $1,400,000
private placement of Series A Convertible Debentures to a group of accredited investors with each
debenture being convertible into shares of common stock at an initial conversion ratio of $0.15 per
share. The private placement was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act,
pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act.
On May 24, 2007, holders of certain convertible notes originally issued in 2003 and 2004 by Long
Road Entertainment, our predecessor, converted their notes at $0.01 per share of common stock
pursuant to the terms of the notes. As a result, we issued 9,366,800 shares of our common stock in
the aggregate to the following holders of the convertible notes:
Holder | Number of Shares | |||
Brite Star Associates, Inc. |
1,777,867 | |||
Two Shamrocks, Inc. |
1,600,000 | |||
Fountain Consulting, Inc. |
1,482,000 | |||
St Ives Consulting, Inc. |
1,368,000 | |||
STL Capital Holdings, Inc. |
1,638,933 | |||
Duluth Venture Capital Partners |
1,500,000 |
The noteholders acquired the notes in April 2007 from Robert Stinson, the former founder and
controlling stockholder of our company, a company affiliated with Mr. Stinson, and a consulting
company that acted as an advisor to our company in 2004, but was not an affiliate of our company.
The issuance was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, pursuant to Rule
506 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
On May 31, 2007, we consummated our acquisition of SRS Energy, Inc. through the merger of SRS
Acquisition Sub, our wholly-owned subsidiary, with and into SRS Energy. In connection therewith, we
issued a total of 38,623,780 shares of our common stock to the former shareholders of SRS Energy, a
warrant to William Meyer to acquire 1,923,495 shares of our common stock at a price of $0.13 per
share and assumed the Series A Convertible Debentures previously issued by SRS Energy, as
consideration for the acquisition for all of the outstanding shares of SRS Energy. The warrant is
exercisable at any time up until August 31, 2009, when it expires. The issuances were exempt from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act, pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D
promulgated under the Securities Act and Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
On August 21, 2007 and August 31, 2007, we awarded stock options to our (i) executive officers
representing the right to acquire in the aggregate 3,850,000 shares of our common stock, and (ii)
directors, other than Mr. Hennessey, representing the right to acquire in the aggregate 160,000
shares of our common stock. All of these stock options have an exercise price of $0.15 per share.
On August 21, 2007, we also issued to our directors, other than Mr. Hennessey, 600,000 restricted
shares of our common stock in the aggregate at a price of $0.15 per share. The award of stock
options and the issuance of restricted stock to our executive officers and directors were exempt
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 701 promulgated under the
Securities Act. We account for the grants of stock options and restricted stock in accordance with
FASB 123R.
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On August 30, 2007, we issued a warrant to RAM Resources, L.L.C. to purchase 1,923,495 shares of
our common stock at a price of $0.13 per share. The warrant is exercisable at any time in the two
years since its issuance. The warrant was issued as consideration for the full and unconditional
release of the Company from any and all claims of RAM Resources, L.L.C, relating to rights to
acquire shares of our common stock. The issuance was exempt from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act, pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. The fair value of this warrant is recorded in the financial
statements as of December 31, 2007.
Pursuant to a license agreement with HFTA, Inc. dated March 20, 2008, the Company deposited
2,887,687 shares of common stock into an escrow account on May 12, 2008. On September 20, 2008,
962,562 shares were released from escrow and issued to HFTA, Inc. The remaining shares will be
issued upon completion of the demonstration phase if at that time we elect to incorporate the HFTA
technology into the small commercial plant. The issuance was exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act, pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the
Securities Act and Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
During September 2008, the Company commenced an offering of units comprised of a convertible
promissory note and a warrant. As of December 31, 2008, the company raised a total of $607,000 in
investment proceeds. Each convertible promissory note carries a one-year term and a 6% interest
rate. In addition, each promissory note can be converted into shares of the companys common stock,
par value $0.001 per share (the Common Stock), at $0.25 per share at the holders option. Each
note was issued with a warrant to purchase additional shares of Common Stock equal to the principal
amount of the associated note at a price of $0.45 per share. The issuance of units were exempt from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act, pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) and/or Section 4(2)
of the Securities Act.
On September 15, 2008, the Company issued 1,895,000 shares of common stock to four shareholders of
Biomass North America LLC (Licensor) and deposited an additional 4,000,000 shares of common stock
into an escrow account as part of the consideration pursuant to the merger agreement between
Biomass North America Licensing, Inc. (a former subsidiary of the Licensor, Biomass) and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (with Biomass as the surviving subsidiary of the company).
The escrowed shares will be released to the Licensors shareholders if and when the company
commences a commercial development that utilizes the technology acquired in the merger. The
issuance was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, pursuant to Rule 506
of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
On October 22, 2008, the Company issued a warrant to World Waste Technologies, Inc. (WWT) to
purchase 900,000 shares of common stock at a price of $0.45 per share. The warrant is exercisable
at any time for five years from the date of issuance. The warrant was issued as part of the
consideration given to WWT for the companys purchase of Patent No. 6,306,248 (the Patent)
pursuant to a patent purchase agreement with WWT. The Patent is the basis for the pressurized steam
classification technology that cleans and separates municipal solid waste into its component parts.
The issuance was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, pursuant to Rule
506 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
On December 4, 2008, the Company awarded to our executive officers (i) stock options representing
the right to acquire in the aggregate 2,400,000 shares of our common stock, and (ii) restricted
stock representing the right to acquire in the aggregate 180,000 shares of our common stock. All
of these stock options and restricted stock have an exercise price of $0.36 per share. On November
10, 2008, the Company granted 100,000 stock options pursuant to a consulting agreement having an
exercise price of $0.58. The award of stock options and the issuance of restricted stock to our
executive officers and consultant were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. We account for the grants of stock options and
restricted stock in accordance with FASB 123R.
23
Table of Contents
ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data
The following table summarizes certain selected consolidated financial data for Cleantech Biofuels,
Inc. for each of the three years ended December 31, 2008. The information contained in the
following table may not necessarily be indicative of our past or future performance. Such
historical data should be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated financial statements and notes
thereto included elsewhere in this report.
Years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Statements of Operations Data: |
||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||
General and administrative |
$ | 568,115 | $ | 476,937 | $ | 16,496 | ||||||
Professional fees |
430,798 | 279,814 | 47,078 | |||||||||
Research and development |
392,471 | 118,230 | 14,000 | |||||||||
1,391,384 | 874,981 | 77,574 | ||||||||||
Other expense (income): |
||||||||||||
Interest |
179,690 | 64,029 | 2,439 | |||||||||
Amortization of technology license |
15,000 | 20,000 | | |||||||||
Deposit forfeiture |
| | (25,000 | ) | ||||||||
Interest income |
(13,749 | ) | (21,405 | ) | | |||||||
180,941 | 62,624 | (22,561 | ) | |||||||||
Net loss applicable to common stockholders |
$ | 1,572,325 | $ | 937,605 | $ | 55,013 | ||||||
Basic net loss per common share |
$ | 0.03 | $ | 0.02 | ** | |||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
56,857,870 | 45,174,094 | 38,567,100 | |||||||||
Other Data: |
||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
$ | 43,572 | $ | 20,256 | $ | | ||||||
Capital expenditures |
30,180 | 3,355 | | |||||||||
Balance Sheet Data (end of period): |
||||||||||||
Total Assets |
2,805,570 | 777,406 | 117,520 | |||||||||
Debt (1) |
607,478 | 1,400,000 | | |||||||||
Stockholders equity (deficit) |
1,866,257 | (811,615 | ) | (38,166 | ) |
(1) | amounts include both current and long-term portions of Notes Payable,
Debentures and Capital Lease |
|
** | - less than $.01 per share |
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ITEM 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion of our plan of operation should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements and related notes to the financial statements included elsewhere in this report. This
discussion contains forward-looking statements that relate to future events or our future financial
performance. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that
may cause our actual results, levels of activity or performance to be materially different from any
future results, levels of activity or performance. These risks and other factors include, among
others, those listed under Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors and
those included elsewhere in this report.
Plan of Operation
Our company was initially conceived as a fully-integrated producer of cellulosic ethanol using a
technology for cleaning and separating municipal solid waste, also known as MSW, into its component
parts, which we refer to as the PSC technology and a dilute acid hydrolysis technology developed by
Brelsford Engineering, Inc. To further enhance our ability to produce ethanol, in 2008 we licensed
a technology that uses nitric acid to hydrolize biomass into ethanol. The technology developed at
the University of California Berkeley is controlled by HFTA, Inc. pursuant to a Master License
Agreement with the University of California Berkeley and sublicensed to us for the production of
ethanol from MSW.
Based on our investigation and acquisition of new technologies and research and development of our
existing technologies in 2008, we have re-focused our business on the commercialization of our
technology for cleaning and separating MSW into its component parts through the acquisition of
further technology to clean and separate MSW, which we refer to as the Biomass Recovery Process and
is currently in use in a commercial setting in Australia. As a result, we believe this technology
is ready for commercial implementation in the United States and elsewhere. In furtherance of our
new focus, we have begun developing two commercial projects using our technology.
Biomass Feedstock Production
We are currently negotiating a lease for a facility to construct an operating commercial plant in
Chicago, Illinois. The site we intend to lease currently has a commercial waste transfer station in
operation by a third party. In anticipation of completing the lease, the owner of the property has
commenced the permitting process to obtain the permits necessary for us to convert the commercial
waste transfer station into a residential MSW transfer station and install our vessels for
processing the waste delivered to the transfer station into biomass. We will be required to pay the
expenses incurred to date for permitting at the site upon completing our lease. The biomass we
expect to produce will be sold to utilities or other energy producers operating near the plant for
combustion in existing co-fired boilers. We have provided our biomass to different utility owners
for testing the BTU value and emissions profile and universally have been advised by the utilities
that our biomass can be used as a feedstock for combustion together with coal.
We have completed construction of a vessel that can process 10-12 tons of MSW per day and
anticipate operating this vessel beginning in early April 2009 to produce biomass from MSW from the
City of Chicago. We will provide this biomass produced during this testing phase to utilities and
other mass consumers of energy operating in the Chicago area in sufficient quantities to permit
them to test the ability to handle our biomass in their existing material handling operations. Upon
completing this stage of our testing, we intend to seek long-term off-take contracts for the
purchase of our biomass and begin construction of a larger scale plant to process sufficient
biomass to the requirements of our agreements and any other market opportunities to sell the
biomass in the Chicago area.
Upon operating our plant in Chicago and after refining our know-how with respect to implementation
of the technology, we intend to seek to partner with waste haulers, landfill owners and
municipalities to implement the technology across the United States and internationally.
The further implementation of the commercial plant described above would require significant
additional capital, which we currently do not have. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be
able to raise this additional capital. We anticipate that financing for this project will be
provided in large part via tax exempt bond financing. In addition we intend to seek funding and
loan guarantees from local, state and federal authorities. On January 23,
2009, our partner in the Chicago project submitted an application to the City of Chicago for a
$100,000 grant to develop an organic waste processing station in the city. We believe that further
opportunities to utilize governmental assistance will become available for this project.
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Diesel Fuel Production
We are partnering with Green Power, Inc. (Green Power) to build a 200 ton per day MSW processing
station to provide biomass for an existing 100 ton per day diesel fuel production plant. Green
Power has constructed a facility in Pasco, Washington capable of processing up to 100 tons of
organic biomass material per day into diesel. The diesel produced is not biodiesel, but rather a
high grade fuel diesel. Green Power has tested the system with wood waste and other organic matter
and the results have proven superior, however it is difficult and costly to obtain long term
supplies of organic matter to operate the plant on a continuous basis. We believe that the organic
matter we derive from MSW (biomass and plastics) will provide an excellent feedstock for the Green
Power process.
The test vessel to be operated to produce biomass from Chicago MSW as described previously will be
moved to Pasco, Washington within the next few weeks. We will operate this small vessel for
sufficient time to enable an independent verification of the inputs and outputs to the system as
well as completing a full feasibility study for the technology.
If the results from this stage of operations are successful, we plan to construct a system to
process 200 tons of MSW (creating approximately 100 tons of usable biomass) daily at the Pasco
plant. We anticipate the total costs to construct and operate the full system will be $4.0 million
to $5.0 million. We have applied to the USDA for a grant pursuant to its Repowering America
Program to offset part of this cost. Additionally, the company and Green Power have had
preliminary discussions about a possible equity investment in our company in an amount that will
enable us to complete this construction, regardless of whether governmental assistance becomes
available.
As a result of the limited operating history of our company, prior years financial statements
provide little information and virtually no guidance as to our future performance. In order to
finance our business beyond this stage, we will be required to raise additional capital. Management
plans to secure additional funds through government grants, project financings and through future
sales of the Companys common stock, preferred stock or debentures, until such time as the
Companys revenues are sufficient to meet its cost structure, and ultimately achieve profitable
operations. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result
from the outcome of these uncertainties. We may not be able to secure financing on favorable
terms, or at all. If we are unable to obtain acceptable financing on a timely basis, our business
will likely fail and our common stock may become worthless.
Results of Operations
For accounting purposes, we treated our acquisition of SRS Energy as a recapitalization of our
company. As a result, we treat the historical financial information of SRS Energy as our
historical financial information. Prior to the merger, SRS Energy did not pay salary to Ed
Hennessey or any other persons. All of the indebtedness of SRS Energy outstanding at the time of
the merger from its operations was paid from the closing proceeds of the sale of the Series A
Convertible Debentures.
26
Table of Contents
General
Prior to April 2007, we had limited operations. In April 2007, we raised $1,400,000 and commenced
implementing our original plan of operations for cellulosic ethanol. As described above, we have
since commenced our plan our operation for biomass production for multiple renewable energy uses.
In particular, we experienced the following specific changes in our operations:
Year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the year ended December 31, 2007
2008 | 2007 | Change | % Change | |||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
$ | 568,115 | $ | 476,937 | $ | 91,178 | 19 | % | ||||||||
Professional fees |
430,798 | 279,814 | 150,984 | 54 | % | |||||||||||
Research and development |
392,471 | 118,230 | 274,241 | 232 | % | |||||||||||
1,391,384 | 874,981 | 516,403 | ||||||||||||||
Other expense (income): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest |
179,690 | 64,029 | 115,661 | 181 | % | |||||||||||
Amortization of technology license |
15,000 | 20,000 | (5,000 | ) | -25 | % | ||||||||||
Interest income |
(13,749 | ) | (21,405 | ) | 7,656 | -36 | % | |||||||||
Net loss applicable to common stockholders |
$ | 1,572,325 | $ | 937,605 | $ | 634,720 | 68 | % | ||||||||
Costs and expenses:
General and administrative The increase in 2008 is due primarily to increased expenses of
approximately $180,000 for share-based compensation and $150,000 for payroll, office and other
administrative expenses offset by decreased marketing expenses and recording the fair value of
$125,000 for the RAM warrant settlement in 2007.
Professional fees The increase in 2008 is due to increased costs incurred for legal fees related
to general business activities and ongoing litigation.
Research and development The increase in 2008 is due to increased costs related to the continued
development of our technologies and the write-off of the balance of $97,500 for previously
capitalized technology that will no longer be used.
Other expense (income):
Interest expense The increase in 2008 is due primarily to the amortization of approximately
$140,000 of discounts related to various notes and interest on those notes offset by a reduction of
interest on the Series A Convertible Debentures as all except $140,000 of the $1.4 million of
debentures were converted in March and April 2008.
Year ended December 31, 2007 compared to the year ended December 31, 2006
2007 | 2006 | Change | % Change | |||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
$ | 476,937 | $ | 16,496 | $ | 460,441 | 2791 | % | ||||||||
Professional fees |
279,814 | 47,078 | 232,736 | 494 | % | |||||||||||
Research and development |
118,230 | 14,000 | 104,230 | 745 | % | |||||||||||
874,981 | 77,574 | 797,407 | ||||||||||||||
Other expense (income): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest |
64,029 | 2,439 | 61,590 | 2525 | % | |||||||||||
Amortization of technology license |
20,000 | | 20,000 | NM | ||||||||||||
Deposit forfeiture |
| (25,000 | ) | 25,000 | -100 | % | ||||||||||
Interest income |
(21,405 | ) | | (21,405 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
Net loss applicable to common stockholders |
$ | 937,605 | $ | 55,013 | $ | 882,592 | 1604 | % | ||||||||
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Table of Contents
Costs and expenses:
General and administrative The increase in 2007 is due primarily to marketing expenses, recording
the fair value of the RAM warrant settlement and salary paid to our Chief Executive Officer
commencing in April 2007.
Professional fees The increase in 2007 is due to increased costs incurred for legal, consulting
and accounting fees related to the private placement of the Series A Convertible Debentures, the
reverse merger and an increase in general business activities.
Research and development The increase in 2007 is due to payments made to Merrick & Company as
commencement of our proof of concept/demonstration phase began during the third quarter 2007. The
expense in 2006 was paid to Merrick & Company for costs associated with initial consultation
regarding entering into an agreement to use Merrick & Company to test, evaluate, design and
construct a pilot scale system of our technologies.
Other expense (income):
Interest expense The increase in 2007 is due to the issuance in April 2007 of the Series A
Convertible Debentures, which accrue interest at 6.0% per annum. Interest on the debentures in 2007
is approximately $60,000.
Amortization of technology license As the proof of concept/demonstration phase began during the
third quarter 2007 we have begun to amortize the technology license fees previously capitalized.
Deposit forfeiture The forfeiture was a nonrefundable deposit in the amount of $25,000 paid to us
in 2006 with respect to our negotiation of a potential transaction. After the negotiation period
lapsed, we retained the deposit.
Interest income The income in 2007 is primarily interest on $450,000 of promissory notes issued
to us as part of the consideration for the issuance of the Series A Convertible Debentures.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As a development-stage company, we have no revenues and will be required to raise additional
capital in order to execute our business plan and commercialize our products.
Beginning in September 2008 and as of March 24, 2009, we raised $642,000 from investors in exchange
for units comprised of a convertible note and a warrant. We are continuing to explore opportunities
to raise cash through the issuance of these units and other financing opportunities. As of March
27, 2009, our current cash will be sufficient to fund approximately the next one to two months.
Thereafter, we anticipate requiring additional capital to continue our plan of operation. These
costs will be substantially greater than our current available funds. We currently expect
attempting to obtain additional financing through the sale of additional equity and/or possibly
through strategic alliances with larger energy or waste management companies. However, we may not
be successful in securing additional capital. If we are not able to obtain additional financing in
the near-term future, we will be required to delay our development until such financing becomes
available. Further, even assuming that we secure additional funds, we may never achieve
profitability or positive cash flow. If we are not able to timely and successfully raise additional
capital and/or achieve profitability or positive cash flow, we will not have sufficient capital
resources to implement our business plan.
Debt
Convertible Notes Payable
During September 2008, the Company commenced an offering of units comprised of a convertible
promissory note and a warrant. As of December 31, 2008, the Company raised a total of $607,000 of
investment proceeds. Each convertible promissory note carries a one-year term and a 6% interest
rate. In addition, each note can be converted, at the note holders option, at any time during the
one-year term into shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the Common
Stock), at $0.25 per share, or prior to the closing of any Qualifying Equity Financing (minimum
capital received of $5 million). Each note was issued with a warrant to purchase additional shares
of Common Stock equal to the principal amount of the promissory note at a price of $0.45 per share.
These
promissory notes have been recorded as short-term debt (notes payable) in the financial statements,
net of discounts for the conversion and warrant features. The discounts are being amortized on a
straight-line basis over the term of each note. For the year ended December 31, 2008, amortization
of approximately $92,000 for these discounts has been recorded in interest expense.
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WWT Note Payable
On October 22, 2008, the Company completed the purchase of Patent No. 6,306,248 (the Patent)
pursuant to a Patent Purchase Agreement (Agreement) with World Waste Technologies, Inc. (WWT).
The Patent is the basis for the pressurized steam classification technology that cleans and
separates municipal solid waste into its component parts, which the Company had licensed from
Bio-Products International, Inc. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company issued to WWT a note in the
amount of $450,000 and a warrant to purchase 900,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.45 per
share related to the purchase of the Patent. The note matures on July 22, 2009, bears interest at
6.0% per annum and is secured by a security interest in the Patent. The warrants are exercisable
at any time for five years from the date of issuance. The value of these warrants has been recorded
as a contra-balance amount discount with the note and is being amortized through interest expense
over the life of the note. For the year ended December 31, 2008, amortization of approximately
$44,000 for this discount has been recorded in interest expense.
Note Payable
On September 15, 2008, the Company consummated the acquisition of Biomass North America Licensing,
Inc. (Biomass) pursuant to a merger between Biomass and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company
(with Biomass as the surviving subsidiary of the Company) in accordance with an Agreement and Plan
of Merger by and between the Company and Biomass. By virtue of the merger, the Company acquired a
license agreement pursuant to which the Company holds a license in the United States and Canada to
use patent pending technology owned by Biomass North America, LLC, the former parent of Biomass
(the Licensor), to clean and separate municipal solid waste (the Technology).
Upon consummation of the merger, the Company issued a promissory note in the original principal
amount of $80,000 bearing interest at 6% per annum and is due April 10, 2009. If the amount due
under the Note is not paid during the term of the Note, the holder has a right to receive 123,000
shares of the Companys common stock, par value $.001 per share (Common Stock), in addition to
receiving the principal and interest due on the Note. Additionally, the Company issued to the four
shareholders of the Licensor a total of 1,895,000 shares of Common Stock and deposited an
additional 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock into an escrow account (collectively, the Shares).
The Shares were issued as part of the merger consideration received by the shareholders of the
Licensor. The escrowed shares will be released to the Licensors shareholders if and when the
Company commences a commercial development that utilizes the Technology.
Series A Convertible Debentures
In April 2007, the Company sold $1,400,000 of Series A Convertible Debentures (Debentures), due
April 16, 2010, that convert into shares of the Companys common stock at $.15 per share. The
Company filed a registration statement with regard to the sale of these shares of common stock,
which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 2, 2008. The
debentures accrue interest at 6% per annum. The interest is payable in cash or shares of the
Companys common stock at the Companys option. The Debenture Holders can convert their amount into
shares at any time until the due date. The maximum number of shares that would be issued at the due
date is 11,013,333.
During March 2008, various debenture holders converted an aggregate amount of $630,000 of our
Debentures, plus interest earned, into 4,433,067 shares of our common stock. During April 2008,
various debenture holders converted an aggregate amount of $630,000 of our Debentures, plus
interest earned, into 4,455,844 shares of our common stock. These transactions converted in the
aggregate $1,260,000 of our Debentures, leaving $140,000 remaining to be converted. As of December
31, 2008, $140,000 of our Debentures remained outstanding and eligible for conversion.
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Summary of Cash Flow Activity
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Net cash used by operating activities |
$ | (866,285 | ) | $ | (715,165 | ) | $ | (85,471 | ) | |||
Net cash used by investing activities |
(200,180 | ) | (3,355 | ) | | |||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
1,042,726 | 838,856 | 84,914 |
Net cash used by operating activities
During 2008, cash used by operating activities was impacted primarily by increases in accounts
payable and other accrued liabilities.
Net cash used by investing activities
During 2008, cash used by investing activities was for the acquisition of a patent, the merger of
Biomass North America Licensing, Inc. and capital expenditures. Investing activities in 2007 was
for capital expenditures.
Net cash provided by financing activities
During 2008, cash provided by financing activities was primarily from the issuance of our
Convertible Notes for $607,000 and the remaining portion of the Series A Convertible Debentures
plus interest of $474,900. During 2007, cash provided by financing activities was from the Series A
Convertible Debentures of $950,000 offset by repayments of advances to related parties.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
In the table below, we set forth our obligations as of December 31, 2008. Some of the figures we
include in this table are based on our estimates and assumptions about these obligations, including
their durations, anticipated actions by third parties and other factors. The obligations we may pay
in future periods may vary from those reflected in this table because of estimates or actions of
third parties as disclosed in the notes to the table.
Payments due by Period | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less than 1 | More than | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | year | 1 to 3 years | 4 to 5 years | 5 years | ||||||||||||||||
Convertible Notes (1) |
$ | 643,420 | $ | 643,420 | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
WWT Note (2) |
470,250 | 470,250 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Note Payable (2) |
46,600 | 46,600 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Series A Convertible Debentures (3) |
140,000 | | 140,000 | | | |||||||||||||||
Capital Lease (4) |
12,150 | 5,400 | 6,750 | | | |||||||||||||||
Operating Lease (5) |
43,200 | 21,600 | 21,600 | | | |||||||||||||||
Total contractual obligations |
$ | 1,355,620 | $ | 1,187,270 | $ | 168,350 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
(1) | Amount represents value of principal amount of notes and estimates for interest. These notes are with various
individuals, carry one-year terms and are convertible into shares of the Companys common stock at the noteholders option |
|
(2) | Amount represents value of principal amount of note and interest through term of note. |
|
(3) | Debentures are convertible at Companys option into shares of the Companys common stock. |
|
(4) | Represents lease on office furniture. |
|
(5) | Represents lease for office space. The lease is for three years from occupancy date of January 2008. |
Additionally, we have the following commitment that will require us to make payments as set forth
below:
Merrick & Company. We have entered into an engagement agreement with Merrick & Company to develop a
complete project management plan. For the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we incurred
approximately $118,000 and $104,000, respectively, for engineering, design and consulting services.
In 2008, we completed our initial project plan with Merrick & Company. We intend to continue to
engage Merrick & Company on an as needed basis as we proceed with engineering review and testing of
our technologies.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.
We have not entered into any transaction, agreement or other contractual arrangement with an
unconsolidated entity under which we have:
| a retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to the unconsolidated entity or
similar arrangement that serves as credit; |
| liquidity or market risk support to such entity for such assets; |
| an obligation, including a contingent obligation, arising out of a variable interest in
an unconsolidated entity that is held by, and material to, us where such entity provides
financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to, or engages in leasing,
hedging, or research and development services with us. |
Critical Accounting Estimates
Intangible Assets Our acquisition and merger in 2008 have resulted in aggregate licensing assets
of approximately $2.0 million. We are required to conduct impairment tests of intangible assets on
an annual basis and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more
likely than not reduce the fair value of an asset below its carrying value. As we have not
commenced commercial operations, these assets have not yet been placed in service. We will conduct
our impairment tests in 2009. In 2008, we determined that we are no longer going to use the
Brelsford technology for which an asset was previous capitalized and partially amortized. At
December 31, 2008, the net remaining asset of $97,500 was written-off through our research and
development expense for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Deferred Taxes We recognize deferred income tax liabilities and assets for the expected future
tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the financial statements or tax returns.
Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the differences
between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using
enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The
Company incurred no income taxes to date. Any benefits are the result of temporary differences
(start-up costs, stock compensation and other items) and operating loss carryforwards. The
difference between the expected income tax benefit and non-recognition of an income tax benefit in
each period is the result of a valuation allowance applied to deferred tax assets. A valuation
allowance in the same amount of the benefit has been provided to reduce the deferred tax asset, as
realization of the asset is not assured.
Stock-Based Compensation We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with SFAS No. 123,
Share-Based Payment (SFAS No. 123(R)). Under the fair value recognition provisions of this
statement, the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments is
measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award. Stock-based compensation expense
is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is
generally equivalent to the vesting term. We use the Black-Scholes model to determine the fair
value of certain share-based awards, such as stock options. The use of the Black Scholes model
requires the use of highly subjective assumptions, such as the volatility of our stock price and
our expected dividend yield.
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Currently, all of our debt instruments (Notes Payable, Debentures and Capital Lease) carry fixed
interest rates. We do not have any arrangements for borrowings under a credit facility. We
currently have no operations and are not subject to any currency fluctuations or credit risk.
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ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplemental Data
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors
CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.
CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.
I have audited the accompanying balance sheet of CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. as of December 31, 2008
and 2007, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders deficit and cash flows
for each years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 and for the period July 14, 2004 (inception)
to December 31, 2008. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys
management. My responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on my
audits.
I conducted my audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States). Those standards require that I plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An
audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the
financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. I believe that my audits provide a reasonable basis for my opinion.
In my opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects,
the financial position of CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the
results of its operations and its cash flows for each year then ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006 and for the period from July 14, 2004 (inception) to December 31, 2008, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
The accompanying financial statements have been presented on the basis that it is a going concern,
which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal
course of business. The Company has an accumulated deficit of $2,707,544 at December 31, 2008.
Additionally, for the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company used cash in operations of
$866,285. These matters raise substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going
concern. Managements plans in regards to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial
statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
March 25, 2009
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MANAGEMENTS ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over
financial reporting as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Internal control over financial reporting provides reasonable assurance of
the reliability of our financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. Internal control involves
maintaining records that accurately represent our business transactions, providing reasonable
assurance that receipts and expenditures of company assets are made in accordance with management
authorization, and providing reasonable assurance that unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition
of company assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements would be detected
or prevented on a timely basis.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent
or detect misstatement. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are
subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in condition, or that the
degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting based on the framework in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee
of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this evaluation under the
framework in Internal Control Integrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal
control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2008. The effectiveness of the
Companys internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, has not been audited
by Larry ODonnell, CPA, P.C., an independent registered public accounting firm, as there was no
Securities and Exchange Commission requirement for CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. to obtain this audit as of December
31, 2008.
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Table of Contents
CLEANTECH BIOFUELS, INC.
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
BALANCE SHEET
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
BALANCE SHEET
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 96,617 | $ | 120,356 | ||||
Receivables: |
||||||||
Interest |
| 19,425 | ||||||
Promissory notes |
| 450,000 | ||||||
Prepaids and other current assets |
68,345 | 72,026 | ||||||
164,962 | 661,807 | |||||||
Property and equipment, net |
18,826 | 3,099 | ||||||
Non-current assets: |
||||||||
Technology licenses, net |
2,021,782 | 112,500 | ||||||
Patents |
600,000 | | ||||||
Total Assets |
$ | 2,805,570 | $ | 777,406 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY (DEFICIT) |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 238,925 | $ | 91,988 | ||||
Accrued interest |
26,660 | 60,433 | ||||||
Accrued professional fees and other |
66,250 | 36,600 | ||||||
Notes Payable, net |
456,712 | | ||||||
Capital lease |
4,649 | | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
793,196 | 189,021 | ||||||
Capital Lease |
6,117 | | ||||||
Series A Convertible Debentures |
140,000 | 1,400,000 | ||||||
STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY (DEFICIT) |
||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 authorized shares; no shares
issued or outstanding |
| | ||||||
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 240,000,000 authorized shares;
61,270,153 and 49,343,680 shares issued and outstanding at
December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively |
61,270 | 49,344 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
4,675,098 | 364,260 | ||||||
Notes receivable restricted common shares issued to Directors and Employees |
(162,567 | ) | (90,000 | ) | ||||
Deficit accumulated during the development stage |
(2,707,544 | ) | (1,135,219 | ) | ||||
Total Stockholders Equity (Deficit) |
1,866,257 | (811,615 | ) | |||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders Equity (Deficit) |
$ | 2,805,570 | $ | 777,406 | ||||
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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Table of Contents
CLEANTECH BIOFUELS, INC.
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
July 14, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
(inception) to | ||||||||||||||||
Years ended December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 | |||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
$ | 568,115 | $ | 476,937 | $ | 16,496 | $ | 1,067,750 | ||||||||
Professional fees |
430,798 | 279,814 | 47,078 | 759,441 | ||||||||||||
Research and development |
392,471 | 118,230 | 14,000 | 524,701 | ||||||||||||
1,391,384 | 874,981 | 77,574 | 2,351,892 | |||||||||||||
Other expense (income): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest |
179,690 | 64,029 | 2,439 | 246,458 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of technology license |
15,000 | 20,000 | | 35,000 | ||||||||||||
Deposit forfeiture |
| | (25,000 | ) | (25,000 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest income |
(13,749 | ) | (21,405 | ) | | (35,154 | ) | |||||||||
180,941 | 62,624 | (22,561 | ) | 221,304 | ||||||||||||
Net loss applicable to common stockholders |
$ | 1,572,325 | $ | 937,605 | $ | 55,013 | $ | 2,573,196 | ||||||||
Basic net loss per common share |
$ | 0.03 | $ | 0.02 | ** | $ | 0.06 | |||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
56,857,870 | 45,174,094 | 38,567,100 | 44,137,431 | ||||||||||||
** | - less than $.01 per share |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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CLEANTECH BIOFUELS, INC.
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
Statements of Changes in Stockholders Deficit
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
Statements of Changes in Stockholders Deficit
Notes Rec | ||||||||||||||||||||
restricted | ||||||||||||||||||||
common | July 14, 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||
Additional | shares issued | (inception) to | ||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-in | to Directors | December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | and Employees | 2008 | ||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2005 |
38,509,371 | $ | 38,509 | $ | (28,409 | ) | $ | | $ | (8,253 | ) | |||||||||
Common stock sold for cash in January
2006 at $.13 per share |
115,413 | 116 | 14,884 | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
(55,013 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2006 |
38,624,784 | 38,625 | (13,525 | ) | | (63,266 | ) | |||||||||||||
Shares effectively issued to former
AETA stockholders in recapitalization
in May 2007 |
752,096 | 752 | (134,348 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Conversion of promissory notes in
May 2007 at $.014 per share |
9,366,800 | 9,367 | 124,229 | |||||||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted shares to Directors
in August 2007 at $.15 per share |
600,000 | 600 | 89,400 | (90,000 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Fair value of RAM warrants issued in
August 2007 at $.13 per share |
125,027 | |||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
39,129 | |||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
(937,605 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2007 |
49,343,680 | 49,344 | 364,260 | (90,000 | ) | (1,135,219 | ) | |||||||||||||
Conversion of promissory notes in
March 2008 at $.15 per share |
4,433,067 | 4,433 | 660,527 | |||||||||||||||||
Conversion of promissory notes in
April 2008 at $.15 per share |
4,455,844 | 4,456 | 663,921 | |||||||||||||||||
Shares released from escrow to HFTA in
September 2008 at $.52 per share |
962,562 | 962 | 499,570 | |||||||||||||||||
Shares issued in accordance with Biomass
North America Licensing, Inc. merger
in September 2008 at $.75 per share |
1,895,000 | 1,895 | 1,419,355 | |||||||||||||||||
Discounts on Notes Payable |
783,853 | |||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted shares to Employees
in December 2008 at $.36 per share |
180,000 | 180 | 64,620 | (64,800 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Interest on Notes Receivable |
(7,767 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
218,992 | |||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
(1,572,325 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2008 |
61,270,153 | $ | 61,270 | $ | 4,675,098 | $ | (162,567 | ) | $ | (2,707,544 | ) | |||||||||
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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Table of Contents
CLEANTECH BIOFUELS, INC.
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
July 14, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
Year Ended | (inception) to | |||||||||||||||
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 | |||||||||||||
Operating Activities |
||||||||||||||||
Net loss applicable to common stockholders |
$ | (1,572,325 | ) | $ | (937,605 | ) | $ | (55,013 | ) | $ | (2,573,196 | ) | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss applicable to common
stockholders to net cash used by operating activities: |
||||||||||||||||
Items that did not use (provide) cash: |
||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued for organizational costs |
| | | 100 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation |
28,572 | 256 | | 28,828 | ||||||||||||
Amortization |
15,000 | 20,000 | | 35,000 | ||||||||||||
Interest income |
(7,767 | ) | | | (7,767 | ) | ||||||||||
Amortization of discounts (interest expense) and
other financing charges |
138,952 | | | 138,952 | ||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
218,992 | 39,129 | | 258,121 | ||||||||||||
Write-off of technology license |
97,500 | | | 97,500 | ||||||||||||
Fair value of RAM warrant settlement |
| 125,027 | | 125,027 | ||||||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities that provided
(used) cash, net: |
||||||||||||||||
Prepaids and other current assets |
3,681 | (72,026 | ) | | (68,345 | ) | ||||||||||
Technology license |
| (15,000 | ) | (75,000 | ) | (132,500 | ) | |||||||||
Accounts payable |
146,937 | 91,988 | | 238,925 | ||||||||||||
Other assets and other liabilities |
34,523 | 38,569 | 2,439 | 75,531 | ||||||||||||
Accrued liabilities |
29,650 | (5,503 | ) | 42,103 | 66,250 | |||||||||||
Net cash used by operating activities |
(866,285 | ) | (715,165 | ) | (85,471 | ) | (1,717,574 | ) | ||||||||
Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Investing Activities |
||||||||||||||||
Acquisition of patent, net |
(150,000 | ) | | | (150,000 | ) | ||||||||||
Merger of Biomass North America Licensing, Inc.,
net |
(20,000 | ) | | | (20,000 | ) | ||||||||||
Acquisition of HFTA technology, net |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Expenditures for equipment |
(30,180 | ) | (3,355 | ) | | (33,535 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash used by investing activities |
(200,180 | ) | (3,355 | ) | | (203,535 | ) | |||||||||
Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Financing Activities |
||||||||||||||||
Advances related parties |
| (111,144 | ) | 69,914 | | |||||||||||
Payments on capital lease, including interest |
(3,787 | ) | | | (3,787 | ) | ||||||||||
Series A Convertible Debentures, including interest |
474,900 | 950,000 | | 1,424,900 | ||||||||||||
Issuance of Convertible Notes Payable |
607,000 | | | 607,000 | ||||||||||||
Payments on Note Payable |
(35,387 | ) | (35,387 | ) | ||||||||||||
Sale of common stock |
| | 15,000 | 25,000 | ||||||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
1,042,726 | 838,856 | 84,914 | 2,017,726 | ||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
(23,739 | ) | 120,336 | (557 | ) | 96,617 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
120,356 | 20 | 577 | | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 96,617 | $ | 120,356 | $ | 20 | $ | 96,617 | ||||||||
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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CLEANTECH BIOFUELS, INC.
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS contd
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS contd
July 14, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
Year Ended | (inception) to | |||||||||||||||
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 | |||||||||||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
||||||||||||||||
Cash paid for interest |
$ | 1,174 | $ | 6,036 | $ | | $ | 7,210 | ||||||||
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and
financing activities: |
||||||||||||||||
Promissory notes receivable related to Series A
Convertible Debentures |
$ | | $ | 450,000 | $ | | $ | 450,000 | ||||||||
Capital lease related to the purchase of equipment |
$ | 14,119 | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
Common stock issued for organizational costs |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 100 | ||||||||
Common stock issued for promissory notes |
$ | | $ | 133,596 | $ | | $ | 133,596 | ||||||||
Common stock issued for Debentures converted |
$ | 1,333,337 | $ | | $ | | $ | 1,333,337 | ||||||||
Common stock and note payable issued for
acquisition of Biomass |
$ | 1,501,250 | $ | | $ | | $ | 1,501,250 | ||||||||
Common stock issued for HFTA |
$ | 500,532 | $ | | $ | | $ | 500,532 | ||||||||
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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CLEANTECH BIOFUELS, INC.
(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE COMPANY)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE COMPANY)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 Organization and Business
Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc. (the Company), was incorporated in Delaware on December
20, 1996. Effective August 2, 2007, the Company changed its name to CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.
On March 27, 2007, the Company acquired SRS Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (SRS Energy),
pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization. In accordance with the merger
agreement, SRS Acquisition Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company, merged with and into SRS Energy. The merger was consummated on May 31, 2007 and resulted
in SRS Energy becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. As a result of the merger, the
stockholders of SRS Energy surrendered all of their issued and outstanding common stock and
received shares of the Companys common stock, $.001 par value per share. The former parent of SRS
Energy, Supercritical Recovery Systems, Inc., immediately prior to the merger, distributed 78.8% of
its 96% ownership in SRS Energy to its shareholders on a pro rata basis.
For accounting purposes, because the Company had been a public shell company prior to the merger,
the merger was treated as an acquisition of the Company and a recapitalization of SRS Energy. As a
result, the historical information of the Company prior to the merger disclosed in this report is
that of SRS Energy. In addition, historical share amounts have been restated to reflect the effect
of the merger.
The Company is a development stage company that has been engaged in technology development and
pre-operational activities since its formation, however the Company has commenced developing two
potential commercial projects. These projects plan to focus on cleaning and separating municipal
solid waste (also referred to as MSW) into its component parts in order to obtain a homogenous
feedstock of cellulosic biomass and plastics for energy production. The Company has limited
exclusive licenses to technology designed to convert cellulosic feedstocks, including MSW, into
combustible sources of energy.
The Company has no operating history as a producer of biomass or energy sources and has not
constructed any plants to date. It has no revenues to date and expects that its current capital and
other existing resources will be sufficient only to provide a limited amount of working capital.
The Company will require substantial additional capital to implement its business plan and it may
be unable to obtain the capital required to do so. If we are not able to timely and successfully
raise additional capital and/or achieve profitability or positive cash flow, we will be required to
delay our development and may not be able to implement our business plan.
Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Management makes
these estimates using the best information available at the time the estimates are made; however,
actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Except where otherwise noted, the
words we, us, our, and similar terms, as well as CleanTech or the Company, refer to
CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. and its subsidiaries, collectively.
Consolidation The financial statements include the accounts of Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. and its
wholly owned subsidiaries, SRS Energy, Inc. and Biomass North America Licensing, Inc. All
significant intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.
Research and Development Costs Research and development expenditures, including payments to
collaborative research partners and research and development costs (which are comprised of costs
incurred in performing research and development activities including wages and associated employee
benefits, facilities and overhead costs) are expensed as incurred.
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Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company records impairment losses on long-lived assets used
in operations and finite lived intangible assets when events and circumstances indicate the assets
might be impaired and/or the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are
less than their carrying amounts. The impairment loss is measured by comparing the fair value of
the asset to its carrying amount.
Intellectual Property Intellectual property, consisting of our licensed patents and other
proprietary technology, are stated at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over their
economic estimated useful life. Costs and expenses incurred in creating intellectual property are
expensed as incurred. The cost of purchased intellectual property is capitalized.
Property, plant and equipment Newly acquired property, plant and equipment are carried at cost
less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the
assets, on the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes. Expenditures for maintenance
and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.
Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, which requires the Company to
provide a net deferred tax asset/liability equal to the expected future tax benefit/expense of
temporary reporting differences between financial statement and tax accounting methods and any
available operating loss or tax credit carry forwards. The deferred tax assets and liabilities
represent the future tax return consequences of those differences, which will either be deductible
or taxable when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. Deferred taxes also are
recognized for operating losses and tax credits that are available to offset future taxable income.
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48
(FIN 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxesan interpretation of SFAS No. 109, Accounting
for Income Taxes, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. FIN 48 prescribes
a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and
measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The interpretation
requires that we recognize in the financial statements, the impact of a tax position, if that
position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the
position. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties,
accounting in interim periods and disclosure. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective beginning
January 1, 2007 with the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle recorded as an
adjustment to opening retained earnings. The Company adopted FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007 and
there was no impact on the Companys financial statements.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments The fair value of financial instruments approximated their
carrying values at December 31, 2008. The financial instruments consist of cash, accounts payable,
accrued liabilities and debt.
Convertible Notes Payable and Warrants The Company has issued Convertible Promissory Notes
(Notes). These Notes may be converted at the option of the noteholder into shares of the
Companys common stock. Additionally, these Notes carry warrants for shares of the Companys common
stock equal to the principal amount of the Note. The Company accounts for these Notes in accordance
with SFAS No. 133, Derivatives, EITF Abstract Issue No. 98-5, Accounting for Convertible Securities
with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios, EITF Abstract
Issue No. 00-27, Application of Issue No. 98-5 to Certain Convertible Instruments.
Comprehensive Income SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income, establishes requirements for
disclosure of comprehensive income (loss). During the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the
Company did not have any components of comprehensive income (loss) to report.
Net Loss per Common Share The Company calculates basic loss per share (EPS) and diluted EPS.
Basic loss per share is computed as net loss divided by the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS would reflect the potential dilution that could
occur from common shares issuable through stock options, warrants, and other convertible
securities. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company had options and warrants to purchase an
aggregate of 21,226,773 and 17,593,212 shares of common stock, respectively, that were excluded
from the calculation of diluted loss per share as their effects would have been anti-dilutive.
Therefore, the Company only presents basic loss per share on the face of the statements of
operations and in its disclosure of unaudited quarterly financial data in Note 14.
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Share-based compensation In March 2007, the Company adopted the 2007 Stock Option Plan (Stock
Plan) for its employees, officers, directors and consultants. The Company has reserved a maximum
of 9,000,000 shares of common stock to be issued for stock options or shares of restricted stock
under the Stock Plan.
The Company accounts for stock options and restricted stock issued to employees, directors and
consultants under SFAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment. Under SFAS No. 123(R), share-based
compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award,
and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period. The Company has no awards with
market or performance conditions.
Dividends We have no material operating history and therefore have had no earnings to distribute
to stockholders. Even though we have recommenced operations, we currently intend to retain our
earnings, if any, and reinvest them in the development and growth of our business and do not
foresee payment of a dividend in any upcoming fiscal period.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value
Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Including an Amendment of FASB Statement
No. 115 (SFAS No. 159). This statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial
instruments and certain other items at fair value. Most of the provisions of SFAS No. 159 apply
only to entities that elect the fair value option. However, the amendment to SFAS No. 115,
Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, applies to all entities with
available-for-sale and trading securities. SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of an
entitys first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. Early adoption is permitted as of
the beginning of a fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted SFAS No.
159 effective January 1, 2008 and there was no material impact on the Companys financial
statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, Business Combinations. This statement replaces
SFAS No. 141 and defines the acquirer in a business combination as the entity that obtains control
of one or more businesses in a business combination and establishes the acquisition date as the
date that the acquirer achieves control. SFAS No. 141R requires an acquirer to recognize the assets
acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at the
acquisition date, measured at their fair values as of that date. SFAS No. 141R also requires the
acquirer to recognize contingent consideration at the acquisition date, measured at its fair value
at that date. This statement is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal
years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption is prohibited. The adoption of
this statement in not expected to have a material effect on the Companys financial statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements (SFAS No. 160), which amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial
Statements, to improve the relevance, comparability and transparency of the financial information
that a reporting entity provides in its consolidated financial statements. SFAS No. 160 establishes
accounting and reporting standards that require the ownership interests in subsidiaries not held by
the parent to be clearly identified, labeled and presented in the consolidated statement of
financial position within equity, but separate from the parents equity. This statement also
requires the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the
non-controlling interest to be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated
statement of income. Changes in a parents ownership interest while the parent retains its
controlling financial interest must be accounted for consistently, and when a subsidiary is
deconsolidated, any retained non-controlling equity investment in the former subsidiary must be
initially measured at fair value. The gain or loss on the deconsolidation of the subsidiary is
measured using the fair value of any non-controlling equity investment. The Statement also requires
entities to provide sufficient disclosures that clearly identify and distinguish between the
interests of the parent and the interests of the non-controlling owners. This Statement applies
prospectively to all entities that prepare consolidated financial statements and applies
prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or
after December 15, 2008. The adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material effect
on the Companys financial statements.
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In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities (SFAS No. 161), which requires enhanced disclosures about a companys derivative and
hedging activities. This
Statement is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008.
Management is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of SFAS No. 161 will have on our
financial statement disclosures.
In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles, which will become effective 60 days following the SECs approval of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU Section 411, The Meaning of Present Fairly in
Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The FASB does not expect that this
Statement will result in a change in current practice. However, transition provisions have been
provided within this Statement in the unusual circumstance that the application of the provisions
of this Statement results in a change in practice. The Company believes the implementation of this
standard will have no effect on our financial statements.
Note 3 Property and Equipment
At December 31, our property and equipment consisted of:
December 31, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Computers |
$ | 3,355 | $ | 3,355 | ||||
Furniture and fixtures |
15,799 | | ||||||
Plant and equipment |
25,000 | | ||||||
Construction-in-progress |
3,500 | | ||||||
47,654 | 3,355 | |||||||
Accumulated Depreciation |
(28,828 | ) | (256 | ) | ||||
Total |
$ | 18,826 | $ | 3,099 | ||||
As of December 31, 2008, we paid $3,500 to Hicks Equipment towards a total estimated cost of
approximately $20,000 to construct a vessel for the purpose of processing a sufficient amount of
waste to provide biomass to utilities and other mass consumers of energy in sufficient quantities
to permit them to test the ability to handle our biomass in their existing material handling
operations.
Note 4 Mergers/Acquisitions
On September 15, 2008, the Company consummated the acquisition of Biomass North America Licensing,
Inc. (Biomass) pursuant to a merger between Biomass and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company
(with Biomass as the surviving subsidiary of the Company) in accordance with an Agreement and Plan
of Merger by and between the Company and Biomass. By virtue of the merger, the Company acquired a
license agreement pursuant to which the Company holds a license in the United States and Canada to
use patent pending technology owned by Biomass North America, LLC, the former parent of Biomass
(the Licensor), to clean and separate municipal solid waste (the Biomass Recovery Process).
Upon consummation of the merger, the Company paid $20,000 in cash and issued a promissory note in
the original principal amount of $80,000 bearing interest at an annual rate of 6% (the Note) to a
shareholder of the Licensor. This note is due April 10, 2009 and has a payable balance of
approximately $45,000 as of December 31, 2008. If the amount due under the Note is not paid during
the term of the Note, the holder has a right to receive 123,000 shares of the Companys common
stock, par value $.001 per share (Common Stock), in addition to receiving the principal and
interest due on the Note. Additionally, the Company issued to the four shareholders of the Licensor
a total of 1,895,000 shares of Common Stock and deposited an additional 4,000,000 shares of Common
Stock into an escrow account (collectively, the Shares). The Shares were issued as part of the
merger consideration received by the shareholders of the Licensor. The escrowed shares will be
released to the Licensors shareholders if and when the Company commences a commercial development
that utilizes the Biomass Recovery Process. The Company recorded a long-term asset of approximately
$1.5 million which it will begin to amortize upon utilizing the license in our operations. If the
escrowed shares are released based on the specified future events, an increase to the value of the
asset will be recorded at that time. Based on the market value of Common Stock as of December 31,
2008, it
would result in an approximate increase of approximately $900,000 to the asset. Any future increase
in the value of the asset would depend on the market value of our Common Stock at the time of
utilization.
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Note 5 Patent
On October 22, 2008, the Company completed the purchase of Patent No. 6,306,248 (the Patent)
pursuant to a Patent Purchase Agreement (Agreement) with World Waste Technologies, Inc. (WWT).
The Patent is the basis for the pressurized steam classification technology that cleans and
separates municipal solid waste into its component parts. As part of the acquisition of the Patent,
we also became the licensor of such technology to Bio-Products International, Inc. Upon signing the
Agreement, the Company paid WWT $150,000, issued a note in the amount of $450,000 and issued a
warrant to purchase 900,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.45 per share. The note matures
on July 22, 2009, bears interest at 6.0% per annum and is secured by a security interest in the
Patent. The warrants are exercisable at any time for five years from the date of issuance. The
value of these warrants has been recorded as a contra-balance amount with the note and is being
amortized through interest expense over the life of the note. In addition, the Company issued a
contingent warrant to purchase 900,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.45 per share. The
contingent warrant becomes exercisable if the Company defaults on its obligations under the note
and remains exercisable for five years from that date. This note has been recorded as short-term
debt (notes payable) in the financial statements, net of discounts for the warrant features. For
the year ended December 31, 2008, amortization of this discount of approximately $44,000 has been
recorded in interest expense. At December 31, 2008, the notes payable balance, net of the discount,
related to this note is approximately $320,000.
Note 6 Technology Licenses
Biomass North America Licensing, Inc.
On September 15, 2008, in connection with the acquisition of Biomass described in Note 4
Mergers/Acquisitions, we acquired a license in the United States and Canada to use patent pending
technology owned by Biomass North America, LLC, the former parent of Biomass (the Licensor), to
clean and separate municipal solid waste, which we refer to as the Biomass Recovery Process. As a
result of the merger, a long-term asset of approximately $1.5 million was recorded for the value of
this license. Amortization of this asset will begin upon commencement of the use of the Biomass
Recovery Process. The Company also deposited an additional 4,000,000 shares of the Companys Common
Stock into an escrow account. For accounting purposes, the shares remaining in escrow are not
considered issued and outstanding as a project has not started using the Biomass Recovery Process.
The shares are not deemed issued or vested until that time as described above. As of December 31,
2008, the approximate additional license value to be recorded upon issuing the remaining shares,
based on the market value of our common stock at December 31, 2008, would be approximately
$900,000. Any future increase in the value of the asset would depend on the market value of our
Common Stock at the time of utilization.
The license requires that the Company pay a royalty in the amount of $1.00 per ton of bone-dry
biomass produced using the Biomass Recovery Process. The license agreement is for a term of 21
years or the life of any patent issued for the Biomass Recovery Process. The Company has an
exclusive license in the United States and Canada to use the Biomass Recovery Process, except that
a principal owner of the Licensor has the right of first offer to manage and operate with respect
to any development commenced using the licensed technology within 100 miles of the City of Chicago,
Illinois. The license agreement further provides that Biomass and Licensor will work in good faith
to complete a commercial development in the City of Chicago using the Biomass Recovery Process.
HFTA, Inc.
On March 20, 2008, the Company entered into a license agreement with HFTA, Inc. (HFTA) granting
the Company the exclusive worldwide right to use the HFTA technology for the production of ethanol
from MSW. The terms in the agreement required us to pay an initial license fee of $25,000 to HFTA
on execution of the agreement and a second license fee of $150,000 on September 1, 2009 if we are
using the technology at that time.
Additionally, we deposited 2,887,687 shares of our common stock into an escrow account on May 12,
2008. The shares held in escrow will be released to HFTA as follows: one-third upon the earlier of
six months from the date of the license agreement or the completion of the proof of concept phase
if at that time we elect to continue to use the HFTA technology in the demonstration phase and
two-thirds upon completion of the demonstration phase if at that
time we elect to incorporate the HFTA technology into the small commercial plant. The first third
of the shares (962,562 shares) were released from escrow on September 20, 2008. As a result, the
Company recorded an asset for the value of this share payment of approximately $500,000 and will
begin amortizing this asset upon use of the technology. For accounting purposes, the shares
remaining in escrow are not considered issued and outstanding as the Company has the option to use
or not use the technology and the shares are not deemed issued or vested until that time as
described above. As of December 31, 2008, the approximate license to be recorded upon issuing the
remaining shares, based on the market value of our common stock at December 31, 2008, would be
approximately $425,000. Any future increase in the value of the asset would depend on the market
value of our Common Stock at the time of utilitzation.
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In addition, we are required to pay a process royalty of 4% of the sales price of ethanol less
taxes and applicable fees if the sales price is in excess of $1.50 per gallon, 3% of the sales
price if it is between $1.50 and $1.30 per gallon, and 2% of the sales price if it is less than
$1.30 per gallon. We are also required to pay certain minimum royalties, less the amount of any
process royalties paid, commencing in the calendar year ending December 31, 2010 and in subsequent
years as follows: (i) 2010 -$25,000; (ii) 2011 $25,000; (iii) 2012 $60,000; (iv) increasing by
$20,000 per year for each year thereafter until it reaches $120,000 per year; and (v) $120,000 per
year thereafter.
Bio-Products International, Inc.
On August 17, 2005, the Company entered into a license agreement with Bio-Products International,
Inc. (Bio-Products) giving the Company limited exclusive rights to use Bio-Products technology
(Patent No. 6,306,248) to process MSW and convert the cellulosic component of that waste to a
homogenous feedstock to produce ethanol in the United States, subject to the right of Bio-Products
to request five sites to construct MSW to ethanol plants in the United States. The Companys
license with Bio-Products was for a period of twenty years. Under the license, Bio-Products was to
be paid a process royalty of $1.50 for every ton of waste received and processed at each facility
to be constructed and operated under the agreement. The Company also was required to pay a
by-product royalty of 2.5 percent of the gross sales price in excess of $10 per ton obtained from
the sale of recyclable by-products, excluding the cellulosic biomass. Bio-Products would also have
been paid a monthly fee for technical services to be provided by Bio-Products for each facility to
be constructed and operated which initially would have been $10,000 per month and increase to
$20,000 per month when vessels for processing waste are ordered for the facility. The $20,000 per
month fee would have continued until construction of a facility was completed. The Companys
litigation involving Bio-Products was settled in March 2009 and as a result, this sublicense has
been mutually terminated by all parties. See the Subsequent Event footnote for further information.
As disclosed in a previous footnote, the Company purchased Patent No. 6,306,248 (the Patent)
pursuant to a Patent Purchase Agreement (Agreement) with WWT. The Patent is the basis for the
pressurized steam classification technology that cleans and separates municipal solid waste into
its component parts, which we refer to as the PSC technology. The company is now a licensor to
Bio-Products for this Patent. Bio-Products is the exclusive licensee of the PSC technology (but not
the Biomass Recovery Process) and has the right to sublicense the PSC technology to any party.
Under the Master License Agreement, we are entitled to be paid 5% of any revenue derived by
Bio-Products from the use of the technology and 40% of any sublicensing fees paid to Bio-Products
for the use of the technology. The Master License Agreement is for a term of 20 years that
commenced on August 18, 2003.
Brelsford Engineering, Inc.
On April 1, 2005, the Company entered into a license agreement with Brelsford Engineering, Inc.
(Brelsford) giving the Company the exclusive right to use Brelsfords technology (Patent No.
5,411,594) to convert cellulosic biomass into fuel grade ethanol in the United States. This
agreement was amended in November 2005 to extend the initial evaluation period for the technology.
Under the terms of the license with Brelsford, the Company paid an initial fee of $50,000 and
monthly fees for the trial option premium totaling $67,500 (recorded as a long-term asset in the
aggregate on the balance sheet). The Company also was required to pay a minimum annual fee of
$15,000 and a project fee of $30,000 for each project that commences for the manufacture of a
plant. On August 30, 2007, the Company paid the first project fee in the amount of $30,000 to
Brelsford with respect to the commencement of the design of our pilot plant and Brelsford
simultaneously acknowledged that the Company had met all requirements to maintain the exclusivity
of its license. Brelsford had the right to terminate the license agreement on sixty days notice if
the Company failed to make any payment due under our license agreement. Commencing with the first
project payment, the Company began amortizing costs previously capitalized over the remaining term
of the license. Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 is $15,000 and
$20,000, respectively.
During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company received a termination notice from Brelsford for
non-payment of certain fees. The Company has decided not to use this technology going forward in
our operations and thus have written off the remaining asset as of December 31, 2008. The
impairment loss of $97,500 is included in research and development expense on the statement of
operations for the year ended December 31, 2008.
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All intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or other changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment charge is recognized if the
carrying amount of an intangible asset exceeds its implied fair value.
Note 7 Debt
December 31, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Convertible Notes Payable, net of discounts of $514,797 which are made
up of various individual notes with an aggregate $607,000 face value,
due in one year from date of note, interest at 6.0% |
$ | 92,203 | $ | | ||||
WWT Note Payable, net of discount of $130,105, with a $450,000 face
value, due July 22, 2009, interest at 6.0% |
319,895 | | ||||||
Note Payable, due April 10, 2009, interest at 6.0% |
44,614 | | ||||||
Series A Convertible Debentures, due April 16, 2010, interest at 6.0% |
140,000 | 1,400,000 | ||||||
Total debt |
596,712 | 1,400,000 | ||||||
Current maturities Notes Payable, net |
(456,712 | ) | | |||||
Long-term portion, less current maturities |
$ | 140,000 | $ | 1,400,000 | ||||
Convertible Notes Payable
During September 2008, the Company commenced an offering of units comprised of a convertible
promissory note and a warrant. As of December 31, 2008, the Company raised a total of $607,000 of
investment proceeds. Each convertible promissory note carries a one-year term and a 6% interest
rate. In addition, each note can be converted, at the note holders option, at any time during the
one-year term into shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the Common
Stock), at $0.25 per share, or prior to the closing of any Qualifying Equity Financing (minimum
capital received of $5 million). Each note was issued with a warrant to purchase additional shares
of Common Stock equal to the principal amount of the promissory note at a price of $0.45 per share.
These promissory notes have been recorded as short-term debt (notes payable) in the financial
statements, net of discounts for the conversion and warrant features. The discounts are being
amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of each note. For the year ended December 31,
2008, amortization of approximately $92,000 for these discounts has been recorded in interest
expense.
The Company has continued this offering and received additional investment proceeds subsequent to
the financial statement date. See the Subsequent Event footnote for further information.
WWT Note Payable
As disclosed previously in Note 5, the Company issued to WWT a note in the amount of $450,000 and a
warrant to purchase 900,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.45 per share related to the
purchase of the Patent. The note matures on July 22, 2009, bears interest at 6.0% per annum and is
secured by a security interest in the Patent. The warrants are exercisable at any time for five
years from the date of issuance. The value of these warrants has been recorded as a contra-balance
amount discount with the note and is being amortized through interest expense over the life of the
note. For the year ended December 31, 2008, amortization of approximately $44,000 for this discount
has been recorded in interest expense.
Note Payable
As disclosed previously in Note 4, upon consummation of the merger, the Company issued a promissory
note in the original principal amount of $80,000 bearing interest at 6% per annum and is due April
10, 2009.
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Table of Contents
Series A Convertible Debentures
In April 2007, the Company sold $1,400,000 of Series A Convertible Debentures (Debentures), due
April 16, 2010, that convert into shares of the Companys common stock at $.15 per share. The
Company filed a registration statement with regard to the sale of these shares of common stock,
which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 2, 2008. The
debentures accrue interest at 6% per annum. The interest is payable in cash or shares of the
Companys common stock at the Companys option. The Debenture Holders can convert their amount into
shares at any time until the due date. The maximum number of shares that would be issued at the due
date is 11,013,333.
The Company received cash of $950,000 and Promissory Notes (Notes) with an aggregate principal
amount of $450,000 that accrue interest at 6.0%. Effective with the listing of our common stock on
the OTCBB on March 13, 2008 (previously traded on Pink Sheets) we received full payment on all
principal and accrued interest on the Notes totaling approximately $475,000 on March 14, 2008.
During March 2008, various debenture holders converted an aggregate amount of $630,000 of our
Debentures, plus interest earned, into 4,433,067 shares of our common stock. During April 2008,
various debenture holders converted an aggregate amount of $630,000 of our Debentures, plus
interest earned, into 4,455,844 shares of our common stock. These transactions converted in the
aggregate $1,260,000 of our Debentures, leaving $140,000 remaining to be converted. As of December
31, 2008, $140,000 of our Debentures remained outstanding and eligible for conversion.
Note 8 Stockholders Deficit
In May 2007, the Company acquired SRS Energy through a reverse merger. Pursuant to the merger, the
Company issued 38,624,784 shares of the Companys common stock and a warrant exercisable until
August 31, 2009 to purchase 1,923,495 shares of common stock at $.13 per share to the former
stockholders of SRS Energy in exchange for the cancellation of all of the outstanding capital stock
of SRS Energy and cancellation of an option to acquire 5% of the outstanding capital stock of SRS
Energy. The Company affected a reverse split of its common stock at a ratio of 100 to 1 in January
2007. For accounting purposes, because the Company had been a public shell company prior to the
merger, the merger was treated as an acquisition of the Company and a recapitalization of SRS
Energy. As such, the historical information prior to the merger of the Company disclosed in the
report is that of SRS Energy. Historical share amounts have been restated to reflect the effect of
the merger.
In May 2007, the Company issued 9,366,800 shares of common stock ($.014 per share) upon the
conversion of three promissory notes totaling $114,681 and accrued interest of $18,915.
In March 2008, the Company issued 4,433,067 shares of common stock ($0.15 per share) upon the
conversion of an aggregate amount of $630,000 of the Companys Debentures and accrued interest of
approximately $35,000.
In April 2008, the Company issued 4,455,844 shares of common stock ($0.15 per share) upon the
conversion of an aggregate amount of $630,000 of the Companys Debentures and accrued interest of
approximately $38,000.
In September 2008, the Company released 962,562 shares of common stock ($0.52 per share) to HFTA in
accordance with the previously disclosed licensing agreement with HFTA representing one-third of
the total shares escrowed as part of the compensation for the licensing agreement.
In September 2008, the Company issued 1,895,000 shares of common stock ($0.75 per share) to Biomass
in accordance with the previously disclosed merger agreement.
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Note 9 Related Party Transactions
The Company had a $72,103 advance from one of its board of director members at December 31, 2006
evidenced by a promissory note that accrued interest at 9.5% per annum. The promissory note also
contained an option to acquire 5% of the outstanding capital stock of SRS Energy at a price of
$250,000. In April 2007, the indebtedness under the promissory note was repaid and the promissory
note was cancelled. Under its terms, the right to exercise the option to purchase shares survived
after the repayment of the indebtedness under the note. As part of the merger consideration issued
by the Company pursuant to the acquisition of SRS Energy, the Company issued a warrant exercisable
until August 31, 2009 to purchase 1,923,495 shares of its common stock at $.13 per share to replace
the option included in the promissory note on substantially similar terms as the option.
In August 2007, the Company entered into stock purchase agreements with certain members of the
Board of Directors. In December 2008, the Company entered into stock purchase agreements with the
executive officers. The directors and executive officers issued notes to the Company in exchange
for their stock purchases. See Share-Based Payments footnote for further discussion. These notes
and accumulated interest are recorded as notes receivable in Stockholders Deficit.
The Company had engaged the law firm of Sauerwein, Simon and Blanchard (SSB) related to various
issues including our reverse merger, our SB-2 registration statement, litigation matters and
general business activity. A member of our board of directors is a partner of SSB. For the years
ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we incurred approximately $181,000 and $127,000, respectively, in
legal fees with SSB. As of December 31, 2008, all amounts have been paid to SSB except for
approximately $95,000.
The Company had used Arthur J Gallagher (AJG) as its broker for business and property insurance.
Our CEOs brother was employed by AJG at the time the policies were placed and was involved in the
negotiation of coverage and premiums related to policies. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the
Company paid approximately $3,000 in commissions on policies placed by AJG. The Company placed no
policies and paid no commissions in 2007.
Note 10 Share-based Payments
The Company accounts for stock options and restricted stock issued to employees, directors and
consultants under SFAS No. 123(R), in which share-based compensation costs are measured at the
grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the
requisite service period. The Company has no awards with market or performance conditions.
In March 2007, the Company adopted the 2007 Stock Option Plan (Stock Plan) for its employees,
officers, directors and consultants, which includes an equity compensation plan for non-employee
directors pursuant to which stock options and shares of restricted stock may be granted. The
Company has reserved a maximum of 9,000,000 shares of common stock to be issued for stock options
or restricted shares awarded under the Stock Plan.
In August 2007, the Company granted options under the Stock Plan to purchase an aggregate 3,850,000
shares of common stock to various employees that vest ratably over three years and options to
purchase an aggregate 160,000 shares of common stock to directors that vest ratably over two years.
All of these options have an exercise price of $0.15. The Company also issued an aggregate of
600,000 shares of restricted common stock to our directors. Under the agreements, each of our four
directors agreed to purchase 150,000 shares of restricted common stock of the Company at a cost of
$0.15 per share. The directors issued promissory notes to the Company in exchange for their stock
purchases. The shares purchased by the directors under the agreements are restricted shares subject
to a right, but not obligation, of repurchase by the Company. The Company may exercise its
repurchase right only during the 60 day period following a directors termination of service on the
Board of Directors. Commencing on September 21, 2007, the Companys repurchase rights lapse at the
rate of 8,333 shares per month of continuous service by each director through September 21, 2008,
when the Companys repurchase rights lapse on 4,167 shares per month of continuous board service
until the repurchase rights have lapsed on all restricted shares. At December 31, 2008, 133,344
shares remain subject to a right of repurchase. No outstanding options were cancelled or expired as
of December 31, 2008. During 2008, 1,363,334 of these options vested and were exercisable as of
December 31, 2008.
Pursuant to a settlement agreement, RAM Resources, L.L.C. obtained the right to acquire an
aggregate of 1,923,495 shares of our common stock at a price of $0.13 per share. This warrant is
exercisable during a two year term that
started on August 29, 2007 and ends on August 29, 2009. RAM Resources, L.L.C. agreed to terminate
the Letter Agreement and release all claims to acquire any shares of our stock. The fair value of
$125,027 has been recorded in the Companys general and administrative expenses for the year ended
December 31, 2007 and additional paid in capital at December 31, 2007.
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In November 2008, the Company granted options under the Stock Plan to purchase an aggregate 100,000
shares of common stock to a consultant. The options vest ratably monthly over a one-year period
beginning in December 2008 and have an exercise price of $0.58. In December 2008, the Company
granted options under the Stock Plan to purchase an aggregate 2,400,000 shares of common stock to
various employees that vest in thirds on August 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011 and have an exercise price
of $0.36. The shares previously to be issued to our Chief Executive Officer upon commissioning of
the pilot plant were included in this issuance. The Company also issued an aggregate of 180,000
shares of restricted common stock to our employees. Under the agreements, each of our three
employees agreed to purchase 60,000 shares of restricted common stock of the Company at a cost of
$0.36 per share. The employees issued promissory notes to the Company in exchange for their stock
purchases.
The estimated fair value of stock option grants is computed using the binomial option-pricing
model. Generally, expected volatility is based on historical periods commensurate with contractual
term of options. However, since we have no history of stock price volatility as a public company at
the time of the grants, we calculated volatility by considering historical volatilities of public
companies in our industry. Due to the short history of our industry, the historical period used in
our calculations is shorter than the contractual term of the options. The fair value for options
granted was determined at the date of grant. The following assumptions were used for options
granted in the corresponding year.
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Risk-free interest rate |
1.57 | % | 4.25 | % | ||||
Dividend yield |
0 | % | 0 | % | ||||
Volatility |
36.91 | % | 61.49 | % | ||||
Expected term |
4.8 | 5.0 | ||||||
Fair market value |
$ | 0.12 | $ | 0.08 |
Stock option expense is recognized in the statements of operations ratably over the vesting period
based on the number of options that are expected to ultimately vest. We currently use a forfeiture
rate of zero percent for all existing share-based compensation awards since we have no historical
forfeiture experience under our share-based payment plans. Our options have characteristics
significantly different from those of traded options and changes in the assumptions can materially
affect the fair value estimates.
The following table presents the components of share-based compensation recorded as general and
administrative expense.
For the Year Ended | ||||||||
Dec 31, 2008 | Dec 31, 2007 | |||||||
Pre-tax compensation expense: |
||||||||
Stock options |
$ | 218,992 | $ | 39,129 | ||||
Warrants |
| 125,027 | ||||||
Total expense |
218,992 | 164,156 | ||||||
Tax benefit, net |
| | ||||||
After-tax compensation expense |
$ | 218,992 | $ | 164,156 | ||||
Related to all grants, the Company will record future compensation expense for stock options of
approximately $265,000 for 2009.
The potential tax benefit realizable for the anticipated tax deductions of the exercise of
share-based payments pertaining to stock options totaled approximately $100,000 at December 31,
2008. However, due to the uncertainty that the tax benefits will be realized, these potential
benefits were not recognized currently.
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As of December 31, 2008, there was approximately $375,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related
to all share-based payment arrangements, which will be recognized over a remaining period of
approximately 2.7 years. There are 5,138,333 options granted that are not yet vested as of December
31, 2008. These options have a weighted average exercise price of $0.26.
Weighted | ||||||||||||
Shares Under | Average | Aggregate | ||||||||||
Option | Exercise Price | intrinsic value | ||||||||||
Options outstanding at December 31, 2007 |
4,010,000 | $ | 0.15 | $ | 1,604,000 | |||||||
Granted |
2,500,000 | 0.37 | ||||||||||
Exercised |
| |||||||||||
Forfeited |
| |||||||||||
Options outstanding at December 31, 2008 |
6,510,000 | 0.23 | (1 | ) | ||||||||
Options exercisable at December 31, 2008 |
1,371,667 | $ | 0.15 | $ | 96,017 | |||||||
(1) | The weighted-average exercise price at December 31, 2008 for all outstanding options was
greater than the fair value of the Companys stock on that date, resulting in an aggregate intrinsic value of
$-0-. |
Note 11 Income Taxes
The Company recognizes deferred income tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax
consequences of events that have been recognized in the financial statements or tax returns. Under
this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the differences between
the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted
tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse.
The Company incurred no income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006. The
expected income tax benefit and resulting deferred tax asset for the years ended December 31, 2008,
2007 and 2006 is approximately $585,000, $275,000 and $11,000, respectively. These benefits are
the result of temporary differences (start-up costs, stock compensation and other items) and
operating loss carryforwards. The difference between the expected income tax benefit and
non-recognition of an income tax benefit in each period is the result of a valuation allowance
applied to deferred tax assets. A valuation allowance in the same amount of the benefit has been
provided to reduce the deferred tax asset, as realization of the asset is not assured.
At December 31, 2008, net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $18,000, $182,000 and
$670,000 are available to offset future taxable income and expire in 2026, 2027 and 2028,
respectively. This results in a net deferred tax asset of approximately $339,000 for which the
Company has recorded a full valuation allowance. The net operating loss carryforwards may be
limited under the Change of Control provisions of the Internal Revenue Code section 382.
Temporary differences which give rise to net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2008 and 2007 are:
At December 31, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Start-up costs |
$ | 248,000 | $ | 132,000 | ||||
Net operating loss carryforward |
339,000 | 78,000 | ||||||
Accrual to cash conversion |
163,000 | 49,000 | ||||||
Share-based compensation related to stock options |
100,000 | 15,000 | ||||||
Other |
10,000 | 1,000 | ||||||
Total |
860,000 | 275,000 | ||||||
Valuation allowance |
(860,000 | ) | (275,000 | ) | ||||
Net deferred tax asset |
$ | | $ | | ||||
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Note 12 Commitments and Contingencies
Project management We have entered into an engagement agreement with Merrick & Company to develop
a complete project management plan. For the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we incurred
approximately $118,000 and $104,000, respectively, for engineering, design and consulting services.
In 2008, we completed our initial project plan with Merrick & Company. We intend to continue to
engage Merrick & Company on an as needed basis as we proceed with engineering review and testing of
our technologies.
In December 2007, we entered into an agreement with Hazen Research, Inc. (Hazen) to install and
operate the HFTA equipment at Hazens facility in Golden, Colorado. The agreement also
contemplates the expansion of the scope of work to include the construction and operation of a
demonstration plant. We are billed at an hourly rate for time used by Hazen employees in
connection with our projects. We incurred no costs with Hazen for the year ended December 31, 2007
and $120,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Duluth Litigation We are a defendant in a lawsuit filed on January 6, 2009 by the law firm of
Hand &Hand, L.L.C. on behalf of Duluth Venture Capital Partners, L.L.C., one of our stockholders.
The suit was filed in Superior Court for the State of California. The other defendants to the suit
are our officers and directors, our transfer agent, Keith Mazer and World Capital Funding. The suit
alleges among other things that Duluth Venture Capital Partners, LLC was entitled to transfer
certain shares of the common stock of the Company for which stop orders had been previously issued.
The case was subsequently moved to Federal court in the Southern District of California. On March
10, 2009, we filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The company intends to defend itself vigorously
in this litigation. It is not possible at this time to reasonably assess the outcome of this
lawsuit or the potential impact on the company.
Leases The Company entered into a lease on October 16, 2007 (and took occupancy in January 2008)
to rent approximately 1,800 square feet of office space for use as our corporate office, located at
7386 Pershing Ave. in St. Louis, Missouri for a term of three years. Our monthly rent under the
lease is $1,800 plus the cost of utilities. We entered into a lease for office furniture in
January 2008. The lease payments are approximately $450 per month for 36 months. This lease is
accounted for as a capital lease for accounting purposes.
Note 13 Subsequent Events
During the first quarter of 2009, the Company continued its offering of units comprised of a
convertible promissory note and a warrant. From January 1, 2009 through March 24, 2009, the Company
has received an additional $35,000 in investment proceeds. Each convertible promissory note carries
a one-year term and a 6% interest rate. In addition, each note can be converted into shares of the
Companys common stock, par value $0.001per share (the Common Stock), at $0.25 per share, at the
Note holders option. Each note was issued with a warrant to purchase additional shares of Common
Stock equal to the principal amount of the Note at a price of $0.45 per share.
In February 2009, the Company sold a small scale research and testing vessel for $50,000. This
vessel will eventually be transferred to our customers facility to be used for testing of biomass
feedstock into their development of diesel fuel.
On March 4, 2009, the company settled all disputes among Bio-Products, CleanEarth Solutions, Inc.
(CES) and Michael Eley (collectively, with Bio-Products and CES, the Defendants) related to our
previously disclosed litigation with the Defendants (the Settlement). In connection with the
Settlement, the company and the Defendants agreed to a mutual general release of all claims against
each party and their affiliates. In addition, we, as the licensor of the PSC technology under the
Master License Agreement, clarified Bio-Products right to use the PSC technology by releasing
Bio-Products of any prior lack of compliance under the Master License Agreement. Likewise,
Bio-Products, as the licensee of the PSC technology, agreed that our use of the Biomass Recovery
Process technology in its current form and certain potential improvements thereof, does not
infringe on Bio-Products rights with respect to the PSC technology, and any use of such technology
by us is not subject to any obligations to Bio-Products. The parties also agreed to mutually
terminate the Bio-Products License Agreement and all of our obligations thereunder. The Settlement
did not affect our ownership of the Patent or our continuance as the licensor of the PSC technology
to Bio-Products under the Master License Agreement.
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Note 14 Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
The results of operations by quarter were as follows:
For the quarters ended 2008: | ||||||||||||||||
Mar 31 | June 30 | Sept 30 | Dec 31 | |||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
$ | 146,223 | $ | 155,107 | $ | 99,204 | $ | 167,581 | ||||||||
Professional fees |
111,946 | 78,946 | 90,284 | 149,622 | ||||||||||||
Research and development |
183,104 | 53,812 | 40,271 | 115,284 | ||||||||||||
441,273 | 287,865 | 229,759 | 432,487 | |||||||||||||
Other expense (income): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest |
19,751 | 4,136 | 3,314 | 152,489 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of technology license |
3,750 | 3,750 | 3,750 | 3,750 | ||||||||||||
Interest income |
(5,727 | ) | (252 | ) | (3 | ) | (7,767 | ) | ||||||||
Net loss applicable to common stockholders |
$ | 459,047 | $ | 295,499 | $ | 236,820 | $ | 580,959 | ||||||||
Basic net loss per common share |
$ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | ** | $ | 0.01 |
For the quarters ended 2007: | ||||||||||||||||
Mar 31 | June 30 | Sept 30 | Dec 31 | |||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
$ | 4,007 | $ | 229,344 | $ | 175,635 | $ | 67,951 | ||||||||
Professional fees |
1,970 | 154,873 | 62,152 | 60,819 | ||||||||||||
Research and development |
| | 41,533 | 76,697 | ||||||||||||
5,977 | 384,217 | 279,320 | 205,467 | |||||||||||||
Other expense (income): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest |
3,597 | 17,500 | 21,466 | 21,466 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of technology license |
| | 16,250 | 3,750 | ||||||||||||
Interest income |
| (5,020 | ) | (9,038 | ) | (7,347 | ) | |||||||||
Net loss applicable to common stockholders |
$ | 9,574 | $ | 396,697 | $ | 307,998 | $ | 223,336 | ||||||||
Basic net loss per common share |
** | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | ** |
** | - less than $.01 per share |
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures
EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures We maintain a set of disclosure
controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports
filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Act), is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Security and Exchange Commissions
(the SEC) rules and regulations. Disclosure controls are also designed with the objective of
ensuring that this information is accumulated and communicated to our management,
including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely
decisions regarding required disclosure.
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Our management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will necessarily prevent
all fraud and material error. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide
reasonable assurance of achieving the objectives outlined above. Based on their most recent
evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure
controls and procedures are effective at that reasonable assurance level at December 31, 2008.
Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints,
including, but not limited to having three total employees (chief executive officer, general
counsel and chief financial officer), and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to
their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls
can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the
Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in
decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting During the quarter ended December
31, 2008, there were no material changes in the Companys internal control over financial reporting
that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Companys
internal control over financial reporting other than identifying a calculation error resulting in
an overstatement of the Companys share-based compensation expense pursuant to FAS123R for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 by approximately $500,000 and an overstatement of the Companys
share-based compensation expense pursuant to FAS123R for the three and six months ended June 30,
2008 by approximately $500,000 and $1,000,000, respectively. Amended Forms 10-Q for March and June
2008 were filed in October 2008. We believe that the controls around our share-based compensation
calculations have been remediated and are operating effectively.
Attestation Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm This annual report does not
include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm as such report is not
required due to a transition period established by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
for newly public reporting companies. See Item 8 for Managements Annual Report on Internal Control
over Financial Reporting.
ITEM 9B. Other Information
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by Item 10 is included in our definitive proxy statement and incorporated
herein by reference. Our definitive proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 120 days of the end of our most recent fiscal year.
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by Item 11 is included in our definitive proxy statement and incorporated
herein by reference. Our definitive proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 120 days of the end of our most recent fiscal year.
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters
The information required by Item 12 is included in our definitive proxy statement and incorporated
herein by reference. Our definitive proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 120 days of the end of our most recent fiscal year.
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence
The information required by Item 13 is included in our definitive proxy statement and incorporated
herein by reference. Our definitive proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 120 days of the end of our most recent fiscal year.
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ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by Item 14 is included in our definitive proxy statement and incorporated
herein by reference. Our definitive proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 120 days of the end of our most recent fiscal year.
PART IV
ITEM 15. Exhibits
(a) | The following documents are filed as part of this report: |
1. | Financial Statements: |
||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
|||
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 |
|||
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2008,
2007 and 2006 and Inception to December 31, 2008 |
|||
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders Equity for the years ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 |
|||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2008,
2007 and 2006 and Inception to December 31, 2008 |
|||
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements |
2. | Exhibits: |
Exhibit | ||||
Number | Description | |||
2.1 | Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization by and among Cleantech Biofuels, Inc., Biomass NA
Acquisition Subsidiary, Inc. and Biomass North America Licensing, Inc. dated as of July 14, 2008
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Registrants quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the
period ended June 30, 2008). |
|||
3.1 | Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrants
registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
3.2 | Restated By-Laws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registrants registration
statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
4.1 | Form of Series A Convertible Debenture (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrants
registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
4.2 | Investors Rights Agreement dated as of April 16, 2007 by and among SRS Energy, Inc. and certain Investors
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2
filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
4.3 | Series A Debenture Purchase Agreement dated as of April 16, 2007 by and among SRS Energy, Inc. and certain
Investors (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Registrants registration statement on
Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
4.4 | Warrant dated August 31, 2007 by CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. in favor of RAM Resources, L.L.C (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on
September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.1 | Exclusive License Agreement between Brelsford Engineering, Inc. and SRS Energy, Inc. dated as of April 1,
2005 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrants registration statement on Form
SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.2 | Amendment to Exclusive License Agreement between Brelsford Engineering, Inc. and SRS Energy, Inc. dated as
of January 11, 2006 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrants registration
statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.3 | Technology License Agreement between Bio-Products International, Inc. and SRS Energy, Inc. dated as of
August 17, 2005 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrants registration
statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
53
Table of Contents
Exhibit | ||||
Number | Description | |||
10.4 | Technology License Agreement between Bio Products International, Inc. and SRS Energy, Inc. dated as of
March 8, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Registrants registration statement
on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.5 | Engagement Agreement between Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc. k/n/a CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. and
Merrick & Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Registrants registration
statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.6 | Consulting Fee Agreement between Alternative Ethanol Technologies k/n/a CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. and Five
Sigma Ltd. dated as of April 17, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Registrants
registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.7 | * | 2007 Stock Option Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Registrants registration
statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
||
10.8 | * | Form of Director Stock Option Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of the
Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
||
10.9 | * | Director Stock Purchase Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of the Registrants
registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
||
10.10 | * | Employment Agreement Edward P. Hennessey, Jr. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of the
Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
||
10.11 | * | Form of Employee Agreement Michael Kime and Tom Jennewein (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.11 of the Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No.
333-145939). |
||
10.12 | * | Form of Employee Stock Option Agreement Michael Kime and Tom Jennewein (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.12 of the Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File
No. 333-145939). |
||
10.13 | Commercial Lease with Pershing Properties, LLC dated October 12, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.13 of the Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2/A filed on November 30, 2007, File
No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.14 | Sublicense Agreement with HFTA dated March 20, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of
the Registrants current report on Form 8-K filed March 25, 2008). |
|||
10.15 | Sublicense Agreement among SRS Energy, Inc., Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. and HFTA for Methods and Apparatus
for Treating Biomass Material (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrants current
report on Form 8-K filed on March 25, 2008). |
|||
10.16 | Patent Purchase Agreement dated October 22, 2008 by and between Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. and World Waste
Technologies, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Registrants current report on
Form 8-K filed on October 27, 2008). |
|||
10.17 | Note issued in favor of World Waste Technologies, Inc. dated October 22, 2008 (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.16 of the Registrants current report on Form 8-K filed on October 27, 2008). |
|||
10.18 | Security Agreement between Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. and World Waste Technologies, Inc. dated October 22,
2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.17 of the Registrants current report on Form 8-K
filed on October 27, 2008). |
|||
10.19 | Technology License and Joint Development Agreement among Biomass North America Licensing, Inc., Biomass
North America, LLC and Anthony P. Noll (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the
Registrants quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2008). |
|||
10.20 | * | Form of employee stock purchase agreement entered into with Edward P. Hennessey, Jr., Michael Kime and Tom Jennewein
|
||
14 | Code of Ethics (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 14 of the Registrants annual report on Form
10-KSB for the period ended December 31, 2007). |
|||
21.1 | List of Subsidiaries. |
|||
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act, as amended |
|||
31.2 | Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act, as amended |
|||
32.1 | Certificate (Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002) of Chief Executive Officer |
|||
32.2 | Certificate (Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002) of principal financial officer |
* | Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. |
54
Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized.
CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. (registrant) |
||||
March 30, 2009 | By: | /s/ Edward P. Hennessey, Jr. | ||
Edward P. Hennessey, Jr. | ||||
Chief Executive Officer | ||||
March 30, 2009 | By: | /s/ Thomas G. Jennewein | ||
Thomas G. Jennewein | ||||
Chief Financial Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed
below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
March 30, 2009
|
/s/ Edward P. Hennessey, Jr.
Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) |
|||
March 30, 2009
|
/s/ Thomas G. Jennewein.
(principal financial and accounting officer) |
|||
March 30, 2009
|
/s/ Benton Becker
|
|||
March 30, 2009
|
/s/ Ira Langenthal, Phd.
|
|||
March 30, 2009
|
/s/ Paul Simon, Jr.
|
|||
March 30, 2009
|
/s/ Larry McGee
|
55
Table of Contents
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit | ||||
Number | Description | |||
2.1 | Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization by and among
Cleantech Biofuels, Inc., Biomass NA Acquisition Subsidiary, Inc.
and Biomass North America Licensing, Inc. dated as of July 14, 2008
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the
Registrants quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
June 30, 2008). |
|||
3.1 | Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrants registration statement
on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
3.2 | Restated By-Laws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2
of the Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on
September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
4.1 | Form of Series A Convertible Debenture (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrants registration statement
on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
4.2 | Investors Rights Agreement dated as of April 16, 2007 by and among
SRS Energy, Inc. and certain Investors (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrants registration statement
on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
4.3 | Series A Debenture Purchase Agreement dated as of April 16, 2007 by
and among SRS Energy, Inc. and certain Investors (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Registrants registration
statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No.
333-145939). |
|||
4.4 | Warrant dated August 31, 2007 by CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. in favor
of RAM Resources, L.L.C (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 4.4 of the Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2
filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.1 | Exclusive License Agreement between Brelsford Engineering, Inc. and
SRS Energy, Inc. dated as of April 1, 2005 (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrants registration
statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No.
333-145939). |
|||
10.2 | Amendment to Exclusive License Agreement between Brelsford
Engineering, Inc. and SRS Energy, Inc. dated as of January 11, 2006
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the
Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September
10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.3 | Technology License Agreement between Bio-Products International,
Inc. and SRS Energy, Inc. dated as of August 17, 2005 (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrants
registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007,
File No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.4 | Technology License Agreement between Bio Products International,
Inc. and SRS Energy, Inc. dated as of March 8, 2007 (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Registrants
registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007,
File No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.5 | Engagement Agreement between Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.
k/n/a CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. and Merrick & Company (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Registrants
registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007,
File No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.6 | Consulting Fee Agreement between Alternative Ethanol Technologies
k/n/a CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. and Five Sigma Ltd. dated as of
April 17, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of
the Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on
September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.7 | * | 2007 Stock Option Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.7 of the Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2 filed
on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
||
10.8 | * | Form of Director Stock Option Agreement (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.8 of the Registrants registration
statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No.
333-145939). |
||
10.9 | * | Director Stock Purchase Agreement (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.9 of the Registrants registration statement on Form
SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
||
10.10 | * | Employment Agreement Edward P. Hennessey, Jr. (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of the Registrants
registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September 10, 2007,
File No. 333-145939). |
||
10.11 | * | Form of Employee Agreement Michael Kime and Tom Jennewein
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the
Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September
10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
56
Table of Contents
Exhibit | ||||
Number | Description | |||
10.12 | * | Form of Employee Stock Option Agreement Michael Kime and Tom
Jennewein (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of the
Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2 filed on September
10, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
||
10.13 | Commercial Lease with Pershing Properties, LLC dated October 12,
2007 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 of the
Registrants registration statement on Form SB-2/A filed on
November 30, 2007, File No. 333-145939). |
|||
10.14 | Sublicense Agreement with HFTA dated March 20, 2008 (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrants current
report on Form 8-K filed March 25, 2008). |
|||
10.15 | Sublicense Agreement among SRS Energy, Inc., Cleantech Biofuels,
Inc. and HFTA for Methods and Apparatus for Treating Biomass
Material (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the
Registrants current report on Form 8-K filed on March 25, 2008). |
|||
10.16 | Patent Purchase Agreement dated October 22, 2008 by and between
Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. and World Waste Technologies, Inc.
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the
Registrants current report on Form 8-K filed on October 27, 2008). |
|||
10.17 | Note issued in favor of World Waste Technologies, Inc. dated
October 22, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16
of the Registrants current report on Form 8-K filed on October 27,
2008). |
|||
10.18 | Security Agreement between Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. and World Waste
Technologies, Inc. dated October 22, 2008 (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.17 of the Registrants current report on
Form 8-K filed on October 27, 2008). |
|||
10.19 | Technology License and Joint Development Agreement among Biomass
North America Licensing, Inc., Biomass North America, LLC and
Anthony P. Noll (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18
of the Registrants quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period
ended September 30, 2008). |
|||
10.20 | * | Form of employee stock purchase agreement entered into with Edward P. Hennessey, Jr., Michael Kime and Tom Jennewein
|
||
14 | Code of Ethics (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 14 of
the Registrants annual report on Form 10-KSB for the period ended
December 31, 2007). |
|||
21.1 | List of Subsidiaries. |
|||
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act, as amended |
|||
31.2 | Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Rule
13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act, as amended |
|||
32.1 | Certificate (Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) of Chief
Executive Officer |
|||
32.2 | Certificate (Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) of principal
financial officer |
* | Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. |
57