CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. - Annual Report: 2010 (Form 10-K)
Table of Contents
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, 2010
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.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its charter)
Delaware | 33-0754902 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
7386 Pershing Ave., University City, Missouri | 63130 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(Registrants 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 whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its
corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted
pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405) during the preceding 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o 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 | Smaller reporting company þ | |||
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
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
June 30, 2010 (the last business day of our most recently completed second quarter) $1,754,914
As of March 22, 2011, the number of shares outstanding of the Companys common stock was
69,077,151.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
CLEANTECH BIOFUELS, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE | ||||||||
3 | ||||||||
11 | ||||||||
18 | ||||||||
18 | ||||||||
18 | ||||||||
18 | ||||||||
19 | ||||||||
20 | ||||||||
20 | ||||||||
29 | ||||||||
30 | ||||||||
52 | ||||||||
52 | ||||||||
53 | ||||||||
53 | ||||||||
56 | ||||||||
60 | ||||||||
61 | ||||||||
62 | ||||||||
62 | ||||||||
65 | ||||||||
66 | ||||||||
Exhibit 21.1 | ||||||||
Exhibit 31.1 | ||||||||
Exhibit 31.2 | ||||||||
Exhibit 32.1 | ||||||||
Exhibit 32.2 |
2
Table of Contents
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:
| our ability to raise additional capital on favorable terms, |
||
| our ability to continue operating and to implement our business plan, |
||
| the commercial viability of our technologies, |
||
| our ability to maintain and enforce our exclusive rights to 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.
3
Table of Contents
Company Overview
We are a development stage company focused on being a provider of: (i) cellulosic biomass derived
from municipal solid waste, also known as MSW, as a feedstock for producing energy and other
chemical products and (ii) recyclables (metals, plastics, glass) from the MSW.
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 our 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.
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, Inc. was
a licensee of various technologies for the processing of waste materials into usable products.
Prior to our acquisition of SRS Energy, Supercritical Recovery Systems, Inc. distributed
approximately 80% of its ownership of SRS Energy to the stockholders of Supercritical Recovery
Systems, Inc. Since our acquisition of SRS Energy, Supercritical Recovery Systems, Inc. has ceased
its business activities with respect to licensing other technologies.
In September 2008, we acquired the exclusive rights, in the United States and Canada, to use the
Biomass Recovery System developed by Anthony Noll. We refer to this technology 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 pressurized steam classification (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. Prior to then, Bio-Products was the
sublicensor of the PSC technology to us.
Since early 2008, we had been in litigation against Bio-Products regarding our use of the PSC
technology as a sublicensee. In March 2009, we entered into a Settlement Agreement with
Bio-Products settling all 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 the License
Agreement pursuant to which we were the sublicensee of 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 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 our
current capital and other existing resources are not sufficient to fund the implementation of our
business plan or our required working capital. We will require substantial additional capital to
implement our business plan and we may be unable to immediately obtain the capital required to
continue operating.
Plan of Operation
Our focus is to secure sufficient capital to fund our current working capital requirements and the
construction of a commercial plant as described further in this section. We currently do not have
sufficient capital to continue operations. All of our developments/projects require a significant
amount of capital that we currently do not have. While we continue to aggressively pursue capital,
we have not had recent success securing meaningful amounts of
financing. As a result, we can provide no assurance that we will secure any capital in the
immediate time frame required and the failure to do so will likely result in an inability to
continue operations.
4
Table of Contents
Our company was initially conceived as a fully-integrated producer of cellulosic ethanol from MSW.
Based on our investigation and acquisition of new technologies and research and development of our
existing technologies in 2008, we re-focused our business to the commercialization of our Biomass
Recovery Process technology for cleaning and separating MSW into its component parts and initiated
a plan to consolidate the ownership and/or rights to use intellectual property around this
technology. The technology is currently in use by another operator 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 are currently in the process of
raising capital to design and build a commercial biomass recovery plant to provide biomass
feedstock for customer evaluation and trial purchases. Initially, the biomass feedstock output will
be sold or provided to electric utilities, power and steam producers, and biofuel research firms
for evaluation. In addition to this capital raise for plant development, the Company is also
working towards licensing and/or developing potential commercial projects as they present
themselves. All of our developments plan to focus on cleaning and separating MSW into its component
parts in order to obtain: (i) a homogenous feedstock of cellulosic biomass for producing energy and
other chemical products and (ii) recyclable products (metals, plastics).
As a result of our focus on converting MSW into a biomass feedstock for energy or chemical
products, we determined that we no longer would use the Brelsford and HFTA technologies. In the
fourth quarter of 2008, Brelsford Engineering, Inc. terminated our license to the Brelsford
technology for non-payment of certain fees. We decided not to use the technology going forward in
our operations and wrote 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. Additionally, we terminated our agreement with HFTA, Inc. during the
fourth quarter of 2009 as we determined to not use the HFTA technology going forward in our
operations. We wrote off the related asset of approximately $693,000 as an impairment loss and the
loss is included in research and development expense on the statement of operations for the year
ended December 31, 2009.
Biomass Feedstock Production
The Company plans to design and build a commercial biomass recovery plant to provide biomass
feedstock for customer evaluation and trial purchases. Initially, the biomass feedstock output will
be sold or provided to electric utilities, power and steam producers, and biofuel and chemical
research firms for evaluation. In addition to research and development, the Company is also working
towards licensing and/or developing potential commercial projects.
We completed construction of a small test vessel in Kentucky and, beginning in April 2009, this
vessel has processed approximately 12 tons of MSW into approximately 4-5 tons of biomass. We have
provided the biomass produced during this testing phase to a number of fuel producers who are
evaluating whether they can use our biomass as a feedstock for their technologies. In July 2010, we
entered into an agreement with Fiberight to install this test vessel at Fiberights cellulosic
ethanol pilot plant in Lawrenceville, Virginia. We anticipate our vessel to be installed and
operational during the second quarter 2011. Once upgraded and installed, the vessel is expected to
produce cellulosic biomass feedstock for Fiberights Targeted Fuel Extraction process. We expect
such production should further validate our licensed Biomass Recovery Process, which we believe
could then be used for on-site cellulosic biomass feedstock production for alternative energy
producers. Additionally, we will have access to biomass produced at the Lawrenceville plant for
delivery to other companies interested in testing it as feedstock in their conversion technologies.
We are also seeking to develop a plant in a major metropolitan area. We are working to develop one
or more locations where waste collected would be processed using our technology and the biomass
produced used to create heat and/or power.
We were considering the possibility of implementing our technology in Maryville, Missouri. In late
March 2011, the City of Maryville sent out Requests for Proposal for their transfer station site.
At this time, the Company is not in a position to participate in this process. The biomass produced
would have potentially been supplied to Northwest Missouri State University for research purposes
in advanced biofuel technologies and to supply steam for the University. The University has used
biomass to produce steam for more than twenty years.
In addition to the developments we are currently contemplating, other development opportunities are
presented to us and we evaluate those potential developments. Upon operating a plant 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.
5
Table of Contents
The further development of commercial plants and/or implementation of the licensing of our
technology described above will 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. While
we anticipate that financing for the commercial biomass recovery plant and these other potential
projects could also be provided in part via tax exempt bond financing or through the use of loan
guarantees from local, state and federal authorities, we have not secured any such financing and
there can be no assurance that we will be able to secure any such financing.
Diesel Fuel Production
We previously anticipated completing an agreement with Green Power, Inc. (Green Power) to provide
biomass for testing at Green Powers facility and if that proves successful, to build a 200 ton per
day MSW processing station to provide biomass for an existing 100 ton per day diesel fuel
production plant. To date we have not been able to reach an agreement as to the nature and amount
of biomass to be produced or other key terms of this relationship that are required for us to
proceed. These issues and a number of other items will be required to be resolved before we are
able to complete any agreement with Green Power. We have not completed an agreement to date and
there can be no assurance that we will complete any agreement and proceed with this development.
Bio-Fuel and Bio-Chemical Joint Testing/Research
As soon as we are able to process MSW into biomass through our future biomass recovery plant, our
test vessel at Fiberights facility in Virginia, and/or in future commercial vessels, we plan to
enter into joint research agreements with companies looking to process biomass in their system(s)
for various types of energy and chemical production. This testing and research will provide
possible revenue streams, projects and additional opportunities for use of our biomass.
In August 2009, we entered into a joint research agreement with GeoSyn Fuels, L.L.C. (GeoSyn)
whereby we agreed to provide GeoSyn with biomass feedstock derived from MSW from the City of
Chicago for GeoSyns testing of their proprietary process for converting biomass into ethanol and
other products.
In May 2010, we entered into a joint research agreement with Ze-Gen, Inc., a developer of
technology for converting biomass into a variety of fuel products and other chemical products,
whereby we agreed to provide biomass to Ze-Gen, Inc. for testing in their proprietary processes.
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 to our suite of solutions
that complement our core operations. 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 our technology, we intend to:
| construct and operate a commercial plant that: (i) processes MSW into
cellulosic biomass for conversion into energy or chemical products and (ii) separates
recyclables (metals, plastics, glass) for single-stream recycling; |
||
| 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 ability to implement this strategy will depend on our ability to raise significant amounts of
additional capital and to hire appropriate managers and staff. Our success will also depend on a
variety of market forces and other developments beyond our control.
6
Table of Contents
Industry Overview
There are two types of MSW Disposal:
| Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (MSWLFs) includes municipal solid waste, commercial
waste, industrial waste, construction and demolition debris, and bioreactors. |
||
| Mass Burn/Incineration Plants |
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 various federal, state and local laws and 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, or gate rates, on a per ton basis to dispose of
garbage at a landfill. Gate rates operate in a manner 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 from $8.20 per ton in 1985 to $34.29 in 2004 and
continues to increase.
Mass Burn/Incineration Plants
Mass Burn Mass burn is combusting MSW generally 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%.
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.
7
Table of Contents
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.
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. |
8
Table of Contents
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 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 Technology
We believe we can convert MSW into cellulosic material using our Biomass Recovery Process, which
can then be used by a variety of third party technologies as a feedstock to process that cellulosic
material into a variety of energy and chemical 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 50 to 60 percent of the incoming MSW and will be suitable for
conversion to multiple energy or chemical products. |
||
| 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 25 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 and incur the tipping fees expense.
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. |
9
Table of Contents
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 to license and/or 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/Chemicals
We expect the primary product we will sell will be biomass from our Biomass Recovery Process to be
used for energy or chemical production. We believe 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.
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 $15 per ton in some central
parts of the country to over $80 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 Biomass Recovery Process will generate other recyclable byproducts from the
processing of MSW, such as aluminum, metals, 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 MSW to energy or chemicals 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.
Americans produce more than 250 million tons of MSW annually. About 30 percent of this waste is
currently recovered and recycled. We estimate that approximately an additional 50 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.
10
Table of Contents
Intellectual Property Terms
Biomass North America Licensing, Inc.
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 patented technology owned by Biomass North America, LLC, the former parent of Biomass (the
Licensor), to clean and separate MSW (the Biomass Recovery Process). In July 2010, the United
States Patent and Trademark Office issued US patent number 7,745,208 for this process (the BRP
Patent).
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.
PSC Patent
The Company owns U.S. Patent No. 6,306,248 (the PSC Patent), which is the underlying technology
upon which the BRP Patent is based. The Company acquired the PSC Patent on October 22, 2008,
pursuant to a Patent Purchase Agreement with WWT. The Patent is the basis for the pressurized steam
classification technology that cleans and separates MSW 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. On September 22, 2010, the
Company sent a Notice of Breach to the licensee of our PSC Patent. We received a response from the
licensee on November 5, 2010. In February 2011, we became aware that the licensee effected a
transfer of the license in violation of the License Agreement. As a result, on March 21, 2011, we
sent a notice of termination to the licensee and the transferee terminating the License Agreement.
Employees
The Company currently has two full-time employees, its Chief Executive Officer, Edward P.
Hennessey, Jr. 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 About Us/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.
11
Table of Contents
Risks Related to Our Business
We need to obtain significant additional capital to fund our current operations and complete the
implementation of our business plan, and the failure to secure additional capital will prevent us
from commercializing our technology and executing our plan of operation.
We do not currently have enough cash to fund our operations. If we are not able to obtain
additional financing in the immediate future, we will be required to delay our development until
such financing becomes available and may be required to cease operations. In addition, 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 or chemical company to provide funding. |
The amount of funding needed to complete the development of our business plan 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, acceptance
of our business plan, the 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 shareholders.
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 a commercial plant for biomass production and/or develop or license an
operating facility. 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 two full-time employees, our Chief Executive 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.
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 initially
processed MSW for testing purposes.
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.
12
Table of Contents
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 us and our technology licensor to maintain our 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.
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 two full-time employees, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer. As a result, part of 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 could 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 incur significant costs as a result of being a public company.
As an operating public company, we are incurring significant legal, accounting and other expenses
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. In addition, we are incurring significant
additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements. These rules and
regulations could 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.
13
Table of Contents
Our failure to adequately adhere to the established corporate governance practices or the failure
or circumvention of our controls and procedures could seriously harm our business.
Compliance with the 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.
Our senior managements limited experience managing a publicly traded company diverts managements
attention from operations and could harm our business.
Our management team has limited experience managing a publicly traded company and complying with
federal securities laws, including compliance with 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 and waste hauling/landfill industries in the United States are highly
competitive and continually evolving as participants strive to distinguish themselves. 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 within these
industries. 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 potential
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.
14
Table of Contents
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.
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 last decade, 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, 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 at 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 or chemical 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.
15
Table of Contents
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.
Our common stock trades on the OTCQB. 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 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.
16
Table of Contents
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, 2010, we had 68,309,679 shares of our common stock
outstanding. We also have outstanding convertible notes (including accrued interest) with warrants
convertible into approximately 33 million shares of our common stock, 4,000,000 shares of our
common stock in escrow to be released upon future conditions and requirements and warrants,
immediately exercisable and representing the right to purchase 2,300,000 shares of our common
stock. An additional 14,000,000 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 ten 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, some of our convertible securities 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.
17
Table of Contents
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.
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 |
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. | Properties |
We currently occupy 1,800 square feet of office space in St. Louis, Missouri. The lease has
expired and we are in the process of renewing the lease while we continue to occupy the space. The
monthly lease payment is $1,800, plus utilities. We took possession of the leased space in January,
2008.
ITEM 3. | Legal Proceedings |
None.
ITEM 4. | (Removed and Reserved) |
18
Table of Contents
PART II
ITEM 5. | Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities |
Our common stock was originally 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 bid prices per share of our common stock as quoted on the OTCBB or Pink
Sheets, as appropriate (in February 2011, the market-makers in our common stock have completed
their migration off of FINRAs BB (Bulletin Board) to OTC Markets Group. As a result, the Company
is categorized and quotes can currently be found under the OTCQB tier):
Price Range of | ||||||||
Common Stock (1) | ||||||||
Fiscal Year | High | Low | ||||||
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 | ||||
Year Ended December 31, 2009 |
||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 0.28 | $ | 0.02 | ||||
Second Quarter |
$ | 0.45 | $ | 0.05 | ||||
Third Quarter |
$ | 0.15 | $ | 0.10 | ||||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 0.16 | $ | 0.06 | ||||
Year Ended December 31, 2010 |
||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 0.15 | $ | 0.05 | ||||
Second Quarter |
$ | 0.14 | $ | 0.04 | ||||
Third Quarter |
$ | 0.08 | $ | 0.01 | ||||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 0.06 | $ | 0.03 |
(1) | all periods presented are adjusted for the 100 to 1 reverse stock split that occurred on
February 21, 2007 |
On March 22, 2011, the closing price of our common stock, as quoted on the OTCQB, was $0.07
per share. As of March 22, 2011, we had approximately 130 stockholders of record.
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
Weighted-Avg | Number of Securities Remaining | |||||||||||
Number of securities to be | Exercise Price of | Available for Future Issuance | ||||||||||
issued upon Exercise of | Outstanding | Under Equity Compensation Plans | ||||||||||
Outstanding Options, | Options, Warrants | (excluding securities reflected in | ||||||||||
Plan Category | Warrants and Rights | and Rights | column (a)) | |||||||||
(a) | (b) | (c) | ||||||||||
Equity compensation
plans approved by
security holders: |
||||||||||||
2007 Stock Option
Plan |
7,717,000 | $ | 0.12 | 6,283,000 | ||||||||
Equity compensation
plans not approved
by security holders |
| | | |||||||||
Totals |
7,717,000 | 6,283,000 | ||||||||||
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.
19
Table of Contents
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
During April 2009, the Company commenced a second offering of units comprised of a convertible
promissory note and a warrant (this offering closed in September 2010). The Company raised a total
of $1,198,500 of 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 $0.001 per share (the Common Stock), at
$0.08 per share at the holders option. Each note was issued with a warrant to purchase additional
shares of Common Stock to provide 100% coverage of the principal amount of the associated note at a
price of $0.30 per share. Two notes have been converted leaving $1,163,500 face value of notes
outstanding as of December 31, 2010. The issuance of units and the issuance of Common Stock upon
conversion of notes were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the Securities Act), pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the
Securities Act (Rule 506) and/or Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
During June 2010, the Company commenced another offering of units comprised of a convertible
promissory note and a warrant. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had raised a total of $75,000
of investment proceeds. Each convertible promissory note carries a one-year term, a 12% interest
rate and a payback provision of the note if $250,000 or more in the aggregate is raised by the
Company in future offerings. In addition, each note can be converted, at the note holders option,
at any time during the one-year term into shares of Common Stock at $0.08 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 to provide for 100%
coverage of the promissory note at a price of $0.30 per share. The issuance of units and the
issuance of Common Stock upon conversion of notes were exempt from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act, pursuant to Rule 506 and/or Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
In September 2010, the Company issued a note in the amount of $100,000 (interest at 6.0% per annum
and secured by a security interest in the PSC Patent) and issued warrants to purchase 2,000,000
shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.05 per share. The note is due the earlier of: (i) February
28, 2011 or (ii) the date on which $500,000 or more in the aggregate is raised by the Company in
future offerings. The Company and CMS Acquisition, LLC entered into an amendment in February 2011
that extended the due date of the note to May 15, 2011 for payment of $25,000 towards the accrued
interest to date and principal of the note. The warrants are exercisable at any time for five years
from the date of issuance or reissuance. The issuance of Common Stock upon conversion of warrants
was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, pursuant to Rule 506 and/or
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
During November 2010, the Company commenced a third offering of units comprised of a convertible
promissory note and a warrant. As of March 22, 2011, the Company raised a total of $141,000 of
investment proceeds. Each convertible promissory note carries a one-year term and a 6% interest
rate. In addition, each note can be converted into shares of Common Stock at $0.06 per share at the
holders option. Two notes have been converted leaving $95,000 face value of notes outstanding as
of February 28, 2011. Each note was issued with a warrant to purchase additional shares of Common
Stock to provide 100% coverage of the principal amount of the associated note at a price of $0.30
per share. The issuance of units and the issuance of Common Stock upon conversion of notes were
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, pursuant to Rule 506 and/or
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
ITEM 6. | Selected Financial Data |
Not applicable.
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.
20
Table of Contents
Plan of Operation
Our focus is to secure sufficient capital to fund our current working capital requirements and the
construction of a commercial plant as described further in this section. We currently do not have
sufficient capital to continue
operations. All of our developments/projects require a significant amount of capital that we
currently do not have. While we continue to aggressively pursue capital, we have not had recent
success securing meaningful amounts of financing. As a result, we can provide no assurance that we
will secure any capital in the immediate time frame required and the failure to do so will likely
result in an inability to continue operations.
Our company was initially conceived as a fully-integrated producer of cellulosic ethanol from MSW.
Based on our investigation and acquisition of new technologies and research and development of our
existing technologies in 2008, we re-focused our business to the commercialization of our Biomass
Recovery Process technology for cleaning and separating MSW into its component parts and initiated
a plan to consolidate the ownership and/or rights to use intellectual property around this
technology. The technology is currently in use by another operator 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 are currently in the process of
raising capital to design and build a commercial biomass recovery plant to provide biomass
feedstock for customer evaluation and trial purchases. Initially, the biomass feedstock output will
be sold or provided to electric utilities, power and steam producers, and biofuel research firms
for evaluation. In addition to this capital raise for plant development, the Company is also
working towards licensing and/or developing potential commercial projects as they present
themselves. All of our developments plan to focus on cleaning and separating MSW into its component
parts in order to obtain: (i) a homogenous feedstock of cellulosic biomass for producing energy and
other chemical products and (ii) recyclable products (metals, plastics).
As a result of our focus on converting MSW into a biomass feedstock for energy or chemical
products, we determined that we no longer would use the Brelsford and HFTA technologies. In the
fourth quarter of 2008, Brelsford Engineering, Inc. terminated our license to the Brelsford
technology for non-payment of certain fees. We decided not to use the technology going forward in
our operations and wrote 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. Additionally, we terminated our agreement with HFTA, Inc. during the
fourth quarter of 2009 as we determined to not use the HFTA technology going forward in our
operations. We wrote off the related asset of approximately $693,000 as an impairment loss and the
loss is included in research and development expense on the statement of operations for the year
ended December 31, 2009.
Biomass Feedstock Production
The Company plans to design and build a commercial biomass recovery plant to provide biomass
feedstock for customer evaluation and trial purchases. Initially, the biomass feedstock output will
be sold or provided to electric utilities, power and steam producers, and biofuel and chemical
research firms for evaluation. In addition to research and development, the Company is also working
towards licensing and/or developing potential commercial projects.
We completed construction of a small test vessel in Kentucky and, beginning in April 2009, this
vessel has processed approximately 12 tons of MSW into approximately 4-5 tons of biomass. We have
provided the biomass produced during this testing phase to a number of fuel producers who are
evaluating whether they can use our biomass as a feedstock for their technologies. In July 2010, we
entered into an agreement with Fiberight to install this test vessel at Fiberights cellulosic
ethanol pilot plant in Lawrenceville, Virginia. We anticipate our vessel to be installed and
operational during the second quarter 2011. Once upgraded and installed, the vessel is expected to
produce cellulosic biomass feedstock for Fiberights Targeted Fuel Extraction process. We expect
such production should further validate our licensed Biomass Recovery Process, which we believe
could then be used for on-site cellulosic biomass feedstock production for alternative energy
producers. Additionally, we will have access to biomass produced at the Lawrenceville plant for
delivery to other companies interested in testing it as feedstock in their conversion technologies.
21
Table of Contents
We are also seeking to develop a plant in a major metropolitan area. We are working to develop one
or more locations where waste collected would be processed using our technology and the biomass
produced used to create heat and/or power.
We were considering the possibility of implementing our technology in Maryville, Missouri. In late
March 2011, the City of Maryville sent out Requests for Proposal for their transfer station site.
At this time, the Company is not in a position to participate in this process. The biomass produced
would have potentially been supplied to Northwest
Missouri State University for research purposes in advanced biofuel technologies and to supply
steam for the University. The University has used biomass to produce steam for more than twenty
years.
In addition to the developments we are currently contemplating, other development opportunities are
presented to us and we evaluate those potential developments. Upon operating a plant 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 development of commercial plants and/or implementation of the licensing of our
technology described above will 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. While
we anticipate that financing for the commercial biomass recovery plant and these other potential
projects could also be provided in part via tax exempt bond financing or through the use of loan
guarantees from local, state and federal authorities, we have not secured any such financing and
there can be no assurance that we will be able to secure any such financing.
Diesel Fuel Production
We previously anticipated completing an agreement with Green Power, Inc. (Green Power) to provide
biomass for testing at Green Powers facility and if that proves successful, to build a 200 ton per
day MSW processing station to provide biomass for an existing 100 ton per day diesel fuel
production plant. To date we have not been able to reach an agreement as to the nature and amount
of biomass to be produced or other key terms of this relationship that are required for us to
proceed. These issues and a number of other items will be required to be resolved before we are
able to complete any agreement with Green Power. We have not completed an agreement to date and
there can be no assurance that we will complete any agreement and proceed with this development.
Bio-Fuel and Bio-Chemical Joint Testing/Research
As soon as we are able to process MSW into biomass through our future biomass recovery plant, our
test vessel at Fiberights facility in Virginia, and/or in future commercial vessels, we plan to
enter into joint research agreements with companies looking to process biomass in their system(s)
for various types of energy and chemical production. This testing and research will provide
possible revenue streams, projects and additional opportunities for use of our biomass.
In August 2009, we entered into a joint research agreement with GeoSyn Fuels, L.L.C. (GeoSyn)
whereby we agreed to provide GeoSyn with biomass feedstock derived from MSW from the City of
Chicago for GeoSyns testing of their proprietary process for converting biomass into ethanol and
other products.
In May 2010, we entered into a joint research agreement with Ze-Gen, Inc., a developer of
technology for converting biomass into a variety of fuel products and other chemical products,
whereby we agreed to provide biomass to Ze-Gen, Inc. for testing in their proprietary processes.
22
Table of Contents
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 to our suite of solutions
that complement our core operations. 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 our technology, we intend to:
| construct and operate a commercial plant that: (i) processes MSW into
cellulosic biomass for conversion into energy or chemical products and (ii) separates
recyclables (metals, plastics, glass) for single-stream recycling; |
||
| 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 ability to implement this strategy will depend on our ability to raise significant amounts of
additional capital and to hire appropriate managers and staff. Our success will also depend on a
variety of market forces and other developments beyond our control.
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 through future sales of the Companys Common Stock,
government grants, project financings, preferred stock or debentures, until such time as the
Companys revenues and cash flow 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
We experienced the following changes in our operations:
Year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009
Years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | Change | % Change | |||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
$ | 691,428 | $ | 1,087,889 | $ | (396,461 | ) | -36 | % | |||||||
Professional fees |
91,227 | 290,023 | (198,796 | ) | -69 | % | ||||||||||
Research and development |
| 693,146 | (693,146 | ) | -100 | % | ||||||||||
782,655 | 2,071,058 | (1,288,403 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other expense (income): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest |
407,197 | 906,535 | (499,338 | ) | -55 | % | ||||||||||
Other income |
| (32,000 | ) | 32,000 | N/M | |||||||||||
Interest income |
(8,219 | ) | (11,771 | ) | 3,552 | -30 | % | |||||||||
Net loss applicable to common stockholders |
$ | 1,181,633 | $ | 2,933,822 | $ | (1,752,189 | ) | -60 | % | |||||||
23
Table of Contents
Costs and expenses:
General and administrative The decrease in 2010 is due primarily to a decrease in salaries and
share-based compensation of approximately $330,000 and a decrease of approximately $70,000 in
marketing expenses.
Professional Fees The decrease in 2010 is due to reductions in legal and consulting fees of
approximately $132,000 and $65,000, respectively.
Research and Development The expense in 2009 is entirely related to the write-off of our license
asset related to the HFTA technology as we elected to terminate the license agreement during the
fourth quarter of 2009. As we shifted our plan of operation from a fully-integrated producer of
cellulosic ethanol to the commercialization of our technology for cleaning and separating MSW into
its component parts as described earlier in this report, we have had no R&D expense in 2010.
Other expense (income):
Interest expense The decrease in 2010 is due primarily to decreased amortization of
approximately $500,000 of discounts related to various notes as the majority of these discounts
became fully amortized during 2010.
Other income The other income in 2009 was for a two-month lease and subsequent sale of the HFTA
equipment previously purchased.
Year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the year ended December 31, 2008
Years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2009 | 2008 | Change | % Change | |||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
$ | 1,087,889 | $ | 568,115 | $ | 519,774 | 91 | % | ||||||||
Professional fees |
290,023 | 430,798 | (140,775 | ) | -33 | % | ||||||||||
Research and development |
693,146 | 392,471 | 300,675 | 77 | % | |||||||||||
2,071,058 | 1,391,384 | 679,674 | ||||||||||||||
Other expense (income): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest |
906,535 | 179,690 | 726,845 | 404 | % | |||||||||||
Amortization of technology license |
| 15,000 | (15,000 | ) | -100 | % | ||||||||||
Other income |
(32,000 | ) | | (32,000 | ) | N/M | ||||||||||
Interest income |
(11,771 | ) | (13,749 | ) | 1,978 | -14 | % | |||||||||
Net loss applicable to common stockholders |
$ | 2,933,822 | $ | 1,572,325 | $ | 1,361,497 | 87 | % | ||||||||
24
Table of Contents
Costs and expenses:
General and administrative The increase in expense in 2009 is due primarily to accruing salaries
for all employees in 2009 compared to salary earned only by the CEO in 2008 (an increase of
approximately $300,000), an increase of approximately $143,000 in share-based compensation expense
and an increase of approximately $88,000 in marketing expenses.
Professional Fees The decrease in 2009 is due to a reduction in legal fees of approximately
$182,000 offset by an increase in consulting fees of approximately $40,000.
Research and Development The expense in 2009 is entirely related to the write-off of our license
asset related to the HFTA technology as we elected to terminate the license agreement during the
fourth quarter of 2009. As we shifted our plan of operation from a fully-integrated producer of
cellulosic ethanol to the commercialization of our technology for cleaning and separating MSW into
its component parts as described earlier in this report, we have had minimal other R&D expense in
2009 as compared to 2008.
Other expense (income):
Interest expense The increase in 2009 is due primarily to increased amortization of
approximately $675,000 of discounts related to various notes and increased interest of
approximately $50,000 on those notes.
Amortization The asset related to this amortization was written off as of December 31, 2008 as
we no longer plan to use the technology in our plan of operations going forward. As we have not yet
commenced our operations, we have no amortization in 2009 for our current technology assets.
Other income The other income in 2009 was for a two-month lease and subsequent sale of the HFTA
equipment previously purchased.
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 22, 2011, we raised an aggregate of $2,156,500, in separate
offerings of units comprised of a convertible note and warrants. We are continuing to explore
opportunities to raise cash through the issuance of these units and other financing opportunities.
As of March 22, 2011, our current cash is not sufficient to fund our operations. Our liabilities
are substantially greater than our current available funds. We are seeking additional financing
through the sale of additional equity, various government funding opportunities and/or possibly
through strategic alliances with larger energy or waste management companies. We have retained
Houlihan Capital to assist the Company in exploring and evaluating a range of strategic financing
alternatives and/or other transactions. However, we may not be successful in securing additional
capital. If we are not able to obtain additional financing in the immediate 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. The Company raised a total of $642,000 of investment proceeds
through March 31, 2009 and this offering is closed. As of March 31, 2010, all of these notes have
either been converted to shares of Common Stock or re-priced to our second convertible note
offering (resulting in new notes with a total face value of $539,829, which included the original
principal and interest through the date of re-pricing). Each convertible promissory note carried a
one-year term and a 6% interest rate. In addition, each note could have been converted, at the note
holders option, at any time during the one-year term into shares of 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 had been recorded as short-term debt (notes payable) in the financial statements, net of
discounts for the conversion and warrant features. The discounts were being amortized on a
straight-line basis over the term of each note and are fully expensed as of March 31, 2010. All
outstanding warrants related to this offering have also been re-priced into our second note
offering. For the years ended December 31,
2010 and 2009, amortization of approximately $7,000 and $524,000, respectively, for these discounts
has been recorded in interest expense.
25
Table of Contents
During April 2009, the Company commenced a second offering of units comprised of a convertible
promissory note and a warrant. As of December 31, 2010, the Company raised a total of $1,198,500 of
investment proceeds. One note was converted during the second quarter of 2009 and one note was
converted during the second quarter 2010 leaving $1,163,500 face value of notes outstanding
($1,703,329 after adding the notes converted from our first offering as disclosed previously). 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
Common Stock at $0.08 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 to provide for 100% coverage of the promissory note at a price of
$0.30 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 years ended
December 31, 2010 and 2009, amortization of approximately $253,000 and $113,000, respectively for
these discounts, has been recorded in interest expense.
During June 2010, the Company commenced another offering of units comprised of a convertible
promissory note and a warrant. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had raised a total of $75,000
of investment proceeds. Each convertible promissory note carries a one-year term, a 12% interest
rate and a payback provision of the note if $250,000 or more in the aggregate is raised by the
Company in future offerings. In addition, each note can be converted, at the note holders option,
at any time during the one-year term into shares of Common Stock at $0.08 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 to provide for 100%
coverage of the promissory note at a price of $0.30 per share. The promissory note has 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, 2010, amortization of approximately $14,000
for these discounts has been recorded in interest expense.
During November 2010, the Company commenced a third offering of units comprised of a convertible
promissory note and a warrant. As of December 31, 2010, the Company raised a total of $35,000 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 Common Stock at $0.06 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 to provide for 100% coverage of the
promissory note at a price of $0.30 per share. These promissory notes have been recorded as
short-term debt (notes payable) in the financial statements.
CMS Acquisition, LLC Note Payable
In September 2010, the Company issued a note in the amount of $100,000 (interest at 6.0% per annum
and secured by a security interest in the PSC Patent) and issued warrants to purchase 2,000,000
shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.05 per share. The note is due the earlier of: (i) February
28, 2011 or (ii) the date on which $500,000 or more in the aggregate is raised by the Company in
future offerings. The Company and CMS Acquisition, LLC entered into an amendment in February 2011
that extended the due date of the note to May 15, 2011 for payment of $25,000 towards the accrued
interest to date and principal of the note. The warrants are exercisable at any time for five years
from the date of issuance or reissuance. The value of these warrants has been recorded as a
contra-balance amount discount with the note and is being amortized through interest expense. For
the year ended December 31, 2010, amortization of approximately $7,000 for this discount has been
recorded in interest expense.
26
Table of Contents
Vertex (formerly WWT) Note Payable
On October 22, 2008, the Company completed the purchase of Patent No. 6,306,248 (the PSC Patent)
pursuant to a Patent Purchase Agreement (Agreement) with World Waste Technologies, Inc. (WWT).
The PSC 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 (interest at 6% per annum and a security
interest in the PSC Patent) and a warrant to purchase 900,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of
$0.45 per share and warrants to purchase an additional 900,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of
$0.45 per share contingent on payment of the note by July 22, 2009 (the original maturity date).
WWT assigned all of its rights, title and interest in the note, warrants, security agreement and
purchase agreement to Vertex Energy, Inc. as a result of a merger in March 2009. We entered into
amendments dated July 23, 2009 whereby: (i) the Company paid 10% of the original note and all
accrued interest to date, (ii) all previous warrants (totaling 1,800,000 shares) were reissued at a
price of $0.11 per share with no contingencies and (iii) the remaining payments on the note were
scheduled to be paid on October 22, 2009 (50% of principal plus accrued interest to date not yet
paid) and January 22, 2010 (remaining principal and accrued interest to date). We entered into
amendments dated October 22, 2009 whereby: (i) the October 22, 2009 payment was deferred until
November 22, 2009 and (ii) we issued additional warrants to Vertex for 500,000 shares of Common
Stock at a price of $0.10 per share. The warrants are exercisable at any time for five years from
the date of issuance or reissuance. The value of these warrants had been recorded as a
contra-balance amount discount with the note and has been fully amortized through interest expense.
For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, amortization of approximately $7,000 and $178,000
for this discount has been recorded in interest expense. This note was paid in full in September
2010.
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 $0.15 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.
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 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 Common Stock. As of April 16, 2010, the remaining principal of
$140,000 matured and with accumulated interest earned, converted to 2,069,375 shares of our common
stock.
Summary of Cash Flow Activity
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||
Net cash used by operating activities |
$ | (245,033 | ) | $ | (715,264 | ) | $ | (866,285 | ) | |||
Net cash used by investing activities |
| (20,702 | ) | (200,180 | ) | |||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
250,094 | 640,261 | 1,042,726 |
Net cash used by operating activities
During 2010 and 2009, cash used by operating activities was impacted primarily by increases in
accounts payable and other accrued liabilities.
Net cash used by investing activities
During 2009, cash used by investing activities was for capital expenditures. 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.
27
Table of Contents
Net cash provided by financing activities
During 2010, cash provided by financing activities was from the continued issuance of our
Convertible Notes for $485,000 offset by payments against other Notes Payable. During 2009, cash
provided by financing activities was from the continued issuance of our Convertible Notes for
$958,500 offset by payments against other Notes Payable. 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.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
In the table below, we set forth our obligations as of December 31, 2010. 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 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | year | 1 to 3 years | 4 to 5 years | years | ||||||||||||||||
Convertible Notes (1) |
$ | 1,927,000 | $ | 1,927,000 | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
CMS Acquition Note (2) |
106,000 | 106,000 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Capital Lease (3) |
2,500 | 2,500 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Operating Lease (4) |
| | | | ||||||||||||||||
Total contractual obligations |
$ | 2,035,500 | $ | 2,035,500 | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
(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 Common Stock at the
noteholders option. The
first of these notes matured in April 2010. If the noteholders do not convert their notes into
shares of Common Stock,
the notes will have to be repaid or refinanced. |
|
(2) | Amount represents value of principal amount of note and interest and is secured by a security
interest in the
PSC Patent. Final payment on this note is due May 15, 2011. |
|
(3) | Represents lease on office furniture. |
|
(4) | The lease for our office space expired December 2010 and is currently being negoiated while we
occupy the space. |
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; or |
||
| 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
Long-Lived Assets Our acquisition and merger activities have resulted in aggregate licensing and
patent assets of approximately $2.1 million as of December 31, 2010. We are required to conduct
impairment tests of long-lived 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. In the fourth quarter of 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. In the fourth quarter of 2009, we
determined that we are no longer going to use the HFTA technology for which an asset was previous
capitalized. The net remaining asset of $693,000 was written-off through our research and
development expense for the year ended December 31, 2009.
28
Table of Contents
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 accounting
guidance that requires measuring all stock-based compensation awards at fair value and recognizing
an expense in the financial statements. We compensate certain employees, officers, directors and
consultants with share-based payment awards and recognize compensation costs for these awards based
on their fair values and expense is recognized over the requisite service period. The fair values
of certain awards are estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing
formula, which incorporates certain assumptions including the expected term of an award and
expected stock price volatility.
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. 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.
Fair Value Measurement We use fair value accounting and reporting to specify a hierarchy of
valuation techniques based upon whether the inputs to those valuation techniques reflect
assumptions other market participants would use based upon market data obtained from independent
sources or reflect our own assumptions of market participant valuation. The hierarchy is broken
down into three levels based on the reliability of the inputs as follows:
| Level 1 Quoted prices in active markets that are unadjusted and accessible at the
measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities; |
||
| Level 2 Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not
active, quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or financial
instruments for which significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; |
||
| Level 3 Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the
fair value measurement and unobservable. |
As of and during the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, we utilized Level 1 inputs to determine
the fair value of cash equivalents and we utilized Level 2 inputs to determine the fair value of
certain long-lived assets.
Contingent Liabilities We are, from time to time, subject to litigation to our business.
Assessments regarding the ultimate cost of lawsuits require judgments concerning matters such as
the anticipated outcome of negotiations, the number and cost of pending and future claims, and the
impact of evidentiary requirements. A significant amount of judgment and use of estimates is
required to quantify our ultimate exposure in these matters. We regularly review
the valuation of these liabilities and account for changes in circumstances for ongoing and
emerging issues. The Company intends to defend itself vigorously in all litigation.
ITEM 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
As of December 31, 2010, all of our debt instruments (Notes Payable 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.
29
Table of Contents
ITEM 8. | Financial Statements and Supplemental Data |
REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri
CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. as of December 31, 2010
and the related Statements of Operations, Changes in Stockholders Equity, and Cash Flows for the
year ended December 31, 2010. CleanTech Biofuels Inc.s management is responsible for these
financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements
based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The
Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control
over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of the internal control over financial
reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but
not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the companys internal control
over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining,
on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements,
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. as of December 31, 2010, and the
results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as
a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Companys significant
operating losses and recent inability to secure additional capital to implement its business plan
raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements
do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
MILHOUSE & NEAL, LLP
Certified Public Accountants
Certified Public Accountants
March 22, 2011
30
Table of Contents
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri
CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. as of December 31, 2009
and the related Statements of Operations, Changes in Stockholders Equity, and Cash Flows for the
year ended December 31, 2009. CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.s management is responsible for these
financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements
based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The
Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control
over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of the internal control over financial
reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but
not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the companys internal control
over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining,
on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements,
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. as of December 31, 2009, and the
results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
MILHOUSE & NEAL, LLP
Certified Public Accountants
March 15, 2011
Certified Public Accountants
March 15, 2011
31
Table of Contents
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri
CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri
We have audited the accompanying Statements of Operations, Changes in Stockholders Equity and Cash
Flows for the year ended December 31, 2008. CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.s management is responsible
for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The
Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control
over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial
reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but
not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the companys internal control
over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining,
on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements,
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material
respects, the results of operations and cash flows of CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. for the year ended
December 31, 2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of America.
MILHOUSE & NEAL, LLP
Certified Public Accountants
March 15, 2011
Certified Public Accountants
March 15, 2011
32
Table of Contents
CLEANTECH BIOFUELS, INC.
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current Assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 5,973 | $ | 912 | ||||
Prepaids and other current assets |
39,905 | 36,481 | ||||||
45,878 | 37,393 | |||||||
Property and equipment, net |
9,777 | 20,308 | ||||||
Non-Current Assets: |
||||||||
Technology licenses, net |
1,521,250 | 1,521,250 | ||||||
Patents |
600,000 | 600,000 | ||||||
Total Assets |
$ | 2,176,905 | $ | 2,178,951 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY (DEFICIT) |
||||||||
Current Liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 392,950 | $ | 302,898 | ||||
Accrued interest |
121,260 | 83,142 | ||||||
Accrued professional fees and other |
487,835 | 175,693 | ||||||
Notes payable, net |
1,871,669 | 1,401,925 | ||||||
Series A convertible debentures |
| 140,000 | ||||||
Deferred revenue |
50,000 | 50,000 | ||||||
Capital lease |
1,211 | 4,869 | ||||||
Total Current Liabilities |
2,924,925 | 2,158,527 | ||||||
Capital Lease |
| 1,235 | ||||||
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;
68,309,679 and 66,256,824 shares issued and outstanding at
December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively |
68,310 | 66,257 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
6,301,726 | 5,911,136 | ||||||
Notes receivable restricted common stock |
(295,057 | ) | (316,838 | ) | ||||
Deficit accumulated during the development stage |
(6,822,999 | ) | (5,641,366 | ) | ||||
Total Stockholders Equity (Deficit) |
(748,020 | ) | 19,189 | |||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders Equity (Deficit) |
$ | 2,176,905 | $ | 2,178,951 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
33
Table of Contents
CLEANTECH BIOFUELS, INC.
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
July 14, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
(inception) to | ||||||||||||||||
Years ended December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2010 | |||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
$ | 691,428 | $ | 1,087,889 | $ | 568,115 | $ | 2,847,067 | ||||||||
Professional fees |
91,227 | 290,023 | 430,798 | 1,140,691 | ||||||||||||
Research and development |
| 693,146 | 392,471 | 1,217,847 | ||||||||||||
782,655 | 2,071,058 | 1,391,384 | 5,205,605 | |||||||||||||
Other expense (income): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest |
407,197 | 906,535 | 179,690 | 1,560,190 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of technology license |
| | 15,000 | 35,000 | ||||||||||||
Deposit forfeiture |
| | | (25,000 | ) | |||||||||||
Other income |
| (32,000 | ) | | (32,000 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest income |
(8,219 | ) | (11,771 | ) | (13,749 | ) | (55,144 | ) | ||||||||
398,978 | 862,764 | 180,941 | 1,483,046 | |||||||||||||
Income tax benefit |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | 1,181,633 | $ | 2,933,822 | $ | 1,572,325 | $ | 6,688,651 | ||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per common share |
$ | 0.02 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.13 | ||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
67,924,219 | 63,069,675 | 56,857,870 | 50,727,711 | ||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
34
Table of Contents
CLEANTECH BIOFUELS, INC.
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders Equity (Deficit)
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders Equity (Deficit)
Notes Rec - | ||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | restricted | July 14, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-in | common | (inception) to | |||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | stock | Dec 31, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2007 |
49,343,680 | 49,344 | 364,260 | (90,000 | ) | (1,135,219 | ) | |||||||||||||
Conversion of promissory notes in March and April
2008 at $.15 per share |
8,888,911 | 8,889 | 1,324,448 | |||||||||||||||||
Shares released from escrow to HFTA in Sep-08 at $.52/share |
962,562 | 962 | 499,570 | |||||||||||||||||
Shares issued in accordance with Biomass North America
Licensing, Inc. merger in Sep-08 at $.75/share |
1,895,000 | 1,895 | 1,419,355 | |||||||||||||||||
Discounts on Notes Payable |
783,853 | |||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted shares to Employees in Dec-08
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 | ) | |||||||||||||
Conversions of convertible notes in 2009 at $.25 per share |
466,268 | 466 | 116,102 | |||||||||||||||||
Conversions of convertible notes in 2009 at $.08 per share |
687,500 | 688 | 35,967 | |||||||||||||||||
Discounts on Notes Payable |
391,069 | |||||||||||||||||||
Issuances of shares in August 2009 at $.13 per share for
Net Issuance Elections for warrants |
357,778 | 358 | (358 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted shares in June and December 2009
at $.12 and $.06 per share, respectively |
1,250,000 | 1,250 | 111,250 | (112,500 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Shares released from escrow to HFTA in Aug-09 at $.10/share |
1,925,125 | 1,925 | 190,587 | |||||||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted shares to Directors in Sep-09 at
$.10 per share |
300,000 | 300 | 29,700 | (30,000 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Interest on Notes Receivable |
(11,771 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
361,721 | |||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
(2,933,822 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2009 |
66,256,824 | 66,257 | 5,911,136 | (316,838 | ) | (5,641,366 | ) | |||||||||||||
Discounts on Notes Payable |
128,054 | |||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted shares to a Director in Feb-10 at $.10 per share |
150,000 | 150 | 14,850 | (15,000 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Conversion of Debentures in Apr-10 at $.08 per share |
2,069,375 | 2,069 | 163,480 | |||||||||||||||||
Conversion of Convertible Note in June-10
at $.08 per share |
133,480 | 134 | 10,545 | |||||||||||||||||
Interest on Notes Receivable |
(16,815 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Expiration of certain Notes Receivable in Aug-10
at $.15 per share |
(300,000 | ) | (300 | ) | (44,700 | ) | 53,596 | |||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
118,361 | |||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
(1,181,633 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2010 |
68,309,679 | $ | 68,310 | $ | 6,301,726 | $ | (295,057 | ) | $ | (6,822,999 | ) | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
35
Table of Contents
CLEANTECH BIOFUELS, INC.
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
July 14, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
Year Ended | (inception) to | |||||||||||||||
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2010 | |||||||||||||
Operating Activities |
||||||||||||||||
Net loss applicable to common stockholders |
$ | (1,181,633 | ) | $ | (2,933,822 | ) | $ | (1,572,325 | ) | $ | (6,688,651 | ) | ||||
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 |
10,531 | 19,220 | 28,572 | 58,579 | ||||||||||||
Amortization |
| | 15,000 | 35,000 | ||||||||||||
Interest income |
(8,219 | ) | (11,771 | ) | (7,767 | ) | (27,757 | ) | ||||||||
Amortization of discounts (interest expense) and
other financing charges |
287,968 | 815,526 | 138,952 | 1,242,444 | ||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
118,361 | 361,721 | 218,992 | 738,203 | ||||||||||||
Write-off of technology license |
| 693,045 | 97,500 | 790,545 | ||||||||||||
Fair value of RAM warrant settlement |
| | | 125,027 | ||||||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities that provided
(used) cash, net: |
||||||||||||||||
Prepaids and other current assets |
7,191 | 53,440 | 3,681 | (7,531 | ) | |||||||||||
Technology license |
| | | (132,500 | ) | |||||||||||
Accounts payable |
90,052 | 63,973 | 146,937 | 392,950 | ||||||||||||
Other assets and other liabilities |
118,574 | 113,961 | 34,523 | 308,174 | ||||||||||||
Accrued liabilities |
312,142 | 109,443 | 29,650 | 487,835 | ||||||||||||
Net cash used by operating activities |
(245,033 | ) | (715,264 | ) | (866,285 | ) | (2,677,582 | ) | ||||||||
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 |
| (20,702 | ) | (30,180 | ) | (54,237 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash used by investing activities |
| (20,702 | ) | (200,180 | ) | (224,237 | ) | |||||||||
Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Financing Activities |
||||||||||||||||
Advances related parties |
(10,615 | ) | (21,576 | ) | | (32,373 | ) | |||||||||
Payments on capital lease, including interest |
(4,959 | ) | (5,049 | ) | (3,787 | ) | (13,903 | ) | ||||||||
Series A Convertible Debentures, including interest |
| | 474,900 | 1,424,900 | ||||||||||||
Issuance of Note Payable |
100,000 | | | 100,000 | ||||||||||||
Issuance of Convertible Notes Payable |
385,000 | 958,500 | 607,000 | 1,950,500 | ||||||||||||
Payments on Note Payable |
(219,332 | ) | (291,614 | ) | (35,387 | ) | (546,332 | ) | ||||||||
Sale of common stock |
| | | 25,000 | ||||||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
250,094 | 640,261 | 1,042,726 | 2,907,792 | ||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
5,061 | (95,705 | ) | (23,739 | ) | 5,973 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
912 | 96,617 | 120,356 | | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 5,973 | $ | 912 | $ | 96,617 | $ | 5,973 | ||||||||
36
Table of Contents
CLEANTECH BIOFUELS, INC.
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS contd
(formerly Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc.)
(A Development Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS contd
July 14, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
Year Ended | (inception) to | |||||||||||||||
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2010 | |||||||||||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
||||||||||||||||
Cash paid for interest |
$ | 721 | $ | 3,036 | $ | 1,174 | $ | 10,967 | ||||||||
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and
financing activities: |
||||||||||||||||
Promissory notes receivable related to Series A Convertible
Debentures |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 450,000 | ||||||||
Capital lease related to the purchase of equipment |
$ | | $ | | $ | 14,119 | $ | 14,119 | ||||||||
Common stock issued for organizational costs |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 100 | ||||||||
Common stock issued for promissory notes |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 133,596 | ||||||||
Common stock issued for Debentures converted |
$ | 165,550 | $ | | $ | 1,333,337 | $ | 1,498,887 | ||||||||
Common stock issued for convertible notes converted |
$ | 10,678 | $ | 153,009 | $ | | $ | 182,770 | ||||||||
Common stock and note payable issued for acquistion of Biomass |
$ | | $ | | $ | 1,501,250 | $ | 1,501,250 | ||||||||
Common stock issued for HFTA |
$ | | $ | 192,513 | $ | 500,532 | $ | 693,045 | ||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
37
Table of Contents
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 (Common Stock). 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 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. The Company is currently in the process of raising
capital to design and build a commercial biomass recovery plant to provide biomass feedstock for
customer evaluation and trial purchases. Initially, the biomass feedstock output will be sold or
provided to electric utilities, power and steam producers, and biofuel and chemical research firms
for evaluation. In addition to research and development, the Company is also working towards
licensing and/or developing 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: (i) a homogenous feedstock of cellulosic biomass for producing energy and other chemical
products and (ii) recyclable products (metals, plastics, aluminum).
The Company has no operating history as a producer of biomass or energy sources and has not
constructed any plants to date. We have no revenues and will be required to raise additional
capital in order to execute our business plan and commercialize our products. Our current cash is
not sufficient to fund our current operations. Our liabilities are substantially greater than our
current available funds. Although we continue to seek additional financing through the sale of
additional equity, various government funding opportunities and/or possibly through strategic
alliances with larger energy or waste management companies, we have not had recent success securing
meaningful amounts of financing. 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 immediately and successfully raise additional capital and/or achieve profitability or
positive cash flow, we may not be able to continue operations.
As previously disclosed in our Forms 8-K and 8-K/A filed in October 2010 and January 2011,
respectively, the Companys financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009
required re-audits due to our previous independent registered public accounting firm having its
registration with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board revoked in December 2010. Included
in this report are our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009 with no
adjustments from those previously issued.
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.
38
Table of Contents
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 CTB Licensing, LLC. All significant intercompany
transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.
Research and Development Costs Research and development expenditures (which are comprised of
costs incurred in performing research and development activities including wages and associated
employee benefits, facilities and overhead costs), including payments to collaborative research
partners are expensed as incurred.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company continually evaluates whether events and
circumstances have occurred that indicate the remaining estimated useful life of long-lived assets
may warrant revision or that the remaining balance may not be recoverable primarily through
reviewing changes in business plans and use of such assets. When factors indicate that an asset
should be evaluated for possible impairment, the Company reviews long-lived assets to assess future
use or recoverability of such asset. Impairments are recognized in earnings to the extent that the
carrying value exceeds fair value. Impairment losses of approximately $690,000 and $97,500 were
recorded in the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. See further footnote
disclosures for details of these impairments.
Intellectual Property Intellectual property, consisting of our licensed/owned patents and other
proprietary technology, are stated at cost and will be 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. Amortization
of these assets has not yet begun as the assets have not been placed in service as we have not yet
commenced operations.
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 accounting guidance, 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.
The standards on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes (incorporated into the FASB Accounting
Standards Codification (Codification) Topic 740, Income Taxes, effective for periods ending after
September 15, 2009) clarify the accounting and recognition for income tax positions taken or
expected to be taken in the Companys income tax returns. The Companys income tax filings are
subject to audit by various taxing authorities. The Companys open audit periods are 2007-2010.
In evaluating the Companys tax provisions and accruals, future taxable income, and the reversal of
temporary differences, interpretations and tax planning strategies are considered. The Company
believes their estimates are appropriate based on facts and circumstances.
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. 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.
Stock-based compensation The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with
accounting guidance that requires measuring all stock-based compensation awards at fair value and
recognizing an expense in the financial statements. 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 14,000,000 shares of
common stock to be issued for stock options or shares of restricted stock under the Stock Plan. We
compensate certain employees, officers, directors and consultants with stock-based payment awards
and recognize compensation costs for these awards based on their fair values and expense is
recognized over the requisite service period. The fair values of certain awards are estimated on
the grant date using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing formula, which incorporates certain
assumptions including the expected term of an award and expected stock price volatility. Our key
assumptions are described in further detail in the Share-Based Payments Note to the Consolidated
Financial Statements.
39
Table of Contents
Fair Value Measurement We use fair value accounting and reporting to specify a hierarchy of
valuation techniques based upon whether the inputs to those valuation techniques reflect
assumptions other market participants would use based upon market data obtained from independent
sources or reflect our own assumptions of market participant valuation. The hierarchy is broken
down into three levels based on the reliability of the inputs as follows:
| Level 1 Quoted prices in active markets that are unadjusted and accessible at the
measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities; |
| Level 2 Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not
active, quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or financial
instruments for which significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; |
| Level 3 Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the
fair value measurement and unobservable. |
As of and during the year ended December 31, 2010, we utilized Level 1 inputs to determine the fair
value of cash equivalents and we utilized Level 2 inputs to determine the fair value of certain
long-lived assets.
Contingent Liabilities We are, from time to time, subject to litigation to our business.
Assessments regarding the ultimate cost of lawsuits require judgments concerning matters such as
the anticipated outcome of negotiations, the number and cost of pending and future claims, and the
impact of evidentiary requirements. A significant amount of judgment and use of estimates is
required to quantify our ultimate exposure in these matters. We regularly review the valuation of
these liabilities and account for changes in circumstances for ongoing and emerging issues. The
Company intends to defend itself vigorously in all litigation. The Company is not currently in any
litigation and is not aware of any pending litigation against the Company.
Dividends We have no material operating history and therefore have had no earnings to distribute
to stockholders. 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.
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, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company had options, warrants and
convertible notes to purchase an aggregate of approximately 44 million, 32 million and 21 million
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.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements In December 2010, the FASB issued accounting guidance on
Business Combinations regarding how public entities disclose supplemental pro forma information for
business combinations that occur during the year. Entities that present comparative financial
statements for business combinations must disclose the revenue and earnings of the combined entity
as though the business combination that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the
beginning of the prior annual reporting period. The authoritative guidance also expanded the
disclosures for entities to provide the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma
adjustments directly related to the business combination that is included in the reported pro forma
revenue and earnings. The authoritative guidance is effective for business combinations completed
in the periods beginning after December 15, 2010 and is applied prospectively as of the date of
adoption. We adopted the authoritative guidance on January 1, 2011.
40
Table of Contents
In December 2010, the FASB issued accounting guidance on IntangiblesGoodwill and Other, which
requires entities with a zero or negative carrying value to assess, considering qualitative
factors, whether it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, the entity must
perform step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. The authoritative guidance does not prescribe a
specific method of calculating the carrying value of a reporting unit in the performance of step 1
of the goodwill impairment test. The authoritative guidance is effective for impairment tests
performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. We adopted the authoritative guidance
on January 1, 2011.
In February 2010, the FASB accounting guidance on Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure
Requirements, which amends authoritative guidance on certain implementation issues related to the
requirement for entities to perform and disclose subsequent events procedures. The authoritative
guidance requires SEC filers to evaluate subsequent events through the date the financial
statements are available to be issued and exempts SEC filers from disclosing the date through which
subsequent events have been evaluated. The authoritative guidance was effective immediately for
financial statements that are issued or available to be issued. We adopted the authoritative
guidance as of January 1, 2010, and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial
statements.
In January 2010, the FASB issued an amendment to the fair value measurement and disclosure standard
improving disclosures about fair value measurements. The guidance requires additional disclosure
for transfer activity pertaining to Level 1 and 2 fair value measurements and purchase, sale,
issuance, and settlement activity for Level 3 fair value measurements. The guidance for the Level 1
and 2 disclosures was adopted on January 1, 2010 and did not have an impact on our consolidated
financial statements. The guidance for the activity in Level 3 disclosures is effective for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2010. The Company had no transfers between Level 1, 2 or 3
inputs during the year ended December 31, 2010.
On July 1, 2009, the FASB released the Codification becoming the single source of authoritative
nongovernmental generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States of America.
The Codification is a reorganization of current GAAP into a topical format that eliminates the
current GAAP hierarchy and establishes two levels of guidance authoritative and
non-authoritative. According to the FASB, all non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature
that is not included in the Codification would be considered non-authoritative. The FASB has
indicated that the Codification does not change current GAAP. Instead, the proposed changes aim to
(1) reduce the time and effort it takes for users to research accounting questions and (2) improve
the usability of current accounting standards. The Codification is effective for interim and annual
periods ending after September 15, 2009.
Note 3 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 patented technology owned by Biomass North America, LLC, the former parent of Biomass (the
Licensor), to clean and separate MSW (the Biomass Recovery Process). In July 2010, the United
States Patent and Trademark Office issued US patent number 7,745,208 for this process (the BRP
Patent).
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 has been paid in full. 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 $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,
2010, it would result in an increase of approximately $160,000 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.
41
Table of Contents
Note 4 Property and Equipment
At December 31, our property and equipment consisted of:
December 31, | ||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
Computers |
$ | 7,999 | $ | 8,857 | ||||
Furniture and fixtures |
15,799 | 15,799 | ||||||
Plant and equipment |
18,700 | 18,700 | ||||||
42,498 | 43,356 | |||||||
Accumulated Depreciation |
(32,721 | ) | (23,048 | ) | ||||
Total |
$ | 9,777 | $ | 20,308 | ||||
For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, we had depreciation expense of $10,531 and
$19,220, respectively. In 2009, we sold equipment that was fully depreciated resulting in a gain of
$7,000, which is recorded in Other Income on the Statement of Operations for the year ended
December 31, 2009.
Note 5 Patent
On October 22, 2008, the Company completed the purchase of Patent No. 6,306,248 (the PSC Patent),
pursuant to a Patent Purchase Agreement (Agreement) with World Waste Technologies, Inc. (WWT).
The PSC Patent is the basis for the pressurized steam classification technology from which our
Biomass Recovery Process was developed. As part of the acquisition of the PSC 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 (interest at 6.0%
per annum and secured by a security interest in the PSC Patent) and issued warrants to purchase
900,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.45 per share and to purchase an additional 900,000
shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.45 per share contingent on payment of the note by July 22,
2009 (the original maturity date). WWT assigned all of its rights, title and interest in the note,
warrants, security agreement and purchase agreement to Vertex Energy, Inc. (Vertex) as a result
of a merger in March 2009. We entered into amendments dated July 23, 2009 whereby: (i) the Company
paid 10% of the original note and all accrued interest to date, (ii) all previous warrants
(totaling 1,800,000 shares) were reissued at a price of $0.11 per share with no contingencies and
(iii) the remaining payments on the note were scheduled to be paid on October 22, 2009 (50% of
principal plus accrued interest to date not yet paid) and January 22, 2010 (remaining principal and
accrued interest to date). We entered into amendments dated October 22, 2009 whereby: (i) the
October 22, 2009 payment was deferred until November 22, 2009 and (ii) we issued additional
warrants to Vertex for 500,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.10 per share. The warrants
are exercisable at any time for five years from the date of issuance or reissuance. The cost of the
PSC Patent acquisition of $600,000 is recorded as a long-term asset on the Balance Sheet. The value
of the warrants had been recorded as a contra-balance amount with the note and has been fully
amortized through interest expense. The note had been recorded as short-term debt (notes payable)
in the financial statements, net of the discount for the warrant feature. This note was paid in
full in September 2010. For the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, amortization of this
discount of approximately $7,000 and $178,000, respectively, has been recorded in interest expense.
On September 1, 2010, the Company issued a promissory note to CMS Acquisition, LLC (CMS) in the
amount of $100,000 and entered into a related Security Agreement. The Note matures on February 28,
2011 (see Subsequent Event footnote for extension of due date), bears interest at 6.0% per annum
and is secured by a security interest in the PSC Patent. In connection with the financing, the
Company issued a warrant to CMS to purchase 2,000,000 shares of the Companys Common Stock at a
price of $0.05 per share. The warrant is exercisable at any time for five years from the date of
issuance.
42
Table of Contents
Note 6 Technology Licenses
Biomass North America Licensing, Inc.
On September 15, 2008, in connection with the acquisition of Biomass described in Note 3
Mergers/Acquisitions, we acquired a license in the United States and Canada to use technology owned
by Biomass North America, LLC, the former parent of Biomass (the Licensor), to clean and separate
MSW into cellulosic biomass feedstock, which we refer to as the Biomass Recovery Process. In July
2010, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued US Patent number 7,745,208 for this
process (the BRP Patent). As a result of the merger, a long-term asset of $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 the benefit of the Licensor. 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.
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 the Company and the 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 original 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 were using the technology at that time. On August 24, 2009, we entered into an amendment with
HFTA that moved the September 1, 2009 payment, plus interest at 6% per annum from the date of the
amendment, to March 1, 2010.
Additionally, we deposited 2,887,687 shares of our Common Stock into an escrow account on May 12,
2008. The shares held in escrow were released to HFTA as follows: the first third of the shares
(962,562 shares) were released from escrow on September 20, 2008 (six months from the date of the
original agreement) and the remaining 1,925,125 shares were released upon the amendment in August
2009. As a result, the Company recorded an asset for the value of the first third share payment of
approximately $500,000 in September 2008 and recorded an addition to the asset of approximately
$190,000 related to the release of the remaining shares in August 2009. During the fourth quarter
2009, the Company decided not to use this technology going forward in our operations and thus have
written off the asset as of December 31, 2009. The impairment loss of approximately $690,000 is
included in research and development expense on the statement of operations for the year ended
December 31, 2009.
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 the PSC Patent 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.
43
Table of Contents
As disclosed in Note 5 Patent, the Company acquired the PSC Patent pursuant to an Agreement with
WWT. The Company is now the licensor to Bio-Products for the PSC Patent. Bio-Products (a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Clean Earth Solutions, Inc., CES) is the exclusive licensee of the PSC
Patent and has the right to sublicense the technology that is part of the PSC Patent (but not the
BRP Patent) 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. On September 22, 2010, the Company sent a Notice of
Breach to the licensee of our PSC Patent. We received a response from the licensee on November 5,
2010. In February 2011, we became aware that the licensee effected a transfer of the license in
violation of the License Agreement. As a result, on March 21, 2011, we sent a notice of termination
to the licensee and the transferee terminating the License Agreement.
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, | ||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
Convertible Notes Payable, net of discounts of $-0- and $7,137 at
December 31,
2010 and 2009, respectively, which are made up of various individual notes
with an aggregate face value of $-0- and $502,000 at December 31, 2010 and
2009, respectively, interest at 6.0% |
$ | | $ | 494,863 | ||||
Convertible Notes Payable, net of discounts of $26,596 and $187,880 at
December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, which are made up of various
individual notes with an aggregate face value of $1,703,329 and $898,500
at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, due in one year from date of
note, interest at 6.0% |
1,676,733 | 710,620 | ||||||
Convertible Notes Payable, net of discounts of $-0- and $-0- at
December 31,
2010 and 2009, respectively, which are made up of various individual notes
with an aggregate face value of $35,000 and $-0- at December 31, 2010 and
2009, respectively, due in one year from date of note, interest at 6.0% |
35,000 | | ||||||
CMS Acquisition, LLC Note Payable, net of discount of $3,492 and $-0- at
December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, with a face value of $100,000 and
$-0- at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, due on February 28, 2011,
interest at 6.0% |
96,508 | | ||||||
Convertible Note Payable, net of discounts of $11,573 and $-0- at
December 31,
2010 and 2009, respectively, which is made up of an individual note with a face
value of $75,000 and $-0- at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, due in
one year from date of note, interest at 12.0% |
63,427 | | ||||||
Vertex (formerly WWT) Note Payable, net of discount of $-0- and $6,558
at
December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, with a face value of $-0- and $203,000,
respectively. Repaid September 1, 2010, interest at 6.0% |
| 196,442 | ||||||
Series A Convertible Debentures, converted April 16, 2010, interest at
6.0% |
| 140,000 | ||||||
Total debt |
1,871,668 | 1,541,925 | ||||||
Current maturities |
(1,871,668 | ) | (1,541,925 | ) | ||||
Long-term portion, less current maturities |
$ | | $ | | ||||
44
Table of Contents
Convertible Notes Payable
During September 2008, the Company commenced an offering of units comprised of a convertible
promissory note and a warrant. The Company raised a total of $642,000 of investment proceeds
through March 31, 2009 and this offering is closed. As of March 31, 2010, all of these notes have
either been converted to shares of our common stock or re-priced to our second convertible note
offering (resulting in new notes with a total face value of $539,829, which included the original
principal and interest through the date of re-pricing). Each convertible promissory note carried a
one-year term and a 6% interest rate. In addition, each note could have been converted, at the note
holders option, at any time during the one-year term into shares of 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 had been recorded as short-term debt (notes payable) in the financial statements, net of
discounts for the conversion and warrant features. The discounts were being amortized on a
straight-line basis over the term of each note and are fully expensed as of March 31, 2010. For the
years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, amortization of approximately $7,000 and $524,000,
respectively, for this discount has been recorded in interest expense. All outstanding warrants
related to this offering have also been re-priced into our second note offering.
During April 2009, the Company commenced another offering of units comprised of a convertible
promissory note and a warrant. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had raised a total of
$1,198,500 of investment proceeds and this offering is now closed. One note was converted during
the second quarter of 2009 and one note was converted during the second quarter 2010 leaving
$1,163,500 face value of notes outstanding ($1,703,329 after adding the notes from our first
offering previously disclosed). 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 Common Stock at $0.08 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 to provide for 100% coverage of the
promissory note at a price of $0.30 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 years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, amortization of approximately $253,000
and $113,000, respectively, for this discount has been recorded in interest expense. These notes
began maturing in April 2010. The notes that have matured, have not yet been repaid, refinanced or
converted to shares of our common stock. We plan to work with each noteholder to extend the terms
of, or convert, these promissory notes. There can be no assurance that we will reach agreements
with any or all of these noteholders and we may be required to repay such amounts.
During June 2010, the Company commenced another offering of units comprised of a convertible
promissory note and a warrant. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had raised a total of $75,000
of investment proceeds and is closed. Each convertible promissory note carries a one-year term, a
12% interest rate and a payback provision of the note if $250,000 or more in the aggregate is
raised by the Company in future offerings. In addition, each note can be converted, at the note
holders option, at any time during the one-year term into shares of Common Stock at $0.08 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 to
provide for 100% coverage of the promissory note at a price of $0.30 per share. The promissory note
has 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, 2010, amortization of approximately
$14,000 for this discount has been recorded in interest expense.
During November 2010, the Company commenced another offering of units comprised of a convertible
promissory note and a warrant. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had raised a total of $35,000
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 Common Stock at $0.06 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 to provide for 100% coverage of the promissory note at a price of
$0.30 per share. These promissory notes have been recorded as short-term debt (notes payable) in
the financial statements and carry no discounts. See the Subsequent Event footnote for an update on
the continuation of this offering.
45
Table of Contents
CMS Acquisition, LLC Note Payable
In September 2010, the Company issued a note in the amount of $100,000 (interest at 6.0% per annum
and secured by a security interest in the PSC Patent) and issued warrants to purchase 2,000,000
shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.05 per share. The note is due the earlier of: (i) February
28, 2011 (see the Subsequent Event footnote for disclosure on extension of the due date) or (ii)
the date on which $500,000 or more in the aggregate is raised by the Company in future offerings.
The warrants are exercisable at any time for five years from the date of issuance or reissuance.
The value of these warrants has been recorded as a contra-balance amount discount with the note and
is being amortized through interest expense. For the year ended December 31, 2010, amortization of
approximately $7,000 for this discount has been recorded in interest expense.
Vertex (formerly WWT) Note Payable
As disclosed previously, as part of the purchase of the PSC Patent, the Company issued a note in
the amount of $450,000 (interest at 6.0% per annum and secured by a security interest in the PSC
Patent) and issued warrants to purchase 900,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.45 per
share and to purchase an additional 900,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.45 per share
contingent on payment of the note by July 22, 2009 (the original maturity date). WWT assigned all
of its rights, title and interest in the note, warrants, security agreement and purchase agreement
to Vertex Energy, Inc. as a result of a merger in March 2009. We entered into amendments dated July
23, 2009 whereby: (i) the Company paid 10% of the original note and all accrued interest to date,
(ii) all previous warrants (totaling 1,800,000 shares) were reissued at a price of $0.11 per share
with no contingencies and (iii) the remaining payments on the note were scheduled to be paid on
October 22, 2009 (50% of principal plus accrued interest to date not yet paid) and January 22, 2010
(remaining principal and accrued interest to date). We entered into amendments dated October 22,
2009 whereby: (i) the October 22, 2009 payment was deferred until November 22, 2009 and (ii) we
issued additional warrants to Vertex for 500,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.10 per
share. The warrants are exercisable at any time for five years from the date of issuance or
reissuance. This note was paid in full in September 2010. 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 years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, amortization of
approximately $7,000 and $178,000, respectively, for this discount has been recorded in interest
expense
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 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. The remaining $140,000 of Debentures matured on April 16, 2010 and, with interest earned,
were converted into 2,069,375 shares of our common stock.
Note 8 Stockholders Deficit
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.
46
Table of Contents
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. The Company
released the remaining 1,925,125 shares of Common Stock ($0.10 per share) to HFTA in accordance
with the previously disclosed amendment to the licensing agreement with HFTA representing the
remaining shares previously held in escrow.
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.
In December 2008, June, September and December 2009, the Company issued 180,000, 625,000, 300,000
and 625,000, respectively, of restricted shares of Common Stock at $0.36, $0.12, $0.10 and $0.06
per share, respectively, to employees, a consultant pursuant to the consulting agreement and
directors. For all of these restricted common stock grants, each individual issued promissory notes
to the Company in exchange for their stock purchases. See the share-based footnote for further
details.
During 2009, the Company issued 466,268 shares of Common Stock ($0.25 per share) and 687,500 shares
of Common Stock ($0.08 per share) to investors upon their conversions of Convertible Notes.
In August 2009, the Company issued 357,778 shares of Common Stock ($0.13 per share) to the holders
of two separate warrants under the Net Issuance clause of the warrant agreements.
In February 2010, the Company issued 150,000 restricted shares of our common stock at $0.10 per
share to our newly elected director. The director issued a promissory note to the Company in
exchange for the stock purchases similar to the restricted share grants to all other directors. See
the share-based footnote for further details.
In April 2010, the Company issued 2,069,375 shares of Common Stock ($0.08 per share) upon the
conversion of $140,000 of the Companys Debentures and accrued interest of approximately $25,000.
In June 2010, the Company issued 133,480 shares of Common Stock ($0.08 per share) to an investor
upon the conversion of a Convertible Note.
In August 2010, certain notes receivable from former and current members of our Board of Directors
matured. The notes were originally issued in August 2007 to purchase shares of our common stock.
Two of the former directors declined to pay these notes or extend the due date. As a result,
300,000 shares of restricted stock, issued at $0.15 per share, were forfeited and cancelled. The
two other Directors agreed to extend the due date of their notes to August 2012. As the notes were
carried in additional paid-in capital, there was no effect on our financial results for the period
from the write-off of these notes.
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 $0.13 per
share to replace the option included in the promissory note on substantially similar terms as the
option. In August 2009, this warrant was exercised under the Net Issuance clause of the warrant
agreement resulting in 178,889 shares being issued.
In September 2009 and February 2010, 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.
47
Table of Contents
In August 2010, certain notes receivable from former and current members of our Board of Directors
matured. The notes were originally issued in August 2007 to purchase shares of our common stock.
Two of the former directors declined to pay these notes or extend the due date. As a result,
300,000 shares of restricted stock, issued at $0.15 per share, were forfeited and cancelled. The
two other Directors agreed to extend the due date of their notes to August 2012.
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, 2010, 2009 and 2008, we incurred $-0-, $10 and $181,000, respectively, in legal
fees with SSB. As of December 31, 2010, all amounts have been paid to SSB except for approximately
$90,000.
The Company uses the Crane Agency (Crane) as its broker for business and property insurance. Our
CEOs brother was employed by Crane through 2010 and was involved in the negotiation of coverage
and premiums related to policies. For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company paid
less than $3,000 and $3,000, respectively, in commissions on policies placed by Crane.
Beginning in 2009, the Company has provided advances to two employees Ed Hennessey and Mike Kime
(Mr. Kime resigned from his positions with the Company effective June 21, 2010). As of December 31,
2010 and 2009, the aggregate balances of advances totaled approximately $20,000 and $22,000,
respectively. The balances are included in Prepaids and Other Current Assets on the Balance Sheet.
Three members of our Board of Directors, Dr. Jackson Nickerson, Mr. Jose Bared, Sr. and David
Bransby are parties in investments made in our convertible note offerings. As of December 31, 2010
and December 31, 2009, the aggregate amount due on these investments, including interest, is
approximately $613,000 and $518,000, respectively.
Note 10 Share-based Payments
The Company recognizes share-based compensation expense for all share-based payment awards
including stock options and restricted stock issued to employees, directors and consultants and 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.
In March 2007, the Company adopted the 2007 Stock Option Plan (Stock Plan) for its employees,
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
currently has reserved a maximum of 14,000,000 shares of common stock to be issued for stock
options or restricted shares awarded under the Stock Plan.
48
Table of Contents
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.
For the years ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||
Risk-free interest rate |
1.76%-2.58% | 2.44% | 1.57% | |||||||||
Dividend yield |
0% | 0% | 0% | |||||||||
Volatility |
24.3%-28.9 | 29.58% | 36.91% | |||||||||
Expected term (years) |
5.0 | 5.0 | 4.8 | |||||||||
Weighted-average Fair Value |
$.02-$.03 | $0.03 | $0.12 |
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. 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 December 31, | ||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||
Pre-tax compensation expense: |
||||||||||||
Stock options |
$ | 118,361 | $ | 361,721 | $ | 218,992 | ||||||
Warrants |
| | | |||||||||
Total expense |
118,361 | 361,721 | 218,992 | |||||||||
Tax benefit, net |
| | | |||||||||
After-tax compensation expense |
$ | 118,361 | $ | 361,721 | $ | 218,992 | ||||||
Related to all grants, the Company will record future compensation expense for stock options
of approximately $25,000 for 2011. The potential tax benefit realizable for the anticipated tax
deductions of the exercise of share-based payments pertaining to stock options totaled
approximately $287,000 at December 31, 2010. However, due to the uncertainty that the tax benefits
will be realized, these potential benefits were not recognized currently.
As of December 31, 2010, there was approximately $25,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related
to all share-based payment arrangements, which will be recognized over a remaining period of
approximately 1.3 years. There are 613,333 options granted that are not yet vested as of December
31, 2010. These options have a weighted average exercise price of $0.20.
49
Table of Contents
A summary of the Companys stock option activity and related information as of and for the three
years ended December 31, 2010, is set forth in the following table:
Weighted | Aggregate | |||||||||||
Shares Under | Average | intrinsic | ||||||||||
Option | Exercise Price | value | ||||||||||
Options outstanding at December 31, 2007 |
4,010,000 | $ | 0.15 | (1 | ) | |||||||
Granted |
2,500,000 | 0.26 | ||||||||||
Exercised |
| |||||||||||
Forfeited |
| |||||||||||
Options outstanding at December 31, 2008 |
6,510,000 | $ | 0.19 | (1 | ) | |||||||
Granted |
305,000 | 0.10 | ||||||||||
Exercised |
| |||||||||||
Forfeited |
| |||||||||||
Options outstanding at December 31, 2009 |
6,815,000 | $ | 0.19 | (1 | ) | |||||||
Granted |
322,000 | 0.07 | ||||||||||
Exercised |
| |||||||||||
Forfeited |
(1,600,000 | ) | 0.26 | |||||||||
Options outstanding at December 31, 2010 |
5,537,000 | $ | 0.16 | (1 | ) | |||||||
Options exercisable at December 31, 2010 |
4,923,667 | $ | 0.14 | (1 | ) | |||||||
(1) | The weighted-average exercise price at December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 for all
outstanding
and exercisable options was greater than the fair value of the Companys common stock on
that date, resulting in an aggregate intrinsic value of $-0-. |
The following table summarizes information about the Companys issuances of restricted stock
for the three years ended December 31, 2010:
Weighted | ||||||||
Restricted | Average | |||||||
Shares Issued | Exercise Price | |||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2007 |
600,000 | $ | 0.15 | |||||
Granted |
180,000 | 0.36 | ||||||
Exercised |
| |||||||
Forfeited |
| |||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2008 |
780,000 | $ | 0.20 | |||||
Granted |
1,550,000 | 0.09 | ||||||
Exercised |
| |||||||
Forfeited |
| |||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2009 |
2,330,000 | $ | 0.13 | |||||
Granted |
150,000 | 0.10 | ||||||
Exercised |
| |||||||
Forfeited |
(300,000 | ) | 0.15 | |||||
Balance as of December 31, 2010 |
2,180,000 | $ | 0.12 | |||||
Restricted stock vested at December 31, 2010 |
2,054,991 | $ | 0.12 | |||||
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, 2010, 2009 and 2008. The
expected income tax benefit and resulting deferred tax asset for the years ended December 31, 2010,
2009 and 2008 is approximately $460,000, $1,086,000 and $585,000, 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.
50
Table of Contents
At December 31, 2010, net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $18,000, $182,000 $630,000,
$928,000 and $74,000 are available to offset future taxable income and expire in 2026, 2027, 2028,
2029 and 2030, respectively. This results in a net deferred tax asset of approximately $730,000 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, 2010 and 2009 are:
At December 31, | ||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
Start-up costs |
$ | 580,000 | $ | 480,000 | ||||
Net operating loss carryforward |
730,000 | 701,000 | ||||||
Accrual to cash conversion |
801,000 | 516,000 | ||||||
Share-based compensation related to stock options |
287,000 | 241,000 | ||||||
Other |
8,000 | 8,000 | ||||||
Total |
2,406,000 | 1,946,000 | ||||||
Valuation allowance |
(2,406,000 | ) | (1,946,000 | ) | ||||
Net deferred tax asset |
$ | | $ | | ||||
Note 12 Commitments and Contingencies
Leases The Companys lease 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 has expired. We are
currently in the process of extending this lease while occupying the space. 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 final lease payments are now due and total approximately $3,000. This lease is
accounted for as a capital lease for accounting purposes.
Note 13 Subsequent Events
Beginning in November 2010, the Company commenced a third offering of units comprised of a
convertible promissory note and a warrant. As of March 22, 2011, the Company has received $141,000
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 Common Stock at $0.06 per share, at
the Note holders option. Each note was issued with a warrant to purchase additional shares of
Common Stock to provide 100% coverage of the Note at a price of $0.30 per share. Under the first
and second offerings of units comprised of a convertible promissory note and warrants, which are
now closed, the Company received $1,840,500 in investment proceeds.
Certain promissory notes in our second offering of units comprised of a convertible promissory note
and a warrant (notes convertible at $0.08 per share) came due in April through December 2010. These
promissory notes totaling approximately $975,000 (including approximately $85,000 of accrued
interest through March 15, 2011), have not yet been repaid, refinanced or converted to shares of
our common stock. We plan to work with each noteholder to extend the terms of, or convert, these
promissory notes. There can be no assurance that we will reach agreements with any or all of these
noteholders and we may be required to repay such amounts.
The Company issued a promissory note to CMS Acquisition, LLC (CMS) that was due to mature on
February 28, 2011. On February 11, 2011, the Company and CMS entered into an amendment extending
the due date to May 15, 2011 while paying $25,000 towards accrued interest to date and principal on
the Note.
51
Table of Contents
Note 14 Quarterly Financial Data
(Unaudited)
The results of operations by quarter were as follows:
For the quarters ended 2010: | ||||||||||||||||
Mar 31 | June 30 | Sept 30 | Dec 31 | |||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
$ | 195,401 | $ | 241,350 | $ | 155,019 | $ | 99,658 | ||||||||
Professional fees |
41,524 | 32,946 | 32,988 | (16,231 | ) | |||||||||||
236,925 | 274,296 | 188,007 | 83,427 | |||||||||||||
Other expense (income): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest |
119,518 | 104,626 | 101,302 | 81,751 | ||||||||||||
Other (income) expense |
(4,291 | ) | (4,439 | ) | 4,377 | (3,866 | ) | |||||||||
Net loss applicable to common stockholders |
$ | 352,152 | $ | 374,483 | $ | 293,686 | $ | 161,312 | ||||||||
Basic net loss per common share |
$ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | ** | ** |
** | - less than $.01 per share |
For the quarters ended 2009: | ||||||||||||||||
Mar 31 | June 30 | Sept 30 | Dec 31 | |||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
$ | 243,823 | $ | 345,004 | $ | 288,740 | $ | 210,322 | ||||||||
Professional fees |
109,413 | 83,161 | 64,657 | 32,792 | ||||||||||||
Research and development |
101 | | | 693,045 | ||||||||||||
353,337 | 428,165 | 353,397 | 936,159 | |||||||||||||
Other expense (income): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest |
226,127 | 246,165 | 253,657 | 180,586 | ||||||||||||
Other income |
(4,667 | ) | (27,333 | ) | | | ||||||||||
Interest income |
(2,241 | ) | (2,266 | ) | (3,431 | ) | (3,833 | ) | ||||||||
Net loss applicable to common stockholders |
$ | 572,556 | $ | 644,731 | $ | 603,623 | $ | 1,112,912 | ||||||||
Basic net loss per common share |
$ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.02 |
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, is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the time periods specified by the Security and Exchange Commissions 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.
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, 2010.
Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints,
including, but not limited to having two total employees (chief executive officer 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.
52
Table of Contents
Managements 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, 2010. The effectiveness
of the Companys internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, has not been
audited by Milhouse & Neal, LLP, 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, 2010.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting During the three months ended
December 31, 2010, 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.
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 established rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for smaller reporting
companies.
ITEM 9B. | Other Information |
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. | Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance |
The Companys Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated By-laws
provide for a division of the Board of Directors into three classes. One of the classes is elected
each year to serve a three-year term. The Companys Amended and Restated By-Laws currently specify
that the number of directors shall be not less than three nor more than nine, subject to amendment
by the Board of Directors. Currently, the Company has five members of the Board of Directors as
detailed below.
53
Table of Contents
The following table sets forth for each director and officer, such directors or officers age,
principal occupation for at least the last five years, present position with the Company, the year
in which such director or officer was first elected or appointed (each director serving
continuously since first elected or appointed), directorships with other companies whose securities
are registered with the SEC, and the class of such director.
Class III Director: Terms expiring in 2013
Service as | ||||||||||
Name | Age | Principal Occupation | Director Since | |||||||
Edward P. Hennessey
|
52 | Mr. Hennessey currently is Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, and serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Hennessey has been the President and CEO of SRS Energy since 2003 and served as President of Supercritical Recovery Systems, Inc. prior to that time since 2002. Mr. Hennessey began his career in Finance with Shearson Lehman Brothers in 1986 and worked in the securities industry from 1986 until 2000. | 2007 |
Class I Directors: Terms expiring in 2011
Service as | ||||||||||
Name | Age | Principal Occupation | Director Since | |||||||
Paul Simon, Jr.
|
52 | Mr. Simon is a licensed attorney practicing in St. Louis, Missouri and has been a partner in the firm, Sauerwein, Simon, & Blanchard, P.C. since 2006. Prior to that time, he was a partner with the firm Helfrey, Simon and Jones, P.C. from 1991 until 2006. Mr. Simon is a graduate of the University of Missouri where he received his B.S. in Business Administration and St. Louis University School of Law where he received his J.D. | 2007 | |||||||
Jose Bared, Sr.
|
69 | Mr. Bared began his career as an engineer and in 1968 founded The Bared Company, a Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Design company. Mr. Bared was also a member of the founding group that purchased Republic National Bank of Miami in 1971. Mr. Bared served as a director of the bank from 1971 until its sale in 1998. Currently Mr. Bared serves on the Board of Directors of Jackson United Petroleum, a natural gas producer operating in Kentucky and Pennsylvania. He has served on the Board of Trustees for the University of Miami for the past 30 years. He also has served on the Board of Governors of the Sylvester Cancer Center for the past 15 years and is a life member of the center. Mr. Bared holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Miami. | 2010 |
Class II Directors: Terms expiring in 2012
Service as | ||||||||||
Name | Age | Principal Occupation | Director Since | |||||||
Jackson Nickerson, Phd
|
48 | Dr. Nickerson is the Frahm Family Professor of Organization and Strategy at Washington Universitys Olin Business School in St. Louis and has been at the university since 1996. He consults with numerous profit and not-for-profit organizations on strategy development. Dr. Nickerson launched and is currently a director of nformd.net, a privately held new media company. He has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an M.S. in mechanical engineering, an M.B.A. and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. | 2009 | |||||||
David Bransby, Phd
|
59 | Dr. Bransby is a Professor of Energy Crops and Bioenergy in the Department of Agronomy and Soils at Auburn University where he has taught and conducted research since 1987. He has more than 30 years of experience in agronomic research, and has spent over 20 years specializing in the production and processing of energy crops. He serves on the editorial boards of two international bioenergy journals, and consults for several private bioenergy companies. | 2009 |
Service as | ||||||||||
Name | Age | Principal Occupation | Officer Since | |||||||
Thomas Jennewein
|
47 | Mr. Jennewein is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Previously he served as Manager of Financial Reporting for the Maverick Tube Corporation from 2005-2007 and as Manager of Financial Reporting for the Argosy Gaming Company from 2000-2005. | 2007 |
54
Table of Contents
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Nickerson (Chairman) and Bransby, each of
whom is independent in accordance with the Nasdaq standards, as well as the independence
requirements for audit committee members under Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. In
addition, the Company has determined that Mr. Nickerson is qualified as an audit committee
financial expert as that term is defined in the rules of the SEC. The Audit Committee evaluates
significant matters relating to the audit and internal controls of the Company, reviews the scope
and results of the audits conducted by the Companys independent public accountants and performs
other functions or duties provided in the Audit Committee Charter. During the 2010 fiscal year, the
Audit Committee held one meeting.
Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Committee and Compensation Committee Charter have been eliminated and replaced by
the Board of Directors, whom now perform duties including reviewing the Companys remuneration
policies and practices, executive compensation and administering the Companys stock option plan.
Nomination of Directors
The Board of Directors does not currently have a standing Nominating Committee or a charter
regarding the nominating process. The Board of Directors will give appropriate consideration to
written recommendations from stockholders regarding the nomination of qualified persons to serve as
directors of the Company, provided that such recommendations contain sufficient information
regarding proposed nominees so as to permit the independent members of the Board of Directors to
properly evaluate each nominees qualifications to serve as a director. Nominations must be
addressed to the Secretary of the Company at 7386 Pershing Ave, University City, MO 63130. The
Board of Directors may also conduct their own search for potential candidates that may include
candidates identified directly by a variety of means as deemed appropriate by the independent
directors.
There are no established term limits for service as a director of the Company. In general, it is
expected that each director of the Company will have the highest personal and professional ethics,
integrity and values and will consistently exercise sound and objective business judgment. In
addition, it is expected that the Board of Directors as a whole will be made up of individuals with
significant senior management and leadership experience, a long-term and strategic perspective and
the ability to advance constructive debate.
Code of Ethics
All directors, officers and employees of the Company, including its Chief Executive Officer and its
Chief Financial Officer, are required to comply with the Companys Code of Ethics to ensure that
the Companys business is conducted in a legal and ethical manner. The Code of Ethics covers all
areas of business conduct, including employment policies and practices, conflict of interest and
the protection of confidential information, as well as strict adherence to all laws and regulations
applicable to the conduct of our business. Directors, officers and employees are required to report
any conduct that they believe in good faith to be an actual or apparent violation of our Code of
Ethics. The Company, through the Audit Committee, has procedures in place to receive, retain and
treat complaints received regarding accounting, internal accounting control or auditing matters and
to allow for the confidential and anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable
accounting or auditing matters. The Companys Code of Ethics was filed as Exhibit 14 in its
December 31, 2007 Form 10-KSB filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2008
and can be obtained free of charge by written request to the attention of the Secretary of the
Company at 7386 Pershing Ave, University City, MO 63130 or by telephone at (314) 802-8670. Any
changes to or amendments of the Code of Ethics will be filed as a future Exhibit in our filings.
55
Table of Contents
ITEM 11. | Executive Compensation |
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Two key aspects of the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Directors are the administration
of our compensation programs, including our equity incentive program, and the approval of
compensation for our executive officers. The Board of Directors has the authority to retain outside
counsel and/or such other experts or consultants as it deems necessary to discharge its duties.
Our Executive Compensation Policy
We believe that a critical factor in attracting and retaining talented and dedicated management
that is necessary for our success is the establishment and fair implementation of a comprehensive
executive compensation program. Accordingly, our overall compensation philosophy is to offer our
executives and other members of our management team compensation and benefits that meet and enhance
our goals of attracting, retaining and motivating highly skilled people to work together as a team
to achieve our financial and strategic business objectives. In furtherance of this compensation
philosophy, our executive compensation program is designed to:
| provide fair and reasonable compensation that meets the competitive environment for executive talent; |
||
| help motivate the members of our executive team for excellent performance; and |
||
| align the interests of our executive team members with those of our stockholders and the long-term
success of our company. |
While all decisions regarding executive compensation are ultimately made by our Board of Directors,
they also rely on the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer with respect to all of our
executive officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer himself), particularly with regard to
his assessment of each executive officers individual performance against achievement of strategic
objectives, level of responsibility exercised and the level of specialized experience and knowledge
required to do the job. Determinations by our Board of Directors are not made in accordance with
strict formulas which measure weighted qualitative and quantitative factors. Rather, such
determinations are more subjective in nature and take into account not only the recommendations of
our Chief Executive Officer, but such other factors as deemed relevant in an effort to blend
competitive ranges into our own internal policies and practices. The Board of Directors may also
seek advice from a compensation consultant.
All of our executive officers have entered into three-year employment agreements with the Company
effective as of August 31, 2007 that provide for, among other things, the base salary, if any, of
such executive officers compensation package. These employment contracts permit us to increase,
but not decrease, base salaries within the contract term. The contracts expired on August 31, 2010
and by their terms, automatically renew for additional one-year periods, unless terminated by
either the Company or the employee.
56
Table of Contents
Elements of our Executive Compensation Program
Our executive officer program consists of three basic elements: base salary, annual incentive
bonus, and long-term incentive compensation. Currently our executive officers whose compensation is
reported in the Summary Compensation Table are paid their approved salaries as cash is available
and have not been paid any bonus. We expect that in the future we will begin paying the Named
Executive Officers salary and bonuses consistent with their position and job performance.
Consistent with our executive officer compensation philosophy, we have structured each element of
our compensation package as follows:
Base Salary In December 2008, annual base salaries, effective beginning November 2008, were
approved of $144,000 for Messrs. Hennessey and Kime and $120,000 for Mr. Jennewein (Mr. Kime
resigned from the Company in June 2010). In addition, Mr. Hennessey was paid $56,000 during 2008
under a previous employment agreement. Salaries are currently paid based on cash availability.
Currently, the salaries paid to our executive officers as a group are substantially less than the
salaries typically paid to executives with the experience and background of our executive officers.
Bonuses None of our executive officers were paid a bonus in 2010, 2009, or 2008. We do not
currently have any bonus plan for executive officers.
Long-Term Incentive Compensation The long-term incentive awards for our executive officers are
made under our 2007 Stock Option Plan under which the Board of Directors may, among other things,
grant or award stock options and other stock-based awards, subject to certain limitations and
restrictions as set forth in the plan. Our use of stock-based awards for our executive officers is
the primary means by which we provide our executive officers a long-term incentive that becomes
more valuable to the executive to the extent our share value increases, thereby aligning each
executives interest with the interest of our stockholders.
It is the policy of the Board of Directors that, with respect to all equity-based compensation for
the executive officers, the award dates for each grant shall be specified by the Board of Directors
at a duly convened meeting as of a date on or after the date of its action, and that the exercise
price or value of the grant shall be determined by reference to the closing price of our common
stock on the specified award date. See Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End table for
additional information. Equity grants may also be made to new executive officers upon commencement
of their employment and, on occasion, to executive officers in connection with a significant change
in job responsibility, extraordinary performance, or other reasons.
Executive Perquisites Historically, we have not offered perquisites to our executive officers.
Tax and Accounting Implications
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally precludes a public company from taking a
federal income tax deduction for annual compensation in excess of $1 million per individual paid to
its chief executive officer or the other named executive officers. Under Section 162(m), certain
compensation, including performance-based compensation, is excluded from this deduction
limitation. Our intent is to structure compensation paid to our executives to be deductible;
however, from time to time, the Board of Directors may award compensation that may not be
deductible if it determines that such awards are consistent with our compensation philosophy and in
the best interest of our stockholders. We believe that all of the 2010 compensation paid to our
executive officers is fully deductible.
57
Table of Contents
Summary Compensation Table
The following table summarizes the total compensation paid or earned by the Companys Principal
Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and General Counsel/Chief Operating Officer, the
only executive officers of the Company (together the Named Executive Officers), who served these
positions during 2010.
(1) Stock | ||||||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position(s) | Year | Salary ($) | Options ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||
Edward P. Hennessey, President and CEO |
2008 | $ | 68,000 | $ | 103,574 | $ | 171,574 | |||||||||
2009 | 109,000 | 227,182 | 336,182 | |||||||||||||
2010 | 15,500 | 75,271 | 90,771 | |||||||||||||
Michael D. Kime, General Counsel and COO (2) |
2008 | 24,000 | 39,678 | 63,678 | ||||||||||||
2009 | 109,000 | 76,884 | 185,884 | |||||||||||||
2010 | 13,000 | 17,027 | 30,027 | |||||||||||||
Thomas Jennewein, Chief Financial Officer |
2008 | 10,000 | 36,623 | 46,623 | ||||||||||||
2009 | 92,000 | 45,880 | 137,880 | |||||||||||||
2010 | 13,500 | 18,444 | 31,944 |
(1) | The assumptions made when calculating the amounts in this column are found in footnote
10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report. The amounts represent
the accounting cost in accordance with U.S. GAAP that the Company recorded in its
Statements of Operations in each year. |
|
(2) | Mr. Kime resigned from the Company in June 2010. |
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table provides information on stock options and restricted stock awards granted to
the Named Executive Officers that were outstanding as of December 31, 2010. The market values in
this table were computed using the closing price of the Companys common stock on December 31,
2010, which was $0.04.
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of | Market | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of | Securities | Number | value of | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Securities | Underlying | of Shares | shares or | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Underlying | Unexercised | or Units | units of | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unexercised | Options (#) - | Option | Option | of Stock | stock that | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Options (#) - | Unexercisable | Exercise | Expiration | that have | have | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Grant Date | Exercisable | (3) | Price ($) | Date | vested (#) | vested | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Edward P. Hennessey |
8/31/2007 | 2,250,000 | (1) | | $ | 0.15 | 8/31/2014 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||
12/4/2008 | 800,000 | (2) | 400,000 | $ | 0.15 | 12/4/2015 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||
12/4/2008 | 60,000 | (4) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael D. Kime (6) |
8/31/2007 | (1) | 800,000 | $ | 0.15 | (6) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||
12/4/2008 | (2) | 800,000 | $ | 0.36 | (6) | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||
12/4/2008 | 60,000 | (4) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas G. Jennewein |
8/31/2007 | 800,000 | (1) | | $ | 0.15 | 8/31/2014 | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||
12/4/2008 | 266,667 | (2) | 133,333 | $ | 0.36 | 12/4/2015 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||
12/4/2008 | 60,000 | (4) | $ | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
7/6/2010 | 162,000 | (5) | | $ | 0.07 | 7/6/2017 | $ | |
(1) | This option grant vests in three equal annual installments beginning on August 31, 2008. |
|
(2) | This option grant vests in three equal annual installments beginning on August 31, 2009. |
|
(3) | The options shown in this column are nonvested or forfeited as of December 31, 2010. |
|
(4) | This stock award was granted on December 4, 2008. Each officer issued promissory notes with an
exercise price of $0.36. |
|
(5) | This stock award was granted on July 6, 2010 and vested immediately. |
|
(6) | Mr. Kime resigned from the Company in June 2010 and these shares have been forfeited. |
58
Table of Contents
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of | Number of | Number of | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Value | Shares | Value Upon | Shares | Value | |||||||||||||||||||
Acquired on | Realized on | Acquired on | Vesting ($) | Acquired on | Realized on | |||||||||||||||||||
Exercise (#) | Exercise ($) | Vesting (#) | (1) | Vesting (#) | Vesting ($) | |||||||||||||||||||
Edward P. Hennessey |
| $ | | 750,000 | $ | 562,500 | 60,000 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
| $ | | 750,000 | $ | | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||
| $ | | 750,000 | $ | | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||
| $ | | 400,000 | $ | | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||
| $ | | 400,000 | $ | | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||
Thomas G. Jennewein |
| $ | | 266,667 | $ | 200,000 | 60,000 | $ | | |||||||||||||||
| $ | | 266,667 | $ | | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||
| $ | | 266,666 | $ | | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||
| $ | | 133,333 | $ | | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||
| $ | | 133,333 | $ | | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||
| $ | | 162,000 | $ | | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||
Michael D. Kime (3) |
$ | | 60,000 | $ | |
(1) | The values reflect the market value of Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. common stock as of the vesting dates. These
prices ranged from $0.03 to $0.90. |
|
(2) | The price of our common stock on these vesting dates was less than or equal to the exercise price of the options. |
|
(3) | Mr. Kime resigned from the Company in June 2010. |
Pension Benefits None of our Named Executive Officers are covered by a defined benefit
pension plan or other similar benefit plan that provides for payments or other benefits.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation We do not have any nonqualified deferred compensation plans.
Director Compensation The Companys non-employee directors received no salary or compensation as
a board or committee member in 2010, 2009, and 2008. Each non-employee board member receives a
grant of 40,000 options and 150,000 restricted shares of company common stock upon beginning as a
director of the Company.
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control
Each of the employment agreements with our Named Executive Officers was entered into for an initial
term of employment that commenced as of August 31, 2007 and expired on August 31, 2010. By their
terms, the employment agreements automatically renew for additional one-year periods, unless
terminated by either the Company or the employee.
The employment agreements may be terminated upon: (i) the Companys dissolution, (ii) the death or
permanent disability of the employee, (iii) by the Company upon the employees unsatisfactory
performance of his duties under the agreement, (iv) ten days written notice by the Company upon
breach or default of the terms of the agreement by the employee, or (v) by the employee upon 30
days written notice to us. The employment agreements also permit the Company to terminate the
employees employment following an act of misconduct.
If employment is terminated for any of the reasons set forth above, the Named Executive Officers
discussed above will only receive their base salary accrued but unpaid as of the date of the
termination. If employment is terminated for any reason other than those set forth above and those
subsequent to a change in control of the Company, as discussed below, the Officers will receive one
year of base salary. Additionally, all of Mr. Hennesseys shares subject to stock options will vest
and one-half of Mr. Jenneweins shares subject to stock options will vest.
If, pursuant to a change in control of the Company, an employees employment agreement is
involuntarily terminated, the employee will receive severance pay in an amount equal to his annual
base salary for one year following the date on which he was terminated.
59
Table of Contents
ITEM 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters |
The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2010 with respect to each person or
group known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of its outstanding
shares of Common Stock. Beneficial ownership of shares has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), under which a person is deemed to be the
beneficial owner of securities if he or she has or shares voting or investment power with respect
to such securities or has the right to acquire ownership thereof within 60 days. Accordingly, the
amounts shown in the tables do not purport to represent beneficial ownership for any purpose other
than compliance with the reporting requirements of the SEC.
Name and Address of | Amount and Nature of | |||||||
Beneficial Owner | Beneficial Ownership | Percent of Class | ||||||
Edward P. Hennessey, Jr. (1) |
7,443,275 | 10.9 | % | |||||
7310 Forsyth Ave., Unit 104 Clayton, MO 63105 |
||||||||
SRS Legacy Trust(2) |
7,972,214 | 11.7 | % | |||||
147 N. Meramec, Suite 200 Clayton, MO 63105 |
||||||||
RAM Resources, L.L.C.(3) |
4,236,089 | 6.2 | % | |||||
13397 Lakefront Drive Earth City, Missouri 63045 |
(1) | Amount represents shares owned by Supercritical Recovery Systems, Inc., of which Mr.
Hennessey serves as President and a Member of the Board of Directors. |
|
(2) | SRS Legacy Trust is an irrevocable trust of which Edward P. Hennessey, Jr. is a
beneficiary. Michael Hennessey, Mr. Hennesseys brother, has sole voting power, and Paul
Simon, Jr., one of our directors, has sole dispositive power with respect to these shares. |
|
(3) | Rodney H. Thomas, as Trustee of the Trust which is the majority owner of RAM Resources,
L.L.C., has controlling voting and dispositive power over these shares. |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
Under regulations of the SEC, persons who have power to vote or to dispose of our shares, either
alone or jointly with others, are deemed to be beneficial owners of those shares. The following
table sets forth, as of December 31, 2010, the beneficial ownership of the outstanding Common Stock
of each current director, each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table
set forth herein and the executive officers and directors as a group. Unless otherwise noted, the
Company believes that all persons named in the table below have sole voting power and dispositive
power with respect to all shares beneficially owned by them.
Amount and Nature of | Percent of | |||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Beneficial Ownership | Class | ||||||
Edward P. Hennessey, Jr. |
10,553,275 | (1) | 14.8 | % | ||||
Thomas Jennewein |
1,048,667 | (2) | 1.5 | % | ||||
Jackson Nickerson |
196,149 | (3) | * | % | ||||
David Bransby |
144,998 | (2) | * | % | ||||
Jose Bared |
124,163 | (2) | * | % | ||||
Paul Simon |
267,935 | (3) | * | % | ||||
Total owned by All Executive Officers and Directors |
12,335,187 | 17.0 | % |
* | Less than 1%. |
|
(1) | Includes the shares described in footnote 1 to the Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners table and the vested portion and the portion that will vest within 60
days hereof of shares of options and restricted stock. |
|
(2) | Amounts represent the vested portion and the portion that will vest within 60 days
hereof of shares of options and restricted stock. |
|
(3) | Amount includes the vested portion and the portion that will vest within 60 days hereof
of shares of options and restricted stock and shares held individually. |
We currently have 14,000,000 shares of our common stock approved under our 2007 Stock Option Plan.
See Part II, Item 5 for the table reflecting shares issued and available.
60
Table of Contents
ITEM 13. | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence |
From time to time, the Company has engaged in various transactions with certain of its directors,
executive officers and other affiliated parties. The following paragraphs summarize certain
information concerning certain transactions and relationships that have occurred during the past
fiscal year or are currently proposed.
Paul Simon, Jr., a director of the Company, is a Member of the law firm Sauerwein, Simon &
Blanchard, P.C., which had provided legal services to the Company in prior years.
Beginning in 2009, the Company provided advances to partially cover for months with no payroll, to
two employees Ed Hennessey and Mike Kime (who resigned from the Company in June 2010). As of
December 31, 2010, the aggregate balance of advances totaled approximately $20,000.
Three members of our Board of Directors, Dr. Jackson Nickerson, Mr. Jose Bared, Sr. and Mr. David
Bransby are parties to investments in our Convertible Note offerings approximately $613,000 in
the aggregate, including principal and interest as of December 31, 2010.
We use the Crane Agency Co. as our broker for business and property insurance. Our CEOs brother
was employed at the Crane Agency Co. through the end of 2010 and had been involved in the
negotiation of our insurance policies. We expect to purchase additional insurance through the
Crane Agency Co. in the future.
Determination of Director Independence
Rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq) require that a majority of the Board of Directors
be independent, as defined in Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5605(a)(2). Under the Nasdaq rules, the
Board of Directors must make an affirmative determination that a director is independent by
determining that the director has no relationships that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors,
would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a
director. The Board of Directors has reviewed the independence of its directors under the Nasdaq
rules. During this review, the Board of Directors considered transactions and relationships between
each director or any member of his family and the Company. The Board of Directors has determined
that Messrs. Nickerson, Bransby and Bared are independent under Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2).
61
Table of Contents
ITEM 14. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services |
The following table sets forth the amount of audit fees, tax fees, audit-related fees and all other
fees billed or expected to be billed by Milhouse & Neal, LLP, the Companys independent registered
public accounting firm and/or Larry ODonnell, CPA (the Companys former independent registered
public accounting firm),:
For the years ended December 31, | ||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
Audit Fees (1) |
$ | 18,900 | $ | 8,800 | ||||
Tax Fees |
| | ||||||
Audit-Related Fees |
| | ||||||
All Other Fees |
| | ||||||
Total Fees |
$ | 18,900 | $ | 8,800 | ||||
(1) | Includes annual financial statement audit. For 2010, fees also include re-audits of our 2008 and 2009 Financial
Statements. See our Form 8-K filed on October 27, 2010 and our Form 8-K/A filed on January 5, 2011 for further
information on the change in the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, effective October 27, 2010. |
PART IV
ITEM 15. | Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules |
(a) | The following documents are filed as part of this report: |
1. Financial Statements:
30 | |||
33 | |||
34 | |||
35 | |||
36 | |||
38 |
2. Exhibits:
62
Table of Contents
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). |
|||
10.1 | 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). |
|||
10.4 | * | 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). |
||
10.5 | * | 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). |
||
10.6 | * | 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). |
||
10.7 | * | 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). |
||
10.8 | * | Form of Employee Agreement 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). |
||
10.9 | * | Form of Employee Stock Option Agreement 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). |
||
10.10 | 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). |
|||
10.11 | 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). |
|||
10.12 | 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). |
|||
10.13 | 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). |
|||
10.14 | 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). |
|||
10.15 | 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). |
63
Table of Contents
Exhibit | ||||
Number | Description | |||
10.16 | 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). |
|||
10.17 | * | Form of employee stock purchase agreement entered into with Edward
P. Hennessey, Jr., Mike Kime and Tom Jennewein (incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of the Registrants annual report on
Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2008). |
||
10.18 | Amendment to Note and Warrant Exchange Agreement between Vertex
Energy, Inc. and Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. dated July 23, 2009
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the
Registrants quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
September 30, 2009). |
|||
10.19 | Engagement Agreement between Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. and Houlihan
Smith & Company dated June 30, 2010 (incorporate herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the Registrants current report on
Form 8-K filed on July 7, 2010). |
|||
10.20 | Promissory Note issued in favor of CMS Acquisition, LLC dated
September 1, 2010 (incorporate herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20
of the Registrants current report on Form 8-K filed on September
8, 2010). |
|||
10.21 | Security Agreement between Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. and CMS
Acquisition, LLC dated September 1, 2010 (incorporate herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the Registrants current report on
Form 8-K filed on September 8, 2010). |
|||
10.22 | Amendment dated February 11, 2011 to a Promissory Note issued in
favor of CMS Acquisition, LLC dated September 1, 2010 (incorporate
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of the Registrants current
report on Form 8-K filed on February 16, 2011). |
|||
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. |
64
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 29, 2011 | By: | /s/ Edward P. Hennessey, Jr. | ||
Edward P. Hennessey, Jr. | ||||
Chief Executive Officer | ||||
March 29, 2011 | 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 29, 2011 | /s/ Edward P. Hennessey, Jr. | |||
Edward P. Hennessey, Jr., Chairman of the | ||||
Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) |
||||
March 29, 2011 | /s/ Thomas G. Jennewein. | |||
Thomas G. Jennewein, Chief Financial Officer | ||||
(principal financial and accounting officer) | ||||
March 29, 2011 | /s/ Dr. Jackson Nickerson | |||
Jackson Nickerson, Director | ||||
March 29, 2011 | /s/ Dr. David Bransby | |||
David Bransby, Director | ||||
March 29, 2011 | /s/ Paul Simon, Jr. | |||
Paul Simon, Jr., Director | ||||
March 29, 2011 | /s/ Jose Bared, Sr. | |||
Jose Bared, Sr., Director |
65
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). |
|||
10.1 | 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). |
|||
10.4 | * | 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). |
||
10.5 | * | 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). |
||
10.6 | * | 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). |
||
10.7 | * | 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). |
||
10.8 | * | Form of Employee Agreement 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). |
||
10.9 | * | Form of Employee Stock Option Agreement 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). |
||
10.10 | 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). |
|||
10.11 | 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). |
|||
10.12 | 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). |
|||
10.13 | 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). |
|||
10.14 | 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). |
66
Table of Contents
Exhibit | ||||
Number | Description | |||
10.15 | 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). |
|||
10.16 | 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). |
|||
10.17 | * | Form of employee stock purchase agreement entered into with Edward
P. Hennessey, Jr., Mike Kime and Tom Jennewein (incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of the Registrants annual report on
Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2008). |
||
10.18 | Amendment to Note and Warrant Exchange Agreement between Vertex
Energy, Inc. and Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. dated July 23, 2009
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the
Registrants quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
September 30, 2009). |
|||
10.19 | Engagement Agreement between Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. and Houlihan
Smith & Company dated June 30, 2010 (incorporate herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the Registrants current report on
Form 8-K filed on July 7, 2010). |
|||
10.20 | Promissory Note issued in favor of CMS Acquisition, LLC dated
September 1, 2010 (incorporate herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20
of the Registrants current report on Form 8-K filed on September
8, 2010). |
|||
10.21 | Security Agreement between Cleantech Biofuels, Inc. and CMS
Acquisition, LLC dated September 1, 2010 (incorporate herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the Registrants current report on
Form 8-K filed on September 8, 2010). |
|||
10.22 | Amendment dated February 11, 2011 to a Promissory Note issued in
favor of CMS Acquisition, LLC dated September 1, 2010 (incorporate
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of the Registrants current
report on Form 8-K filed on February 16, 2011). |
|||
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. |
67