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4. Debt
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
4. Debt

Debt consists of the following:

 

   

March 31,

2020

   

December 31,

2019

 
Third Eye Capital term notes   $ 7,024     $ 7,024  
Third Eye Capital revolving credit facility     67,077       62,869  
Third Eye Capital revenue participation term notes     11,794       11,794  
Third Eye Capital acquisition term notes     26,282       25,518  
Third Eye Capital promissory note     3,434       2,815  
Cilion shareholder seller notes payable     6,161       6,124  
Subordinated notes     11,816       11,502  
EB-5 promissory notes     42,176       41,932  
Unsecured working capital loans     2,077       2,631  
GAFI Term and Revolving loans     31,207       30,216  
Total debt     209,048       202,425  
Less current portion of debt     23,363       22,740  
Total long term debt   $ 185,685     $ 179,685  

 

Third Eye Capital Note Purchase Agreement

 

On July 6, 2012, Aemetis, Inc. and Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. (“AAFK”), entered into an Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement with Third Eye Capital (the “Note Purchase Agreement”). Pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, Third Eye Capital extended credit in the form of (i) senior secured term loans in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $7.2 million to replace existing notes held by Third Eye Capital (the “Term Notes”); (ii) senior secured revolving loans in an aggregate principal amount of $18.0 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”); (iii) senior secured term loans in the principal amount of $10.0 million to convert the prior revenue participation agreement to a note (the “Revenue Participation Term Notes”); and (iv) senior secured term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $15.0 million (the “Acquisition Term Notes”) used to fund the cash portion of the acquisition of Cilion, Inc. (the Term Notes, Revolving Credit Facility, Revenue Participation Term Notes and Acquisition Term Notes are referred to herein collectively as the “Original Third Eye Capital Notes”).

 

On March 27, 2018, Third Eye Capital agreed to Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 14 to the Note Purchase Agreement (“Amendment No. 14”) to: (i) extend the maturity date of the Third Eye Capital Notes by two years to April 1, 2020 in exchange for an amendment fee consisting of 6% (3% per year) of the outstanding note balance in the form of an increase in the fee payable in the event of a redemption of the Third Eye Capital Notes (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement); (ii) provide that the maturity date may be further extended at our election to April 1, 2021 in exchange for an extension fee of 5%; (iii) provide for an optional waiver of the ratio of note indebtedness covenant until January 1, 2019 with the payment of a waiver fee of $0.25 million; and (iv) remove the redemption fee described in (i) above from the calculation of the ratio of note indebtedness covenant. In addition to the fee discussed in (i), as consideration for such amendment and waiver, the borrowers also agreed to pay Third Eye Capital an amendment and waiver fee of $0.5 million to be added to the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

Based on the terms of Amendment No. 14, on April 1, 2020, the Company exercised option to extend the maturity to April 1, 2021 for a reduced fee of 1% on the outstanding debt which will be added to the outstanding balance of the notes on April 1, 2020.

 

On March 11, 2019, Third Eye Capital agreed to Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 15 to the Note Purchase Agreement (“Amendment No. 15”), to waive the ratio of note indebtedness covenant through December 31, 2019. As a consideration for this amendment, the Company also agreed to pay Third Eye Capital an amendment fee of $1.0 million to be added to the redemption fee which is due upon redemption of the Notes.

 

On November 11, 2019, Third Eye Capital agreed to Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 16 to the Note Purchase Agreement (“Amendment No. 16”), to waive the ratio of note indebtedness covenant for the quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020, September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020. As a consideration for this amendment, the Company also agreed to pay Third Eye Capital an amendment fee of $0.5 million to be added to the redemption fee which is due upon redemption of the Notes.

 

According to ASC 470-10-45 Debt–Other Presentation Matters, if it is probable that the Company will not be able to cure the default at measurement dates within the next 12 months, the related debt needs to be classified as current. To assess this guidance, the Company performed ratio and cash flow analysis using its cash flow forecast and debt levels. The Company forecasted sufficient cash flows over the next 12 months to reduce debt levels of Third Eye Capital and meet operations of the Company. Based on this analysis, the Company believes that it is reasonably possible that through a combination of cash flow from operations, new projects that provide additional liquidity, and sales of EB-5 investments, it will be able to meet the ratio of the note indebtedness covenant over the next 12 months. As such, the notes are classified as long-term debt.

 

On February 27, 2019, a Promissory Note (the “February 2019 Note”, together with the Original Third Eye Capital Notes, the “Third Eye Capital Notes”) for $2.1 million was advanced by Third Eye Capital to Aemetis, Inc., as a short-term credit facility for working capital and other general corporate purposes with an interest rate of 14% per annum maturing on the earlier of (a) receipt of proceeds from any financing, refinancing, or other similar transaction, (b) extension of credit by payee, as lender or as agent on behalf of certain lenders, to the Company or its affiliates, or (c) April 30, 2019. In consideration of the February 2019 Note, $0.1 million of the total proceeds were paid to Third Eye Capital as financing charges. On April 30, 2019, the February 2019 Note was modified to remove the stated maturity date and instead will be due on demand by Third Eye Capital. In third quarter of 2019, the February 2019 Note was modified to include additional borrowings of $0.7 million. In first quarter of 2020, the February 2019 Note was modified to include additional borrowings of $0.6 million. As of March 31, 2020, the outstanding balance of principal and interest on the February 2019 Note was $3.4 million. As of March 31, 2020, there was a covenant violation that was subsequently waived by Third Eye Capital in the 8th amendment to the February 2019 Note.

 

Terms of Third Eye Capital Notes

 

A.  Term Notes. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had $7.0 million in principal and interest outstanding under the Term Notes. The Term Notes accrue interest at 14% per annum. The Term Notes mature on April 1, 2021.

 

Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility accrues interest at the prime rate plus 13.75% (17.00% as of March 31, 2020) payable monthly in arrears. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on April 1, 2021. As of March 31, 2020, AAFK had $67.1 million in principal and interest and waiver fees outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

C.  Revenue Participation Term Notes. The Revenue Participation Term Note bears interest at 5% per annum and matures on April 1, 2021. As of March 31, 2020, AAFK had $11.8 million in principal and interest outstanding on the Revenue Participation Term Notes.

 

D.  Acquisition Term Notes. The Acquisition Term Notes accrue interest at the prime rate plus 10.75% (14.00% per annum as of March 31, 2020) and mature on April 1, 2021. As of March 31, 2020, Aemetis Facility Keyes, Inc. had $26.3 million in principal and interest and redemption fees outstanding. The outstanding principal balance includes a total of $7.5 million in redemption fees, including $4.5 million which was added to the Acquisition Term Notes as part of Amendment No. 14, $1.0 million of covenant waiver fees added in connection with Amendment No.15, and $0.5 million of covenant waiver fees added in connection with Amendment No. 16.

 

E.  Reserve Liquidity Notes. The Reserve Liquidity Notes, with available borrowing capacity in the amount of $18.0 million, accrue interest at the rate of 30% per annum and are due and payable upon the earlier of: (i) the closing of new debt or equity financings, (ii) receipt from any sale, merger, debt or equity financing, or (iii) April 1, 2021. We have no borrowings outstanding under the Reserve Liquidity Notes as of March 31, 2020.

 

The Third Eye Capital Notes contain various covenants, including but not limited to, debt to plant value ratio, minimum production requirements, and restrictions on capital expenditures. The terms of the Third Eye Capital Notes allow the lender to accelerate the maturity in the occurrence of any event that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect, such as any change in the business, operations, or financial condition. The terms of the notes allow interest to be capitalized.

 

The Third Eye Capital Notes are secured by first priority liens on all real and personal property of, and assignment of proceeds from all government grants and guarantees from Aemetis, Inc. The Third Eye Capital Notes all contain cross-collateral and cross-default provisions. McAfee Capital, LLC (“McAfee Capital”), owned by Eric McAfee, the Company’s Chairman and CEO, provided a guaranty of payment and performance secured by all of its Company shares. In addition, Eric McAfee provided a blanket lien on substantially all of his personal assets, and McAfee Capital provided a guarantee in the amount of $8.0 million.

 

Cilion shareholder seller notes payable. In connection with the Company’s merger with Cilion, Inc., (“Cilion”) on July 6, 2012, the Company issued $5.0 million in notes payable to Cilion shareholders as merger compensation subordinated to the senior secured Third Eye Capital Notes. The liability bears interest at 3% per annum and is due and payable after the Third Eye Capital Notes have been paid in full. As of March 31, 2020, Aemetis Facility Keyes, Inc. had $6.2 million in principal and interest outstanding under the Cilion shareholder seller notes payable.

 

Subordinated Notes. On January 6 and January 9, 2012, AAFK entered into Note and Warrant Purchase Agreements with two accredited investors pursuant to which it issued $0.9 million and $2.5 million in original notes to the investors (“Subordinated Notes”). The Subordinated Notes mature every six months. Upon maturity, the Subordinated Notes are generally extended with a fee of 10% added to the balance outstanding plus issuance of warrants exercisable at $0.01 with a two-year term. Interest accrues at 10% and is due at maturity. Neither AAFK nor Aemetis may make any principal payments under the Subordinated Notes until all loans made by Third Eye Capital to AAFK are paid in full.

 

On January 1, 2020, the Subordinated Notes were amended to extend the maturity date until the earliest of (i) June 30, 2020; (ii) completion of an equity financing by AAFK or Aemetis in an amount of not less than $25.0 million; or (iii) after the occurrence of an Event of Default, including failure to pay interest or principal when due and breaches of note covenants. A 10% cash extension fee was paid by adding the fee to the balance of the new note and warrants to purchase 113 thousand shares of common stock were granted with a term of two years and an exercise price of $0.01 per share. We evaluated the January 1, 2020 amendment and the refinancing terms of the Subordinated Notes and applied modification accounting treatment in accordance with ASC 470-50 Debt – Modification and Extinguishment.

 

At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had, in aggregate, $11.8 million and $11.5 million in principal and interest outstanding net of discount issuance costs of $0.2 million and none, respectively, under the Subordinated Notes.

 

EB-5 promissory notes. EB-5 is a U.S. government program authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act designed to foster employment-based visa preference for immigrant investors to encourage the flow of capital into the U.S. economy and to promote employment of U.S. workers. The Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement dated March 4, 2011 (as further amended on January 19, 2012 and July 24, 2012) with Advanced BioEnergy, LP, a California limited partnership authorized as a Regional Center to receive EB-5 investments, for the issuance of up to 72 subordinated convertible promissory notes (the “EB-5 Notes”) bearing interest at 2-3%. Each note was issued in the principal amount of $0.5 million and due and payable four years from the date of each note, for a total aggregate principal amount of up to $36.0 million (the “EB-5 Phase I funding”). The original maturity date on the promissory notes can be extended automatically for a one or two-year period initially and is eligible for further one-year automatic extensions as long as there is no notice of non-extension from investors and the investors’ immigration process is in progress. On February 27, 2019, Advanced BioEnergy, LP, and the Company entered into an Amendment to the EB-5 Notes which restated the original maturity date on the promissory notes with automatic six-month extensions as long as the investors’ immigration processes are in progress. Except for five early investor EB-5 Notes, the Company was granted 12 months from the date of the completion of immigration process to redeem these EB-5 Notes. Accordingly, the notes have been recognized as long-term debt while the five early investor notes have been classified as current debt. The EB-5 Notes are convertible after three years at a conversion price of $30 per share.

 

Advanced BioEnergy, LP arranges investments with foreign investors, who each make loans to the Keyes Plant in increments of $0.5 million. The Company has sold an aggregate principal amount of $36.0 million of EB-5 Notes under the EB-5 Phase I funding since 2012 to the date of this filing. As of March 31, 2020, $35.0 million has been released from the escrow amount to the Company, with $0.5 million remaining in escrow and $0.5 million to be funded to escrow. As of March 31, 2020, $35.0 million in principal and $3.1 million in accrued interest was outstanding on the EB-5 Notes sold under the EB-5 Phase I funding.

 

On October 16, 2016, the Company launched its EB-5 Phase II funding, with plans to issue $50.0 million in additional EB-5 Notes on substantially similar terms and conditions as those issued under the Company’s EB-5 Phase I funding, to refinance indebtedness and capital expenditures of Aemetis, Inc. and GAFI (the “EB-5 Phase II funding”). On November 21, 2019, the minimum investment was raised from $500,000 per investor to $900,000 per investor. The Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement dated with Advanced BioEnergy II, LP, a California limited partnership authorized as a Regional Center to receive EB-5 Phase II investments, for the issuance of up to 100 EB-5 Notes bearing interest at 3%. Each note will be issued in the principal amount of $0.9 million and due and payable five years from the date of each note, for a total aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million.

 

Advanced BioEnergy II, LP arranges investments with foreign investors, who each make loans to the Riverbank Cellulosic Ethanol Facility in increments of $0.9 million after November 21, 2019. The Company has sold an aggregate principal amount of $4.0 million of EB-5 Notes under the EB-5 Phase II funding since 2016 to the date of this filing. As of March 31, 2020, $4.0 million was released from escrow to the Company and $46.0 million remains to be funded to escrow. As of March 31, 2020, $4.1 million in principal and interest was outstanding on the EB-5 Notes under the EB-5 Phase II funding.

 

Unsecured working capital loans. On April 16, 2017, the Company entered into an operating agreement with Gemini Edibles and Fats India Private Limited (“Gemini”). Under this agreement, Gemini agreed to provide the Company with working capital, on an as needed basis, to fund the purchase of feedstock and other raw materials for the Kakinada Plant. Working capital cash advances bear interest at 12% and working capital can be induced through trading of feedstock or finished goods by Gemini which does not have any interest accrual. In return, the Company agreed to pay Gemini an amount equal to 30% of the plant’s monthly net operating profit and recognized these as operational support charges in the financials. In the event that the Company’s biodiesel facility operates at a loss, Gemini owes the Company 30% of the losses as operational support charges. Either party can terminate the agreement at any time without penalty. Additionally, Gemini received a first priority lien on the assets of the Kakinada Plant. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we have accrued no interest on Gemini balance as the investment was for feedstock purchase and finished goods trade. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company made principal payments to Gemini of approximately $3.6 million and $5.6 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had approximately $1.5 million and $2.0 million outstanding under this agreement, respectively.

 

In November 2008, the Company entered into an operating agreement with Secunderabad Oils Limited (“Secunderabad Oils”). On July 15, 2017, the agreement with Secunderabad Oils was amended to provide the working capital funds for British Petroleum business operations only in the form of inter-corporate deposit for an amount of approximately $2.3 million over a 95 days period at the rate of 14.75% per annum interest rate. The term of the agreement continues until either party terminates it. Secunderabad Oils has a second priority lien on the assets of the Company’s Kakinada Plant after this agreement. On April 15, 2018, the agreement was amended to purchase the raw material for business operations at 12% per annum interest rate. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company made principal and interest payments to Secunderabad Oils of approximately $34 thousand and $0.3 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had $0.6 million for each period outstanding under this agreement.

 

GAFI Term loan and Revolving loan. On July 10, 2017, GAFI entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (“GAFI Note Purchase Agreement”) with Third Eye Capital (“Noteholders”). Pursuant to the GAFI Note Purchase Agreement, the Noteholders agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of the GAFI Note Purchase Agreement and relying on each of the representations and warranties set forth therein, to make (i) a single term loan to GAFI in an aggregate amount of $15 million (“GAFI Term Loan”) and (ii) revolving advances not to exceed ten million dollars in the aggregate (“GAFI Revolving Loan”). The interest rate per annum applicable to the GAFI Term Loan is equal to ten percent (10%). The interest rate per annum applicable to the GAFI Revolving Loans is the greater of Prime Rate plus seven and three quarters percent (7.75%) and twelve percent (12.00%). The applicable interest rate as of March 31, 2020 was 12.00%. The maturity date of the GAFI Term Loan and GAFI Revolving Loan (“GAFI Loan Maturity Date”) is July 10, 2020, provided that the GAFI Loan Maturity Date may be extended at the option of Aemetis for up to one-year period upon prior written notice and upon satisfaction of certain conditions and the payment of a renewal fee for such extension. An initial advance under the GAFI Revolving Loan was made for $2.2 million as a prepayment of interest on the GAFI Term Loan for the first eighteen months of interest payments. In addition, a fee of $1.0 million was paid in consideration to Noteholders.

 

On June 28, 2018, GAFI entered into Amendment No. 1 to the GAFI Term Loan with Third Eye Capital for an additional amount of $1.5 million with a fee of $75 thousand added to the loan from Third Eye Capital at a 10% interest rate. On December 20, 2018, $1.6 million from Amendment No. 1 was repaid. Pursuant to Amendment No. 1, Aemetis, Inc. entered into a Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement to issue 1,050,000 Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) to Third Eye Capital on August 23, 2018, with an exercise date of one year from the issuance date with a call option for the Company at $2.00 per share during the first 11 months of the agreement either to pay $2.1 million in cash or issue common stock worth $2.1 million based on the 30-day weighted average price of the stock on the call date, and a put option for Third Eye Capital at $1.00 per share during the 11th month of the agreement where the Company can redeem the SARs for $1.1 million in cash. In the event that none of the above options is exercised, the SARs will be automatically exercised one year from the issuance date based upon the 30-day weighted average stock price and paid in cash and cash equivalents. On July 22, 2019, Third Eye Capital exercised the put option at $1.00 per share for $1.1 million. The exercise value of the SARs of $1.1 million was added to the GAFI Term Loan and the SARs fair value liability was released.

 

On December 3, 2018, GAFI entered into Amendment No. 2 to the GAFI Term Loan with Third Eye Capital for an additional amount of $3.5 million from Third Eye Capital at a 10% interest rate. GAFI borrowed $1.8 million against this Amendment No. 2 with a $175 thousand fee added to the loan and $0.2 million was withheld from the $1.8 million for interest payments. $1.5 million is available to draw under GAFI Amendment No. 2 for the CO2 Project (“CO2 Term Loan”). Among other requirements, the Company is also required to make the following mandatory repayments of the CO2 Term Loan: (i) on a monthly basis, an amount equal to 75% of any payments received by the Company for CO2 produced by Linde LLC, (ii) an amount equal to 100% of each monthly payment received by the Company for land use by Linde for CO2 plant, (iii) on a monthly basis, an amount equal to the product of: $0.01 multiplied by the number of bushels of corn grain used in the ethanol production at the Keyes Plant. Based on the mandatory payments, an amount of $0.4 million is estimated to be paid in the next 12 months and is classified as current debt as of March 31, 2020.

 

As of March 31, 2020, GAFI had $20.4 million net of debt issuance costs of $0.2 million outstanding on the GAFI Term Loan and $10.8 million on the GAFI Revolving Loan respectively.

 

Scheduled debt repayments for the Company’s loan obligations follow:

 

Twelve months ended March 31,   Debt Repayments  
2021   $ 23,363  
2022     152,436  
2023     27,500  
2024     3,411  
2025     2,500  
Total debt     209,210  
Debt issuance costs     (162 )
Total debt, net of debt issuance costs   $ 209,048