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1. Nature of Activities and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

1. Nature of Activities and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Activities. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, “Aemetis,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) is an advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative technologies that replace traditional petroleum-based products through the conversion of second-generation ethanol and biodiesel plants into advanced biorefineries. Founded in 2006, we own and operate a 60 million gallon per year ethanol facility (“Keyes Plant”) in the California Central Valley near Modesto where we manufacture and produce ethanol, high proof alcohol, wet distillers’ grains (“WDG”), condensed distillers solubles (“CDS”), and distillers’ corn oil (“DCO”). We also own and operate a 50 million gallon per year renewable chemical and advanced fuel production facility (“Kakinada Plant”) on the East Coast of India producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin for customers in India and Europe. We operate a research and development laboratory to develop efficient conversion technologies using waste feedstocks to produce biofuels and biochemicals. Additionally, we own a partially completed plant in Goodland, Kansas (the “Goodland Plant”) through our subsidiary Goodland Advanced Fuels, Inc., (“GAFI”), which was formed to acquire the Goodland Plant. On December 31, 2019 we exercised an option to acquire all capital stock of GAFI for $10 and consolidated assets, liabilities, and equity of GAFI as a wholly-owned subsidiary from December 31, 2019. Prior to December 31, 2019, GAFI activity is shown as non-controlling interest in the consolidated statements of operations.

We also lease a site in Riverbank, California, near the Keyes Plant, where we plan to utilize biomass-to-fuel technology that we have licensed from LanzaTech Technology (“LanzaTech”) and InEnTec Technology (“InEnTec”) to build a cellulosic ethanol production facility in Riverbank, California (the “Riverbank Cellulosic Ethanol Facility”) capable of converting local California surplus biomass – principally agricultural waste – into ultra-low carbon renewable cellulosic ethanol (the “Riverbank Project”). By producing ultra-low carbon renewable cellulosic ethanol, we expect to capture higher value D3 cellulosic renewable identification numbers (“RINs”) and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (“LCFS”) credits.

In December 2018, we acquired a 5.2-acre parcel of land for the construction of a facility by Messer to sell carbon dioxide (“CO2”) produced at the Keyes Plant (the “CO2 Project”). The Aemetis section of the CO2 Project construction was completed in January 2020 and Messer completed construction on their section in April 2020. We commenced operations and expect revenue from this project in the second quarter of 2020.

In 2018, we formed Aemetis Biogas, LLC (“ABGL”) to construct biogas digesters at local dairies near the Keyes Plant (the “Biogas Project”), many of whom are already customers of the distillers’ grain produced at the Keyes Plant. Construction has been underway on the first two digesters, which will connect by pipeline to a gas cleanup and compression facility to produce Renewable Natural Gas (“RNG”). ABGL currently has signed participation agreements with over a dozen local dairies and three fully executed leases with dairies near the Keyes Plant in order to capture methane from such dairies, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, primarily from manure wastewater lagoons. We plan to capture biogas from multiple dairies and pipe the gas to a centralized location at our Keyes Plant where we will remove the impurities of the methane and clean it into bio-methane for injection into the local utility pipeline or to a renewable compressed natural gas (“RCNG”) truck loading station that will service local trucking fleets to displace diesel fuel. The biogas can also be used in our Keyes Plant to displace petroleum-based natural gas. We believe the environmental benefits of the Biogas Project are potentially significant because dairy biogas has a negative carbon intensity (“CI”) under the California LCFS. The biogas produced by ABGL is expected to also receive D3 RINs under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (“RFS”).

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation. These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Aemetis. Additionally, we consolidate all entities in which we have a controlling financial interest either directly or by option to acquire the interest. A controlling financial interest is usually obtained through ownership of a majority of the voting interests. However, an enterprise must consolidate a variable interest entity (“VIE”) if the enterprise is the primary beneficiary of the VIE, even if the enterprise does not own a majority of the voting interests. The primary beneficiary is the party that has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Prior to December 31, 2019, GAFI was consolidated into the financial statements as a VIE and GAFI activity was shown as non-controlling interest in the consolidated statements of operations. On December 31, 2019, we exercised an option to acquire all capital stock of GAFI for $10 and consolidated assets, liabilities, and equity of GAFI as a wholly-owned subsidiary on December 31, 2019 forward.

The accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheet as of March 31, 2020, the consolidated condensed statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the consolidated condensed statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, and the consolidated condensed statements of stockholders’ deficit for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are unaudited. The consolidated condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 was derived from the 2019 audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto. The consolidated condensed financial statements in this report should be read in conjunction with the 2019 audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. The accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.

In the opinion of Company’s management, the unaudited interim consolidated condensed financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated statements as of December 31, 2019 and reflect all adjustments, consisting primarily of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of its statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for any subsequent quarter, for the full fiscal year or any future periods.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, revenues, and expenses during the reporting period. To the extent there are material differences between these estimates and actual results, the Company’s consolidated financial statements will be affected.

Revenue Recognition. We derive revenue primarily from sales of ethanol and related co-products in North America, and biodiesel and refined glycerin in India pursuant to supply agreements and purchase order contracts. We assessed the following criteria under the ASC 606 guidance: (i) identify the contracts with customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations, and (v) recognize revenue when the entity satisfies the performance obligations.

North America: In North America, we sell the majority of our production to one customer, J.D. Heiskell & Co. (“J.D. Heiskell”), under a supply contract, with individual sales transactions occurring under this contract. Given the similarity of these transactions, we have assessed them as a portfolio of similar contracts. The performance obligation is satisfied by delivery of the physical product to the tank of J.D. Heiskell or to one of their contracted trucking companies. At this point in time, the customer has the ability to direct the use of the product and receive substantially all of its benefits. The transaction price is determined based on daily market prices negotiated by Kinergy Marketing (“Kinergy”) for ethanol and by A.L. Gilbert Company (“A.L. Gilbert”) on WDG and DCO. There is no transaction price allocation needed.

During the first quarter of 2020, certain Tobacco and Alcohol Tax and Trade Bureau (“TTB”) prohibitions were lifted, allowing for the sale of high proof alcohol by ethanol producers. Accordingly, during the last week of March 2020, Aemetis obtained the necessary permits and began selling high proof alcohol for industrial and commercial applications directly to customers in the West Coast on prepayment terms. The agreements and terms were evaluated according to ASC 606 guidance and revenue was recognized upon satisfaction of the performance obligation by delivery of the product based on the terms of the agreement. Sales of high proof alcohol represented less than 3% of quarterly revenue, and as such aggregated with ethanol sales.

The below table shows our sales in North America by product category:

North America (in thousands)

	For the three months ended March 31,
	2020		2019
Ethanol sales	$	25,322	$	27,189
Wet distillers' grains sales		8,374		8,603
Other sales		2,176		844
	$	35,872	$	36,636

We have elected to adopt the practical expedient that allows for ignoring the significant financing component of a contract when estimating the transaction price when the transfer of promised goods to the customer and customer payment for such goods are expected to be within one year of contract inception. Further, we have elected to adopt the practical expedient in which incremental costs of obtaining a contract are expensed when the amortization period would otherwise be less than one year.

We also assessed principal versus agent criteria as we buy our feedstock from our customers and process and sell finished goods to those customers in certain contractual agreements.

In North America, we assessed principal versus agent criteria as we buy corn as feedstock in producing ethanol from our working capital partner J.D. Heiskell and sell all ethanol, WDG, and corn oil produced in this process to J.D. Heiskell. Our finished goods tank is leased by J.D. Heiskell and they require us to transfer legal title to the product upon transfer of our finished ethanol to this location. We consider the purchase of corn as a cost of goods sold and the sale of ethanol upon transfer to the finished goods tank as revenue on the basis that (i) we control and bear the risk of gain or loss on the processing of corn which is purchased at market prices into ethanol and (ii) we have legal title to the goods during the processing time. The pricing for both corn and ethanol is set independently. Revenues from sales of ethanol and its co-products are billed net of the related transportation and marketing charges. Transportation charges are accounted for in cost of goods sold and marketing charges are accounted for in sales, general and administrative expense. Transportation and marketing charges are known within days of the transaction and are recorded at the actual amounts. The Company has elected to adopt an accounting policy under which these charges have been treated as fulfillment activities provided after control has transferred. As a result, these charges are recognized in cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively, when revenue is recognized. Revenues are recorded at the gross invoiced amount. Hence, we are the principal in North America sales scenarios where our customer and vendor may be the same.

We have a contract liability of $0.3 million as of March 31, 2020, in connection with a contract with a customer to sell LCFS credits. However, the control of the LCFS credits was not transferred to the customer until April 2, 2020 while we received cash in advance.

We have a contract liability of $1.9 million as of March 31, 2020, in connection with shipments to several customers for which we received cash in advance while shipments were fulfilled in April 2020.

India: In India, we sell products pursuant to purchase orders (written or verbal) or by contract with governmental or international parties, in which performance is satisfied by delivery and acceptance of the physical product. Given that the contracts are sufficiently similar in nature, we have assessed these contracts as a portfolio of similar contracts as allowed under the practical expedient. Doing so does not result in a materially different outcome compared to individually accounting for each contract. All domestic and international deliveries are subject to certain specifications as identified in contracts. The transaction price is determined daily based on reference market prices for biodiesel, refined glycerin, and Palm Fatty Acid Distillers (“PFAD”) net of taxes. There is no transaction price allocation needed.

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

India (in thousands)

	For the three months ended March 31,
	2020		2019
Biodiesel sales	$	2,793	$	4,347
Refined Glycerin sales		90		899
PFAD sales		712		-
Other sales		13		6
	$	3,608	$	5,252

In India, we also assessed principal versus agent criteria as we buy our feedstock from our customers and process and sell finished goods to those same customers in certain contractual agreements. In those cases, we receive the legal title to feedstock from our customers once it is on our premises. We control the processing and production of biodiesel based on contract terms and specifications. The pricing for both feedstock and biodiesel is set independently. We hold the title and risk to biodiesel according to agreements we enter into in these situations. Hence, we are the principal in India sales scenarios where our customer and vendor may be the same.

Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold includes those costs directly associated with the production of revenues, such as raw material consumed, factory overhead and other direct production costs. During periods of idle plant capacity, costs otherwise charged to cost of goods sold are reclassified to selling, general and administrative expense.

Accounts Receivable. The Company sells ethanol, WDG, CDS, and DCO through third-party marketing arrangements generally without requiring collateral and high proof alcohol directly to customers generally on advanced payment terms. The Company sells biodiesel, glycerin, and processed natural oils to a variety of customers and may require advanced payment based on the size and creditworthiness of the customer. Usually, invoices are due within 30 days on net terms. Accounts receivables consist of product sales made to large creditworthy customers. Trade accounts receivable are presented at original invoice amount, net of any allowance for doubtful accounts.

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for balances that appear to have specific collection issues. The collection process is based on the age of the invoice and requires attempted contacts with the customer at specified intervals. If, after a specified number of days, the Company has been unsuccessful in its collection efforts, a bad debt allowance is recorded for the balance in question. Delinquent accounts receivables are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts once un-collectability has been determined. The factors considered in reaching this determination are the apparent financial condition of the customer and the Company’s success in contacting and negotiating with the customer. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, additional allowances may be required. We did not reserve any balance for allowances for doubtful accounts as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Inventories. Finished goods, raw materials, and work-in-process inventories are valued using methods which approximate the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value (“NRV”). Distillers’ grains and related products are stated at NRV. In the valuation of inventories, NRV is determined as estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.

Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation after assets are placed in service and are comprised primarily of buildings, furniture, machinery, equipment, land, and the Keyes Plant, Goodland Plant and Kakinada Plant. The Goodland Plant is partially completed and is not ready for operation and the Riverbank Project and Biogas Project are being constructed and are not in operations, hence we are not depreciating these assets yet. CO2 Project was completed and commenced operations in the second quarter of 2020 and any assets under the CO2 Project are capitalized and will be depreciated from the second quarter of 2020. Otherwise, it is the Company’s policy to depreciate capital assets over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method.

The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets with finite lives in accordance with ASC Subtopic 360-10-35 Property Plant and Equipment—Subsequent Measurements, which requires recognition of impairment of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, based on estimated undiscounted cash flows, the impairment loss would be measured as the difference between the carrying amount of the assets and its estimated fair value. Additionally, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed, and based upon this assessment, the Company determined that the positive effects outweigh the negative impacts. Thus, no further impairment analysis was considered necessary.

California Energy Commission Technology Demonstration Grant. The Company has been awarded and substantially completed the demonstration project associated with the $825 thousand matching grant program from the California Energy Commission (“CEC”) Natural Resources Agency to optimize the effectiveness of technologies to break down biomass to produce cellulosic ethanol. The Company has received $778 thousand in grant proceeds as of March 31, 2020. The project focused on the deconstruction and conversion of sugars liberated from California-relevant feedstocks and then converting the sugars to ethanol. The Company receives these funds as reimbursement for actual expenses incurred. Due to the uncertainty associated with the expense approval process under the grant program, the Company recognizes the grant as a reduction of the expenses in the period when approval is received.

California Department of Food and Agriculture Dairy Digester Research and Development Grant. The Company has been awarded $3.2 million in matching grants from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (“CDFA”) Dairy Digester Research and Development program. The CDFA grant reimburses the Company for expenses required to permit and construct two of the Company’s biogas capture systems under contract with central California dairies. The Company received $1.9 million as of March 31, 2020 as reimbursement for actual expenses incurred. Due to the uncertainty associated with the expense approval process under the grant program, the Company recognizes the grant as a reduction of the expenses in the period when approval is received.

California Energy Commission Low Carbon Advanced Ethanol Grant Program. In May 2019, the Company was awarded the right to receive reimbursements from the CEC in an amount up to $5.0 million (the “CEC Reimbursement Program”) in connection with the Company’s expenditures toward the development of the Riverbank Cellulosic Ethanol Facility. To comply with the guidelines of the CEC Reimbursement Program, the Company must make a minimum of $7.9 million in matching contributions to the Riverbank Project. The Company receives the CEC funds under the CEC Reimbursement Program for actual expenses incurred up to $5.0 million as long as the Company makes the minimum matching contribution. Given that the Company has not made the minimum matching contribution, the grant of $1.36 million received for capital expenditures during the third quarter of 2019 was recorded as other long term liabilities as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Basic and Diluted Net Loss per Share. Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss per share reflects the dilution of common stock equivalents such as options, convertible preferred stock, debt, and warrants to the extent the impact is dilutive. As the Company incurred net losses for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the diluted net loss per share computations as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

The following table shows the number of potentially dilutive shares excluded from the diluted net loss per share calculation as of March 31, 2020 and 2019:

	As of
	March 31, 2020		March 31, 2019

Series B preferred (post split basis)		132		132
Common stock options and warrants		5,688		3,640
Debt with conversion feature at $30 per share of common stock		1,269		1,242
SARs conversion if stock issued at $0.91 per share to cover $2.1 million		-		2,298
Total number of potentially dilutive shares excluded from the diluted net loss per share calculation		7,089		7,312

Comprehensive Loss. ASC 220 Comprehensive Income requires that an enterprise report, by major components and as a single total, the change in its net assets from non-owner sources. The Company’s other comprehensive income (loss) and accumulated other comprehensive loss consists solely of cumulative currency translation adjustments resulting from the translation of the financial statements of its foreign subsidiary.

Foreign Currency Translation/Transactions. Assets and liabilities of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiary that operates in a local currency environment, where that local currency is the functional currency, are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and the resulting translation adjustments directly recorded to a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Income and expense accounts are translated at average exchange rates during the year. Transactional gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are recorded in other (income) loss, net.

Operating Segments. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Aemetis recognized two reportable geographic segments: “North America” and “India.”

The “North America” operating segment includes the Keyes Plant, the Riverbank Cellulosic Ethanol Facility, the Biogas Project, the Goodland Plant and the research and development facility in Minnesota.

The “India” operating segment includes the Company’s 50 million gallon per year capacity Kakinada Plant in India, the administrative offices in Hyderabad, India, and the holding companies in Nevada and Mauritius.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Financial instruments include accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, current and non-current portion of subordinated debt, notes payable, and long-term debt. Due to the unique terms of our notes payable and long-term debt and the financial condition of the Company, the fair value of the debt is not readily determinable. The fair value, determined using level 3 inputs, of all other current financial instruments is estimated to approximate carrying value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

Share-Based Compensation. The Company recognizes share-based compensation expense in accordance with ASC 718 Stock Compensation requiring the Company to recognize expenses related to the estimated fair value of the Company’s share-based compensation awards at the time the awards are granted, adjusted to reflect only those shares that are expected to vest.

Commitments and Contingencies. The Company records and/or discloses commitments and contingencies in accordance with ASC 450 Contingencies. ASC 450 applies to an existing condition, situation or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as to possible loss that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur.

Debt Modification Accounting. The Company evaluates amendments to its debt in accordance with ASC 470-50 Debt–Modification and Extinguishments for modification and extinguishment accounting. This evaluation includes comparing the net present value of cash flows of the new debt to the old debt to determine if changes greater than 10 percent occurred. In instances where the net present value of future cash flows changed more than 10 percent, the Company applies extinguishment accounting and determines the fair value of its debt based on factors available to the Company.

Convertible Instruments. The Company evaluates the impacts of convertible instruments based on the underlying conversion features. Convertible instruments are evaluated for treatment as derivatives that could be bifurcated and recorded separately. Any beneficial conversion feature is recorded based on the intrinsic value difference at the commitment date.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements.

For a complete summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies, please refer to the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2020. There were no new accounting pronouncements issued applicable to the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2020.