UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from ______ to _______
 
Commission File Number: 000-21467
 
Pacific Ethanol Logo
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
41-2170618
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
   
400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2060, Sacramento, California
(Address of principal executive offices)
95814
(zip code)
(916) 403-2123
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the 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 preceding 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 x No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter periods that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x No o
 
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.
 
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o No x
 
As of November 3, 2011, there were 77,100,113 shares of Pacific Ethanol, Inc. common stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.
 


 
 
 
 
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
    Page
ITEM 1.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
     
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2011 (unaudited) and December 31, 2010
1
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (unaudited)
3
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (unaudited)
4
     
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
5
     
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
21
     
ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
35
     
ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
35
 
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
     
ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
37
     
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS.
38
     
ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
39
     
ITEM 3.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
40
     
ITEM 4.
(REMOVED AND RESERVED).
40
     
ITEM 5.
OTHER INFORMATION.
40
     
ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS.
41
   
SIGNATURES
42
     
EXHIBITS FILED WITH THIS REPORT
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.                 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
ASSETS
 
2011
   
2010
 
   
(unaudited)
      *  
Current Assets:
             
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 16,808     $ 8,736  
Accounts receivable, net (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $57 and $287, respectively)
    28,244       25,855  
Inventories
    22,429       17,306  
Prepaid inventory
    6,181       2,715  
Other current assets
    3,636       2,712  
Total current assets
    77,298       57,324  
Property and equipment, net
    161,637       168,976  
                 
Other Assets:
               
Intangible assets, net
    4,689       5,382  
Other assets
    1,819       2,401  
Total other assets
    6,508       7,783  
Total Assets**
  $ 245,443     $ 234,083  
_______________
 
*
Amounts derived from the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
**
Assets of the consolidated variable interest entity that can only be used to settle obligations of that entity were $177,130 and $183,652 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
- 1 -

 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
(in thousands, except par value and shares)
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
2011
   
2010
 
   
(unaudited)
     
*
 
Current Liabilities:
             
Accounts payable – trade
 
$
9,234
   
$
6,472
 
Accrued liabilities
   
2,241
     
3,251
 
Current portion – long-term debt (including $1,250 and $0, due to related parties, and $10,896 and $38,108 at fair value, respectively)
   
12,146
     
38,108
 
Total current liabilities
   
23,621
     
47,831
 
                 
Long-term debt, net of current portion (including $0 and $1,250, due to related parties, respectively)
   
101,105
     
84,981
 
Accrued preferred dividends
   
6,996
     
6,050
 
Other liabilities
   
1,592
     
7,406
 
Total Liabilities**
   
133,314
     
146,268
 
                 
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 4, 5 and 7)
               
                 
Stockholders’ Equity:
               
Pacific Ethanol, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit):
               
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized;
Series A: 1,684,375 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010; 
   
 
     
 
 
Series B: 1,580,790 and 2,109,772 shares authorized; 926,942 and 1,455,924 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively; liquidation preference of $25,071 as of September 30, 2011
    1       1  
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 48,623,954 and 12,918,144 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively
   
49
     
13
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
534,632
     
504,623
 
Accumulated deficit
   
(507,620
)
   
(511,794
)
Total Pacific Ethanol, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
   
27,062
     
(7,157
)
Noncontrolling interest in variable interest entity
   
85,067
     
94,972
 
Total Stockholders’ Equity
   
112,129
     
87,815
 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
$
245,443
   
$
234,083
 
 
 
_______________
 
*
Amounts derived from the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
**
Liabilities of the consolidated variable interest entity for which creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of Pacific Ethanol, Inc. were $84,095 and $74,939 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
- 2 -

 
 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Net sales
  $ 271,649     $ 46,039     $ 659,390     $ 194,087  
Cost of goods sold
    263,461       42,058       647,355       195,883  
Gross profit (loss)
    8,188       3,981       12,035       (1,796 )
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    3,495       2,732       11,742       9,065  
Income (loss) from operations
    4,693       1,249       293       (10,861 )
Fair value adjustments on convertible debt and warrants
    4,113             6,968        
Loss on investment in Front Range
          (12,146 )           (12,146 )
Loss on extinguishments of debt
                      (2,159 )
Interest expense, net
    (4,071 )     (599 )     (11,337 )     (3,462 )
Other expense, net
    (166 )     (622 )     (709 )     (1,088 )
Income (loss) before reorganization costs, gain from bankruptcy exit and provision for income taxes
    4,569       (12,118 )     (4,785 )     (29,716 )
Reorganization costs
                      (4,153 )
Gain from bankruptcy exit
                      119,408  
Provision for income taxes
                       
Net income (loss)
    4,569       (12,118 )     (4,785 )     85,539  
Net (income) loss attributed to noncontrolling interest in variable interest entity
    (217 )           9,905        
Net income (loss) attributed to Pacific Ethanol
  $ 4,352     $ (12,118 )   $ 5,120     $ 85,539  
Preferred stock dividends
  $ (319 )   $ (758 )   $ (946 )   $ (2,346 )
Income (loss) available to common stockholders
  $ 4,033     $ (12,876 )   $ 4,174     $ 83,193  
Net income (loss) per share, basic
  $ 0.12     $ (1.10 )   $ 0.20     $ 8.36  
Net income (loss) per share, diluted
  $ 0.12     $ (1.10 )   $ 0.20     $ 7.71  
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic
    33,201       11,700       21,230       9,947  
Weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted
    33,201       11,700       21,328       11,099  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
- 3 -

 
 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited, in thousands)

   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Operating Activities:
           
Net income (loss)
  $ (4,785 )   $ 85,539  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
               
Fair value adjustments on convertible debt and warrants
    (6,968 )      
Gain on bankruptcy exit
          (119,408 )
Loss on investment in Front Range
          12,146  
Loss on extinguishments of debt
          2,159  
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles
    9,490       5,957  
Inventory valuation
    157       136  
Amortization of deferred financing fees
    485       360  
Noncash compensation
    1,978       1,399  
Derivative instruments
    (334 )     (1,206 )
Bad debt recovery
    (185 )     (165 )
Equity earnings in Front Range
          929  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    (2,204 )     (13,100 )
Inventories
    (5,280 )     (786 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (368 )     (2,367 )
Prepaid inventory
    (3,466 )     (1,251 )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    3,920       16,007  
Net cash used in operating activities
    (7,560 )     (13,651 )
Investing Activities:
               
Additions to property and equipment
    (1,459 )     (333 )
Net cash impact of deconsolidation of Front Range
          (10,486 )
Net cash impact of bankruptcy exit
          (1,301 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (1,459 )     (12,120 )
Financing Activities:
               
Net proceeds from borrowings
    17,091       9,870  
Net cash provided by financing activities
    17,091       9,870  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    8,072       (15,901 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    8,736       17,545  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 16,808     $ 1,644  
                 
Supplemental Information:
               
Interest paid
  $ 8,047     $ 3,784  
Noncash financing and investing activities:
               
Preferred stock dividends accrued
  $ 946     $ 2,346  
Debt extinguished with issuance of common stock
  $ 25,388     $ 19,000  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 
- 4 -

 
 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
 
1.
ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION.
 
Organization and Business – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pacific Ethanol”), and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Pacific Ethanol California, Inc., a California corporation (“PECA”), Kinergy Marketing LLC, an Oregon limited liability company (“Kinergy”) and Pacific Ag. Products, LLC, a California limited liability company (“PAP”) for all periods presented, and for the periods specified below, the Plant Owners (as defined below) (collectively, the “Company”).
 
The Company is the leading marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the Western United States. The Company also sells ethanol co-products, including wet distillers grain and syrup (“WDG”), and provides transportation, storage and delivery of ethanol through third-party service providers in the Western United States, primarily in California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho and Washington. The Company sells ethanol produced by the Pacific Ethanol Plants (as defined below) and unrelated third parties to gasoline refining and distribution companies and sells its WDG to dairy operators and animal feed distributors.
 
On May 17, 2009, five indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pacific Ethanol, namely, Pacific Ethanol Madera LLC, Pacific Ethanol Columbia, LLC, Pacific Ethanol Stockton, LLC and Pacific Ethanol Magic Valley, LLC (collectively, the “Pacific Ethanol Plants”) and Pacific Ethanol Holding Co. LLC (together with the Pacific Ethanol Plants, the “Plant Owners”) each filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”) in an effort to restructure their indebtedness (the “Chapter 11 Filings”). The Plant Owners continued to operate their businesses and manage their properties as debtors and debtors-in-possession during the pendency of the bankruptcy proceedings.
 
On June 29, 2010 (the “Effective Date”), the Plant Owners declared effective their amended joint plan of reorganization (the “Plan”) with the Bankruptcy Court, which was structured in cooperation with certain of the Plant Owners’ secured lenders. Under the Plan, on the Effective Date, 100% of the ownership interests in the Plant Owners were transferred from Pacific Ethanol to a newly-formed limited liability company, New PE Holdco, LLC (“New PE Holdco”) which is wholly-owned by certain prepetition lenders, resulting in each of the Plant Owners becoming wholly-owned subsidiaries of New PE Holdco.
 
Under an asset management agreement, the Company manages the production and operation of the Pacific Ethanol Plants. These four facilities have an aggregate annual production capacity of up to 200 million gallons. As of September 30, 2011, three of the facilities were operating and one of the facilities was idled. If market conditions continue to improve, the Company may resume operations at the Madera, California facility, subject to the approval of New PE Holdco.
 
On October 6, 2010, the Company purchased a 20% ownership interest in New PE Holdco, a variable interest entity, from a number of New PE Holdco’s existing owners. At that time, the Company determined it was the primary beneficiary of New PE Holdco, and as such, has consolidated the results of New PE Holdco since then (see Note 2).
 
Sale of Front Range – On September 27, 2010, PECA entered into an agreement with Daniel A. Sanders under which PECA agreed to sell its entire interest in Front Range Energy LLC (“Front Range”) to Mr. Sanders for $18,500,000 in cash. The Company’s carrying value of its investment in Front Range prior to the sale was $30,646,000. As a result of the sale, the Company reduced its carrying value of its investment in Front Range to fair value, resulting in a charge of $12,146,000 to record a carrying value equal to the $18,500,000 sale price. The Company closed the sale of its interest in Front Range on October 6, 2010.
 
 
- 5 -

 
 
Reverse Stock Split – On June 8, 2011, the Company effected a one-for-seven reverse stock split. All share and per share information has been restated to retroactively show the effect of this stock split.
 
Liquidity – The Company believes that current and future available capital resources, revenues generated from operations, and other existing sources of liquidity, including its credit facilities, will be adequate to meet its anticipated working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months. If, however, the Company’s capital requirements or cash flow vary materially from its current projections, if unforeseen circumstances occur, or if the Company requires a significant amount of cash to fund future acquisitions, the Company may require additional financing. The Company’s failure to raise capital, if needed, could restrict its growth, or hinder its ability to compete.
 
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Trade accounts receivable are presented at face value, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company sells ethanol to gasoline refining and distribution companies and sells WDG to dairy operators and animal feed distributors generally without requiring collateral.
 
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 receivable are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts once uncollectibility 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, resulting in an impairment of ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.
 
Of the accounts receivable balance, approximately $23,311,000 and $20,977,000 at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, were used as collateral under Kinergy’s working capital line of credit. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $57,000 and $287,000 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. The Company recorded net bad debt recoveries of $45,000 and bad debt expense of $49,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company recorded net bad debt recoveries of $185,000 and $165,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Basis of PresentationInterim Financial Statements– The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Results for interim periods should not be considered indicative of results for a full year. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2011. The accounting policies used in preparing these consolidated financial statements are the same as those described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for interim periods have been included. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
 
- 6 -

 
 
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 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 and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates are required as part of determining fair value of convertible debt and warrants, allowance for doubtful accounts, estimated lives of property and equipment and intangibles, long-lived asset impairments, valuation allowances on deferred income taxes and the potential outcome of future tax consequences of events recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. Actual results and outcomes may materially differ from management’s estimates and assumptions.
 
Reclassifications of prior year’s data have been made to conform to 2011 classifications. Such classifications had no effect on net income (loss) reported in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
2.
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITY.
 
On October 6, 2010, the Company purchased a 20% ownership interest in New PE Holdco from a number of New PE Holdco’s existing equity owners. The Company concluded that upon its purchase of the 20% ownership interest in New PE Holdco, a variable interest entity, the Company became the primary beneficiary of New PE Holdco and consolidated the financial results of New PE Holdco. In making this conclusion, the Company determined that through its contractual arrangements (discussed below) it had the power to direct most of its activities that most significantly impacted New PE Holdco’s economic performance. Some of these activities included efficient management and operation of the Pacific Ethanol Plants, procurement of feedstock, sale of co-products and implementation of risk management strategies.
 
The carrying values and classification of assets that are collateral for the obligations of New PE Holdco at September 30, 2011 were as follows (in thousands):

Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 3,758  
Other current assets
    13,557  
Property and equipment
    157,870  
Other assets
    1,945  
Total assets
  $ 177,130  

Current liabilities
  $ 4,692  
Long-term debt
    79,257  
Other liabilities
    146  
Total liabilities
  $ 84,095  
 
The Company’s acquisition of its ownership interest in New PE Holdco does not impact the Company’s rights or obligations under any of the following agreements. Since its acquisition, the Company has not provided any additional support to New PE Holdco beyond the terms of the agreements described below. Creditors of New PE Holdco do not have recourse to Pacific Ethanol.
 
The Company, directly or through one of its subsidiaries, has entered into the following management and marketing agreements:
 
Asset Management Agreement – The Company entered into an Asset Management Agreement (“AMA”) with the Plant Owners under which the Company agreed to operate and maintain the Pacific Ethanol Plants on behalf of the Plant Owners. These services generally include, but are not limited to, administering the Plant Owners’ compliance with their credit agreements and performing billing, collection, record keeping and other administrative and ministerial tasks. The Company agreed to supply all labor and personnel required to perform its services under the AMA, including the labor and personnel required to operate and maintain the production facilities.
 
 
- 7 -

 
 
The costs and expenses associated with the Company’s provision of services under the AMA are prefunded by the Plant Owners under a preapproved budget. The Company’s obligation to provide services is limited to the extent there are sufficient funds advanced by the Plant Owners to cover the associated costs and expenses. As compensation for providing the services under the AMA, the Company is to be paid $75,000 per month for each production facility that is operational and $40,000 per month for each production facility that is idled.
 
The AMA had an initial term of six months and successive six-month renewal periods at the option of the Plant Owners. In addition to typical conditions for a party to terminate the agreement prior to its expiration, the Company may terminate the AMA, and the Plant Owners may terminate the AMA with respect to any facility, at any time by providing at least 60 days prior notice of such termination.On June 30, 2011, the AMA was amended and extended for one year.
 
Ethanol Marketing Agreements – Kinergy entered into separate ethanol marketing agreements with each of the three Plant Owners whose facilities are operating, which granted Kinergy the exclusive right to purchase, market and sell the ethanol produced at those facilities. Under the terms of the ethanol marketing agreements, within ten days after delivering ethanol to Kinergy, an amount is to be paid equal to (i) the estimated purchase price payable by the third-party purchaser of the ethanol, minus (ii) the estimated amount of transportation costs to be incurred by Kinergy, minus (iii) the estimated incentive fee payable to Kinergy, which equals 1% of the aggregate third-party purchase price. Each of the ethanol marketing agreements had an initial term of one year and successive one year renewal periods at the option of the individual Plant Owner. On June 30, 2011, all ethanol marketing agreements were amended and extended for one year. In addition, the price to be paid to Kinergy was amended to include a marketing fee collar of not less than $0.015 per gallon and not more than $0.0225 per gallon.
 
Corn Procurement and Handling Agreements – PAP entered into separate corn procurement and handling agreements with each of the three Plant Owners whose facilities are operating. Under the terms of the corn procurement and handling agreements, each facility appointed PAP as its exclusive agent to solicit, negotiate, enter into and administer, on its behalf, corn supply arrangements to procure the corn necessary to operate its facility. PAP will also provide grain handling services including, but not limited to, receiving, unloading and conveying corn into the facility’s storage and, in the case of whole corn delivered, processing and hammering the whole corn.
 
PAP was to receive a fee of $0.50 per ton of corn delivered to each facility as consideration for its procurement services and a fee of $1.50 per ton of corn delivered as consideration for its grain handling services, each payable monthly. The Company agreed to enter into an agreement guaranteeing the performance of PAP’s obligations under the corn procurement and handling agreement upon the request of a Plant Owner. Each corn procurement and handling agreement had an initial term of one year and successive one year renewal periods at the option of the individual Plant Owner. On June 30, 2011, all corn procurement and handling agreements were amended and extended for one year. In addition, the corn procurement and handling fee was changed to $0.045 per bushel of corn.
 
Distillers Grains Marketing Agreements – PAP entered into separate distillers grains marketing agreements with each of the three Plant Owners whose facilities are operating, which granted PAP the exclusive right to market, purchase and sell the WDG produced at the facility. Under the terms of the distillers grains marketing agreements, within ten days after a Plant Owner delivers WDG to PAP, the Plant Owner is to be paid an amount equal to (i) the estimated purchase price payable by the third-party purchaser of the WDG, minus (ii) the estimated amount of transportation costs to be incurred by PAP, minus (iii) the estimated amount of fees and taxes payable to governmental authorities in connection with the tonnage of WDG produced or marketed, minus (iv) the estimated incentive fee payable to PAP, which equals the greater of (a) 5% of the aggregate third-party purchase price, and (b) $2.00 for each ton of WDG sold in the transaction. Each distillers grains marketing agreement had an initial term of one year and successive one year renewal periods at the option of the individual Plant Owner. On June 30, 2011, all distillers grains marketing agreements were amended and extended for one year. In addition, the fee to be paid to PAP was amended to include a collar of not less than $2.00 per ton and not more than $3.50 per ton.
 
 
- 8 -

 
 
3.
INVENTORIES.
 
Inventories consisted primarily of bulk ethanol, unleaded fuel and corn, and are valued at the lower-of-cost-or-market, with cost determined on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory balances consisted of the following (in thousands):

   
September 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
Finished goods
  $ 15,313     $ 11,105  
Work in progress
    4,546       4,087  
Raw materials
    1,410       1,308  
Other
    1,160       806  
Total
  $ 22,429     $ 17,306  
 
4.
DERIVATIVES.
 
The business and activities of the Company expose it to a variety of market risks, including risks related to changes in commodity prices and interest rates. The Company monitors and manages these financial exposures as an integral part of its risk management program. This program recognizes the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that market volatility could have on operating results.
 
Commodity RiskCash Flow Hedges – The Company uses derivative instruments to protect cash flows from fluctuations caused by volatility in commodity prices for periods of up to twelve months in order to protect gross profit margins from potentially adverse effects of market and price volatility on ethanol sale and purchase commitments where the prices are set at a future date and/or if the contracts specify a floating or index-based price for ethanol. In addition, the Company hedges anticipated sales of ethanol to minimize its exposure to the potentially adverse effects of price volatility. These derivatives may be designated and documented as cash flow hedges and effectiveness is evaluated by assessing the probability of the anticipated transactions and regressing commodity futures prices against the Company’s purchase and sales prices. Ineffectiveness, which is defined as the degree to which the derivative does not offset the underlying exposure, is recognized immediately in cost of goods sold. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company did not designate any of its derivatives as cash flow hedges.
 
Commodity Risk – Non-Designated Hedges – The Company uses derivative instruments to lock in prices for certain amounts of corn and ethanol by entering into forward contracts for those commodities. These derivatives are not designated for special hedge accounting treatment. The changes in fair value of these contracts are recorded on the balance sheet and recognized immediately in cost of goods sold. The Company recognized gains of $395,000 and $0 as the change in the fair value of these contracts for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company recognized gains of $334,000 and $0 as the change in the fair value of these contracts for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The notional balances remaining on these contracts were $1,612,000 and $237,000 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
 
- 9 -

 
 
Interest Rate Risk – The Company, through the Plant Owners, used derivative instruments to minimize significant unanticipated income fluctuations that may arise from rising variable interest rate costs associated with existing and anticipated borrowings. To meet these objectives the Company purchased interest rate caps and swaps. On the Effective Date, all interest rate caps and swaps were removed from the Company’s consolidated statement of position. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized gains from undesignated hedges of $0 and $1,227,000 in interest expense, net, respectively.
 
Non Designated Derivative Instruments – The Company classified its derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments of $140,000 and $15,000 in accrued liabilities as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
The classification and amounts of the Company’s recognized gains (losses) for its derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are as follow (in thousands):

       
Realized Gains
 
       
For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
 
Type of Instrument   Statement of Operations Location  
2011
   
2010
 
Commodity contracts   Cost of goods sold   $ 483     $  
        $ 483     $  
                     
       
Unrealized Losses
 
       
For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
 
Type of Instrument
 
Statement of Operations Location
    2011       2010  
Commodity contracts
 
Cost of goods sold
  $ (88 )   $  
        $ (88 )   $  
                     
       
Realized Gains
 
       
For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
Type of Instrument
 
Statement of Operations Location
    2011       2010  
Commodity contracts
 
Cost of goods sold
  $ 460     $  
        $ 460     $  
                     
       
Unrealized Gains (Losses)
 
       
For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
Type of Instrument
 
Statement of Operations Location
    2011       2010  
Commodity contracts
 
Cost of goods sold
  $ (126 )   $  
Interest rate contracts   Interest expense, net           1,227  
        $ (126 )   $ 1,227  
 
 
- 10 -

 
 
5.
DEBT.
 
Long-term borrowings are summarized as follows (in thousands):
 
   
September 30,
2011
   
December 31,
2010
 
Convertible notes, at fair value
  $ 10,896     $ 38,108  
New PE Holdco term debt
    51,279       51,279  
New PE Holdco operating line of credit
    27,978       18,978  
Kinergy operating line of credit
    21,848       13,474  
Notes payable to related parties
    1,250       1,250  
      113,251       123,089  
Less short-term portion
    (12,146 )     (38,108 )
Long-term debt
  $ 101,105     $ 84,981  
 
Convertible Notes – On October 6, 2010, the Company raised $35,000,000 through the issuance and sale of $35,000,000 in principal amount of secured convertible notes (“Initial Notes”) and warrants (“Initial Warrants”) to purchase an aggregate of 2,941,178 shares of the Company’s common stock. On January 7, 2011, under the terms of exchange agreements with the holders of the Initial Notes and Initial Warrants, the Company issued $35,000,000 in principal amount of secured convertible notes (“January Convertible Notes”) in exchange for the Initial Notes and warrants (“Warrants”) to purchase an aggregate of 2,941,178 shares of the Company’s common stock in exchange for the Initial Warrants.
 
The transactions contemplated by the exchange agreements were entered into to, among other things, clarify previously ambiguous language in the Initial Notes and Initial Warrants, provide the Company with additional time to meet its registration obligations and to add additional flexibility to the Company’s ability to incur indebtedness subordinated to the January Convertible Notes. As discussed below, the January Convertible Notes were valued at fair value, and as such, these modifications had been reflected in the fair value adjustments for the period.
 
On June 30, 2011, under the terms of exchange agreements with the holders of the January Convertible Notes, the Company issued $23,750,000 in principal amount, reflecting the amount then outstanding under the January Convertible Notes, of secured convertible notes (“June Convertible Notes”) in exchange for the January Convertible Notes.
 
The transactions contemplated by the exchange agreements were entered into to, among other things, defer the August 1, 2011 Installment Payment, add one additional month to the maturity date and add a new additional conversion price option to the holders as described further below. As discussed below, the June Convertible Notes are valued at fair value, and as such, these modifications are reflected in the fair value adjustments for period ended September 30, 2011.
 
On August 3, 2011, under the terms of exchange agreements with the holders of the June Convertible Notes, the Company issued approximately $17,170,000 in principal amount, reflecting the amount then outstanding under the June Convertible Notes, of secured convertible notes (“Convertible Notes”) in exchange for the June Convertible Notes.
 
The transactions contemplated by the exchange agreements were entered into to, among other things, add three additional months to the maturity date, add a new additional conversion price option as described further below and reduced the Price Failure threshold from $1.40 to $0.60. As discussed below, the Convertible Notes are valued at fair value, and as such, these modifications are reflected in the fair value adjustments for period ended September 30, 2011.
 
 
- 11 -

 
 
The Convertible Notes mature on May 6, 2012, subject to the right of the lenders to extend the date (i) if an event of default under the Convertible Notes has occurred and is continuing or any event shall have occurred and be continuing that with the passage of time and the failure to cure would result in an event of default under the Convertible Notes, and (ii) for a period of 20 business days after the consummation of specific types of transactions involving a change of control. The Convertible Notes bear interest at the rate of 8% per annum, which is compounded monthly, with any accrued interest recorded as accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The interest rate will increase to 15% per annum upon the occurrence of an event of default. The Company had approximately $62,000 and $657,000 in accrued interest with respect to the Convertible Notes as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
The Company is obligated to make amortization payments with respect to the principal amount of each Convertible Note on the first trading day of each calendar month after August 1, 2011 until the Maturity Date (collectively with the Maturity Date, the “Installment Dates”).
 
On each Installment Date occurring after August 1, 2011, the Company shall pay on each Convertible Note an amount equal to: (i) with respect to any Installment Date other than the Maturity Date, the lesser of (A) the product of (I) the quotient of (x) $21 million divided by (y) 9, multiplied by (II) the fraction equal to (m) the principal amount of the Initial Note on October 6, 2010 divided by (n) $35 million and (B) the principal amount under the Convertible Note as of such Installment Date, and (ii) with respect to the Maturity Date, the principal amount under the Convertible Note, together with, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), the sum of any accrued and unpaid Interest as of such Installment Date under the Convertible Note and accrued and unpaid late charges, if any, under the Convertible Note as of such Installment Date (the “Installment Amount”). The Company may elect to pay the Installment Amount in cash or shares of its common stock, at its election, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.
 
If the Company elects to make all or part of an amortization payment in shares of its common stock, it is required to deliver to the holders of the Convertible Notes the amount of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to the portion of the amount being paid in shares of the Company’s common stock divided by the lesser of the then existing Conversion Price and 85% of the average of the volume weighted average prices of the 5 lowest trading days during the 20 consecutive trading day period ending on the trading day immediately prior to the applicable Installment Date.
 
All amounts due under the Convertible Notes are convertible at any time, in whole or in part, at the option of the holders into shares of the Company’s common stock at a specified conversion price (“Conversion Price”). The Convertible Notes were initially convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at the initial Conversion Price of $5.95 per share (“Fixed Conversion Price”). The Conversion Price is not to exceed $5.95 and, unless the Company obtains a waiver, it cannot make monthly amortization and interest payments in shares of common stock if the Conversion Price is less than $0.60.
 
The Convertible Notes are now convertible by the holders into shares of the Company’s common stock at a Conversion Price that is determined as follows:
 
 
·
If the Company has elected to make an amortization payment in shares of common stock and the date of conversion occurs during the 15 calendar day period following (and including) the applicable Installment Date (“Initial Period”), the Conversion Price will equal the lesser of (i) the Fixed Conversion Price, and (ii) the average of the volume weighted average prices of the Company’s common stock for each of the five lowest trading days during the 20 trading day period immediately prior to the Initial Period.

 
·
If the Company has elected to make an amortization payment in shares of common stock and the date of conversion occurs during the period beginning on the 16th calendar day after the applicable Installment Date and ending on the day immediately prior to the next Installment Date or the maturity date, the Conversion Price will equal the lesser of (i) the Fixed Conversion Price, and (ii) the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the trading date immediately before the date of conversion.
 
 
- 12 -

 

 
 
·
The holder may, up to three times, elect a 12% discount to the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the date immediately before the conversion.

 
·
Four of the seven holders may, up to fifteen times, elect a 15% discount to the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the date immediately before the conversion while the other three holders may, up to fifteen times, elect a 10% discount to the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the date immediately before the conversion.
 
In addition, if an event of default has occurred and is continuing, the Conversion Price will be equal to the lesser of (i) the Fixed Conversion Price, and (ii) the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the trading date immediately before the date of conversion.
 
The Fixed Conversion Price is subject to adjustment for stock splits, combinations or similar events. The Fixed Conversion Price is subject to “full ratchet” anti-dilution adjustment where if the Company was to issue or is deemed to have issued specified securities at a price lower than the then applicable Fixed Conversion Price, the Fixed Conversion Price will immediately decline to equal the price at which the Company issued or is deemed to have issued the securities. In addition, if the Company sells or issues any securities with “floating” conversion prices based on the market price of its common stock, the holder of a Convertible Note will have the right to substitute that “floating” conversion price for the Fixed Conversion Price upon conversion of all or part of the Convertible Note.
 
If the Company does not deliver shares of common stock due upon conversion of a Convertible Note within 3 trading days of a conversion, and, after such third trading day, the converting holder purchases shares of the Company’s common stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the converting holder of shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion that the converting holder anticipated receiving from the Company, upon request of the converting holder, the Company is required to either (i) pay cash to the converting holder in an amount equal to the converting holder’s total purchase price for the shares of common stock so purchased (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to deliver the shares issuable upon the conversion shall terminate, or (ii) deliver shares of common stock due upon conversion and pay cash to the converting Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the market value of the shares issuable upon conversion on the trading day immediately before the conversion date.
 
The Convertible Notes may not be converted if, after giving effect to the conversion, the holder together with its affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99% (which percentage has been established at the election of each holder) of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock (the “Blocker”). The Blocker applicable to the conversion of the Convertible Notes may be raised or lowered to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% or less than 4.99%, subject to an advance notice period, at the option of the holder.
 
The Company has elected to account for the Convertible Notes using the fair value alternative in order to simplify its accounting and reporting of the Convertible Notes. Accordingly, the Company has adjusted the carrying value of the Convertible Notes to their fair value as of September 30, 2011, as reflected in fair value adjustments on convertible debt and warrants in the statements of operations. The recorded fair value of the Convertible Notes of $10,896,000 differed from the stated unpaid principal amounts of $9,329,000 as of September 30, 2011.
 
 
- 13 -

 
 
The Company recorded income of $3,268,000 and $1,542,000 for fair value adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, for changes in fair value, which adjustments are attributed to reduction in the principal balances and reduction in the market value of the Company’s common stock. There were no changes in fair value of the Convertible Notes due to a change in the estimated credit risk of the instruments. See Note 8 for the Company’s fair value assumptions.
 
The following table summarizes the Installment Amounts and additional conversions by the note holders through September 30, 2011 (in thousands):
 
   
Principal
   
Interest
   
Total
   
Shares
 
Installment Amount – 3/7/2011
  $ 3,500     $ 1,263     $ 4,763       1,148  
Installment Amount – 5/2/2011
    3,500       383       3,883       1,396  
Installment Amount – 6/1/2011
    3,350       176       3,526       1,563  
Holder Conversions – Q2 2011
    900       49       949       428  
Installment Amount – 7/1/2011
    3,450       159       3,609       3,313  
Installment Amount – 9/1/2011
    283       144       427       *  
Holder Conversions – Q3 2011
    10,688       649       11,337       27,144  
    $ 25,671     $ 2,823     $ 28,494       34,992  
 
_________________
* Cash Payment
 
On October 3, 2011, the Company paid its Installment Amount in cash of $928,500 in principal and $64,000 in interest on the Convertible Notes. On November 1, 2011, the Company paid its Installment Amount in cash of $5,000 in interest on the Convertible Notes.
 
On November 1, 2011, the Company notified the holders that it would pay the Installment Amount due on December 1, 2011 in cash.
 
In addition to the cash payments above, since September 30, 2011 and through November 3, 2011, the Company issued an aggregate of 28,481,000 shares of its common stock to satisfy $8,181,000 in principal and $388,000 in interest in respect of additional note conversions by holders of the Convertible Notes.The Company intends to, subject to further voluntary conversions, pay the remainder of the principal and interest of approximately $220,000 in cash.
 
New PE Holdco Working Capital Line of Credit – For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, New PE Holdco borrowed $9,000,000 on its working capital line of credit, and as of September 30, 2011 had approximately $7,000,000 in borrowing capacity under its line of credit.
 
Kinergy Operating Line of Credit – In May 2011, Kinergy and its lender amended and increased Kinergy’s credit facility to up to $30,000,000, with an optional accordion feature for an additional $5,000,000.
 
Loss on Extinguishments of Debt – In 2010, the Company announced agreements designed to satisfy its indebtedness to Lyles United, LLC and Lyles Mechanical Co. (collectively, “Lyles”). Socius CG II, Ltd. (“Socius”) entered into purchase agreements with Lyles under which Socius would purchase claims in respect of the Company’s indebtedness in up to $5,000,000 tranches, which claims Socius would then settle in exchange for shares of the Company’s common stock. Each tranche was to be settled in exchange for the Company’s common stock valued at a 20% discount to the volume weighted average price of the Company’s common stock over a predetermined trading period, which ranged from five to 20 trading days, immediately following the date on which the shares were first issued to Socius. Under this arrangement, the Company issued shares to Socius which settled outstanding debt previously owed to Lyles. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company issued an aggregate of 3,441,000 shares with an aggregate fair value of $21,159,000 in exchange for $19,000,000 in debt extinguishment, resulting in an aggregate loss of $2,159,000. The Company determined fair value based on the closing price of its shares on the last day of the applicable trading period, which was the date the net shares to be issued were determinable by the Company. There were no issuances during the three months ended September 30, 2010.
 
 
- 14 -

 
 
6.
PREFERRED STOCK
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2011, no shares of the Company’s Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”) were converted into shares of the Company’s common stock. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, 528,982 shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock were converted into 443,589 shares of the Company’s common stock.
 
7.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES.
 
Purchase Commitments – At September 30, 2011, the Company had fixed-price purchase contracts with its suppliers to purchase $17,742,000 of ethanol. These fixed-price contracts will be satisfied throughout the remainder of 2011. At September 30, 2011, the Company had indexed-price purchase contracts with its suppliers to purchase 2,826,000 gallons of ethanol.
 
Sales Commitments – At September 30, 2011, the Company had entered into sales contracts with its major customers to sell certain quantities of ethanol and WDG. The volumes indicated in the indexed price contracts table will be sold at publicly-indexed sales prices determined by market prices in effect on their respective transaction dates (in thousands):

   
Fixed-Price
Contracts
 
Ethanol
  $ 5,950  
WDG
    3,068  
Total
  $ 9,018  

   
Indexed-Price
Contracts
(Volume)
 
Ethanol (gallons)
    123,214  
WDG (tons)
    153  
 
Litigation – General The Company is subject to legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. While the amounts claimed may be substantial, the ultimate liability cannot presently be determined because of considerable uncertainties that exist. Therefore, it is possible that the outcome of those legal proceedings, claims and litigation could adversely affect the Company’s quarterly or annual operating results or cash flows when resolved in a future period. However, based on facts currently available, management believes that such matters will not adversely affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
Litigation – Barry Spiegel – State Court Action– On December 22, 2005, Barry J. Spiegel, a former shareholder and director of Accessity, filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of the 17th Judicial District in and for Broward County, Florida (Case No. 05018512), or the State Court Action, against Barry Siegel, Philip Kart, Kenneth Friedman and Bruce Udell, or collectively, the Individual Defendants. Messrs. Udell and Friedman are former directors of Accessity and Pacific Ethanol. Mr. Kart is a former executive officer of Accessity and Pacific Ethanol. Mr. Siegel is a former director and former executive officer of Accessity and Pacific Ethanol.
 
 
- 15 -

 
 
The State Court Action relates to the Share Exchange Transaction and purports to state the following five counts against the Individual Defendants: (i) breach of fiduciary duty, (ii) violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, (iii) conspiracy to defraud, (iv) fraud, and (v) violation of Florida’s Securities and Investor Protection Act. Mr. Spiegel based his claims on allegations that the actions of the Individual Defendants in approving a Share Exchange Transaction caused the value of his Accessity common stock to diminish and is seeking approximately $22.0 million in damages. On March 8, 2006, the Individual Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the State Court Action. Mr. Spiegel filed his response in opposition on May 30, 2006. The court granted the motion to dismiss by Order dated December 1, 2006, on the grounds that, among other things, Mr. Spiegel failed to bring his claims as a derivative action.
 
On February 9, 2007, Mr. Spiegel filed an amended complaint which purports to state the following five counts: (i) breach of fiduciary duty, (ii) fraudulent inducement, (iii) violation of Florida’s Securities and Investor Protection Act, (iv) fraudulent concealment, and (v) breach of fiduciary duty of disclosure. The amended complaint included Pacific Ethanol as a defendant. On March 30, 2007, Pacific Ethanol filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. Before the court could decide that motion, on June 4, 2007, Mr. Spiegel amended his complaint, which purports to state two counts: (a) breach of fiduciary duty, and (b) fraudulent inducement. The first count is alleged against the Individual Defendants and the second count is alleged against the Individual Defendants and Pacific Ethanol. The amended complaint was, however, voluntarily dismissed on August 27, 2007, by Mr. Spiegel as to Pacific Ethanol.
 
Mr. Spiegel sought and obtained leave to file another amended complaint on June 25, 2009, which renewed his case against Pacific Ethanol, and named three additional individual defendants, and asserted the following three counts: (x) breach of fiduciary duty, (y) fraudulent inducement, and (z) aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty. The first two counts are alleged solely against the Individual Defendants. With respect to the third count, Mr. Spiegel has named Pacific Ethanol California, Inc. (formerly known as Pacific Ethanol, Inc.), as well as William L. Jones, Neil M. Koehler and Ryan W. Turner. Mr. Jones is a director of Pacific Ethanol. Mr. Turner is a former director and officer of Pacific Ethanol. Mr. Koehler is a director and officer of Pacific Ethanol. Pacific Ethanol and the Individual Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the count against them, and the court granted the motion. Plaintiff then filed another amended complaint, and Defendants once again moved to dismiss. The motion was heard on February 17, 2010, and the court, on March 22, 2010, denied the motion requiring Pacific Ethanol and Messrs. Jones, Koehler and Turner to answer the complaint and respond to discovery requests.
 
Discovery was then taken by all parties, and the Plaintiff served his expert report in June 2011 relating to the damages that the Plaintiff is claiming.The deposition of the Plaintiff’s expert was set for October 2011, and the Defendants have since filed their motions for summary judgment.The case has been set for a non-jury trial commencing on Monday, February 27, 2012.
 
8.      FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS.
 
The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used in valuation techniques into three levels as follows:
 
 
·
Level 1 – Observable inputs – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;
 
 
- 16 -

 
 
 
·
Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data; and
 
 
·
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs – includes amounts derived from valuation models where one or more significant inputs are unobservable. For fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs, a description of the inputs and the information used to develop the inputs is required along with a reconciliation of Level 3 values from the prior reporting period.
 
Convertible Notes and Warrants – The Company has recorded its Convertible Notes and Warrants at fair value and designated them as Level 3.
 
The Convertible Notes were valued using a combination of a Monte Carlo Binomial Lattice-Based valuation methodology for the embedded conversion feature, adjusted for marketability restrictions, combined with a discounted cash flow model for the payment stream of the debt instrument. The significant assumptions used in the valuations are as follows:
 
Assumptions
September 30, 2011
December 31, 2010
Stock price
$0.29
$5.04
Volatility
68.7%
68.4%
Risk free interest rate
0.06%
0.29%
Term (years)
0.61
1.03
Marketability discount
21.1%
27.0%
Discount rate of debt instrument
30.0%
30.0%
 
Based on the above, the Company estimated the fair value of the Convertible Notes to be $10,896,000 and $38,108,000 at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
The Warrants were valued using a Monte Carlo Binomial Lattice-Based valuation methodology, adjusted for marketability restrictions. The significant assumptions used in the valuations are as follows:
 
Assumptions
September 30, 2011
December 31, 2010
Stock price
$0.29
$5.04
Volatility
74.2%
63.5%
Risk free interest rate
1.20%
2.71%
Term (years)
6.10
6.90
Marketability discount
52.1%
44.4%
 
Based on the above, the Company estimated the fair value of the Warrants to be $292,000 and $5,718,000 at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
Other Derivative Instruments – The Company’s other derivative instruments consist of commodity positions. The fair value of the commodity positions are based on quoted prices on the commodity exchanges and are designated as Level 1.
 
 
- 17 -

 
 
The following table summarizes fair value measurements by level at September 30, 2011 (in thousands):
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Liabilities:
                       
Convertible notes
  $     $     $ 10,896     $ 10,896  
Warrants (1)
                292       292  
Commodity contracts (2)
    140                   140  
Total Liabilities
  $ 140     $     $ 11,188     $ 11,328  
__________
(1)  Included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
(2)  Included in accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
 
The following table summarizes fair value measurements by level at December 31, 2010 (in thousands):
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Liabilities:
                       
Convertible notes
  $     $     $ 38,108     $ 38,108  
Warrants (1)
                5,718       5,718  
Commodity contracts (2)
    15                   15  
Total Liabilities
  $ 15     $     $ 43,826     $ 43,841  
__________
(1)  Included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
(2)  Included in accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
 
The changes in the Company’s Level 3 fair values are as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Convertible Notes
   
Warrants
 
Balance, December 31, 2010
  $ 38,108     $ 5,718  
Principal payments
    (25,670 )      
Adjustments to fair value for the period
    (1,542 )     (5,426 )
Balance, September 30, 2011
  $ 10,896     $ 292  
 
9.
EARNINGS PER SHARE.
 
The following tables compute basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):

   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2011
 
   
Income
Numerator
   
Shares
Denominator
   
Per Share
Amount
 
Net income attributed to Pacific Ethanol
  $ 4,352              
Less:  Preferred stock dividends
    (319 )            
Basic and diluted income per share:
                   
Income available to common stockholders
  $ 4,033       33,201     $ 0.12  
 
 
 
- 18 -

 
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
   
Loss
Numerator
   
Shares
Denominator
   
Per Share
Amount
 
Net loss attributed to Pacific Ethanol
  $ (12,118 )                
Less: Preferred stock dividends
    (758 )                
Basic and diluted loss per share:
                       
Loss available to common stockholders
  $ (12,876 )     11,700     $ 1.10  
       
   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011
 
   
Income
Numerator
   
Shares
Denominator
   
Per Share
Amount
 
Net income attributed to Pacific Ethanol
  $ 5,120                  
Less:  Preferred stock dividends
    (946 )                
Basic income per share:
                       
Income available to common stockholders
  $ 4,174       21,230     $ 0.20  
Add: Stock options
          98          
Diluted income per share:
                       
Income available to common stockholders
  $ 4,174       21,328     $ 0.20  
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
   
Income
Numerator
   
Shares
Denominator
   
Per Share
Amount
 
Net income attributed to Pacific Ethanol
  $ 85,539              
Less:  Preferred stock dividends
    (2,346 )            
Basic income per share:
                   
Income available to common stockholders
  $ 83,193       9,947     $ 8.36  
Add:  Preferred stock dividends
    2,346       1,152          
Diluted income per share:
                       
Income available to common stockholders
  $ 85,539       11,099     $ 7.71  
 
There were an aggregate of 6,859,000 and 671,000 potentially dilutive weighted-average shares from convertible securities outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. These convertible securities were not considered in calculating diluted net income per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.
 
10.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS.
 
The Company had accrued and unpaid dividends in respect of its Series B Preferred Stock of $6,996,000 and $6,050,000 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
The Company had notes payable to its Chairman of the Board and its Chief Executive Officer totaling $1,250,000 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. These notes mature on March 31, 2012.
 
 
- 19 -

 
 
11.
PLANT OWNERS’ CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
Since the consolidated financial statements of the Company include entities other than the Plant Owners, the following presents the condensed combined financial statements of the Plant Owners. These condensed combined financial statements have been prepared, in all material respects, on the same basis as the consolidated financial statements of the Company. The condensed combined financial statements of the Plant Owners are as follows (unaudited, in thousands):

PACIFIC ETHANOL HOLDING CO. LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
Net sales
  $ 89,737  
Cost of goods sold
    98,140  
Gross loss
    (8,403 )
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    1,829  
Loss from operations
    (10,232 )
Other expense, net
    (1,253 )
Loss before reorganization costs and gain from bankruptcy exit
    (11,485 )
Reorganization costs
    (4,153 )
Gain from bankruptcy exit
    119,408  
Net income
  $ 103,770  

 
PACIFIC ETHANOL HOLDING CO. LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
Operating Activities:
   
Net cash used in operating activities
  $ (6,808 )
Investing Activities:
       
Net cash impact of bankruptcy exit
  $ (1,301 )
Additions to property and equipment
    (310 )
Net cash used in investing activities
  $ (1,611 )
Financing Activities:
       
Proceeds from borrowings
  $ 5,173  
Net cash provided by financing activities
  $ 5,173  
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (3,246 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    3,246  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $  
 
 
- 20 -

 
 
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
 
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. This report and our consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements contain forward-looking statements, which generally include the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including plans and objectives relating to our future economic performance and our current beliefs regarding revenues we might generate and profits we might earn if we are successful in implementing our business and growth strategies. The forward-looking statements and associated risks may include, relate to or be qualified by other important factors, including:
 
 
·           fluctuations in the market price of ethanol and its co-products;
 
 
·           the projected growth or contraction in the ethanol and co-product markets in which we operate;
 
 
·           our strategies for expanding, maintaining or contracting our presence in these markets;
 
 
·           our ability to successfully manage and operate third party ethanol production facilities;
 
 
·           anticipated trends in our financial condition and results of operations; and
 
 
·           our ability to distinguish ourselves from our current and future competitors.
 
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report, or in the case of a document incorporated by reference, as of the date of that document. We do not undertake to update, revise or correct any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
 
Any of the factors described immediately above, or referenced from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or in the “Risk Factors” section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 could cause our financial results, including our net income or loss or growth in net income or loss to differ materially from prior results, which in turn could, among other things, cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate substantially.
 
Overview
 
We are the leading marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the Western United States.
 
Since our inception in 2005, we have conducted ethanol marketing operations through our subsidiary, Kinergy Marketing, LLC, or Kinergy, through which we market and sell ethanol produced by third parties. In 2006, we began constructing the first of our four then wholly-owned ethanol production facilities, or Pacific Ethanol Plants, and were continuously engaged in plant construction until the fourth facility was completed in 2008. We funded, and until recently directly operated, the Pacific Ethanol Plants through a subsidiary holding company and four other indirect subsidiaries, or Plant Owners.
 
In late 2008 and early 2009, we idled production at three of the Pacific Ethanol Plants due to adverse market conditions and lack of adequate working capital. Adverse market conditions and our financial constraints continued, resulting in an inability to meet our debt service requirements, and in May 2009, the Plant Owners each filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code, or Bankruptcy Code, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, or Bankruptcy Court.
 
 
- 21 -

 
 
On June 29, 2010, or the Effective Date, the Plant Owners declared effective their amended joint plan of reorganization, or the Plan, and emerged from bankruptcy. Under the Plan, on the Effective Date, all of the ownership interests in the Plant Owners were transferred to a newly-formed holding company, New PE Holdco, LLC, or New PE Holdco, wholly-owned as of that date by some of the prepetition lenders and new lenders of the Plant Owners. As a result, the Pacific Ethanol Plants became wholly-owned by New PE Holdco.
 
On October 6, 2010, we raised $35.0 million through the issuance of $35.0 million in principal amount of senior convertible notes, or Initial Convertible Notes, and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2.9 million shares of our common stock, or Initial Warrants. See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Convertible Notes.” On that same date we sold our 42% interest in Front Range Energy, LLC, or Front Range, for $18.5 million in cash, paid off our outstanding indebtedness to Lyles United, LLC and Lyles Mechanical Co., or collectively Lyles, in the aggregate amount of approximately $17.0 million and purchased a 20% ownership interest, which represents the single largest interest, in New PE Holdco for an aggregate purchase price of $23.3 million. At that time, we determined that we were the primary beneficiary of New PE Holdco, and as such, we have consolidated its results with our own since then.
 
On January 7, 2011, we issued $35.0 million in principal amount of senior convertible notes, or January Convertible Notes, in exchange for the Initial Convertible Notes and issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2.9 million shares of our common stock, or Warrants, in exchange for the Initial Warrants.  On June 30, 2011, we issued $23.75 million in principal amount of senior convertible notes, or June Convertible Notes, in exchange for the January Convertible Notes.  On August 3, 2011, we issued $17.17 million in principal amount of senior convertible notes, or Convertible Notes, in exchange for the June Convertible Notes. See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Convertible Notes.”
 
On June 8, 2011, we effected a one-for-seven reverse stock split. All share and per share information has been restated to retroactively show the effect of this stock split.
 
On June 30, 2011, we amended our asset management and other agreements with New PE Holdco and the Plant Owners to extend the term for one year and make other changes effective July 1, 2011, as further described below.
 
On October 19, 2011, we extended our asset management services beyond the four Pacific Ethanol plants to include services for advanced biofuel plants and entered into a management agreement with ZeaChem Inc. to provide operations, maintenance and accounting services for its 250,000 gallon per year cellulosic integrated biorefinery in Boardman, Oregon, which is adjacent to the Pacific Ethanol Columbia plant.
 
We currently manage the production of ethanol at the Pacific Ethanol Plants under the terms of an asset management agreement with the Plant Owners. We also market ethanol and its co-products, including wet distillers grain and syrup, or WDG, produced by the Pacific Ethanol Plants under the terms of separate marketing agreements with the Plant Owners whose facilities are operational. We also market ethanol and its co-products to other third parties, and provide transportation, storage and delivery of ethanol through third-party service providers in the Western United States, primarily in California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho and Washington.
 
We have extensive customer relationships throughout the Western United States and extensive supplier relationships throughout the Western and Midwestern United States. Our customers are integrated oil companies and gasoline marketers who blend ethanol into gasoline. We supply ethanol to our customers either from the Pacific Ethanol Plants located within the regions we serve, or with ethanol procured in bulk from other producers. In some cases, we have marketing agreements with ethanol producers to market all of the output of their facilities. Additionally, we have customers who purchase our co-products for animal feed and other uses.
 
 
- 22 -

 
 
The Pacific Ethanol Plants produce ethanol and its co-products and are comprised of the four facilities described immediately below, three of which are currently operational. If market conditions continue to improve, we may resume operations at the Madera, California facility, subject to the approval of New PE Holdco.
 
 
Facility Name
 
 
Facility Location
 
Estimated Annual
Capacity
(gallons)
 
Current
Operating
Status
Magic Valley
 
Burley, ID
 
60,000,000
 
Operating
Columbia
 
Boardman, OR
 
40,000,000
 
Operating
Stockton
 
Stockton, CA
 
60,000,000
 
Operating
Madera
 
Madera, CA
 
40,000,000
 
Idled
 
Under our asset management and other agreements with New PE Holdco and the Plant Owners, we manage the production and operations of the Pacific Ethanol Plants, market their ethanol and WDG and earn fees as follows. We amended the agreements and the related fee structure on June 30, 2011.
 
Fees effective through June 30, 2011:
 
 
·
ethanol marketing fees of approximately 1% of the net sales price;
 
 
·
corn procurement and handling fees of approximately $2.00 per ton;
 
 
·
WDG fees of approximately the greater of 5% of the third-party purchase price or $2.00 per ton; and
 
 
·
asset management fees of $75,000 per month for each operating facility and $40,000 per month for each idled facility.
 
Fees effective July 1, 2011:
 
 
·
ethanol marketing fees of approximately 1% of the net sales price, but not less than $0.015 per gallon and not more than $0.0225 per gallon;
 
 
·
corn procurement and handling fees of $0.045 per bushel;
 
 
·
WDG fees of 5% of the third-party purchase price, but not less than $2.00 per ton and not more than $3.50 per ton; and
 
 
·
asset management fees of $75,000 per month for each operating facility and $40,000 per month for each idled facility.
 
We intend to maintain our position as the leading marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the Western United States, in part by expanding our relationships with customers and third-party ethanol producers to market higher volumes of ethanol and by expanding the market for ethanol by continuing to work with state governments to encourage the adoption of policies and standards that promote ethanol as a fuel additive and transportation fuel. Further, we may seek to provide management services for other third-party ethanol production facilities in the Western United States.

We have agreed with the U.S. Department of Energy, or the DOE, to terminate the $24.3 million grant the DOE awarded us in 2008 in matching funds intended to cover 50% of the cost to develop a cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant. We continue to evaluate a number of technologies that may increase the efficiency of our ethanol production facilities and reduce our use of carbon-based fuels, including exploring the feasibility of using different and potentially abundant and cost-effective feed stocks, such as cellulosic plant biomass, to supplement corn as the basic raw material used in the production of ethanol.
 
 
- 23 -

 
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
The preparation of our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, requires us to make judgments and estimates that may have a significant impact upon the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations. We believe that of our significant accounting policies, the following require estimates and assumptions that require complex, subjective judgments by management that can materially impact the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations: revenue recognition; consolidation of variable interest entities; convertible notes and warrants carried at fair value; impairment of long-lived and intangible assets; and allowance for doubtful accounts. These significant accounting principles are more fully described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
Results of Operations
 
The following selected financial information should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report, and the other sections of “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in this report.
 
Certain performance metrics that we believe are important indicators of our results of operations include:
 
   
Three Months Ended
September 30
         
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
   
2011
   
2010
   
Variance
   
2011
   
2010
   
Variance
 
Production gallons sold (in millions)
    38.0          
NA
      113.0       43.2       161.6 %
Third party gallons sold (in millions)
    84.6       71.5       18.3 %     194.8       152.4       27.8 %
Total gallons sold (in millions)
    122.6       71.5       71.5 %     307.8       195.6       57.4 %
                                                 
Average sales price per gallon
  $ 2.97     $ 1.93       53.9 %   $ 2.79     $ 1.81       54.1 %
Corn cost per bushel – CBOT equivalent (1)
  $ 6.90     $ 4.25       62.4 %   $ 6.95     $ 3.84       81.0 %
Co-product revenues as % of delivered cost of corn
    23.1 %     %     n/a       22.7 %     21.9 %     3.7 %
                                                 
Average CBOT ethanol price per gallon
  $ 2.78     $ 1.80       54.4 %   $ 2.62     $ 1.70       54.1 %
Average CBOT corn price per bushel
  $ 6.96     $ 4.22       64.9 %   $ 6.99     $ 3.83       82.5 %
_________________
 
(1)
We exclude transportation—or “basis”—costs in our corn costs to calculate a Chicago Board of Trade, or CBOT, equivalent price to compare our corn costs to average CBOT corn prices.
 
Net Sales, Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Profit (Loss)
 
The following table presents our net sales, cost of goods sold and gross profit (loss) in dollars and gross profit (loss) as a percentage of net sales (in thousands, except percentages):
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Variance in
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
 
                                                 
Net sales                          
  $ 271,649     $ 46,039     $ 225,610       490.0 %   $ 659,390     $ 194,087     $ 465,303       239.7 %
Cost of goods sold
    263,461       42,058       221,403       526.4 %     647,355       195,883       451,472       230.5 %
Gross profit (loss)
  $ 8,188     $ 3,981     $ 4,207       105.7 %   $ 12,035     $ (1,796 )   $ 13,831       770.1 %
   Percentage of net sales
    3.0 %     8.6 %                     1.8 %     (0.9 )%                
 
 
- 24 -

 
 
Net Sales
 
The increase in our net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010 was due to an increase in total gallons sold and an increase in our average sales price per gallon.
 
Total volume of ethanol gallons sold increased by 51.1 million gallons, or 72%, to 122.6 million gallons for the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to 71.5 million gallons for the same period in 2010.  For the three months ended September 30, 2010, we did not consolidate the operations of the Pacific Ethanol Plants as we did not have an ownership interest in the plants until the fourth quarter of 2010. Kinergy did, however, market the ethanol produced by the two Pacific Ethanol Plants that were operating, which are included in third party gallons sold. The overall increase in gallons sold is primarily due to the Stockton facility operating during the three months ended September 30, 2011, whereas it was not operating during the same period in 2010, plus additional growth in third party gallons sold. The increase in third party gallons sold is primarily due to additional gallons sold through third-party ethanol marketing arrangements, including from the Keyes, California production facility which opened in April 2011. We market all of that facility’s ethanol.
 
Our average sales price per gallon increased 54% to $2.97 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from an average sales price per gallon of $1.93 for the same period in 2010, which was in line with the increase in the average CBOT ethanol price per gallon for the comparable periods.
 
The increase in our net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010 was also due to an increase in total gallons sold and an increase in our average sales price per gallon.
 
Total volume of ethanol production gallons sold increased by 69.8 million gallons, or 162%, to 113.0 million gallons for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to 43.2 million gallons for the same period in 2010. The increase in production gallons sold is primarily due to the Stockton facility operating during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, whereas it was not operating during the same period in 2010.  In addition, ethanol sold from the Pacific Ethanol Plants was classified as production gallons sold for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and was classified as third party gallons sold for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Total volume of third party gallons sold increased by 42.4 million gallons, or 28%, to 194.8 million gallons for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to 152.4 million gallons for the same period in 2010. The increase in third party sales volume is primarily due to additional gallons sold through third-party ethanol marketing arrangements, including from the Keyes, California facility.
 
Our average sales price per gallon increased 54% to $2.79 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from an average sales price per gallon of $1.81 for the same period in 2010, consistent with the increase in the average CBOT ethanol price per gallon for the comparable periods.
 
Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Profit (Loss)
 
Our gross margin increased to $8.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from $4.0 million for the same period in 2010 primarily due to higher sales volumes and improved commodity margins, primarily related to the spread between ethanol prices and corn and energy costs. Our gross margin increased to $12.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from negative $1.8 million for the same period in 2010 primarily due to higher sales volumes and increased commodity margins, as noted above. Further, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we were able to offset approximately $1.5 million of our production costs due to elevated corn prices with proceeds from the California Ethanol Producer Incentive Program, which were recorded as reductions to cost of goods sold.
 
 
- 25 -

 
 
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
 
The following table presents our selling, general and administrative expenses, or SG&A, in dollars and as a percentage of net sales (in thousands, except percentages):

   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Variance in
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
   
Variance in
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
  $ 3,495     $ 2,732     $ 763       27.9 %   $ 11,742     $ 9,065     $ 2,677       29.5 %
Percentage of net sales
    1.3 %     5.9 %                     1.8 %     4.7 %                
 
Our SG&A increased in absolute dollars, but decreased as a percentage of net sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the same periods in 2010.
 
SG&A increased $0.8 million to $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to $2.7 million for the same period in 2010. The increase in the dollar amount of SG&A is primarily due to the following factors:
 
 
·
salaries and benefits increased by $0.3 million due to salary adjustments;
 
 
·
professional fees increased by $0.1 million due to due to organizational costs incurred by New PE Holdco; and
 
 
·
amortization of intangibles increased by $0.1 million due to amortization of the Pacific Ethanol tradename by New PE Holdco.
 
SG&A increased $2.6 million to $11.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to $9.1 million for the same period in 2010. The increase in the dollar amount of SG&A is primarily due to the following factors:
 
 
·
noncash compensation expenses increased by $0.6 million due to increased grants of restricted stock awards to our employees and members of our board of directors; during the prior year period, we made fewer grants as we continued to execute on our restructuring plans;
 
 
·
professional fees increased by $0.4 million due to organizational costs incurred by New PE Holdco; and
 
 
·
amortization of intangibles increased by $0.4 million due to amortization of the Pacific Ethanol tradename by New PE Holdco.
 
 
- 26 -

 
 
Fair Value Adjustments on Convertible Debt and Warrants
 
The following table presents our fair value adjustments on convertible debt and warrants in dollars and as a percentage of net sales (in thousands, except percentages):

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     
Variance in
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
 
2011
   
2010
     
Dollars
   
Percent
Fair value adjustments on convertible debt and warrants
  $ 4,113     $     $ 4,113    
NA
  $ 6,968     $     $
6,968
   
NA
Percentage of net sales
    1.5 %     %                 1.1 %     %            
 
We issued convertible debt and warrants in the fourth quarter of 2010 for $35.0 million in cash. The convertible debt and warrants are recorded at fair value. We recorded income of $4.1 million and $7.0 million related to the subsequent fair value adjustments of these instruments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively.
 
Loss on Investment in Front Range
 
The following table presents our loss on investment in Front Range in dollars and as a percentage of net sales (in thousands, except percentages):

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
 
Loss on investment in Front Range
  $     $ 12,146     $ (12,146 )     (100 )%   $     $ 12,146     $ (12,146 )     (100 )%
Percentage of net sales
    %     26.4 %                     %     6.3 %                
 
On September 27, 2010, we entered into an agreement to sell our entire interest in Front Range for $18.5 million in cash. The carrying value of our interest in Front Range prior to the sale was $30.6 million. As a result, we reduced our investment in Front Range to fair value, resulting in charge of $12.1 million. We closed the sale of our interest in Front Range on October 6, 2010.
 
Loss on Extinguishments of Debt
 
The following table presents our loss on extinguishments of debt in dollars and as a percentage of net sales (in thousands, except percentages):

     
Three Months Ended
September 30,
     
Variance in
     
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     
Variance in
 
     
2011
     
2010
     
Dollars
     
Percent
     
2011
     
2010
     
Dollars
     
Percent
 
Loss on extinguishments of debt
  $
    $
    $
     
NA
    $
    $
2,159
    $
 (2,159
)    
(100
)%
Percentage of net sales
   
%    
%                    
%    
1.1
%                
 
We were party to certain agreements designed to satisfy our outstanding debt to Lyles. Under these agreements, we issued shares to a third party which acquired outstanding debt owed to Lyles in successive transactions. Under these transactions, we issued an aggregate of 3.4 million shares in the nine months ended September 30, 2010, resulting in an aggregate loss of $2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. We determined fair value based on the closing price of our shares at the end of an applicable period, which was the date the net shares to be issued were determinable. We did not issue any shares in the three months ended September 30, 2010 or in the nine months ended September 30, 2011.
 
 
- 27 -

 
 
Interest Expense, net
 
The following table presents our interest expense, net in dollars and our interest expense, net as a percentage of net sales (in thousands, except percentages):

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
   
Nine Months Ended
 September 30,
   
Variance in
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
 
Interest expense, net
  $ 4,071     $ 599     $ 3,472       579.6 %   $ 11,337     $ 3,462     $ 7,875       227.5 %
Percentage of net sales
    1.5 %     1.3 %                     1.7 %     1.8 %                
 
Interest expense, net increased by $3.5 million to $4.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from $0.6 million for the same period in 2010. Interest expense, net increased by $7.8 million to $11.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $3.5 million for the same period in 2010. The increase in interest expense, net for the periods is primarily due to increased average debt balances, which includes our senior convertible notes and New PE Holdco’s credit facility, neither of which were applicable for the comparable periods in 2010. In addition, the increase is related to early voluntary conversions by the holders of our senior convertible notes, whereby upon conversion, “make-whole” interest is paid on the principal amounts converted in an amount that would have accrued had the principal amounts remained outstanding through maturity.
 
Other Expense, net
 
The following table presents our other expense, net in dollars and our other expense, net as a percentage of net sales (in thousands, except percentages):

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
 
Other expense, net
  $ 166     $ 622     $ (456 )     (73.3 )%   $ 709     $ 1,088     $ (379 )     (34.8 )%
Percentage of net sales
    0.1 %     1.4 %                     0.1 %     0.6 %                
 
Other expense, net decreased by $0.4 million to $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from $0.6 million for the same period in 2010. Other expense, net decreased by $0.4 million to $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $1.1 million for the same period in 2010. The decreases in other expense, net are primarily due to the reduction of equity losses from our investment in Front Range, in which we owned a 42% interest in the 2010 periods, which was partially offset by increases in bank fees.
 
 
- 28 -

 
 
Reorganization Costs and Gain from Bankruptcy Exit
 
The following table presents our reorganization costs and gain from bankruptcy exit in dollars and as a percentage of net sales (in thousands, except percentages):

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
         
Variance in
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
 
Percent
 
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
 
Reorganization costs
  $     $     $  
NA
  $     $ 4,153     $ (4,153     (100.0) %
Percentage of net sales
    %     %               %     2.1 %                
Gain from bankruptcy exit
  $         $   NA   $     $ 119,408     (119,408     (100.0 )% 
Percentage of net sales
                           61.5                
 
In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification 852, Reorganizations, revenues, expenses, realized gains and losses, and provisions for losses that can be directly associated with the reorganization and restructuring of a business must be reported separately as reorganization items in the statements of operations. Professional fees directly related to the reorganization include fees associated with advisors to the Plant Owners, unsecured creditors, secured creditors and administrative costs in complying with reporting rules under the Bankruptcy Code. Reorganization costs consisted of the following (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Professional fees
  $     $     $     $ 4,036  
Trustee fees
                      117  
Total
  $     $     $     $ 4,153  
 
On the Effective Date, we no longer owned the Plant Owners. As a result, we removed the net liabilities from our consolidated financial statements, resulting in a net gain from bankruptcy exit of $119.4 million.
 
Net (Income) Loss Attributed to Noncontrolling Interest in Variable Interest Entity
 
The following table presents the proportionate share of the net (income) loss attributed to noncontrolling interest in variable interest entity, and net (income) loss attributed to noncontrolling interest in variable interest entity as a percentage of net sales (in thousands, except percentages):

   
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
 
Percent
 
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
 
Percent
Net (income) loss attributed to noncontrolling interest in variable interest entity
  (217 )   $     $ (217 )
NA
  $ 9,905     $     $ 9,905  
NA
Percentage of net sales
  (0.1 )%     %               1.5 %     %          
 
Net (income) loss attributed to noncontrolling interest in variable interest entity relates to our consolidated treatment of New PE Holdco, a variable interest entity, beginning October 6, 2010. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we consolidated the entire income statement of New PE Holdco. However, because we owned only 20% of New PE Holdco, we reduced our net income (loss) for the amount attributed to noncontrolling interest in variable interest entity corresponding to the 80% ownership interest that we do not own.
 
 
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Net Income (Loss) Attributed to Pacific Ethanol
 
The following table presents our net income (loss) attributed to Pacific Ethanol in dollars and our net income (loss) attributed to Pacific Ethanol as a percentage of net sales (in thousands, except percentages):

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
 
Net income (loss) attributed to Pacific Ethanol
  $ 4,352     $ (12,118 )   $ 16,470       135.9 %   $ 5,120     $ 85,539     $ (80,419 )     (94.0 )%
Percentage of net sales
    1.6 %     (26.3 )%                     0.8 %     44.1 %                
 
Net income (loss) attributed to Pacific Ethanol increased during the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010, primarily due to an increase in operating income and fair value adjustments on convertible debt and warrants. Net income (loss) attributed to Pacific Ethanol decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010, primarily due to a gain from bankruptcy exit of $119.4 million in 2010.
 
Preferred Stock Dividends and Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders
 
The following table presents the preferred stock dividends in dollars for our Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, or Series B Preferred Stock, these preferred stock dividends as a percentage of net sales, and our income (loss) available to common stockholders in dollars and our income (loss) available to common stockholders as a percentage of net sales (in thousands, except percentages):

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   
Variance in
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
   
2011
   
2010
   
Dollars
   
Percent
 
Preferred stock dividends
  $ 319     $ 758     $ (439 )     (57.9 )%   $ 946     $ 2,346     $ (1,400 )     (59.7 )%
Percentage of net sales
    0.1 %     1.6 %                     0.1 %     1.2 %                
Income (loss) available to common stockholders
  $ 4,033     $ (12,876 )   $ 16,909       131.3 %   $ 4,174     $ 83,193     $ (79,019 )