Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration Statement No. 333-238939

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(to Prospectus dated July 1, 2020)

 

 

PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.

 

Up to $30,000,000 of Common Stock

 

We have entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, or sales agreement, with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or Wainwright, dated August 13, 2020, relating to the sale of shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus supplement. In accordance with the terms of the sales agreement, under this prospectus supplement we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $30,000,000 from time to time through Wainwright, acting as sales agent.

 

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “PEIX”. On August 12, 2020, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market was $4.06 per share.

 

The registration statement to which this prospectus supplement forms a part contains a prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to $100,000,000 in the aggregate of our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants and units from time to time in one or more offerings, or the base prospectus. The $30,000,000 of common stock that may be offered, issued and sold under this prospectus supplement is included in the $100,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by us under the base prospectus. This prospectus supplement should be read in conjunction with the base prospectus, and is qualified by reference thereto, except to the extent that the information herein amends or supersedes the information contained in the base prospectus. This prospectus supplement is not complete without, and may only be delivered or utilized in connection with, the base prospectus and any future amendments or supplements thereto.

 

Upon our delivery of a placement notice and subject to the terms and conditions of the sales agreement, Wainwright may sell shares of our common stock under this prospectus supplement by any method permitted that is deemed an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Wainwright is not required to sell any specific amount, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

Unless we and Wainwright otherwise agree, we will pay Wainwright a commission of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds of the sales price per share. In connection with the sale of common stock on our behalf, Wainwright may, and will with respect to sales effected in an “at the market offering,” be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Wainwright may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Wainwright against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Investing in our common stock involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement and page 5 of the accompanying base prospectus and the risk and uncertainties described in the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement for certain risks and uncertainties relating to an investment in our common stock.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

H.C. Wainwright & Co.

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is August 13, 2020.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

  Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT S-1
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS S-2
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY S-3
THE OFFERING S-5
RISK FACTORS S-6
USE OF PROCEEDS S-7
DIVIDEND POLICY S-8
DILUTION S-8
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION S-8
LEGAL MATTERS S-10
EXPERTS S-10
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION S-10
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE S-11

 

PROSPECTUS

 

  Page
   
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 2
DESCRIPTION OF PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC. 3
RISK FACTORS 5
USE OF PROCEEDS 5
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES 5
DESCRIPTION OF capital STOCK 18
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK 26
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS 29
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS 30
GLOBAL SECURITIES 32
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 34
DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES 37
LEGAL MATTERS 38
EXPERTS 38
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 38
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE 39

 

 i

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

This prospectus supplement relates to the offering of our common stock. Before buying any of the common stock that we are offering, you should carefully read the accompanying base prospectus, this prospectus supplement, any supplement to this prospectus supplement, the information and documents incorporated herein by reference and the additional information under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision.

 

We provide information to you about this offering of our common stock in two separate documents that are bound together: (i) this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific details regarding this offering; and (ii) the accompanying base prospectus, which provides general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer to this “prospectus,” we are referring to both documents combined. If information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying base prospectus, you should rely on this prospectus supplement. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date—for example, a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

 

You should rely only on this prospectus supplement and the information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses we provide you. We have not, and Wainwright has not, authorized anyone to provide you with information that is in addition to, or different from, that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and Wainwright is not, offering to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than as of the date of this prospectus supplement or in the case of the documents incorporated by reference, the date of such documents regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement or any sale of our common shares. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

When used in this prospectus supplement, the terms “Pacific Ethanol,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Pacific Ethanol, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified.

 

S-1

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement contain “forward-looking statements” and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided for under Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements include our current expectations and projections about future results, performance, prospects and opportunities. We have tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words like “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “seek,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “future,” “plan” or variations of those terms and other similar expressions, including their use in the negative. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as to our expectations, as of the date of this prospectus supplement and any applicable supplement to this prospectus supplement. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.

 

These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, those set forth under “Risk Factors” discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part I of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or any updates discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Projections included in such risk factors have been prepared based on assumptions, which we believe to be reasonable, but not in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles or any guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results will vary, perhaps materially, and we undertake no obligation to update the projections at any future date. You are strongly cautioned not to place undue reliance on such projections. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Pacific Ethanol or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by federal securities laws, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

S-2

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

 

The following summary of our business highlights some of the information contained elsewhere in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. Because this is only a summary, however, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should carefully read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, which are described under “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” in this prospectus supplement. You should also carefully consider the matters discussed in the section in this prospectus supplement entitled “Risk Factors.”

 

Pacific Ethanol

Overview

We are a leading producer and marketer of high quality alcohol products and low-carbon renewable fuels in the United States.

We operate seven strategically-located production facilities. Three of our plants are located in the Midwestern state of Illinois and four of our plants are in the Western states of California, Oregon and Idaho. We are the seventh largest ethanol producer in the United States based on annualized production capacity. Our plants have a combined high quality alcohol and fuel ethanol production capacity of 450 million gallons per year. We market all the high quality alcohol, ethanol and co-products produced at our plants as well as ethanol produced by third parties. In 2019, we marketed nearly 1.0 billion gallons combined of high quality alcohol and ethanol, and nearly 3.0 million tons of co-products on a dry matter basis. Our business consists of two operating segments: a production segment and a marketing segment.

Our mission is to be a leading producer and marketer of high quality alcohol products, low-carbon renewable fuels and high-value animal feed in the United States. We intend to accomplish this goal in part by investing in our production and distribution infrastructure, lowering the carbon intensity of our products, extending our marketing business into new regional and international markets, and implementing new technologies to promote higher production yields and greater efficiencies.

Production Segment

We produce high quality alcohol, ethanol and co-products at our production facilities described below. Our plants located in the Midwest are in the heart of the Corn Belt, benefit from low-cost and abundant feedstock production and allow for access to many additional domestic markets. In addition, our ability to load unit trains and barges from our Pekin, Illinois plants, allows for greater access to international markets. Our plants located on the West Coast are near their respective fuel and feed customers, offering significant timing, transportation cost and logistical advantages.

Currently, we are operating at approximately 52% of production capacity. As market conditions change, we may increase, decrease or idle production at one or more operating facilities or resume operations at any idled facility.

 

S-3

 

 

Facility Name  Facility Location  Estimated Annual Capacity
(gallons)
  

 

Operating Status

Magic Valley  Burley, ID   60,000,000   Idled
Columbia  Boardman, OR   40,000,000   Operating
Stockton  Stockton, CA   60,000,000   Idled
Madera  Madera, CA   40,000,000   Idled
            
Pekin Wet  Pekin, IL   100,000,000   Operating
Pekin Dry  Pekin, IL   60,000,000   Idled*
Pekin ICP  Pekin, IL   90,000,000   Operating

 

 

*       We anticipate restarting our Pekin dry mill in September 2020, which was idled due to river closures.

We produce high quality alcohol and ethanol co-products at our production facilities such as wet distillers grains, dried distillers grains with solubles, wet and dry corn gluten feed, condensed distillers solubles, corn gluten meal, corn germ, corn oil, dried yeast and CO2.

Marketing Segment

We market high quality alcohol products, low-carbon ethanol, high protein feed and co-products produced by our facilities. We also market fuel ethanol produced by third parties.

We have extensive and long-standing customer relationships, both domestic and international, for our high quality alcohol products. These customers include producers and distributors of ingredients for cosmetics, sanitizers and related products, distilled spirits producers, food products manufacturers, producers of personal health/consumer health and personal care hygiene products, and global trading firms.

Our fuel ethanol customers are located throughout the Western and Midwestern United States and consist of integrated oil companies and gasoline marketers who blend ethanol into gasoline. Our customers depend on us to provide a reliable supply of fuel ethanol, and manage the logistics and timing of delivery with very little effort on their part. Our customers collectively require ethanol volumes in excess of the supplies we produce at our Western production facilities. We secure additional ethanol supplies from third-party plants in California and other third-party suppliers in the Midwest where a majority of ethanol producers are located. We arrange for transportation, storage and delivery of ethanol purchased by our customers through our agreements with third-party service providers in the Western United States as well as in the Midwest from a variety of sources.

We market our distillers grains and other feed co-products to dairies and feedlots, in many cases located near our plants. These customers use our feed co-products for livestock as a substitute for corn and other sources of starch and protein. We sell our corn oil to poultry and biodiesel customers. We do not market co-products from other producers.

Corporate Information

 

We are a Delaware corporation formed in February 2005. Our principal executive offices are located at 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2060, Sacramento, California 95814. Our telephone number is (916) 403-2123 and our Internet website is www.pacificethanol.com. The content of our Internet website does not constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

 

Additional information about us and our subsidiaries can be obtained from the documents incorporated by reference herein. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 

S-4

 

 

THE OFFERING

 

Common stock offered by us   Up to $30,000,000 of common stock.
     

Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

 

Up to 64,375,275 shares, after giving effect to the assumed sale of 7,389,162 shares of our common stock at a price of $4.06 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on August 12, 2020. The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on the price at which shares may be sold from time to time during this offering.

     

 

Manner of offering

  Sales of shares of our common stock under this prospectus supplement may be made by any method deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act. Wainwright will make all sales using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices. See “Plan of Distribution.”
     
Use of proceeds   Any net proceeds from the sales of shares pursuant to this offering will be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures and potentially up to $20,000,000 for the repayment of indebtedness. See “Use of Proceeds.”
     
Risk factors   See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement and the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement for a discussion of certain factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock.
     

The Nasdaq Capital Market symbol

  PEIX

 

The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 56,986,113 shares of our common stock outstanding as of August 12, 2020 and excludes the following securities outstanding on August 12, 2020:

 

·5,500,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of warrants at a weighted average exercise price of $1.00;
   
  712,292 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our 2016 Stock Incentive Plan, or 2016 Plan;
     
  228,707 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of options granted under our 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, or 2006 Plan, at a weighted average exercise price of $4.12 per share;

 

  634,641 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon conversion of our Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, or Series B Preferred Stock; and

 

  any additional shares of common stock we may issue from time to time after that date.

 

S-5

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our shares of common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and other factors described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented and updated by subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that we have filed or will filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other documents incorporated by reference to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, before investing in our common stock. If any of these risks materialize, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially harmed. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose some or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also impair our business operations. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition, or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Related to This Offering

 

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering, you may not agree with how we use the proceeds, and the proceeds may not be invested successfully.

 

Our management will have broad discretion as to the use of the net proceeds from any offering by us and could use them for purposes other than those contemplated at the time of this offering. Accordingly, you will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. It is possible that the proceeds will be invested in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return for Pacific Ethanol.

 

You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.

 

In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock at prices that may not be the same as the price per share in this offering. We may sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is less than the price per share paid by any investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock, in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share paid by any investors in this offering. In addition, the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants or the conversion of outstanding shares of our Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, or Series B Preferred Stock, could result in further dilution of your investment.

 

Sales of a significant number of shares of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our common stock.

 

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public markets could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of our common stock would have on the market price of our common stock.

 

S-6

 

 

We do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future and, therefore, any return on your investment in our common stock must come from increases in the fair market value and trading price of our common stock.

 

We do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future and, therefore, any return on your investment in our common stock must come from increases in the fair market value and trading price of our common stock.

 

The shares of common stock offered under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus may be sold in “at the market” offerings, and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.

 

Investors who purchase shares under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold, and there is no minimum or maximum sales price. Investors may experience declines in the value of their shares as a result of share sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.

 

The actual number of shares we will issue under the sales agreement, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.

 

Subject to certain limitations in the sales agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a sales notice to Wainwright at any time throughout the term of the sales agreement. The number of shares that are sold by Wainwright after we deliver a sales notice will fluctuate based on the market price of the common stock during the sales period and limits we set with Wainwright. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period, it is not possible at this stage to predict the number of shares, if any, that will ultimately be issued

 

You will suffer immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of the common stock that you purchase in this offering.

 

The shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices; however, the assumed public offering price of our common stock is substantially higher than the as-adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock. Therefore, investors purchasing shares of our common stock in this offering will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds the as-adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of 7,389,162 shares of our common stock are sold at an assumed public offering price of $4.06 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on August 12, 2020, for aggregate gross proceeds of $30,000,000, and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, new investors in this offering will experience immediate dilution of $0.29 per share, representing the difference between the assumed public offering price and our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering. See “Dilution” for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you would incur if you purchase common stock in this offering.

  

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

From time to time, we may sell shares of our common stock pursuant to the sales agreement with Wainwright, which may result in aggregate gross proceeds of up to $30,000,000, or approximately $29,025,000 in proceeds net of Wainwright’s fee and other offering expenses payable by the Company. Because there is no minimum amount of shares of our common stock that must be sold pursuant to our sales agreement with Wainwright, the actual number of shares of our common stock sold and aggregate net proceeds to us are not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the amounts set forth above.

 

We currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sales of shares pursuant to this offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures. However, we may use up to $20,000,000 of the net proceeds for the reduction of indebtedness under the following credit facilities (i) the term loan credit facility entered into by our subsidiary, Pacific Ethanol Pekin, LLC, or PE Pekin, with Compeer Financial, PCA, or Compeer, which matures on August 20, 2021 and bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the 30-day LIBOR plus 3.75%, (ii) the revolving credit facility entered into by PE Pekin with Compeer, which matures on February 1, 2022 and bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the 30-day LIBOR plus 3.75%, (iii) the term loan credit facility entered into by our subsidiary, Illinois Corn Processing, LLC, or ICP, with Compeer, which matures on September 1, 2021 and bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the 30-day LIBOR plus 3.75%, and (iv) the revolving credit facility entered into by ICP with Compeer, which matures on September 1, 2021 and bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the 30-day LIBOR plus 3.75%.

 

S-7

 

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We anticipate that we will retain any earnings for use in the continued development of our business.

 

Our current and future debt financing arrangements may limit or prevent cash distributions from our subsidiaries to us, depending upon the achievement of certain financial and other operating conditions and our ability to properly service our debt, thereby limiting or preventing us from paying cash dividends on our common stock. In addition, the holders of our outstanding Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to dividends of 7% per annum, payable quarterly.

 

DILUTION

 

If you invest in our shares of common stock, your interest in our common stock will be diluted immediately to the extent of the difference between the public offering price and the adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering. Net tangible book value on June 30, 2020, was approximately $3.75 per share. “Net tangible book value” is total assets minus the sum of liabilities and intangible assets. “Net tangible book value per share” is net tangible book value divided by the total number of shares outstanding.

 

After giving effect to the sale by us in this offering of 7,389,162 shares of common stock at an assumed public offering price of $4.06 per share (the closing price of our common stock as quoted on The Nasdaq Capital Market on August 12, 2020), and after deducting the estimated commissions and estimated offering expenses that we will pay, our net tangible book value as of June 30, 2020 would have been approximately $237.2 million, or $3.77 per share of common stock. This amount represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.02 per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $0.29 per share to purchasers in this offering.

 

Assumed public offering price per share       $4.06 
Net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2020  $3.75      
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors in offering  $0.02      
As adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to the offering       $3.77 
Dilution per share to new investors       $0.29 

 

A $0.50 increase in the assumed public offering price of the shares of common stock would increase our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering by $0.07, assuming the number of shares of common stock offered by us remains the same and after deducting the estimated commissions and estimated offering expenses that we will pay, while diluting new investors by $0.74 per share. A $0.50 decrease in the assumed public offering price of the shares of common stock would decrease our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering by $0.04, assuming the number of shares of common stock offered by us remains the same and after deducting the estimated commissions and estimated offering expenses that we will pay, while being accretive to new investors by $0.15 per share.

 

The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 55,482,308, shares of our common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2020 and excludes the following securities outstanding on June 30, 2020:

 

 

5,500,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of warrants at a weighted average exercise price of $1.00;
     
  2,203,837 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our 2016 Plan;
     
  228,707 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of options granted under our 2006 Plan, at a weighted average exercise price of $4.12 per share;

 

  634,641 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon conversion of our Series B Preferred Stock; and

 

  any additional shares of common stock we may issue from time to time after that date.

 

The information discussed above is illustrative only and will adjust based on the actual public offering price, the actual number of shares that we offer in this offering, and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. In addition, the information discussed above assumes no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Pursuant to our sales agreement with Wainwright, we may sell an aggregate of up to $30,000,000 of shares of our common stock from time to time through Wainwright, as our agent for the offer and sale of the common stock pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The actual dollar amount and number of shares of common stock we sell pursuant to the sales agreement will be dependent on, among other things, market conditions and our fund-raising requirements. Wainwright may sell the common stock by any method deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act. We may instruct Wainwright not to sell our common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us from time to time. We or Wainwright may suspend the offering of our common stock upon notice and subject to other conditions.

 

Each time that we wish to sell common stock under the sales agreement, we will provide Wainwright with a placement notice describing the number of shares to be issued, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of shares that may be sold in any one day, any minimum price below which sales may not be made and other sales parameters as we deem appropriate.

 

S-8

 

 

Upon receipt of a placement notice from us, and subject to the terms and conditions of the sales agreement, Wainwright has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares up to the amount specified. The settlement between us and Wainwright of each sale will occur on the second trading day following the date on which the sale was made or on such other date that is agreed upon by us and Wainwright in connection with a particular transaction. The obligation of Wainwright under the sales agreement to sell our common stock pursuant to a placement notice is subject to a number of conditions.

 

We will pay Wainwright commissions for its services in acting as agent in the sale of our common stock. Wainwright will be entitled to compensation at a commission rate of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds of the sales price per share sold. Wainwright may also receive customary brokerage commissions from purchasers of the common stock in compliance with FINRA Rule 2121. Wainwright may effect sales to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from Wainwright and/or purchasers of shares of common stock for whom they may act as agents or to whom they may sell as principal. In addition, we have agreed to reimburse Wainwright for fees and disbursements of its legal counsel in an amount not to exceed $50,000 and to reimburse Wainwright for the documented fees and costs of its legal counsel incurred in connection with Wainwright's ongoing diligence and other requirements arising from the transactions contemplated by the sales agreement in an amount not to exceed $2,500 per calendar quarter. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation and reimbursements payable to Wainwright under the terms of the sales agreement, will be approximately $75,000.

 

Based on an assumed offering price of $4.06 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on August 12, 2020, the maximum number of shares of common stock we could sell is approximately 7,389,162. If 7,389,162 shares of common stock were sold at the August 12, 2020 closing sales price, we would receive approximately $30,000,000 in gross proceeds, or approximately $29,025,000 in proceeds net of Wainwright’s maximum commission of 3.0% of the gross proceeds of the sales price per share and other offering expenses payable by us. The actual proceeds to us will vary depending on the number of shares sold, the prices of such sales and the actual amount of Wainwright’s fee. Because there is no minimum offering amount required, the actual total may be substantially less than the maximum amount set forth above.

 

In connection with the sale of our common stock on our behalf, Wainwright may, and will with respect to sales effected in an “at the market offering,” be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation paid to Wainwright may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Wainwright against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

To the extent required by Regulation M, Wainwright will not engage in any market making activities involving our shares of common stock while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus supplement.

 

Wainwright and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees.

 

Sales of our common stock as contemplated in this prospectus supplement will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Wainwright may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

We will report at least quarterly the number of shares of our common stock sold through Wainwright, as our agent, in this offering and, to the extent applicable, the number of shares of our common stock issued upon settlement of any placement notice, and the net proceeds to us in connection with such sales of our common stock.

 

The offering of our common stock pursuant to the sales agreement will terminate on the earlier of (i) the sale of all of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus supplement, or (ii) termination of the sales agreement as permitted therein.

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “PEIX.”

 

This is a brief summary of the material provisions of the sales agreement and does not purport to be a complete statement of its terms and conditions. We are filing a copy of the sales agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission on a Current Report on Form 8-K concurrently with the filing of this prospectus supplement.

 

S-9

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus supplement have been passed upon for us by Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, Irvine, California. Wainwright is being represented in connection with this offering by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Pacific Ethanol as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 appearing in Pacific Ethanol’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, have been audited by RSM US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities offered under this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. Many of the contracts and documents described in this prospectus supplement are filed as exhibits to the registration statements and you may review the full text of these contracts and documents by referring to these exhibits.

 

For further information with respect to us and the securities offered under this prospectus supplement, reference is made to the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules. We file reports, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains an Internet web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including Pacific Ethanol, that file electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet website address is http://www.sec.gov. Our Internet website address is http://www.pacificethanol.net.

 

We do not anticipate that we will send an annual report to our stockholders until and unless we are required to do so by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

All trademarks or trade names referred to in this prospectus supplement are the property of their respective owners.

 

S-10

 

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another filed document. Any information referred to in this way is considered part of this prospectus supplement from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission after the date of this prospectus supplement and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus supplement is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. Accordingly, we incorporate by reference the following documents or information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission:

 

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 3, 2020, January 22, 2020, March 5, 2020, March 12, 2020, March 26, 2020, April 21, 2020, April 23, 2020, May 7, 2020, May 11, 2020, May 12, 2020, May 29, 2020, August 7, 2020, August 10, 2020 and August 11, 2020;

 

Our Amended Current Report on Form 8-K/A which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 2020;

 

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 13, 2020

 

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2020;

 

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2020;

 

Our amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2020

 

Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Form 14A, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 20, 2020;

 

Our amended Definitive Proxy Statement on Form 14A, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 20, 2020;

 

The description of our capital stock contained in Exhibit 4.1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2020; and

 

All documents filed by us in accordance with Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus supplement and before the termination of an offering under this prospectus supplement, other than documents or information deemed furnished and not filed in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules.

 

We will provide a copy of the documents we incorporate by reference, at no cost, to any person who received this prospectus supplement. To request a copy of any or all of these documents, you should write or telephone us at: Investor Relations, Pacific Ethanol, Inc., 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2060, Sacramento, California 95814, (916) 403-2123. In addition, each document incorporated by reference is readily accessible on our website at www.pacificethanol.com.

 

S-11

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.

 

$100,000,000

 

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Units

 

This prospectus relates to the sale from time to time in one or more offerings of up to $100,000,000 of debt securities, which we may issue in one or more series; shares of our common stock; shares of our preferred stock, which we may issue in one or more series or classes; warrants to purchase our debt securities, common stock or preferred stock; and units (collectively referred to as the “securities”).

 

We will provide the specific terms of any securities to be offered in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

When securities are offered under this prospectus, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement describing the specific securities being offered, the manner in which they are being offered, the offering price of the securities and the net proceeds from the sale of those securities. The securities may be offered separately or together in any combination or as a separate series. You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, together with any documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, before you invest in our securities. We may sell these securities to or through underwriters, to other purchasers, through dealers or agents or through any combination of these methods, on a continuous or delayed basis. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such agents or underwriters and any applicable fees, commissions, discounts and over-allotment options will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds that we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.

 

Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “PEIX.” On June 22, 2020, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market was $0.72.

 

 

 

Investing in our securities involves substantial risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement, and in any other document incorporated by reference herein or therein, for factors you should consider before buying any of our securities.

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is July 1, 2020.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROSPECTUS

 

  Page
   
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 2
DESCRIPTION OF PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC. 3
RISK FACTORS 5
USE OF PROCEEDS 5
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES 5
DESCRIPTION OF capital STOCK 18
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK 26
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS 29
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS 30
GLOBAL SECURITIES 32
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 34
DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES 37
LEGAL MATTERS 38
EXPERTS 38
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 38
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE 39

 

i

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a “shelf” registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell, at any time and from time to time in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, up to a total dollar amount of $100,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement and attach it to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will contain more specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. The prospectus supplements may also add, update or change information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the information in the prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

The exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents we have summarized in this prospectus. Because these summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we may offer, you should review the full text of these documents. The registration statement and the exhibits can be obtained from the SEC as indicated under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information” below.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplements filed with the SEC. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information and, if you are given any information or representation about these matters that is not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement, you must not rely on that information. We are not making an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale of such securities is not permitted.

 

Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement nor any sale made using this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement implies that there has been no change in our affairs or that the information in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement is correct as of any date after their respective dates. You should not assume that the information in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement prepared by us, is accurate as of any date other than the date(s) on the front covers of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

When used in this prospectus, the terms “Pacific Ethanol,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Pacific Ethanol, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified. Unless otherwise stated or indicated by context, the phrase “this prospectus” refers to the prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

1

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain “forward-looking statements” and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided for under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements include our current expectations and projections about future results, performance, prospects and opportunities. We have tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words like “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “seek,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “future,” “plan” or variations of those terms and other similar expressions, including their use in the negative. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as to our expectations, as of the date of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.

 

These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, those set forth under “Risk Factors” discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part I of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or any updates discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Projections included in such risk factors have been prepared based on assumptions, which we believe to be reasonable, but not in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles or any guidelines of the SEC. Actual results will vary, perhaps materially, and we undertake no obligation to update the projections at any future date. You are strongly cautioned not to place undue reliance on such projections. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Pacific Ethanol or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by federal securities laws, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

2

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.

 

Overview

 

We are a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the United States.

 

We operate seven strategically-located production facilities. Four of our plants are in the Western states of California, Oregon and Idaho, and three of our plants are located in the Midwestern state of Illinois. We are the seventh largest producer of ethanol in the United States based on annualized volumes. Our plants have a combined production capacity of 450 million gallons per year. We market all the ethanol, specialty alcohols and co-products produced at our plants as well as ethanol produced by third parties. In 2019, we marketed nearly 1.0 billion gallons of ethanol and nearly 3.0 million tons of co-products on a dry matter basis. Our business consists of two operating segments: a production segment and a marketing segment.

 

Our mission is to be a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels, high-value animal feed and high-quality alcohol products in the United States. We intend to accomplish this goal in part by investing in our ethanol production and distribution infrastructure, lowering the carbon intensity of our ethanol, extending our marketing business into new regional and international markets, and implementing new technologies to promote higher production yields and greater efficiencies.

 

Production Segment

 

We produce ethanol, specialty alcohols and co-products at our production facilities described below. Our plants located on the West Coast are near their respective fuel and feed customers, offering significant timing, transportation cost and logistical advantages. Our plants located in the Midwest are in the heart of the Corn Belt, benefit from low-cost and abundant feedstock production and allow for access to many additional domestic markets. In addition, our ability to load unit trains and barges from our Pekin, Illinois plants, allows for greater access to international markets.

 

Currently, we are operating at approximately 50% of production capacity. As market conditions change, we may increase, decrease or idle production at one or more operating facilities or resume operations at any idled facility.

 

Facility Name   Facility Location   Estimated Annual Capacity
(gallons)
Magic Valley   Burley, ID   60,000,000
Columbia   Boardman, OR   40,000,000
Stockton   Stockton, CA   60,000,000
Madera   Madera, CA   40,000,000
Pekin Wet   Pekin, IL   100,000,000
Pekin Dry   Pekin, IL   60,000,000
Pekin ICP   Pekin, IL   90,000,000

 

We produce ethanol co-products at our production facilities such as wet distillers grains, dry distillers grains with solubles, wet and dry corn gluten feed, condensed distillers solubles, corn gluten meal, corn germ, corn oil, distillers yeast and CO2.

 

3

 

 

Marketing Segment

 

We market ethanol, specialty alcohols and co-products produced by our facilities and market ethanol produced by third parties. We have extensive customer relationships throughout the Western and Midwestern United States. Our ethanol customers are integrated oil companies and gasoline marketers who blend ethanol into gasoline. Our customers depend on us to provide a reliable supply of ethanol, and manage the logistics and timing of delivery with very little effort on their part. Our customers collectively require ethanol volumes in excess of the supplies we produce at our production facilities. We secure additional ethanol supplies from third-party plants in California and other third-party suppliers in the Midwest where a majority of ethanol producers are located. We arrange for transportation, storage and delivery of ethanol purchased by our customers through our agreements with third-party service providers in the Western United States as well as in the Midwest from a variety of sources.

 

We market our distillers grains and other feed co-products to dairies and feedlots, in many cases located near our ethanol plants. These customers use our feed co-products for livestock as a substitute for corn and other sources of starch and protein. We sell our corn oil to poultry and biodiesel customers. We do not market co-products from other ethanol producers.

 

Corporate Information

 

We are a Delaware corporation formed in February 2005. Our principal executive offices are located at 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2060, Sacramento, California 95814. Our telephone number is (916) 403-2123 and our Internet website is www.pacificethanol.com. The content of our Internet website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

Additional information about us and our subsidiaries can be obtained from the documents incorporated by reference herein. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 

4

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves significant risks. Before making an investment decision, you should consider carefully the risks, uncertainties and other factors described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented and updated by subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that we have filed or will file with the SEC, and in documents which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as well as the risk factors and other information contained in or incorporated by reference into the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

If any of these risks were to occur, our business, affairs, prospects, assets, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow could be materially and adversely affected. If this occurs, the market or trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. In addition, please read “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus, where we describe additional uncertainties associated with our business and the forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

Our bylaws contain an exclusive forum provision, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.

Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of us, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of us to us or our stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

For the avoidance of doubt, the exclusive forum provision described above does not apply to any claims arising under the Securities Act or Exchange Act. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, and Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

The choice of forum provision in our bylaws may limit our stockholders’ ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that they find favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers, employees and agents even though an action, if successful, might benefit our stockholders. The applicable courts may also reach different judgments or results than would other courts, including courts where a stockholder considering an action may be located or would otherwise choose to bring the action, and such judgments or results may be more favorable to us than to our stockholders. With respect to the provision making the Court of Chancery the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions, stockholders who do bring a claim in the Court of Chancery could face additional litigation costs in pursuing any such claim, particularly if they do not reside in or near Delaware. Finally, if a court were to find this provision of our bylaws inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could have a material adverse effect on us.  

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we currently expect to use the net proceeds of our sale of securities for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, working capital requirements, capital expenditures, investments, acquisitions, and the repayment or refinancing of outstanding indebtedness. Pending these uses, we expect to invest the net proceeds in demand deposit accounts or short-term, investment-grade securities.

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

The complete terms of the debt securities will be contained in the indenture and supplemental indenture applicable to the debt securities unless we are not required under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act, to issue the debt securities pursuant to an indenture. These documents have been or will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the indenture and supplemental indenture. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

 

This section describes the general terms of the debt securities that we may offer using this prospectus. Further terms of the debt securities will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description and any description of the debt securities in a prospectus supplement may not be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture (to the extent we are required to issue the debt securities pursuant to an indenture) and form of debt security.

 

General

 

We may issue debt securities, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible or exchangeable debt. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any other unsubordinated debt that we may have and may be secured or unsecured. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner described in the instrument governing the debt, to all or some portion of our senior indebtedness. Any convertible debt securities that we may issue will be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or other securities of Pacific Ethanol. Conversion may be mandatory or at your option and would be at prescribed conversion rates.

 

5

 

 

If we are required pursuant to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, the debt securities will be issued under one or more indentures, which are contracts between us and an eligible banking institution or other eligible party, as trustee. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer, including debt securities that are issued under an indenture, in more detail in a prospectus supplement.

 

If required, we will issue the senior debt securities under the senior indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the senior indenture. If required, we will issue the subordinated debt securities under the subordinated indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the subordinated indenture. We have filed forms of these documents as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We use the term “indentures” to refer to both the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture.

 

The following summaries of the material provisions of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the indentures (to the extent applicable to a particular issuance of our debt securities) are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. You should read the applicable prospectus supplement that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of debt securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, the complete indentures that contain the terms of the debt securities. Forms of indentures have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and we will file supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered under indentures as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or such supplemental indentures will be incorporated by reference to reports that we file with the SEC. Except as we may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical.

 

The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. We use the term “indenture trustee” to refer to either the senior trustee or the subordinated trustee, as applicable.

 

The indentures do not limit the amount of other debt that we may incur and do not contain financial or similar restrictive covenants. The indentures do not contain any provision to protect holders of debt securities against a sudden or dramatic decline in our ability to pay our debt.

 

The prospectus supplement will describe the debt securities offered and the price or prices at which we will offer the debt securities. The description will include:

 

the title of the debt securities;

 

whether the debt securities are senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and, if subordinated debt securities, the related subordination terms;

 

principal amount being offered, and, if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding;

 

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities or the series of which they are a part;

 

6

 

 

the date or dates on which we must pay the principal;

 

whether the debt securities will be issued with any original issue discount;

 

whether the debt securities are convertible into common stock or other securities or property and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which conversion will be effected, including the initial conversion price or conversion rate and any adjustments thereto and the conversion period;

 

the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, and the dates on which we must pay interest;

 

whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay a premium or additional amounts on any debt securities;

 

the place or places where we must pay the principal and any premium or interest on the debt securities;

 

the terms and conditions on which we may redeem or retire any debt security, if at all;

 

any obligation to redeem or repurchase any debt securities, and the terms and conditions on which we must do so;

 

the denominations in which we may issue the debt securities if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

 

the manner in which we will determine the amount of principal of or any premium or interest or additional amounts on the debt securities;

 

the principal amount of the debt securities that we will pay upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity if other than 100%;

 

the amount that will be deemed to be the principal amount for any purpose, including the principal amount that will be due and payable upon any maturity or that will be deemed to be outstanding as of any date;

 

whether the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;

 

whether the debt securities are defeasible;

 

if applicable, the terms of any right to convert debt securities into, or exchange debt securities for, shares of common stock or other securities or property;

 

restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;

 

our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;

 

provisions for a sinking fund, purchase or other analogous fund, if any;

 

7

 

 

whether we will issue the debt securities under indentures;

 

whether we will issue the debt securities in the form of one or more global securities and, if so, the respective depositaries for the global securities and the terms of the global securities;

 

any addition to or change in the events of default applicable to the debt securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal amount of any of the debt securities due and payable;

 

any addition to or change in the covenants in the indentures, if any, including whether the indenture will restrict our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries to:

 

oincur additional indebtedness;

 

oissue additional securities;

 

ocreate liens;

 

opay dividends or make distributions in respect of our capital shares or the capital shares of our subsidiaries;

 

oredeem capital shares;

 

oplace restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets;

 

omake investments or other restricted payments;

 

osell or otherwise dispose of assets;

 

oenter into sale-leaseback transactions;

 

oengage in transactions with stockholders or affiliates;

 

oissue or sell shares of our subsidiaries; or

 

oeffect a consolidation or merger;

 

whether the indenture, if any, will require us to maintain any interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios;

 

a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities;

 

information describing any book-entry features;

 

procedures for any auction or remarketing, if any; and

 

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any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any events of default that are in addition to those described in this prospectus or any covenants provided with respect to the debt securities that are in addition to those described above, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the debt securities.

 

We may sell the debt securities at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. We will describe United States federal income tax considerations, if any, applicable to debt securities sold at an original issue discount in the prospectus supplement. An “original issue discount security” is any debt security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount to be due and payable upon the declaration of acceleration of the maturity under the terms of the applicable indenture. The prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities will describe the particular provisions relating to acceleration of the maturity upon the occurrence of an event of default. In addition, we will describe United States federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any debt securities that are denominated in a currency or unit other than United States dollars in the prospectus supplement.

 

Conversion and Exchange Rights

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe, if applicable, the terms on which you may convert debt securities into or exchange them for common stock or other securities or property. The conversion or exchange may be mandatory or may be at your option. The prospectus supplement will describe how the number of shares of common stock or other securities or property to be received upon conversion or exchange would be calculated.

 

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

 

Unless the prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, the following provisions will apply to the subordinated debt securities. The indebtedness underlying the subordinated debt securities will be payable only if all payments due under our senior indebtedness, including any outstanding senior debt securities, have been made. If we distribute our assets to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar proceedings, we must first pay all amounts due or to become due on all senior indebtedness before we pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, the subordinated debt securities. In the event the subordinated debt securities are accelerated because of an event of default, we may not make any payment on the subordinated debt securities until we have paid all senior indebtedness or the acceleration is rescinded. If the payment of subordinated debt securities accelerates because of an event of default, we must promptly notify holders of senior indebtedness of the acceleration.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, we may not make any payment on the subordinated debt securities if a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, interest or other obligations, including a default under any repurchase or redemption obligation, in respect of senior indebtedness occurs and continues beyond any applicable grace period. We may not make any payment on the subordinated debt securities if any other default occurs and continues with respect to senior indebtedness that permits holders of the senior indebtedness to accelerate its maturity and the trustee receives a notice of such default from us, a holder of such senior indebtedness or other person permitted to give such notice. We may not resume payments on the subordinated debt securities until the defaults are cured or certain periods pass.

 

If we experience a bankruptcy, dissolution or reorganization, holders of senior indebtedness may receive more, ratably, and holders of subordinated debt securities may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors.

 

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The indentures in the forms initially filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part do not limit the amount of indebtedness which we may incur, including senior indebtedness or subordinated indebtedness, and do not limit us from issuing any other debt, including secured debt or unsecured debt.

 

Form, Exchange and Transfer

 

We will issue debt securities only in fully registered form, without coupons, and, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, only in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures provide that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, or another depositary named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement with respect to that series. We currently anticipate that the debt securities of each series offered and sold pursuant to this prospectus will be issued as global debt securities as described under “Global Securities” and will trade in book-entry form only.

 

At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

 

Subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will make no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.

 

We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.

 

If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:

 

issue, register the transfer or exchange of any debt securities of any series being redeemed in part during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or

 

register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part.

 

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Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

 

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, we may not consolidate with or merge into, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any person, and shall not permit any other person to consolidate with or merge into us, unless:

 

either: (i) we are the surviving corporation or (ii) the person formed by or surviving any consolidation, amalgamation or merger or resulting from such conversion (if other than Pacific Ethanol) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made, is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and assumes our obligations under the debt securities and under the indentures pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the indenture trustee;

 

immediately before and after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, has occurred and is continuing; and

 

several other conditions, including any additional conditions with respect to any particular debt securities specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, are met.

 

The terms of any securities that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus may limit our ability to merge or consolidate or otherwise sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets, which terms would be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and supplemental indenture.

 

Events of Default

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, it is anticipated that each of the following will constitute an event of default under the applicable indenture with respect to debt securities of any series:

 

failure to pay principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due, whether or not, in the case of subordinated debt securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the subordinated indenture;

 

failure to pay any interest on any debt securities of that series when due, continued for 30 days, whether or not, in the case of subordinated debt securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the subordinated indenture;

 

failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any debt security of that series, whether or not, in the case of subordinated debt securities, such deposit is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the subordinated indenture;

 

failure to perform or comply with the provisions described under “—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”;

 

failure to perform any of our other covenants in such indenture (other than a covenant included in such indenture solely for the benefit of a series other than that series), continued for 60 days after written notice has been given to us by the applicable indenture trustee, or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, as provided in such indenture; and

 

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting us or any significant subsidiary.

 

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If an event of default (other than an event of default with respect to Pacific Ethanol described in the last item listed above) with respect to the debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the applicable trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series by notice as provided in the applicable indenture may declare the principal amount of the debt securities of that series (or, in the case of any debt security that is an original issue discount debt security, such portion of the principal amount of such debt security as may be specified in the terms of such debt security) to be due and payable immediately, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. If an event of default with respect to Pacific Ethanol described in the last item listed above with respect to the debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the debt securities of that series (or, in the case of any such original issue discount security, such specified amount) will automatically, and without any action by the applicable trustee or any holder, become immediately due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. After any such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal (or other specified amount), have been cured or waived as provided in the applicable Indenture. For information as to waiver of defaults, see “—Modification and Waiver” below.

 

Subject to the provisions in the indentures relating to the duties of the trustees in case an event of default has occurred and is continuing, each trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless such holders have offered to such trustee reasonable security or indemnity. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the trustees, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

 

No holder of a debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the applicable indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless:

 

such holder has previously given to the trustee under the applicable indenture written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series;

 

the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and such holder or holders have offered reasonable indemnity, to the trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee; and

 

the trustee has failed to institute such proceeding, and has not received from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with such request, within 60 days after such notice, request and offer.

 

However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of a debt security for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on such debt security on or after the applicable due date specified in such debt security.

 

We will be required to furnish to each trustee annually, within 150 days after the end of each fiscal year, a certificate by certain of our officers as to whether or not we, to their knowledge, are in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the applicable indenture and, if so, specifying all such known defaults.

 

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Modification and Waiver

 

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, modifications and amendments of an indenture may be made by us and the applicable trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by such modification or amendment. However, no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

 

change the stated maturity of the principal of, or time for payment of any installment of principal of or interest on, any debt security;

 

reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or the rate of interest on, any debt security;

 

reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount security or any other debt security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

change the place or the coin or currency of payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any debt security;

 

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment due on any debt security;

 

modify the subordination provisions in the case of subordinated debt securities;

 

reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of the indenture;

 

reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series necessary for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or for waiver of certain defaults; or

 

modify such provisions with respect to modification, amendment or waiver, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby.

 

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive compliance by us with certain restrictive provisions of the applicable indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the applicable indenture, except a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest and certain covenants and provisions of the indenture which cannot be amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of such series.

 

Each of the indentures provides that in determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding debt securities have given or taken any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under such indenture as of any date:

 

the principal amount of an original issue discount security that will be deemed to be outstanding will be the amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of maturity to such date;

 

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the principal amount of a debt security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units that will he deemed to be outstanding will be the United States-dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner prescribed for such debt security, of the principal amount of such debt security (or, in the case of an original issue discount security the United States dollar equivalent on the date of original issuance of such security of the amount determined as provided immediately above); and

 

certain debt securities, including those owned by us or any of our other affiliates, will not be deemed to be outstanding.

 

Except in certain limited circumstances, we will be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities of any series entitled to give or take any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the applicable indenture, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the indenture. In certain limited circumstances, the trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by holders. If a record date is set for any action to be taken by holders of a particular series, only persons who are holders of outstanding debt securities of that series on the record date may take such action.

 

Optional Redemption

 

If specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect to redeem all or part of the outstanding debt securities of a series from time to time before the maturity date of the debt securities of that series. Upon such election, we will notify the indenture trustee of the redemption date and the principal amount of debt securities of the series to be redeemed. If less than all the debt securities of the series are to be redeemed, the particular debt securities of that series to be redeemed will be selected by the depositary in accordance with its procedures. The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the redemption price for the debt securities to be redeemed (or the method of calculating such price), in each case in accordance with the terms and conditions of those debt securities.

 

Notice of redemption will be given to each holder of the debt securities to be redeemed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date set for such redemption. This notice will include the following information, as applicable: the redemption date; the redemption price (or the method of calculating such price); if less than all of the outstanding debt securities of such series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the respective principal amounts) of the particular debt securities to be redeemed; that on the redemption date the redemption price will become due and payable upon each security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue after such date; the place or places where such debt securities are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

 

Prior to any redemption date, we will deposit or cause to be deposited with the indenture trustee or with a paying agent (or, if we are acting as our own paying agent with respect to the debt securities being redeemed, we will segregate and hold in trust as provided in the applicable indenture) an amount of money sufficient to pay the aggregate redemption price of, and (except if the redemption date shall be an interest payment date or the debt securities of such series provide otherwise) accrued interest on, all of the debt securities or the part thereof to be redeemed on that date. On the redemption date, the redemption price will become due and payable upon all of the debt securities to be redeemed, and interest, if any, on the debt securities to be redeemed will cease to accrue from and after that date. Upon surrender of any such debt securities for redemption, we will pay those debt securities surrendered at the redemption price together, if applicable, with accrued interest to the redemption date.

 

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Any debt securities to be redeemed only in part must be surrendered at the office or agency established by us for such purpose, and we will execute, and the indenture trustee will authenticate and deliver to a holder without service charge, new debt securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denominations as requested by that holder, in a principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the debt securities that holder surrenders.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

Each indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding debt securities of any series issued thereunder, when:

 

either:

 

oall outstanding debt securities of that series that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed debt securities that have been replaced or paid and debt securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to us or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or

 

oall outstanding debt securities of that series that have not been delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee;

 

and in either case we have irrevocably deposited with the trustee as trust funds for such purpose money in an amount sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness of such debt securities not delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of debt securities that have become due and payable) or to the stated maturity or redemption date;

 

we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by us under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series; and

 

we have delivered an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel to the trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series have been complied with.

 

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

If and to the extent indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect, at our option at any time, to have provisions of the indentures relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, which we call “legal defeasance,” relating to defeasance of certain restrictive covenants applied to the debt securities of any series, or to any specified part of a series, which we call “covenant defeasance.”

 

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Legal Defeasance. The indentures provide that, upon our exercise of our option (if any) to have the provisions relating to legal defeasance applied to any debt securities, we will be discharged from all our obligations, and, if such debt securities are subordinated debt securities, the provisions of the subordinated indenture relating to subordination will cease to be effective, with respect to such debt securities (except for certain obligations to convert, exchange or register the transfer of debt securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities, to maintain paying agencies and to hold moneys for payment in trust) upon the deposit in trust for the benefit of the holders of such debt securities of money or United States government obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such debt securities on the respective stated maturities in accordance with the terms of the applicable indenture and such debt securities. Such defeasance or discharge may occur only if, among other things:

 

we have delivered to the applicable trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or there has been a change in tax law, in either case to the effect that holders of such debt securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and legal defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and legal defeasance were not to occur;

 

no event of default or event that with the passing of time or the giving of notice, or both, shall constitute an event of default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit;

 

such deposit and legal defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument (other than the applicable indenture) to which we are a party or by which we are bound;

 

we must deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that the deposit was not made by us with the intent of preferring the holders of the debt securities over any of our other creditors or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any of our other creditors or others;

 

we must deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that all conditions precedent set forth in the items set forth immediately above and the item set forth immediately below, as applicable, have been complied with;

 

in the case of subordinated debt securities, at the time of such deposit, no default in the payment of all or a portion of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any of our senior debt shall have occurred and be continuing, no event of default shall have resulted in the acceleration of any of our senior debt and no other event of default with respect to any of our senior debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting after notice or the lapse of time, or both, the acceleration thereof: and

 

we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that all conditions precedent set forth in first, third or fourth item above have been complied with.

 

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Covenant Defeasance. The indentures provide that, upon our exercise of our option (if any) to have the covenant defeasance provisions applied to any debt securities, we may omit to comply with certain restrictive covenants (but not to conversion, if applicable), including those that may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the occurrence of certain events of default, which are described above in the fifth item listed under “Events of Default” above and any that may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, will not be deemed to either be or result in an event of default and, if such debt securities are subordinated debt securities, the provisions of the subordinated indenture relating to subordination will cease to be effective, in each case with respect to such debt securities. In order to exercise such option, we must deposit, in trust for the benefit of the holders of such debt securities, money or United States government obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such debt securities on the respective stated maturities in accordance with the terms of the applicable indenture and such debt securities. Such covenant defeasance may occur only if we have delivered to the applicable trustee an opinion of counsel that in effect says that holders of such debt securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance were not to occur, and the requirements set forth in the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh items above are satisfied. If we exercise this option with respect to any debt securities and such debt securities were declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default, the amount of money and United States government obligations so deposited in trust would be sufficient to pay amounts due on such debt securities at the time of their respective stated maturities but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on such debt securities upon any acceleration resulting from such event of default. In such case, we would remain liable for such payments.

 

Notices

 

We will mail notices to holders of debt securities at the addresses that appear in the security register.

 

Title

 

We may treat the person in whose name a debt security is registered as the absolute owner, whether or not such debt security may be overdue, for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes.

 

Information Concerning the Indenture Trustee

 

The indenture trustee undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. The indenture trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. The indenture trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by an indenture at the request or direction of any of the applicable holders pursuant to such indenture unless such holders shall have offered to the indenture trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a debt security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name such debt security (or one or more predecessor securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest.

 

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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as we may designate for such purpose from time to time, except that at our option payment of any interest on debt securities in certificated loan may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address appears in the security register. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the corporate trust office of the trustee under the senior indenture in The City of New York will be designated as sole paying agent for payments with respect to senior debt securities of each series, and the corporate trust office of the trustee under the subordinated indenture in The City of New York will be designated as the sole paying agent for payment with respect to subordinated debt securities of each series. Any other paying agents initially designated by us for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

 

All money paid by us to a paying agent for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt security which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of such debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment.

 

Governing Law

 

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York.

 

DESCRIPTION OF capital STOCK

 

Authorized and Outstanding Capital Stock

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 300,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, 3,553,000 shares of non-voting common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, of which 1,684,375 shares are designated as Series A Cumulative Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, or Series A Preferred Stock, and 1,580,790 shares are designated as Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, or Series B Preferred Stock. As of June 22, 2020, there were 55,485,330 shares of common stock, 896 shares of non-voting common stock, no shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 926,942 shares of Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. The following description of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and should be reviewed in conjunction with our certificate of incorporation, including our Certificate of Designations, Powers, Preferences and Rights of the Series A Preferred Stock, or Series A Certificate of Designations, our Certificate of Designations, Powers, Preferences and Rights of the Series B Preferred Stock, or Series B Certificate of Designations, and our bylaws. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 

Common Stock

 

All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The following summarizes the rights of holders of our common stock:

 

a holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon generally by the stockholders;

 

subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock outstanding, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive lawful dividends as may be declared by our Board of Directors, or the Board;

 

upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of shares of common stock are entitled to receive a pro rata portion of all our assets remaining for distribution after satisfaction of all our liabilities and the payment of any liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock;

 

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there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock; and

 

there are no preemptive or conversion rights applicable to our common stock.

 

Non-Voting Common Stock

 

The rights and preferences of shares of our non-voting common are substantially the same in all respects to the rights and preferences of shares of our common stock, except that (i) the holders of shares of non-voting common stock are not be entitled to vote, (ii) shares of non-voting common stock are convertible into shares of common stock, and (iii) shares of non-voting common stock are not listed on any stock exchange, including The Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

The following summarizes the rights of holders of our non-voting common stock:

 

a holder of non-voting common stock is not entitled to vote on any matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders, however such holders are entitled to prior notice of, and to attend and observe, all meetings of the stockholders;

 

subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding, the holders of non-voting common stock are entitled to receive lawful dividends as may be declared by the Board on parity in all respects with the holders of common stock, provided that if the holders of common stock become entitled to receive a divided or distribution of shares of common stock, holders of non-voting common stock shall receive, in lieu of the shares of common stock, an equal number of shares of non-voting common stock;

 

upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up Pacific Ethanol, the holders of shares of common stock and non-voting common stock will be entitled to receive a pro rata portion of all of our assets remaining for distribution after satisfaction of all our liabilities and the payment of any liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock;

 

there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our non-voting common stock; and

 

there are no preemptive rights applicable to our non-voting common stock.

 

Conversion

 

Each share of non-voting common stock is convertible at the option of the holder into one share of our common stock at any time. The conversion price is subject to customary adjustment for stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends, mergers, consolidations, reorganizations, share exchanges, reclassifications, distributions of assets and issuances of convertible securities, and the like.

 

No shares of non-voting common stock may be converted into common stock if the holder of such shares or any of its affiliates would, after such conversion, beneficially own in excess of 9.99% of our outstanding shares of common stock (sometimes referred to as the Blocker). The Blocker applicable to the conversion of shares of non-voting common stock may be raised or lowered at the option of the holder to any percentage not in excess of 9.99%, except that any increase will only be effective upon 61-days’ prior notice to us.

 

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When shares of non-voting common stock cease to be held by the initial holder or an affiliate of an initial holder of such shares, such shares shall automatically convert into one share of our common stock.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our Board is authorized to issue from time to time, in one or more designated series, any or all of our authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock with dividend, redemption, conversion, exchange, voting and other provisions as may be provided in that particular series. The issuance need not be approved by our common stockholders and need only be approved by holders, if any, of our Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock if, as described below, the shares of preferred stock to be issued have preferences that are senior to or on parity with those of our Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock.

 

The rights of the holders of our common stock, Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be issued in the future. Issuance of a new series of preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of entrenching our Board and making it more difficult for a third-party to acquire, or discourage a third-party from acquiring, a majority of our outstanding voting stock. The following is a summary of the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock and the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Series B Preferred Stock

 

As of June 22, 2020, 926,942 shares of Series B Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding and an aggregate of 1,419,210 shares of Series B Preferred Stock had been converted into shares of our common stock. The converted shares of Series B Preferred Stock have been returned to undesignated preferred stock. A balance of 653,848 shares of Series B Preferred Stock remain authorized for issuance.

 

Rank and Liquidation Preference

 

Shares of Series B Preferred Stock rank prior to our common stock as to distribution of assets upon liquidation events, which include a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Pacific Ethanol, whether voluntary or involuntary. The liquidation preference of each share of Series B Preferred Stock is equal to $19.50, or the Series B Issue Price, plus any accrued but unpaid dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock. If assets remain after the amounts are distributed to the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, the assets shall be distributed pro rata, on an as-converted to common stock basis, to the holders of our common stock and Series B Preferred Stock. The written consent of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock is required before we can authorize the issuance of any class or series of capital stock that ranks senior to or on parity with shares of Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Dividend Rights

 

As long as shares of Series B Preferred Stock remain outstanding, each holder of shares of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, and shall be paid quarterly in arrears, in cash out of funds legally available therefor, cumulative dividends, in an amount equal to 7.0% of the Series B Issue Price per share per annum with respect to each share of Series B Preferred Stock. The dividends may, at our option, be paid in shares of Series B Preferred Stock valued at the Series B Issue Price. In the event we declare, order, pay or make a dividend or other distribution on our common stock, other than a dividend or distribution made in common stock, the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive with respect to each share of Series B Preferred Stock held, any dividend or distribution that would be received by a holder of the number of shares of our common stock into which the Series B Preferred Stock is convertible on the record date for the dividend or distribution.

 

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The Series B Preferred Stock ranks pari passu with respect to dividends and liquidation rights with the Series A Preferred Stock and pari passu with respect to any class or series of capital stock specifically ranking on parity with the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Optional Conversion Rights

 

Each share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of the holder into shares of our common stock at any time. Each share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into the number of shares of common stock as calculated by multiplying the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be converted by the Series B Issue Price, and dividing the result thereof by the conversion price. The conversion price was initially $682.50 per share of Series B Preferred Stock, subject to adjustment; therefore, each share of Series B Preferred Stock was initially convertible into 0.03 shares of common stock, which number is equal to the quotient of the Series B Issue Price of $19.50 divided by the initial conversion price of $682.50 per share of Series B Preferred Stock. Accrued and unpaid dividends are to be paid in cash upon any conversion.

 

Mandatory Conversion Rights

 

In the event of a Transaction which will result in an internal rate of return to holders of Series B Preferred Stock of 25% or more, each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall, concurrently with the closing of the Transaction, be converted into shares of common stock. A “Transaction” is defined as a sale, lease, conveyance or disposition of all or substantially all of our capital stock or assets or a merger, consolidation, share exchange, reorganization or other transaction or series of related transactions (whether involving us or a subsidiary) in which the stockholders immediately prior to the transaction do not retain a majority of the voting power in the surviving entity. Any mandatory conversion will be made into the number of shares of common stock determined on the same basis as the optional conversion rights above. Accrued and unpaid dividends are to be paid in cash upon any conversion.

 

No shares of Series B Preferred Stock will be converted into common stock on a mandatory basis unless at the time of the proposed conversion we have on file with the SEC an effective registration statement with respect to the shares of common stock issued or issuable to the holders on conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock then issued or issuable to the holders and the shares of common stock are eligible for trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market (or approved by and listed on a stock exchange approved by the holders of 66 2/3% of the then outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock).

 

Conversion Price Adjustments

 

The conversion price is subject to customary adjustment for stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends, mergers, consolidations, reorganizations, share exchanges, reclassifications, distributions of assets and issuances of convertible securities, and the like. The conversion price is also subject to downward adjustments if we issue shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of common stock, other than specified excluded securities, at per share prices less than the then effective conversion price. In this event, the conversion price shall be reduced to the price determined by dividing (i) an amount equal to the sum of (a) the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately prior to the issue or sale multiplied by the then existing conversion price, and (b) the consideration, if any, received by us upon such issue or sale, by (ii) the total number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after the issue or sale. For purposes of determining the number of shares of common stock outstanding as provided in clauses (i) and (ii) above, the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, and the exercise of all outstanding securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of common stock, will be deemed to be outstanding.

 

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The conversion price will not be adjusted in the case of the issuance or sale of the following: (i) securities issued to our employees, officers or directors or options to purchase common stock granted by us to our employees, officers or directors under any option plan, agreement or other arrangement duly adopted by us and the grant of which is approved by the compensation committee of our Board; (ii) the Series B Preferred Stock and any common stock issued upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock; (iii) securities issued on the conversion of any convertible securities, in each case, outstanding on the date of the filing of the Series B Certificate of Designations; and (iv) securities issued in connection with a stock split, stock dividend, combination, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar event for which adjustment is made in accordance with the foregoing.

 

Voting Rights and Protective Provisions

 

The Series B Preferred Stock votes together with all other classes and series of our voting stock as a single class on all actions to be taken by our stockholders. Each share of Series B Preferred Stock entitles the holder thereof to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock into which each share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible on all matters to be voted on by our stockholders, however, the number of votes for each share of Series B Preferred Stock may not exceed the number of shares of common stock into which each share of Series B Preferred Stock would be convertible if the applicable conversion price were $682.50 (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations and other similar recapitalizations affecting the shares).

 

We are not permitted, without first obtaining the written consent of the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock voting as a separate class, to:

 

increase or decrease the total number of authorized shares of Series B Preferred Stock or the authorized shares of our common stock reserved for issuance upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock (except as otherwise required by our certificate of incorporation or the Series B Certificate of Designations);

 

increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of preferred stock or common stock (except as otherwise required by our certificate of incorporation or the Series B Certificate of Designations);

 

alter, amend, repeal, substitute or waive any provision of our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws, so as to affect adversely the voting powers, preferences or other rights, including the liquidation preferences, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption rights or any reduction in the stated value of the Series B Preferred Stock, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise;

 

authorize, create, issue or sell any securities senior to or on parity with the Series B Preferred Stock or securities that are convertible into securities senior to or on parity the Series B Preferred Stock with respect to voting, dividend, liquidation or redemption rights, including subordinated debt;

 

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authorize, create, issue or sell any securities junior to the Series B Preferred Stock other than common stock or securities that are convertible into securities junior to Series B Preferred Stock other than common stock with respect to voting, dividend, liquidation or redemption rights, including subordinated debt;

 

authorize, create, issue or sell any additional shares of Series B Preferred Stock other than the Series B Preferred Stock initially authorized, created, issued and sold, Series B Preferred Stock issued as payment of dividends and Series B Preferred Stock issued in replacement or exchange therefore;

 

engage in a Transaction that would result in an internal rate of return to holders of Series B Preferred Stock of less than 25%;

 

declare or pay any dividends or distributions on our capital stock in a cumulative amount in excess of the dividends and distributions paid on the Series B Preferred Stock in accordance with the Series B Certificate of Designations;

 

authorize or effect the voluntary liquidation, dissolution, recapitalization, reorganization or winding up of our business; or

 

purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of our capital stock other than Series B Preferred Stock, or any warrants or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, or any options for the purchase of, our capital stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for our capital stock.

 

Reservation of Shares

 

We initially were required to reserve 3,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance upon conversion of shares of Series B Preferred Stock and are required to maintain a sufficient number of reserved shares of common stock to allow for the conversion of all shares of Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Series A Preferred Stock

 

As of June 22, 2020, no shares of Series A Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding and an aggregate of 5,315,625 shares of Series A Preferred Stock had been converted into shares of our common stock and returned to undesignated preferred stock. A balance of 1,684,375 shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain authorized for issuance. The rights and preferences of the Series A Preferred Stock are substantially the same as the Series B Preferred Stock, except as follows:

 

the Series A Issue Price, on which the Series A Preferred Stock liquidation preference is based, is $16.00 per share;

 

dividends accrue and are payable at a rate per annum of 5.0% of the Series A Issue Price per share;

 

each share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible at a rate equal to the Series A Issue Price divided by an initial conversion price of $840.00 per share;

 

holders of the Series A Preferred Stock have a number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock into which each share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible on all matters to be voted on by our stockholders, voting together as a single class; provided, however, that the number of votes for each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall not exceed the number of shares of common stock into which each share of Series A Preferred Stock would be convertible if the applicable conversion price were $943.95 (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations and other similar recapitalizations affecting the shares); and

 

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we are not permitted, without first obtaining the written consent of the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock voting as a separate class, to:

 

ochange the number of members of our Board to be more than nine members or less than seven members;

 

oeffect any material change in our industry focus or that of our subsidiaries, considered on a consolidated basis;

 

oauthorize or engage in, or permit any subsidiary to authorize or engage in, any transaction or series of transactions with one of our or our subsidiaries’ current or former officers, directors or members with value in excess of $100,000, excluding compensation or the grant of options approved by our Board; or

 

oauthorize or engage in, or permit any subsidiary to authorize or engage in, any transaction with any entity or person that is affiliated with any of our or our subsidiaries’ current or former directors, officers or members, excluding any director nominated by the initial holder of the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Preemptive Rights

 

Holders of our Series A Preferred Stock have preemptive rights to purchase a pro rata portion of all capital stock or securities convertible into capital stock that we issue, sell or exchange, or agree to issue, sell or exchange, or reserve or set aside for issuance, sale or exchange. We must deliver each holder of our Series A Preferred Stock a written notice of any proposed or intended issuance, sale or exchange of capital stock or securities convertible into capital stock which must include a description of the securities and the price and other terms upon which they are to be issued, sold or exchanged together with the identity of the persons or entities (if known) to which or with which the securities are to be issued, sold or exchanged, and an offer to issue and sell to or exchange with the holder of the Series A Preferred Stock the holder’s pro rata portion of the securities, and any additional amount of the securities should the other holders of Series A Preferred Stock subscribe for less than the full amounts for which they are entitled to subscribe. In the case of a public offering of our common stock for a purchase price of at least $12.00 per share and a total gross offering price of at least $50 million, the preemptive rights of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be limited to 50% of the securities. Holders of our Series A Preferred Stock have a 30 day period during which to accept the offer. We will have 90 days from the expiration of this 30 day period to issue, sell or exchange all or any part of the securities as to which the offer has not been accepted by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, but only as to the offerees or purchasers described in the offer and only upon the terms and conditions that are not more favorable, in the aggregate, to the offerees or purchasers or less favorable to us than those contained in the offer.

 

The preemptive rights of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock do not apply to any of the following securities: (i) securities issued to our employees, officers or directors or options to purchase common stock granted by us to our employees, officers or directors under any option plan, agreement or other arrangement duly adopted by us and the grant of which is approved by the compensation committee of our Board; (ii) the Series A Preferred Stock and any common stock issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock; (iii) securities issued on the conversion of any convertible securities, in each case, outstanding on the date of the filing of the Series A Certificate of Designations; (iv) securities issued in connection with a stock split, stock dividend, combination, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar event for which adjustment is made in accordance with the Series A Certificate of Designations; and (v) the issuance of our securities issued for consideration other than cash as a result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition or similar business combination by us approved by our Board.

 

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Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

A number of provisions of Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring and discouraging another party from acquiring control of Pacific Ethanol. These provisions, which are summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of Pacific Ethanol to first negotiate with our Board. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquiror outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire Pacific Ethanol because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms. However, the existence of these provisions also could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay for our securities.

 

Undesignated Preferred Stock

 

The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our Board to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to acquire us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of Pacific Ethanol.

 

Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations

 

Our bylaws provide that a stockholder seeking to bring business before an annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors, must provide timely notice of such stockholder’s intention in writing. To be timely, a stockholder nominating individuals for election to the Board or proposing business must provide advanced notice to Pacific Ethanol (a) not later than the close of business on the 90th day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day in advance of the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting if such meeting is to be held on a day which is not more than thirty (30) days in advance of the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting or not later than seventy (70) days after the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting, and (b) with respect to any other annual meeting of stockholders, the close of business on the 10th day following the date of public disclosure of the date of such meeting. In the event we call a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in our notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice is delivered to us not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to such special meeting and not earlier than the close of business on the later of the 120th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the date of public disclosure of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting.

 

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Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute

 

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (sometimes referred to as Section 203) regulating corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging, under specified circumstances, in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder unless:

 

prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares of voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the stockholder) (1) shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) shares owned by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by the board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

Generally, a business combination includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An interested stockholder is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own 15% or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting securities. We expect the existence of this provision to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions the Board does not approve in advance. We also anticipate that Section 203 may also discourage attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of our common stock held by stockholders.

 

The provisions of Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

 

Choice of Forum

 

Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of us, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of us to us or our stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. For the avoidance of doubt, the exclusive forum provision described above does not apply to any claims arising under the Securities Act or Exchange Act. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, and Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

 

We may issue up to 6,734,835 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, from time to time in one or more classes or series, with the exact terms of each series or class established by our Board. Without seeking stockholder approval, our Board may issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that are greater than the rights of our common stock and could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of our common stock.

 

The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series or class will be determined by our Board and set forth in a certificate of designations relating to such series or class that will amend our Certificate of Incorporation. We will include each certificate of designations as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus, or as an exhibit to a filing with the SEC that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The description of preferred stock in any prospectus supplement will not necessarily describe all of the terms of the preferred stock in detail. You should read the applicable certificate of designations for a complete description of all of the terms.

 

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This section describes the general terms of the preferred stock that we may offer using this prospectus. Further terms of the preferred stock will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description and any description of the preferred stock in a prospectus supplement may not be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of the certificate of designations.

 

Terms

 

You should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offering of any series of preferred stock for specific terms of the shares, including the following terms:

 

the maximum number of shares in the series or class and the distinctive designation;

 

number of shares offered and initial offering price;

 

the terms on which dividends, if any, will be paid;

 

the terms of any preemptive rights;

 

the terms on which the shares may be redeemed, if at all;

 

the liquidation preference, if any;

 

the terms of any retirement or sinking fund for the repurchase or redemption of the shares of the series;

 

the terms and conditions, if any, on which the shares of the series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of capital stock, including the conversion price, rate or other manner of calculation, conversion period and anti-dilution provisions, if applicable;

 

terms and conditions upon which shares will be exchangeable into debt securities or any other securities, including the exchange price, rate or other manner of calculation, exchange period and any anti-dilution provisions, if applicable;

 

the relative ranking and preference as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or the winding up of our affairs, including liquidation preference amount;

 

any limitation on issuance of any series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with that series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or the winding up of our affairs;

 

the voting rights, if any, on the shares of the series;

 

any or all other preferences and relative, participating, operational or other special rights or qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the shares; and

 

any material United States federal income tax consequences.

 

The issuance of preferred stock may delay, deter or prevent a change in control.

 

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Ranking

 

Unless we provide otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, the preferred stock offered through that supplement will, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, rank:

 

senior to all classes or series of our common stock, and to all other equity securities ranking junior to the offered preferred stock;

 

on a parity with all of our equity securities ranking on a parity with the offered preferred stock; and

 

junior to all of our equity securities ranking senior to the offered preferred stock.

 

As used herein, the term “equity securities” does not include convertible debt securities.

 

Voting Rights

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of our preferred stock will not have any voting rights, except as may be required by applicable law.

 

Dividends

 

Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding shares or series of shares, our preferred stockholders are entitled to receive dividends, if any, when and as authorized by our Board, out of legally available funds, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Redemption

 

If we provide for a redemption right in a prospectus supplement, the preferred stock offered through that supplement will be subject to mandatory redemption or redemption at our option, in whole or in part, in each case upon the terms, at the times and at the redemption prices set forth in that prospectus supplement.

 

Liquidation Preference

 

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation, or winding up, the holders of any series of our preferred stock will be entitled to receive, after distributions to holders of any series or class of our capital shares ranking senior, an amount equal to the stated or liquidation value of the series plus, if applicable, an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends. If the assets and funds to be distributed among the holders of our preferred stock will be insufficient to permit full payment to the holders, then the holders of our preferred stock will share ratably in any distribution of our assets in proportion to the amounts that they otherwise would receive on their our preferred stock if the shares were paid in full.

 

Conversion Rights

 

The terms and conditions, if any, upon which any series of preferred stock is convertible into common stock or other securities will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of those preferred stock. These terms typically will include number of shares of common stock or other securities into which the preferred stock is convertible; conversion price (or manner of calculation); conversion period; provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the holders of the preferred stock or at our option; events, if any, requiring an adjustment of the conversion price; and provisions affecting conversion in the event of the redemption of that series of preferred stock.

 

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Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

We will identify in a prospectus supplement the transfer agent and registrar for any series of preferred stock offered by this prospectus.

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

The complete terms of the warrants will be contained in the applicable warrant agreement and warrant. These documents will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the warrant and warrant agreement. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

 

This section describes the general terms of the warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities that we may offer using this prospectus. Further terms of the warrants will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description and any description of the rights in a prospectus supplement may not be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of the warrant and warrant agreement.

 

General

 

We may issue additional warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series. If we offer warrants, we will describe the terms in a prospectus supplement. Warrants may be offered independently, together with other securities offered by any prospectus supplement, or through a dividend or other distribution to stockholders and may be attached to or separate from other securities. Warrants may be issued under a written warrant agreement to be entered into between us and the holder or beneficial owner, or under a written warrant agreement with a warrant agent specified in a prospectus supplement. A warrant agent would act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of a particular series and would not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of those warrants.

 

The following are some of the terms relating to a series of warrants that could be described in a prospectus supplement:

 

title of the warrants;

 

aggregate number of warrants;

 

price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

 

designation, number, aggregate principal amount, denominations and terms of the securities that may be purchased on exercise of the warrants;

 

date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the debt securities offered with the warrants, if any, will be separately transferable;

 

purchase price for each security purchasable on exercise of the warrants;

 

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the terms for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price, if any;

 

dates on which the right to purchase certain securities upon exercise of the warrants will begin and end;

 

minimum or maximum number of securities that may be purchased at any one time upon exercise of the warrants;

 

anti-dilution provisions or other adjustments to the exercise price of the warrants;

 

terms of any right that we may have to redeem the warrants;

 

effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other transfer of our business on the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement;

 

name and address of the warrant agent, if any;

 

information with respect to book-entry procedures;

 

any material United States federal income tax considerations; and

 

other material terms, including terms relating to transferability, exchange, exercise or amendments of the warrants.

 

Until any warrants to purchase our securities are exercised, holders of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the underlying securities.

 

Outstanding Warrants

 

As of June 22, 2020, we had outstanding warrants to purchase 5,500,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price per share of $1.00.

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

The complete terms of the units will be contained in the unit agreement and any document applicable to the securities comprising the units. These documents will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the unit agreement and any related documents. You also should read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

 

This section describes the general terms of the units that we may offer using this prospectus. Further terms of the units will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description and any description of the units in a prospectus supplement may not be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of any agreement relating to the units and the related documents applicable to the securities constituting the units.

 

We may issue units, in one or more series, consisting of any combination of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus. If we offer units, we will describe the terms in a prospectus supplement. Units may be issued under a written unit agreement to be entered into between us and the holder or beneficial owner, or we could issue units under a written unit agreement with a unit agent specified in a prospectus supplement. A unit agent would act solely as our agent in connection with the units of a particular series and would not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of those units.

  

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Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security.

 

The following are some of the unit terms that could be described in a prospectus supplement:

 

title of the units;

 

aggregate number of units;

 

price or prices at which the units will be issued;

 

designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

 

effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other transfer of our business on the units and the applicable unit agreement;

 

name and address of the unit agent;

 

information with respect to book-entry procedures;

 

any material United States federal income tax considerations; and

 

other material terms, including terms relating to transferability, exchange, exercise or amendments of the units.

 

The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Preferred Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities,” and “Description of Warrants,” will apply to each unit and to any common stock, preferred stock, debt security or warrant included in each unit, respectively.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the unit agreements will be governed by the laws of the State of New York. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date. We will file as an exhibit to a filing with the SEC that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus the forms of the unit agreements containing the terms of the units being offered. The description of units in any prospectus supplement will not necessarily describe all of the terms of the units in detail. You should read the applicable unit agreements for a complete description of all of the terms.

 

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GLOBAL SECURITIES

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, securities other than common stock will be issued in the form of one or more global certificates, or “global securities,” registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the depositary will be The Depository Trust Company, commonly referred to as DTC. We expect that DTC’s nominee will be Cede & Co. Accordingly, we expect Cede & Co. to be the initial registered holder of all securities that are issued in global form. No person that acquires a beneficial interest in those securities will be entitled to receive a certificate representing that person’s interest in the securities except as described herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless and until definitive securities are issued under the limited circumstances described below, all references to actions by holders of securities issued in global form will refer to actions taken by DTC upon instructions from its participants, and all references to payments and notices to holders will refer to payments and notices to DTC or Cede & Co., as the registered holder of these securities.

 

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that DTC participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among DTC participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in DTC participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. DTC participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations, and may include other organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Company, or DTCC. DTCC, in turn, is owned by a number of DTC’s participants and subsidiaries of DTCC as well as by other financial companies, including the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Indirect access to the DTC system also is available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and DTC participants are on file with the SEC.

 

Persons that are not participants or indirect participants but desire to purchase, sell or otherwise transfer ownership of, or other interests in, securities may do so only through participants and indirect participants. Under a book-entry format, holders may experience some delay in their receipt of payments, as such payments will be forwarded by our designated agent to Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. DTC will forward such payments to its participants, who will then forward them to indirect participants or holders. Holders will not be recognized by the relevant registrar, transfer agent, trustee or warrant agent as registered holders of the securities entitled to the benefits of our Certificate of Incorporation or the applicable indenture, warrant agreement, trust agreement or guarantee. Beneficial owners that are not participants will be permitted to exercise their rights only indirectly through and according to the procedures of participants and, if applicable, indirect participants.

 

Under the rules, regulations and procedures creating and affecting DTC and its operations as currently in effect, DTC will be required to make book-entry transfers of securities among participants and to receive and transmit payments to participants. DTC rules require participants and indirect participants with which beneficial securities owners have accounts to make book-entry transfers and receive and transmit payments on behalf of their respective account holders.

 

Because DTC can act only on behalf of participants, who in turn act only on behalf of participants or indirect participants, and certain banks, trust companies and other persons approved by it, the ability of a beneficial owner of securities issued in global form to pledge such securities to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system may be limited due to the unavailability of physical certificates for these securities.

 

We expect DTC to advise us that DTC will take any action permitted to be taken by a registered holder of any securities under our Certificate of Incorporation or the relevant indenture, warrant agreement, trust agreement or guarantee only at the direction of one or more participants to whose accounts with DTC such securities are credited.

 

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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, a global security will be exchangeable for the relevant definitive securities registered in the names of persons other than DTC or its nominee only if:

 

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for that global security or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act when DTC is required to be so registered;

 

we execute and deliver to the relevant registrar, transfer agent, trustee and/or warrant agent an order complying with the requirements of the applicable indenture, trust agreement or warrant agreement that the global security will be exchangeable for definitive securities in registered form; or

 

there has occurred and is continuing a default in the payment of any amount due in respect of the securities or, in the case of debt securities, an event of default or an event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an event of default with respect to these debt securities.

 

Any global security that is exchangeable under the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for securities registered in such names as DTC directs.

 

Upon the occurrence of any event described in the preceding paragraph, DTC is generally required to notify all participants of the availability of definitive securities. Upon DTC surrendering the global security representing the securities and delivery of instructions for re-registration, the registrar, transfer agent, trustee or warrant agent, as the case may be, will reissue the securities as definitive securities, and then such persons will recognize the holders of such definitive securities as registered holders of securities entitled to the benefits of our articles or the relevant indenture trust agreement and/or warrant agreement.

 

Redemption notices will be sent to Cede & Co. as the registered holder of the global securities. If less than all of a series of securities are being redeemed, DTC will determine the amount of the interest of each direct participant to be redeemed in accordance with its then current procedures.

 

Except as described above, the global security may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC or to a successor depositary we appoint. Except as described above, DTC may not sell, assign, transfer or otherwise convey any beneficial interest in a global security evidencing all or part of any securities unless the beneficial interest is in an amount equal to an authorized denomination for these securities.

 

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be accurate, but we assume no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. None of us, any indenture trustee, any depositary, any rights agent, any registrar and transfer agent or any warrant agent, or any agent of any of them, will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of DTC’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a global security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.

 

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Secondary trading in notes and debentures of corporate issuers is generally settled in clearing-house or next-day funds. In contrast, beneficial interests in a global security, in some cases, may trade in the DTC’s same-day funds settlement system, in which secondary market trading activity in those beneficial interests would be required by DTC to settle in immediately available funds. There is no assurance as to the effect, if any, that settlement in immediately available funds would have on trading activity in such beneficial interests. Also, settlement for purchases of beneficial interests in a global security upon the original issuance of this security may be required to be made in immediately available funds.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may offer and sell the securities covered by this prospectus in any one or more of the following ways:

 

to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers;

 

directly to one or more other purchasers;

 

upon the exercise of rights distributed or issued to our security holders;

 

through a block trade in which the broker or dealer engaged to handle the block trade will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

in payment of our and our subsidiaries’ outstanding indebtedness;

 

through agents on a best-efforts basis; or

 

otherwise through a combination of any of the above methods of sale.

 

We may sell the securities being offered by this prospectus by any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, including without limitation sales made directly on The Nasdaq Capital Market, on any other existing trading market for our securities or to or through a market maker.

 

In addition, we may enter into option, share lending or other types of transactions that require us to deliver shares of common stock to an underwriter, broker or dealer, who will then resell or transfer the shares of common stock under this prospectus. We may also enter into hedging transactions with respect to our securities. For example, we or the selling stockholders may:

 

enter into transactions involving short sales of the shares of common stock by underwriters, brokers or dealers;

 

sell shares of common stock short and deliver the shares to close out short positions;

 

enter into option or other types of transactions that require us or the selling stockholders, as applicable, to deliver shares of common stock to an underwriter, broker or dealer, who will then resell or transfer the shares of common stock under this prospectus; or

 

loan or pledge the shares of common stock to an underwriter, broker or dealer, who may sell the loaned shares or, in the event of default, sell the pledged shares.

 

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We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us or selling stockholders in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

 

Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will name any underwriter, dealer or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities. The prospectus supplement will also set forth the terms of the offering, including:

 

the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale of the securities;

 

any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

any public offering or purchase price and any discounts or commissions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers;

 

any commissions allowed or paid to agents;

 

any other offering expenses;

 

any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed;

 

the method of distribution of the securities;

 

the terms of any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into with the underwriters, brokers or dealers; and

 

any other information we think is important.

 

If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account. The securities may be sold from time to time by us in one or more transactions:

 

at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

 

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

at prices related to such prevailing market prices;

 

at varying prices determined at the time of sale; or

 

at negotiated prices.

 

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Such sales may be effected:

 

in transactions on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;

 

in transactions in the over-the-counter market;

 

in block transactions in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction, or in crosses, in which the same broker acts as an agent on both sides of the trade;

 

through the writing of options; or

 

through other types of transactions.

 

The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters or dealers to purchase the securities offered will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters or dealers will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if any are purchased. Any public offering price and any discount or concession allowed or reallowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

The securities may be sold directly by us or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth in, the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

 

Offers to purchase the securities offered by this prospectus may be solicited, and sales of the securities may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. The terms of any offer made in this manner will be included in the prospectus supplement relating to the offer.

 

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, underwriters, dealers or agents will be authorized to solicit offers by certain institutional investors to purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery at a future date. Institutional investors with which these contracts may be made include, among others:

 

commercial and savings banks;

 

insurance companies;

 

pension funds;

 

investment companies; and

 

educational and charitable institutions.

 

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In all cases, these purchasers must be approved by us. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of any purchaser under any of these contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that (a) the purchase of the securities must not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction to which that purchaser is subject, and (b) if the securities are also being sold to underwriters, we must have sold to these underwriters the securities not subject to delayed delivery. Underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of these contracts.

 

Some of the underwriters, dealers or agents used by us in any offering of securities under this prospectus may be customers of, engage in transactions with, and perform services for us or affiliates of ours in the ordinary course of business. Underwriters, dealers, agents and other persons may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to be reimbursed by us for certain expenses.

 

Subject to any restrictions relating to debt securities in bearer form, any securities initially sold outside the United States may be resold in the United States through underwriters, dealers or otherwise.

 

Any underwriters to which offered securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but those underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time.

 

The anticipated date of delivery of the securities offered by this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offering.

 

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the aggregate maximum discount, commission, agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of the offering proceeds from any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

No FINRA member may participate in any offering of securities made under this prospectus if such member has a conflict of interest under FINRA Rule 5121, including if 5% or more of the net proceeds, not including underwriting compensation, of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by a FINRA member participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA members, unless a qualified independent underwriter has participated in the offering or the offering otherwise complies with FINRA Rule 5121.

 

To comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the securities may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.

 

DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION
FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus will be passed upon by Troutman Sanders LLP, Irvine, California.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Pacific Ethanol as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 appearing in Pacific Ethanol’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 have been audited by RSM US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities offered under this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. Many of the contracts and documents described in this prospectus are filed as exhibits to the registration statements and you may review the full text of these contracts and documents by referring to these exhibits.

 

For further information with respect to us and the securities offered under this prospectus, reference is made to the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules. We file reports, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K with the SEC.

 

The SEC maintains an Internet web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including Pacific Ethanol, that file electronically with the SEC. The SEC’s Internet website address is http://www.sec.gov. Our Internet website address is www.pacificethanol.com.

 

We do not anticipate that we will send an annual report to our stockholders until and unless we are required to do so by the rules of the SEC.

 

All trademarks or trade names referred to in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another filed document. Any information referred to in this way is considered part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Accordingly, we incorporate by reference the following documents or information filed with the SEC:

 

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020, which we filed with the SEC on May 14, 2020;

 

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 22, 2020, March 5, 2020, April 21, 2020, April 23, 2020, May 11, 2020 and May 29, 2020;

 

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which we filed with the SEC on March 30, 2020;

 

Our Amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which we filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020;

 

All documents filed by us in accordance with Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after April 14, 2017 and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement containing this prospectus, other than documents or information deemed furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules;

 

The description of our capital stock contained in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 13, 2017; and

 

All documents filed by us in accordance with Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of an offering under this prospectus, other than documents or information deemed furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules.

 

We will provide a copy of the documents we incorporate by reference, at no cost, to any person who received this prospectus. To request a copy of any or all of these documents, you should write or telephone us at: Investor Relations, Pacific Ethanol, Inc., 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2060, Sacramento, California 95814, (916) 403-2123. In addition, each document incorporated by reference is readily accessible on our website at www.pacificethanol.com.

 

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$30,000,000

 

 

 

PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

H. C. Wainwright & Co.

  

The date of this prospectus supplement is August 13, 2020.