Quarterly report pursuant to sections 13 or 15(d)

5. DEBT

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5. DEBT
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Debt  
Note 5. DEBT

Long-term borrowings are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

    September 30,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 
Kinergy operating line of credit   $ 17,158     $ 20,432  
Senior unsecured notes     10,000        
Note payable to related party     750       750  
Plant Owners’ term debt     52,687       51,279  
Plant Owners’ operating line of credit     38,500       21,978  
      119,095       94,439  
Less short-term portion     (50,105 )     (750 )
Long-term debt   $ 68,990     $ 93,689  

 

Kinergy Operating Line of Credit – In May 2012, the Company extended Kinergy’s operating line of credit. The renewal of Kinergy’s credit facility is for an aggregate amount of up to $40,000,000, including an optional accordion feature for up to an additional $10,000,000. The prior credit facility included an accordion feature of $5,000,000. The credit facility expires on December 31, 2015. Interest accrues under the credit facility at a rate equal to (i) the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), plus (ii) a specified applicable margin ranging between 2.50% and 3.50%. The credit facility’s monthly unused line fee is 0.50% of the amount by which the maximum credit under the facility exceeds the average daily principal balance. Kinergy is also required to pay customary fees and expenses associated with the credit facility and issuances of letters of credit. In addition, Kinergy is responsible for a $3,000 monthly servicing fee. Payments that may be made by Kinergy to Pacific Ethanol as reimbursement for management and other services provided by Pacific Ethanol to Kinergy are limited to $800,000 per fiscal quarter in 2012, $900,000 per fiscal quarter in 2013, $1,000,000 per fiscal quarter in 2014 and $1,100,000 per fiscal quarter in 2015. As of September 30, 2012, Kinergy had unused availability under the revolving credit facility of $4,200,000.

 

In addition, the amended facility includes the accounts receivable of PAP as additional collateral. Payments that may be made by PAP to Pacific Ethanol as reimbursement for management and other services provided by Pacific Ethanol to PAP are limited to the extent that quarterly payments would result in PAP recording less than $100,000 of net income in the quarter.

 

For the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2012 and each fiscal quarter thereafter, Kinergy and PAP are collectively required to generate aggregate earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of $450,000 for the quarter and aggregate EBITDA of $1,100,000 for each two consecutive quarters. These amounts are required through December 31, 2013. In 2014, the required EBITDA amounts increase to $500,000 per quarter and $1,300,000 for each two consecutive quarters. Further, for all monthly periods, Kinergy and PAP must collectively maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio (calculated as a twelve-month rolling EBITDA divided by the sum of interest expense, capital expenditures, principal payments of indebtedness, indebtedness from capital leases and taxes paid during such twelve-month rolling period) of at least 2.0 and are prohibited from incurring any additional indebtedness (other than specific intercompany indebtedness) or making any capital expenditures in excess of $100,000 absent the lender’s prior consent. Kinergy and PAP’s obligations under the credit facility are secured by a first-priority security interest in all of their assets in favor of the lender. The Company believes it is in compliance with these covenants.

 

Senior Unsecured Notes – In July 2012, as part of the Company’s acquisition of an additional 33% ownership interest in New PE Holdco, the Company issued senior unsecured promissory notes (the “Notes”) due April 13, 2013 in the aggregate principal amount of $10.0 million. Interest on the unpaid principal amount accrued at a rate of 5.00% per annum. As discussed in Note 11, the Company repaid the Notes in October 2012.

 

Plant Owners’ Term Debt and Operating Line of Credit – On July 13, 2012, the Plant Owners’ amended their existing credit facilities. Prior to the amendment, the credit facilities consisted of a $35,000,000 revolving credit facility, a $25,000,000 tranche A-1 term loan and a $26,300,000 tranche A-2 term loan. Under the amendment, the Plant Owners’ credit facilities were, among other things, amended to extend the maturity date in respect of $46,800,000 of the combined revolving credit facility and term loans from June 25, 2013 to June 30, 2016. In addition, the aggregate commitment amount under the revolving credit facility was increased by $5,000,000. Further, monthly interest payments due to certain lenders may, at the option of the Plant Owners, be deferred and added to the loans maturing on the extended maturity date of June 30, 2016. As of September 30, 2012, $1,407,000 of accrued interest was deferred and added to the term loan. The amendment also provides the Plant Owners with the ability to pay down and pay off the non-extending lenders and the outstanding tranche A-2 term loan at, or at any time prior to, the original maturity date of June 25, 2013 without penalty while keeping the extended loans in place.

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Plant Owners increased their borrowings under their operating line of credit by $4,500,000 and $16,522,000, respectively.

 

As of September 30, 2012, the Plant Owners had unused availability under the revolving credit facility of $700,000.

 

On October 29, 2012, the Plant Owners amended and restated their existing credit facilities and entered into a new revolving credit facility for an aggregate amount of up to $10,000,000. See Note 11- Subsequent Events.

 

The Company has had and continues to have extensive communications with holders of the $39,500,000 in debt due June 25, 2013 to restructure the existing loans and any additional loans under the new $10,000,000 credit facility. The Company also continues to explore its capital raising alternatives. The Company believes that it will be able to successfully restructure the loans or raise additional capital, or both, prior to the June 25, 2013 maturity date. However, the Company cannot provide any assurances that it will be able to do so, or what the terms of any restructuring or capital raising transaction might be. If the Company is unable to timely restructure the $39,500,000 in debt (together with any additional debt under the new credit facility) due June 25, 2013 or raise sufficient capital to repay the debt, the Company will be in default on that debt and in cross-default on the $46,800,000 in debt extended to June 30, 2016, all of which, totaling $91,300,000 plus any amounts borrowed under the new credit facility, will be accelerated and immediately due and payable on June 25, 2013. As a result, the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Kinergy and the Plant Owners, will likely experience material adverse effects.

 

Note Payable to Related Party – On March 31, 2009, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer provided funds in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 for general working capital purposes, in exchange for an unsecured promissory note issued by the Company. Interest on the unpaid principal amount accrues at a rate of 8.00% per annum. The Company recorded interest under this note of approximately $15,000 and $20,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Company recorded interest under this note of approximately $45,000 and $60,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, the remaining amount of $750,000 was due and payable on the extended maturity date of March 31, 2012. On March 7, 2012, the maturity date was further extended to March 31, 2013.