Quarterly report pursuant to sections 13 or 15(d)

2. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITY.

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2. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITY.
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block]
2.
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITY.

On October 6, 2010, the Company purchased a 20% ownership interest in New PE Holdco from a number of New PE Holdco’s existing equity owners. The Company concluded that upon its purchase of the 20% ownership interest in New PE Holdco, a variable interest entity, the Company became the primary beneficiary of New PE Holdco and consolidated the financial results of New PE Holdco. In making this conclusion, the Company determined that through its contractual arrangements (discussed below) it had the power to direct most of its activities that most significantly impacted New PE Holdco’s economic performance. Some of these activities included efficient management and operation of the Pacific Ethanol Plants, procurement of feedstock, sale of co-products and implementation of risk management strategies.

The carrying values and classification of assets that are collateral for the obligations of New PE Holdco at September 30, 2011 were as follows (in thousands):

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

Current liabilities
  $ 4,692  
Long-term debt
    79,257  
Other liabilities
    146  
Total liabilities
  $ 84,095  

The Company’s acquisition of its ownership interest in New PE Holdco does not impact the Company’s rights or obligations under any of the following agreements. Since its acquisition, the Company has not provided any additional support to New PE Holdco beyond the terms of the agreements described below. Creditors of New PE Holdco do not have recourse to Pacific Ethanol.

The Company, directly or through one of its subsidiaries, has entered into the following management and marketing agreements:

Asset Management Agreement – The Company entered into an Asset Management Agreement (“AMA”) with the Plant Owners under which the Company agreed to operate and maintain the Pacific Ethanol Plants on behalf of the Plant Owners. These services generally include, but are not limited to, administering the Plant Owners’ compliance with their credit agreements and performing billing, collection, record keeping and other administrative and ministerial tasks. The Company agreed to supply all labor and personnel required to perform its services under the AMA, including the labor and personnel required to operate and maintain the production facilities.

The costs and expenses associated with the Company’s provision of services under the AMA are prefunded by the Plant Owners under a preapproved budget. The Company’s obligation to provide services is limited to the extent there are sufficient funds advanced by the Plant Owners to cover the associated costs and expenses. As compensation for providing the services under the AMA, the Company is to be paid $75,000 per month for each production facility that is operational and $40,000 per month for each production facility that is idled.

The AMA had an initial term of six months and successive six-month renewal periods at the option of the Plant Owners. In addition to typical conditions for a party to terminate the agreement prior to its expiration, the Company may terminate the AMA, and the Plant Owners may terminate the AMA with respect to any facility, at any time by providing at least 60 days prior notice of such termination.On June 30, 2011, the AMA was amended and extended for one year.

Ethanol Marketing Agreements – Kinergy entered into separate ethanol marketing agreements with each of the three Plant Owners whose facilities are operating, which granted Kinergy the exclusive right to purchase, market and sell the ethanol produced at those facilities. Under the terms of the ethanol marketing agreements, within ten days after delivering ethanol to Kinergy, an amount is to be paid equal to (i) the estimated purchase price payable by the third-party purchaser of the ethanol, minus (ii) the estimated amount of transportation costs to be incurred by Kinergy, minus (iii) the estimated incentive fee payable to Kinergy, which equals 1% of the aggregate third-party purchase price. Each of the ethanol marketing agreements had an initial term of one year and successive one year renewal periods at the option of the individual Plant Owner. On June 30, 2011, all ethanol marketing agreements were amended and extended for one year. In addition, the price to be paid to Kinergy was amended to include a marketing fee collar of not less than $0.015 per gallon and not more than $0.0225 per gallon.

Corn Procurement and Handling Agreements – PAP entered into separate corn procurement and handling agreements with each of the three Plant Owners whose facilities are operating. Under the terms of the corn procurement and handling agreements, each facility appointed PAP as its exclusive agent to solicit, negotiate, enter into and administer, on its behalf, corn supply arrangements to procure the corn necessary to operate its facility. PAP will also provide grain handling services including, but not limited to, receiving, unloading and conveying corn into the facility’s storage and, in the case of whole corn delivered, processing and hammering the whole corn.

PAP was to receive a fee of $0.50 per ton of corn delivered to each facility as consideration for its procurement services and a fee of $1.50 per ton of corn delivered as consideration for its grain handling services, each payable monthly. The Company agreed to enter into an agreement guaranteeing the performance of PAP’s obligations under the corn procurement and handling agreement upon the request of a Plant Owner. Each corn procurement and handling agreement had an initial term of one year and successive one year renewal periods at the option of the individual Plant Owner. On June 30, 2011, all corn procurement and handling agreements were amended and extended for one year. In addition, the corn procurement and handling fee was changed to $0.045 per bushel of corn.

Distillers Grains Marketing Agreements – PAP entered into separate distillers grains marketing agreements with each of the three Plant Owners whose facilities are operating, which granted PAP the exclusive right to market, purchase and sell the WDG produced at the facility. Under the terms of the distillers grains marketing agreements, within ten days after a Plant Owner delivers WDG to PAP, the Plant Owner is to be paid an amount equal to (i) the estimated purchase price payable by the third-party purchaser of the WDG, minus (ii) the estimated amount of transportation costs to be incurred by PAP, minus (iii) the estimated amount of fees and taxes payable to governmental authorities in connection with the tonnage of WDG produced or marketed, minus (iv) the estimated incentive fee payable to PAP, which equals the greater of (a) 5% of the aggregate third-party purchase price, and (b) $2.00 for each ton of WDG sold in the transaction. Each distillers grains marketing agreement had an initial term of one year and successive one year renewal periods at the option of the individual Plant Owner. On June 30, 2011, all distillers grains marketing agreements were amended and extended for one year. In addition, the fee to be paid to PAP was amended to include a collar of not less than $2.00 per ton and not more than $3.50 per ton.