Alto Ingredients, Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization and Business – The consolidated financial statements include, for all periods presented, the accounts of Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pacific Ethanol”), and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), including its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Kinergy Marketing LLC, an Oregon limited liability company (“Kinergy”), Pacific Ag. Products, LLC, a California limited liability company (“PAP”) and PE Op Co., a Delaware corporation (“PE Op Co.”).

The Company’s acquisition of Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc. (now, Pacific Ethanol Central, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company “PE Central”) was consummated on July 1, 2015, and as a result, the Company’s consolidated financial statements include the results of PE Central only as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the six months ended December 31, 2015.

On December 15, 2016, the Company and Aurora Cooperative Elevator Company, a Nebraska cooperative corporation (“ACEC”), closed a transaction under a contribution agreement under which the Company contributed its Aurora, Nebraska ethanol facilities and ACEC contributed its Aurora grain elevator and related grain handling assets to Pacific Aurora, LLC (“Pacific Aurora”) in exchange for equity interests in Pacific Aurora. On December 15, 2016, concurrently with the closing under the contribution agreement, the Company sold a portion of its equity interest in Pacific Aurora to ACEC. As a result, as of December 15, 2016 and through December 31, 2016, the Company owned 73.93% of Pacific Aurora and ACEC owned 26.07% of Pacific Aurora. The Company consolidates 100% of the results of Pacific Aurora and records ACEC’s 26.07% equity interest as noncontrolling interests in the accompanying financial statements.

The Company is a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the United States. The Company’s four ethanol plants in the Western United States (together with their respective holding companies, the “Pacific Ethanol West Plants”) are located in close proximity to both feed and ethanol customers and thus enjoy unique advantages in efficiency, logistics and product pricing. These plants produce among the lowest-carbon ethanol produced in the United States due to low energy use in production.

With the addition of four Midwestern ethanol plants in July 2015 as a result of the Company’s acquisition of PE Central, the Company now has a combined ethanol production capacity of 515 million gallons per year, markets, on an annualized basis, nearly 1.0 billion gallons of ethanol, and produces, on an annualized basis, over 1.5 million tons of co-products such as wet and dry distillers grains, wet and dry corn gluten feed, condensed distillers solubles, corn gluten meal, corn germ, distillers yeast and CO₂. The Company’s four ethanol plants in the Midwest (together with their respective holding companies, the “Pacific Ethanol Central Plants”) are located 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, the Company’s ability to load unit trains from these facilities in the Midwest allows for greater access to international markets.

As of December 31, 2016, all eight facilities were operating. On April 30, 2014, the Company’s previously idled facility in Madera, California commenced producing ethanol. As market conditions change, the Company may increase, decrease or idle production at one or more operational facilities or resume operations at any idled facility.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation – The consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Segments

Segments – A segment is a component of an enterprise whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise’s chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and for which discrete financial information is available. The Company determines and discloses its segments in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Section 280, Segment Reporting (“ASC 280”), which defines how to determine segments. The Company reports its financial and operating performance in two reportable segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production and sale of ethanol and co-products, with all of the Company’s production facilities aggregated, and (2) marketing and distribution, which includes marketing and merchant trading for Company-produced ethanol and co-products and third-party ethanol.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents – The Company considers all highly-liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Trade accounts receivable are presented at face value, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company sells ethanol to gasoline refining and distribution companies, sells distillers grains and other feed co-products to dairy operators and animal feedlots and sells corn oil to poultry and biodiesel customers generally without requiring collateral. Due to a limited number of ethanol customers, the Company had significant concentrations of credit risk from sales of ethanol as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, as described below.

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for balances that appear to have specific collection issues. The collection process is based on the age of the invoice and requires attempted contacts with the customer at specified intervals. If, after a specified number of days, the Company has been unsuccessful in its collection efforts, a bad debt allowance is recorded for the balance in question. Delinquent accounts receivable are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts once uncollectibility has been determined. The factors considered in reaching this determination are the apparent financial condition of the customer and the Company’s success in contacting and negotiating with the customer. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

Of the accounts receivable balance, approximately $64,853,000 and $42,049,000 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were used as collateral under Kinergy’s operating line of credit. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $331,000 and $25,000 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company recorded a bad debt expense of $306,000 and a recovery of $354,000 and $42,000 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

Concentration Risks

Concentration Risks – Credit risk represents the accounting loss that would be recognized at the reporting date if counterparties failed completely to perform as contracted. Concentrations of credit risk, whether on- or off-balance sheet, that arise from financial instruments exist for groups of customers or counterparties when they have similar economic characteristics that would cause their ability to meet contractual obligations to be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions described below. Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash balances maintained in excess of federal depository insurance limits and accounts receivable, which have no collateral or security. The Company has not experienced any significant losses in such accounts and believes that it is not exposed to any significant risk of loss of cash.

The Company sells fuel-grade ethanol to gasoline refining and distribution companies. The Company sold ethanol to customers representing 10% or more of the Company’s total net sales, as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
Customer A		17%		12%		20%
Customer B		12%		15%		20%
Customer C		6%		12%		11%

The Company had accounts receivable due from these customers totaling $21,274,000 and $19,858,000, representing 24% and 32% of total accounts receivable, as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The Company purchases corn, its largest cost component in producing ethanol, from its suppliers. The Company purchased corn from suppliers representing 10% or more of the Company’s total corn purchases, as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
Supplier A		13%		19%		26%
Supplier B		13%		13%		11%
Supplier C		8%		9%		15%

Approximately 29% of the Company’s employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

Inventories

Inventories – Inventories consisted primarily of bulk ethanol, corn, co-products, Low-Carbon Fuel Standard (“LCFS”) credits and unleaded fuel, and are valued at the lower-of-cost-or-net realizable value, with cost determined on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory balances consisted of the following (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2016		2015
Finished goods	$	33,773	$	31,153
LCFS credits		10,926		6,957
Raw materials		6,571		9,891
Work in progress		7,092		11,121
Other		1,708		1,698
Total	$	60,070	$	60,820

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment – Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Buildings	40 years
Facilities and plant equipment	10 – 25 years
Other equipment, vehicles and furniture	5 – 10 years

The cost of normal maintenance and repairs is charged to operations as incurred. Significant capital expenditures that increase the life of an asset are capitalized and depreciated over the estimated remaining useful life of the asset. The cost of fixed assets sold, or otherwise disposed of, and the related accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gains or losses are reflected in current operations.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets – The Company assesses indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or more frequently if circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. If the carrying value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. If the Company determines that an impairment charge is needed, the charge will be recorded as an asset impairment in the consolidated statements of operations.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred Financing Costs – Deferred financing costs are costs incurred to obtain debt financing, including all related fees, and are amortized as interest expense over the term of the related financing using the straight-line method, which approximates the interest rate method. Amortization of deferred financing costs was $137,000, $272,000 and $779,000 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Unamortized deferred financing costs were approximately $1,708,000 and $462,000 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and are recorded net of long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – Derivative transactions, which can include exchange-traded forward contracts and futures positions on the New York Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, are recorded on the balance sheet as assets and liabilities based on the derivative’s fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivative contracts are recognized currently in income unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. If derivatives meet those criteria, and hedge accounting is elected, effective gains and losses are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and later recorded together with the hedged item in consolidated income (loss). For derivatives designated as a cash flow hedge, the Company formally documents the hedge and assesses the effectiveness with associated transactions. The Company has designated and documented contracts for the physical delivery of commodity products to and from counterparties as normal purchases and normal sales.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition – The Company recognizes revenue when it is realized or realizable and earned. The Company considers revenue realized or realizable and earned when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collection is reasonably assured. The Company derives revenue primarily from sales of ethanol and related co-products. The Company recognizes revenue when title transfers to its customers, which is generally upon the delivery of these products to a customer’s designated location. These deliveries are made in accordance with sales commitments and related sales orders entered into either verbally or in writing with customers. The sales commitments and related sales orders provide quantities, pricing and conditions of sales. In this regard, the Company engages in three basic types of revenue generating transactions:

As a producer. Sales as a producer consist of sales of the Company’s inventory produced at its plants.

As a merchant. Sales as a merchant consist of sales to customers through purchases from third-party suppliers in which the Company may or may not obtain physical control of the ethanol or co-products, in which shipments are directed from the Company’s suppliers to its terminals or direct to its customers but for which the Company accepts the risk of loss in the transactions.

As an agent. Sales as an agent consist of sales to customers through purchases from third-party suppliers in which the risks and rewards of inventory ownership remain with third-party suppliers and the Company receives a predetermined service fee under these transactions.

Revenue from sales of third-party ethanol and co-products is recorded net of costs when the Company is acting as an agent between a customer and a supplier and gross when the Company is a principal to the transaction. The Company recorded $1,604,000, $1,510,000 and $1,908,000 in net sales when acting as an agent for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Several factors are considered to determine whether the Company is acting as an agent or principal, most notably whether the Company is the primary obligor to the customer and whether the Company has inventory risk and related risk of loss or whether the Company adds meaningful value to the supplier’s product or service. Consideration is also given to whether the Company has latitude in establishing the sales price or has credit risk, or both. When the Company acts as an agent, it recognizes revenue on a net basis or recognizes its predetermined fees and any associated freight, based upon the amount of net revenues retained in excess of amounts paid to suppliers.

The Company records revenues based upon the gross amounts billed to its customers in transactions where the Company acts as a producer or a merchant and obtains title to ethanol and its co-products and therefore owns the product and any related, unmitigated inventory risk for the ethanol, regardless of whether the Company actually obtains physical control of the product.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and Handling Costs – Shipping and handling costs are classified as a component of cost of goods sold in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

California Ethanol Producer Incentive Program

California Ethanol Producer Incentive Program – The Company participated in the California Ethanol Producer Incentive Program (“CEPIP”) through the Pacific Ethanol West Plants located in California since the program’s inception in 2010. The CEPIP was a program to provide funds to an eligible California facility—up to $0.25 per gallon of production—when current production corn crush spreads, measured as the difference between specified ethanol and corn index prices, were less than prescribed levels determined by the California Energy Commission. As of December 31, 2014, the program is no longer funded. For any month in which a payment was made by the CEPIP, the Company would be required to reimburse the funds within the subsequent five years from each payment date, if the corn crush spread exceeded $1.00 per gallon. In 2010 and 2011, the Company received an aggregate of $2,000,000 in CEPIP funds. Since these funds were provided to subsidize low production costs and encourage eligible facilities to either continue production or start up production in low margin environments, the Company recorded the proceeds as a credit to cost of goods sold in the periods the funds were received. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded aggregate amounts of $1,878,000 as cost of goods sold in respect of the Company’s repayments under the CEPIP to the California Energy Commission.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation – The Company accounts for the cost of employee services received in exchange for the award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award, determined on the date of grant. The expense is to be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award. The Company estimates forfeitures at the time of grant and makes revisions, if necessary, in the second quarter of each year if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Based on historical experience, the Company estimated future unvested forfeitures at 8% for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets – The Company assesses the impairment of long-lived assets, including property and equipment, internally developed software and purchased intangibles subject to amortization, when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of assets could be less than their net book value. In such event, the Company assesses long-lived assets for impairment by first determining the forecasted, undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate plus the net proceeds expected from the sale of the asset. If this amount is less than the carrying value of the asset, the Company will then determine the fair value of the asset. An impairment loss would be recognized when the fair value is less than the related asset’s net book value, and an impairment expense would be recorded in the amount of the difference. Forecasts of future cash flows are judgments based on the Company’s experience and knowledge of its operations and the industries in which it operates. These forecasts could be significantly affected by future changes in market conditions, the economic environment, including inflation, and purchasing decisions of the Company’s customers.

Provision for Income Taxes

Provision for Income Taxes – Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability approach, where deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities, and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences reverse. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.

The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes using a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining whether it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. An uncertain tax position is considered effectively settled on completion of an examination by a taxing authority if certain other conditions are satisfied. Should the Company incur interest and penalties relating to tax uncertainties, such amounts would be classified as a component of interest expense, net and other income (expense), net, respectively. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as noncurrent in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return. This return includes all wholly-owned subsidiaries as well as the Company’s pro-rata share of taxable income from pass-through entities in which the Company owns less than 100%. State tax returns are filed on a consolidated, combined or separate basis depending on the applicable laws relating to the Company and its subsidiaries.

Income (Loss) Per Share

Income (Loss) Per Share – Basic income (loss) per share is computed on the basis of the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Preferred dividends are deducted from net income (loss) attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc. and are considered in the calculation of income (loss) available to common stockholders in computing basic income (loss) per share. Common stock equivalents to the preferred stock are considered participating securities and are also included in this calculation when dilutive.

The following tables compute basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):

	Year Ended December 31, 2016
	Income Numerator			Shares Denominator		Per-Share Amount
Net income attributed to Pacific Ethanol	$	1,419
Less: Preferred stock dividends		(1,269	)
Less: Allocated to participating securities		(2	)
Basic income per share:
Income available to common stockholders	$	148			42,182	$	0.00
Add: Options		–			69
Diluted income per share:
Income available to common stockholders	$	148			42,251	$	0.00

	Year Ended December 31, 2015
	Loss Numerator			Shares Denominator		Per-Share Amount
Net loss attributed to Pacific Ethanol	$	(18,786	)
Less: Preferred stock dividends		(1,265	)
Basic and Diluted loss per share:
Loss available to common stockholders	$	(20,051	)		33,173	$	(0.60	)

	Year Ended December 31, 2014
	Income Numerator			Shares Denominator		Per-Share Amount
Net income attributed to Pacific Ethanol	$	21,289
Less: Preferred stock dividends		(1,265	)
Less: Allocated to participating securities		(585	)
Basic income per share:
Income available to common stockholders	$	19,439			20,810	$	0.93
Add: Warrants		–			1,859
Diluted income per share:
Income available to common stockholders	$	19,439			22,669	$	0.86

There were an aggregate of 704,000, 817,000 and 660,000 potentially dilutive shares from convertible securities outstanding as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. These convertible securities were not considered in calculating diluted income (loss) per common share for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments – The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and accrued PE Op Co. purchase are reasonable estimates of their fair values because of the short maturity of these items. The Company recorded its warrant liabilities at fair value. The Company believes the carrying value of its long-term debt approximates fair value because the interest rates on these instruments are variable, and are considered Level 2 fair value measurements.

Employment-related Benefits

Employment-related Benefits – Employment-related benefits associated with pensions and postretirement health care are expensed based on actuarial analysis. The recognition of expense is affected by estimates made by management, such as discount rates used to value certain liabilities, investment rates of return on plan assets, increases in future wage amounts and future health care costs. Discount rates are determined based on a spot yield curve that includes bonds with maturities that match expected benefit payments under the plan.

Estimates and Assumptions

Estimates and Assumptions – The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates are required as part of determining the fair value of warrants, allowance for doubtful accounts, net realizable value of inventory, estimated lives of property and equipment, long-lived asset impairments, valuation allowances on deferred income taxes and the potential outcome of future tax consequences of events recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns, and the valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as a result of business combinations. Actual results and outcomes may materially differ from management’s estimates and assumptions.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events – Management evaluates, as of each reporting period, events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date through the date that the financial statements are issued for either disclosure or adjustment to the consolidated financial results.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications – Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Such reclassification had no effect on the consolidated net income (loss) reported in the consolidated statements of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements – In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on accounting for leases. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date: (1) a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted cash flow basis; and (2) a “right of use” asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use the specified asset for the lease term. Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged, with some minor exceptions. Lessees will no longer be provided with a source of off-balance sheet financing for other than short-term leases. The standard is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has several operating leases that may be impacted by this guidance. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this accounting standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

In May 2014, the FASB issued new guidance on the recognition of revenue. The guidance states that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company’s adoption begins with the first fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2018. In March and April 2016, the FASB issued further revenue recognition guidance amending principal vs. agent considerations regarding whether an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this accounting standard update on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition. The Company has not yet selected a transition method, nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting. The Company has begun the process in its evaluation and believes it is following an appropriate timeline to allow for proper recognition, presentation and disclosure effective beginning in the year ending December 31, 2018.

In April 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on presentation of debt issuance costs. Historically, entities have presented debt issuance costs as an asset. Under the new guidance, effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015, debt issuance costs have been reclassified as a reduction of the carrying amount of the related debt balance. The guidance does not change any of the Company’s other debt recognition or disclosure. On January 1, 2016, the Company adopted this guidance for all periods presented on the consolidated balance sheets. The impact of the adoption was a reclassification of other assets to long-term debt, net of current portion, of $1,708,000 and $462,000 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

In July 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on simplifying the measurement of inventory. Under the new guidance, entities are required to measure most inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value, thereby simplifying the current guidance under which an entity must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. This guidance is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted the guidance in 2015 with no material impact on its results of operations or financial condition.

In September 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on business combinations, simplifying the accounting for measurement-period adjustments. Under the new guidance, an acquirer must recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The guidance also requires acquirers to present separately on the face of the statement of operations or disclose in the notes, the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015, applied prospectively. The Company will apply the guidance to future acquisitions.

In April 2016, the FASB issued new guidance to reduce the complexity of certain aspects of accounting for employee share-based payment transactions. Currently, accruals of compensation costs are based on an estimated forfeiture rate. The new guidance allows an entity to make an entity-wide accounting policy election to either continue using an estimate of forfeitures or account for forfeitures only when they occur. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the guidance on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.