amtx_424b5
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-258322
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated July 30, 2021)
$300,000,000
Aemetis, Inc.
Common Stock
_________
We have
entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, or the sales
agreement, with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or the distribution
agent, dated January 26, 2021, as amended by that certain amendment
agreement, dated as of the date of this prospectus supplement,
relating to the sale 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, $0.001 par value per share, having an aggregate
offering price of up to $300,000,000 from time to time through the
distribution agent, acting as our agent. Sales of our common stock,
if any, under this prospectus supplement will be made 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. The distribution agent is not required to
sell any specific amount, but will act as our distribution agent
using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal
trading and sales practices.
The
distribution agent will be entitled to compensation at a commission
rate of up to 3.0% of the gross sales price per share sold under
the sales agreement. The
net proceeds, if any, that we receive from the sales of our common
stock will depend on the number of shares actually sold and the
offering price for such shares. See “Plan of
Distribution” beginning on page S-12 for additional
information regarding the compensation to be paid to the
distribution agent. In connection with the sale of the common stock
on our behalf, the distribution agent will be deemed to be an
“underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act
and the compensation of the distribution agent will be deemed to be
underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to
provide indemnification and contribution to the distribution agent
with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act.
You
should read this prospectus supplement in conjunction with the
accompanying base prospectus, including any supplements and
amendments thereto. This prospectus supplement is qualified by
reference to the accompanying base prospectus except to the extent
that the information in this prospectus supplement supersedes the
information contained in the accompanying base prospectus. This
prospectus supplement is not complete without, and may not be
delivered or utilized except in connection with, the accompanying
base prospectus, including any supplements and amendments
thereto.
Our
common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol
“AMTX.” On August 16, 2021, the last reported sale
price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market was $9.16 per
share.
________________________________________
Investing in our securities involves a high
degree of risk. See the “Risk
Factors” section
beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement and the
corresponding sections in the accompanying base prospectus and in
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2020, as well as our subsequent filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus
supplement.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or
determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base
prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the
contrary is a criminal offense.
H.C. Wainwright & Co.
The date of this prospectus supplement is August 18,
2021
Table of Contents
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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
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S-iii
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S-7
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S-14
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PROSPECTUS
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
You should carefully read this entire prospectus supplement and the
accompanying base prospectus, including the information included
and referred to under “Risk Factors” below, the
information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement
and in the accompanying base prospectus, and the financial
statements and the other information incorporated by reference in
the accompanying base prospectus, before making an investment
decision.
This
prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus form
part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a
“shelf” registration process. This document contains
two parts. The first part consists of this prospectus supplement,
which provides you with specific information about this offering.
The second part, the accompanying base prospectus, provides more
general information, some of which may not apply to this offering.
Generally, when we refer only to the “prospectus,” we
are referring to both parts combined. This prospectus supplement
may add, update, or change information contained in the
accompanying base prospectus. To the extent that any statement we
make in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements
made in the accompanying base prospectus or any documents
incorporated by reference herein or therein, the statements made in
this prospectus supplement will be deemed to modify or supersede
those made in the accompanying base prospectus and such documents
incorporated by reference herein and therein.
Unless
the context otherwise requires, the terms “Aemetis,
Inc.,” “Company,” “our company,”
“we,” “us,” or “our” refer to
Aemetis, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and its subsidiaries. When we
refer to “you” we mean the purchaser or potential
purchaser of the shares of common stock offered
hereby.
This
prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus relate
to the offering of common stock. Before buying any securities
offered hereby, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, together with the
information incorporated herein and therein by reference as
described under the headings “Where You Can Find More
Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information
by Reference.” These documents contain important information
that you should consider when making your investment decision. This
prospectus supplement may add, update, or change information in the
accompanying base prospectus.
You
should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base
prospectus and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize
for use in connection with this offering. We have not, and the
distribution agent has not, authorized anyone to provide you with
different information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not,
and the distribution agent is not, making an offer to sell these
securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not
permitted or in which the person making that offer or solicitation
is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to
make an offer or solicitation. You should assume that the
information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the
accompanying base prospectus, the documents incorporated by
reference herein and therein and any free writing prospectus that
we have authorized for use in connection with this offering is
accurate only as of the date of those respective documents. Our
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects
may have changed since those dates. You should carefully read this
entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus,
including the information included and referred to under
“Risk Factors” below, the information incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying
base prospectus, and the financial statements and the other
information incorporated by reference in the accompanying base
prospectus, before making an investment decision. You should also
read and consider the information in the documents to which we have
referred you in the section of this prospectus supplement entitled
“Incorporation of Certain Information by
Reference.”
This
prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus contain
summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents
described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for
complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their
entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents
referred to herein have been or will be filed as exhibits to the
registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a
part or as exhibits to documents incorporated by reference herein,
and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below
under the headings “Where You Can Find More
Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information
by Reference.” We note that the representations, warranties
and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an
exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference herein
were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement,
including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among
the parties to such agreement, and should not be deemed to be a
representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such
representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of
the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties
and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing
the current state of our affairs.
The industry and market data and
other statistical information contained in the documents we
incorporate by reference are based on our own estimates,
independent publications, government publications, reports by
market research firms or other published independent sources, and,
in each case, are believed by us to be reasonable estimates.
Although we believe these sources are reliable, we have not
independently verified the information.
Securities offered
pursuant to the registration statement to which this prospectus
supplement relates may only be offered and sold if not more than
three years have elapsed since the initial effective date of the
registration statement, subject to the extension of this period in
compliance with applicable SEC rules.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This
prospectus supplement, including the sections entitled
“Prospectus Supplement Summary” and “Risk
Factors,” the accompanying base prospectus, and the documents
incorporated by reference herein and therein contain
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act,
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or the Exchange Act, the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, or the PSLRA, or in releases made by the SEC.
These cautionary statements are being made pursuant to the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the PSLRA with the intention
of obtaining the benefits of the “safe harbor”
provisions of such laws. All statements other than statements of
historical fact contained in or incorporated by reference into this
prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus,
including statements regarding our future operating results and
financial position, business strategy, and plans and objectives for
future operations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements in this prospectus supplement include, without
limitation, statements regarding:
●
trends
in market conditions with respect to prices for inputs for our
products versus prices for our products;
●
our
ability to maintain and expand strategic relationships with
suppliers;
●
trends
in demand for renewable fuels;
●
the
impact to our business from the COVID-19 global
crisis;
●
trends
in market conditions with respect to prices for inputs for our
products versus prices for our products;
●
our
ability to leverage approved feedstock pathways;
●
our
ability to leverage our location and infrastructure;
●
our
ability to incorporate lower-cost, non-food advanced biofuels
feedstock at the Keyes plant;
●
our
ability to adopt value-add by-product processing
systems;
●
our
ability to expand into alternative markets for biodiesel and its
by-products, including continuing to expand our sales
into
●
the
impact of changes in regulatory policies on our performance,
including the Indian government’s recent changes to
tax
policies, diesel prices and related subsidies;
●
our
ability to continue to develop new, and to maintain and protect new
and existing, intellectual property rights;
●
our
ability to adopt, develop and commercialize new
technologies;
●
our
ability to refinance our senior debt on more commercial terms or at
all;
●
our
ability to continue to fund operations and our future sources of
liquidity and capital resources;
●
our ability to sell additional notes under our EB-5 note program
and our expectations regarding the release of funds from
escrow
under our EB-5 note program;
●
our
ability to improve margins;
●
our
ability to raise additional capital; and
●
our
anticipated use of the net proceeds from this
offering.
COVID-19 may
exacerbate one or more of the aforementioned and/or other risks,
uncertainties and other factors more fully described in our reports
filed with the SEC. In addition, such statements could be affected
by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, and
general domestic and international economic conditions. Such
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they
are made and except as required by law, we do not undertake any
obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect
events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus
supplement. If we update or correct one or more forward-looking
statements, investors and others should not conclude that we will
make additional updates or corrections with respect to other
forward-looking statements.
In many
cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as
“may,” “will,” “should,”
“expects,” “plans,”
“anticipates,” “could,”
“intends,” “target,”
“projects,” “contemplates,”
“believes,” “estimates,”
“predicts,” “potential” or
“continue” or the negative of these terms or other
similar expressions.
The
forward-looking statements contained in or incorporated by
reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base
prospectus reflect our views as of the date of this prospectus
supplement about future events and are subject to risks,
uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may
cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ
significantly from those expressed or implied in any
forward-looking statement. Although we believe that the
expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, we cannot guarantee future events, results, performance
or achievements. A number of important factors could cause actual
results to differ materially from those indicated by the
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those
factors described in “Risk Factors.” All readers are
cautioned that the forward-looking statements contained in this
prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by
reference into this prospectus supplement are not guarantees of
future performance, and we cannot assure any reader that such
statements will be realized or that the forward-looking events and
circumstances will occur. Actual results may differ materially from
those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking
statements.
You are
urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the
forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements. All of the
forward-looking statements we have included in or incorporated by
reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base
prospectus are based on information available to us on the date of
the applicable document. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise
required by law. Thus, you should not assume that our silence over
time means that actual events are bearing out as expressed or
implied in such forward-looking
statements.
You
should read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base
prospectus, together with the documents we have filed with the SEC
that are incorporated by reference and any free writing prospectus
that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering
completely and with the understanding that our actual future
results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify
all of the forward-looking statements in the foregoing documents by
these cautionary statements.
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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 or the
accompanying base prospectus. 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
“Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” in
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus.
You should also carefully consider the matters discussed in the
section in this prospectus supplement entitled “Risk
Factors” and in the accompanying base prospectus and in other
documents incorporated herein by reference. Moreover, the
information contained in this prospectus supplement includes
“forward-looking statements,” which are based on
current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and
their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that
future developments actually affecting us will be those
anticipated. See the previous two pages of this prospectus
supplement for cautionary information regarding forward-looking
statements.
Our Company
We are
an international renewable fuels and biochemicals company focused
on the production of advanced fuels and chemicals through the
acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative
technologies that replace traditional petroleum-based products by
conversion of ethanol and biodiesel plants into advanced
biorefineries.
We
operate in two reportable geographic segments: “North
America” and “India.”
North America
We own
and operate a 65 million gallon per year ethanol production
facility located in Keyes, California (the “Keyes
plant”). The Keyes plant produces its own combined heat and
power (“CHP”) through the use of a natural gas-powered
steam turbine, and reuses 100% of its process water with zero water
discharge. In addition to ethanol, the Keyes plant produces Wet
Distillers Grains (“WDG”), Distillers Corn Oil
(“DCO”), and Condensed Distillers Solubles
(“CDS”), all of which are sold to local dairies and
feedlots as animal feed. The primary feedstock for the production
of low carbon fuel ethanol at the Keyes plant is Number Two yellow
dent corn. The corn is procured by J.D. Heiskell from various
Midwestern grain facilities and shipped, via Union Pacific
railroad, to an unloading facility adjacent to the Keyes plant.
During the third quarter of 2017, we entered into an agreement with
a major industrial gas company to sell CO2 produced at the
Keyes plant, which added incremental income for the North America
segment.
During
the first quarter of 2021, Aemetis announced its “Carbon
Zero” biofuels production plants designed to produce
biofuels, including renewable jet and diesel fuel utilizing
cellulosic hydrogen and non-edible renewable oils sourced from
existing Aemetis biofuels plants and other sources. The first
plant, in Riverbank, California, “Carbon Zero 1”, is
expected to utilize hydroelectric and other renewable power
available onsite to produce 45 million gallons per year of jet
fuel, renewable diesel, and other byproducts. The plant is expected
to supply the aviation and truck markets with ultra-low carbon
renewable fuels to reduce greenhouse gas (“GHG”)
emissions and other pollutants associated with conventional
petroleum-based fuels.
The
Company is continuing to develop a biomass-to-fuel technology to
build a carbon zero production facility. By producing ultra-low
carbon renewable fuels, the Company expects to capture higher value
D3 RINs and California’s LCFS credits. D3 RINs have a higher
value in the marketplace than D6 RINs due to D3 RINs’
relative scarcity and mandated pricing formula from the United
States EPA.
On
April 1, 2021, Aemetis established a new subsidiary named Aemetis
Carbon Capture, Inc. to build carbon sequestration projects to
generate LCFS and IRS 45Q credits by injecting CO₂ into wells
which are monitored for emissions to ensure the long-term
sequestration of carbon underground. California’s Central
Valley is well established as a major region for large-scale
natural gas production and CO₂ injection projects due to the
subsurface geologic formation that retains gases.
During
the second quarter of 2021, Aemetis has opened negotiations for the
supply of 1.6 million metric tonnes (“MT”) per year of
CO₂ for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (“CCS”)
to be located at or near the two Aemetis renewable fuels plant
sites in Central California near Modesto. It is
anticipated that the capacity of each injection well site will be
approximately one million metric tonnes per year, for a combined
total of two million MT of CO₂ sequestration per
year.
During
2018, Aemetis Biogas, LLC (“ABGL”) was formed to
construct bio-methane digesters at local dairies near the Keyes
plant, many of whom are already customers of the WDG produced at
the Keyes plant. The digesters are connected by a pipeline to a gas
cleanup and compression facility to produce Renewable Natural Gas
(“RNG”). ABGL has completed construction on two dairy
digesters and the related connecting pipeline. We also have signed
participation agreements with an additional 15 local dairies near
the Keyes plant in order to capture their methane, which would
otherwise be released into the atmosphere, primarily from manure
wastewater lagoons. We plan to capture methane from multiple
dairies and pipe the gas to a centralized location at our Keyes
plant. The impurities of the methane will then be removed and
cleaned into bio-methane for injection into the local utility
pipeline or to a renewable compressed natural gas
(“RCNG”) truck loading station that will service local
trucking fleets to displace diesel fuel. The bio-methane can also
be used in our Keyes plant to displace petroleum-based natural gas.
The environmental benefits of the ABGL project are significant
because dairy biogas has a negative carbon intensity
(“CI”) under the California LCFS and will also receive
D3 RINs under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard
(“RFS”). ABGL has constructed the first two digesters,
and completed construction and began operations during the third
quarter 2020.
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During
2017, Goodland Advanced Fuels, Inc. (“GAFI”) was formed
to acquire land, buildings and process equipment in Goodland,
Kansas for the construction and development of a next generation
biofuel facility for $15.4 million. GAFI entered into a Note
Purchase Agreement with Third Eye Capital Corporation (“Third
Eye Capital”). GAFI, Aemetis, Inc. (“Aemetis”)
and its subsidiary Aemetis Advanced Product Keyes
(“AAPK”) also entered into separate Intercompany
Revolving Notes, pursuant to which GAFI may lend a portion of the
proceeds of the revolving loan under the Note Purchase Agreement to
AAPK. On December 31, 2019, Aemetis exercised an option it was
granted in connection with the foregoing to purchase all of the
capital stock of GAFI and has future plans to construct an advanced
biofuels facility at the Goodland site. Prior to December 31, 2019,
GAFI was consolidated into the financial statements as a variable
interest entity.
We
entered into an agreement to purchase equipment from Mitsubishi on
August 24th, 2018. We began the equipment installation in the first
quarter of 2020. The agreement allowed for deferred payments of the
equipment until the unit begins operations, which is expected to
occur during the fourth quarter of 2021. The Mitsubishi ceramic
membrane system allows for the progressive electrification of the
Keyes facility by decreasing the natural gas usage at the facility.
The ceramic membrane unit does this by decreasing steam usage in
the distillation section of the Keyes facility. This project
decreases the carbon intensity of the Keyes ethanol facility,
allowing Aemetis to realize a higher price for the ethanol
sold.
We
produce four products at the Keyes plant: denatured
ethanol, WDG, corn oil, and CDS. We sold 100% of the
ethanol and WDG produced to J.D. Heiskell pursuant to a Purchase
Agreement established with J.D. Heiskell. We sell corn oil to local
animal feedlots (primarily poultry) through J.D. Heiskell as well
as other feed mills in small amounts for use in various animal feed
products. Small amounts of CDS were sold to various local third
parties as an animal feed supplement. Ethanol pricing is
determined pursuant to a marketing agreement between Kinergy
Marketing, LLC through September 30, 2021 and Murex, LLC beginning
October 1, 2021 and us, and is generally based on daily and monthly
pricing for ethanol delivered to the San Francisco Bay Area as
published by the Oil Price Information Service, as well as
quarterly contracts negotiated by our marketing company with
numerous fuel blenders. The price for WDG is determined
monthly pursuant to a marketing agreement between A.L. Gilbert and
us, and is generally determined in reference to the local price of
dry distillers grains (“DDG”), corn, and other protein
feedstuffs.
We
produce six products at the Keyes Plant: denatured fuel ethanol,
high-grade potable alcohol, WDG, DCO, CO2, and CDS. The
ethanol stored in our finished goods tank is 100% owned by Aemetis.
WDG continue to be sold to A.L. Gilbert and DCO is sold to other
customers under the J.D. Heiskell Purchase Agreement. Smaller
amounts of CDS were sold to various local third parties. We began
selling CO2 to Messer in the
second quarter of 2020. We began selling high-grade potable alcohol
in March 2020 directly to various customers throughout the West
Coast and we also produced and sold Aemetis hand sanitizer under
Aemetis.
The
following table sets forth information about our production and
sales of ethanol and WDG for 2020 compared with 2019:
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Ethanol
and Potable Alcohol
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Gallons Sold (in
000s)
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60,286
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64,708
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-6.8%
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Average Sales
Price/Gallon
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$1.87
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$1.77
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4.0%
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WDG
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Tons Sold (in
000s)
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393
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428
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-8.1%
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Average Sales
Price/Ton
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$81.49
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$80.65
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1.0%
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Key
elements of our strategy include:
Leverage technology for the development and
production of additional advanced biofuels and renewable
chemicals. We continue to evaluate new technology and
develop technology under our existing patents, and are conducting
research and development to produce renewable chemicals and
advanced biofuels from renewable feedstocks.
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Our
objective is to continue to commercialize our portfolio of
technologies and expand the adoption of these advanced biofuels and
bio-chemicals technologies. We hold
certain rights to technologies for the conversion of orchard,
forest, dairy, and construction and demolition waste wood into low
carbon renewable fuel. We intend to utilize this technology to
produce renewable hydrogen for use in the production of jet fuel,
diesel fuel and cellulosic ethanol at the Riverbank Cellulosic
Ethanol Facility from agricultural biomass waste abundantly
available from orchard waste wood in California’s Central
Valley. Our planned first phase has an estimated 23 million gallons
per year of nameplate capacity. We intend to expand production
facilities to an estimated 46 million gallons per year nameplate
capacity at the Riverbank site and build additional plants in
California to utilize the estimated 1.6 million tons of annual
waste orchard wood in Central California, as well as other waste
wood feedstocks.
Diversify and expand revenue and cash flow by
continuing to develop and adopt value-added by-product processing
systems and optimize other processing systems in our existing
plants. In April 2012, we
installed a DCO extraction unit at the Keyes Plant and began
extracting corn oil for sale into the livestock feed market. During
2014, we installed a second oil extraction system to further
improve corn oil yields from this process. During late 2017, we
entered into agreements to sell substantially all of the
CO2
produced at the Keyes Plant to Messer,
which built a liquid CO2
capture plant adjacent to the Keyes
Plant that was operational in the second quarter of 2020. We have
plans to install a mechanical vapor recovery (“MVR”)
system that allows for the compression of process vapor to steam
resulting in a significant reduction of natural gas consumption.
Additionally, we are developing the Aemetis Integrated Solar
Microgrid Systems (“AIMS”) with battery backup that
allows for the displacement of natural gas electricity with
carbon-free electricity, which is expected to begin construction at
the Keyes Plant in the third quarter of 2021. We continue to
evaluate and, as allowed by available financing and free cash flow
from operations, adopt additional value-added processes that
decrease costs and increase the value of the ethanol, WDG, DCO and
CO2
produced at the Keyes
Plant.
Leverage our position as a plant operator to
develop additional streams of revenues and profitability.
In December 2018, we leveraged our
relationship with California’s Central Valley dairy farmers
by signing leases and raising funds to construct the Aemetis Biogas
Central Dairy Digester Cluster, constructing dairy digesters that
collect bio-methane which will be conveyed by pipeline to our Keyes
Plant. We have constructed our first two digesters, four miles of
pipeline, and commenced operations in the third quarter of 2020. In
addition, we have signed agreements with approximately 15
additional dairies to construct additional dairy digesters.
Additionally, we continue to evaluate technologies from our
existing and planned operations for the development of the property
in Goodland, Kansas.
Acquire, license our technologies to, or joint
venture with other ethanol and biodiesel plants.
There are approximately 200 ethanol
plants that are operational in the U.S., as well as biofuels plants
in Brazil, Argentina, India and elsewhere in the world that could
be upgraded to expand revenues and improve their cash flow using
technology commercially deployed or licensed by us. After
developing and commercially demonstrating technologies at the Keyes
Plant, Kakinada Plant and the Riverbank Facility, we will evaluate
on an opportunistic basis the benefit of acquiring ownership stakes
in other biofuel production facilities and entering into joint
venture or licensing agreements with other ethanol, renewable
diesel or renewable jet fuel facilities.
Evaluate and pursue technology acquisition
opportunities. We intend to
evaluate and pursue opportunities to acquire technologies and
processes that result in accretive value opportunities as financial
resources and business prospects make the acquisition of these
technologies and processes advisable. In addition, we may also seek
to acquire companies, enter into licensing agreements or form joint
ventures with companies that offer prospects for the adoption of
technologies that would be accretive to
earnings.
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India
We also
own and operate a biodiesel production facility in Kakinada, India
(the “Kakinada Plant”) with a nameplate capacity of
150,000 metric tons per year, or about 50 million gallons per year.
We believe the Kakinada Plant is one of the largest biodiesel
production facilities in India on a nameplate capacity basis. The
Kakinada Plant is capable of processing a variety of vegetable oils
and animal fat waste feedstocks into biodiesel that meet
international product standards. The Kakinada Plant also distills
the crude glycerin byproduct from the biodiesel refining process
into refined glycerin, which is sold to the pharmaceutical,
personal care, paint, adhesive and other industries.
In
2020, we primarily produced two products at the Kakinada Plant:
biodiesel and refined glycerin produced from further processing of
the crude glycerin produced as a by-product of the production of
biodiesel. After the 2019 pretreatment unit upgrade, we can convert
high-FFA oil into a renewable oil feedstock that that may be
converted into biodiesel and sold to biodiesel market plants in
India or exported to foreign plants to use for the production of
biodiesel, renewable diesel and/or jet fuel. The byproduct of
processing high-FFA oil into biodiesel is PFAD, which can be
processed further into biodiesel or sold directly into the market
starting in the third quarter of 2019.
The
following table sets forth information about our production and
sales of biodiesel and refined glycerin in 2020 and
2019:
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Biodiesel
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Tons sold
(1)
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15,987
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49,971
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-66.0%
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Average Sales
Price/Ton
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$863
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$904
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-4.6%
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Refined
Glycerin
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Tons
sold
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1,440
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5,173
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-72.2%
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Average Sales
Price/Ton
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$814
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$543
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49.9%
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(1) 1
metric ton is equal to 1,000 kilograms (approximately 2,204
pounds).
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Biodiesel pricing
in India is indexed to the price of petroleum diesel, and as such,
the increase in the price of petroleum diesel is
expected
to
favorably impact the profitability of our Indian
operations.
Key
elements of our strategy include:
Capitalize on recent policy changes by the
Government of India. We plan to
continue to pursue the traditional bulk, fleet, industrial, retail,
and transportation biodiesel markets in India, which we believe
have become more attractive as a result of potential changes to
government tax structures and policies, as well as new marketing
channels that may open as a result of changes to government policy
changes. The rationalization of indirect taxation by the
introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (the “GST”),
the introduction of biodiesel sales under government oil marketing
company (“Government Oil Marketing Company”) contracts
and the execution of contracts with major oil consumers are
expected to drive revenue and margins in our India
segment.
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Pursue tender offers from Government Oil
Marketing Companies. In 2019,
under the Indian government mandate of mixing biodiesel with
diesel, the Kakinada Plant won the tender to supply biodiesel to
Government Oil Marketing Companies such as Hindustan Petroleum,
Bharat Petroleum, and Indian Oil Corporation and began supplying
biodiesel in May 2019. These tenders open annually, usually in
December, soliciting bids for the following year. We plan to
continue to pursue these tender offers made by the Government Oil
Market Companies on economically reasonable
terms.
Diversify our feedstocks from India.
We designed our Kakinada Plant with
the capability to produce biodiesel from multiple feedstocks. In
2009, we began to produce biodiesel from non-refined palm oil
(“NRPO”). Between 2014 and 2019, we further diversified
our feedstock to include animal oils and fats, which we used for
the production of biodiesel to be sold into the European markets,
refined, bleached & deodorized Palm Stearin, crude palm
stearin, and RBD palm stearin. The byproduct of using high fat RBD
palm stearin and crude palm stearin is Palm Fatty Acid Distiller
(“PFAD”), which can be further processed into biodiesel
and sold, or sold directly into the market starting in the third
quarter of 2019. Additionally, the Kakinada Plant is capable of
producing biodiesel from used cooking oil (“UCO”);
however, the importation of UCO is not currently allowed in India,
and as a result, we are looking for a local supply source of UCO to
expand our feedstock diversity. In 2018, we completed a
pretreatment unit at the Kakinada Plant to convert up to 5% high
free fatty acid (“FFA”) feedstocks into oil that can be
used to produce biodiesel, which was further upgraded in 2019 to
convert up to 20% high FFA feedstocks, both of which are available
at lower cost than our traditional feedstocks.
Develop and commercially deploy technologies
to produce high-margin products We plan to continue investing in the conversion of
lower quality, waste oils into higher value biofuels, including
renewable diesel. Additionally, we continue to evaluate
improvements to the throughput capacity and efficiency of the
plant. We plan to invest in those areas that allow for more
efficient and higher throughput for the processing of biodiesel and
refined glycerin. The technologies for these conversion process may
be licensed from third parties or internally
developed.
Evaluate and pursue technology acquisition
opportunities. We intend to
evaluate and pursue opportunities to acquire technologies and
processes that result in accretive earnings opportunities as
financial resources and business prospects make the acquisition of
these technologies and processes advisable. In addition, we may
also seek to acquire companies, or enter into licensing agreements
or form joint ventures with companies that offer prospects for the
adoption of accretive earnings business
opportunities.
Our History
We were
incorporated in Nevada in 2006 under the name American Ethanol,
Inc. We completed a reverse merger of American Ethanol, Inc. with
Marwich II, Ltd., a public shell company, on December 7, 2007. For
accounting purposes, the reverse merger was treated as a reverse
acquisition with American Ethanol as the acquirer and Marwich as
the acquired party. After consummation of the reverse merger, we
changed our name to AE Biofuels, Inc.
In
2011, we acquired Zymetis, Inc., a biotechnology company with a
patented organism that enables the production of renewable advanced
biofuels and biochemicals. As a part of the acquisition, we changed
our name to Aemetis, Inc. In 2012, we acquired all of the
outstanding shares of Cilion, Inc., and thereby acquired the Keyes
plant.
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Our Offices
We
maintain our principal executive offices and corporate headquarters at 20400 Stevens
Creek Blvd., Suite 700, Cupertino, CA 95014. Our telephone
number is (408) 213-0940. Our website is www.aemetis.com. Other than as
described in “Where You Can Find More Information”
below, the information on, or that can be accessed through, our
website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement or the accompanying base prospectus, and you should not
consider it to be a part of this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying base prospectus. Our website address is included as an
inactive textual reference only.
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Issuer
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Aemetis,
Inc.
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Securities
Offered
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Shares
of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to
$300,000,000.
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Manner
of Offering
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We have
entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, or the sales
agreement, with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or the distribution
agent, dated January 26, 2021, as amended by that certain amendment
agreement, dated as of the date of this prospectus supplement,
relating to the sale 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, $0.001 par value per share, having an aggregate
offering price of up to $300,000,000 from time to time through the
distribution agent, acting as our agent. Sales of our common stock,
if any, under this prospectus supplement will be made 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. See the section entitled “Plan of
Distribution” on page S-16 of this prospectus
supplement.
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Nasdaq
Symbol
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“AMTX.”
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Use
of Proceeds
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We
intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to upgrade our
Keyes, California facility with energy efficiency projects; to fund
engineering, permitting, construction and start-up of new projects;
to construct additional dairy digesters along with the related
pipeline, gas clean-up and pipeline interconnection facilities; to
provide working capital; and to fund general corporate purposes. We
may also use a portion of the net proceeds of this offering to
repay certain indebtedness. See the section entitled “Use of
Proceeds” on page S-9 of this prospectus
supplement.
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Risk
Factors
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Investing
in our common stock involves risks. You should carefully consider
the risks described under “Risk Factors” in this
prospectus supplement, in our most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q as well as the other information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying base prospectus before making a decision to invest in
our common stock.
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An investment in our securities involves a
high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our
securities, you should carefully consider the risks described
below, together with the other information in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying base prospectus and the information
contained in our other filings with the SEC as well as any
amendment or update to our risk factors reflected in subsequent
filings with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus in their
entirety, together with other information in this prospectus
supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, the information and
documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, and in any
free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in
connection with this offering. If any of these risks actually
occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations,
or cash flow could be seriously harmed. This could cause the
trading price of our securities to decline, resulting in a loss of
all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to This Offering
The widespread outbreak of an illness, pandemic (such as COVID-19)
or any other public health crisis may have material adverse and
volatile effects on our financial position, results of operations
or cash flows.
The
spread of COVID-19 has caused global business disruptions beginning
in January 2020, including disruptions in the energy and natural
gas industry. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared
the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a pandemic, and the U.S. economy
began to experience pronounced effects. The COVID-19 pandemic has
negatively impacted the global economy, disrupted global supply
chains, reduced global demand of goods and services, and created
significant volatility and disruption of financial and commodity
markets. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our
operational and financial performance, including our ability to
execute our business strategies and projects in the expected time
frame, is uncertain and depends on various factors, including the
demand for ethanol, biodiesel, WDG, glycerine, CDS and DCO, the
availability of personnel, equipment and services critical to our
ability to operate our properties and the impact of potential
governmental restrictions on travel, transports and operations.
There is uncertainty around the extent and duration of the
disruption. The degree to which the COVID-19 pandemic or any other
public health crisis adversely impacts our results will depend on
future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be
predicted, including, but not limited to, the duration and spread
of the outbreak, its severity, the actions to contain the virus or
treat its impact, its impact on the economy and market conditions,
and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating
conditions can resume. Therefore, the degree of the adverse
financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this
time.
We have
facilities located in California and India, and the employees
working in those facilities may be at greater risk for exposure to
and for contracting the COVID-19 virus. The spread of COVID-19 in
these locations may result in our employees being forced to work
from home or missing work if they or a member of their family
contract COVID-19. Additionally, the spread of COVID-19 may result
in economic downturns in the markets in which we sell our products
and lead to reduced demand for gasoline in such markets, each of
which may impair demand for ethanol, harm our operations and
negatively impact our financial condition. We are dependent on a
limited number of highly skilled individuals to operate our plant.
A widespread outbreak at either plant could result in suspension of
operations until infected individuals recuperate.
You may experience immediate and substantial
dilution.
The
offering price per share in this offering may exceed the net
tangible book value per share of our common stock. Assuming that an
aggregate of 32,751,091 shares of our common stock are sold at a
price of $9.16 per share pursuant to this prospectus supplement
which was the last reported sale price of our common stock on
Nasdaq on August 16, 2021, for aggregate net proceeds of
approximately $291.0 million after deducting commissions and
estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, you would
experience immediate dilution of approximately $6.56 per share. See
the section entitled “Dilution” on page S-9 of this
prospectus supplement for a more detailed illustration of the
dilution you would incur if you participate in this
offering.
We are currently not profitable and historically, we have incurred
significant losses. If we incur continued losses, we may
have to curtail our operations, which may prevent us from
successfully operating and expanding our business.
Historically,
we have relied upon cash from debt and equity financing activities
to fund substantially all of the cash requirements of our
activities. As of December 31, 2020, we had an
accumulated deficit of approximately $274.1 million. For our fiscal
years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we reported a net loss of
$36.7 million and $39.4 million, respectively. We may incur losses
for an indeterminate period of time and may not achieve consistent
profitability. We expect to rely on cash on hand, cash,
if any, generated from our operations, borrowing availability, if
any, under our lines of credit and proceeds from future financing
activities, if any, to fund all of the cash requirements of our
business. In some market environments, we may have limited
access to incremental financing, which could defer or cancel growth
projects, reduce business activity or cause us to default on our
existing debt agreements if we are unable to meet our payment
schedules. An extended period of losses or negative cash flow
may prevent us from successfully operating and expanding our
business.
Management will have broad discretion as to the use of the proceeds
from this offering and may not use the proceeds
effectively.
While
we intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to upgrade our
Keyes, California facility with energy efficiency projects; to fund
engineering, permitting, construction and start-up of new projects;
to construct additional dairy digesters along with the related
pipeline, gas clean-up and pipeline interconnection facilities; to
repay certain indebtedness, to provide working capital; and to fund
general corporate purposes , we may not use these proceeds
effectively. Our management will have broad discretion as to the
application of the net proceeds from this offering and could use
them for purposes other than those contemplated at the time of the
offering. Our management may use the net proceeds for corporate
purposes that may not improve our financial condition or market
value. The failure by
management to apply these funds effectively could result in
financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our
business and cause the price of our common stock to
decline.
We may be unable to use some or all of the net proceeds of this
offering as intended.
Under our note facilities with Third Eye Capital,
we owe approximately $161.5 million, including the GAFI Debt and
excluding debt discounts, as of December 31, 2020. We have
requirements to apply funds to repay interest and principal, and
will require approvals from Third Eye Capital. If the approvals are
not provided, we may be required by our senior lender to use a
portion or all of the net proceeds of this offering to repay our
note facilities.
Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, or the
possibility that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the
market price of our common stock.
We cannot predict the effect, if any,
that future issuances or sales of our common stock, preferred
stock, warrants, or debt securities convertible into or exercisable
or exchangeable for common stock, including sales of our common
stock pursuant to the sales agreement, or the availability of our
securities for future issuance or sale, will have on the market
price of shares of our common stock. Issuances or sales of
substantial amounts of our common stock, preferred stock, warrants,
or debt securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable
for common stock, including sales of our common stock pursuant to
the sales agreement, or the perception that such issuances or sales
might occur, could negatively impact the market price of our common
stock and the terms upon which we may obtain additional equity
financing in the future.
It is not possible to predict the actual number of shares we will
sell under the sales agreement, or the gross proceeds resulting
from those sales.
Subject
to certain limitations in the sales agreement and compliance with
applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement
notice to the distribution agent at any time throughout the term of
the sales agreement. The number of shares that are sold through the
distribution agent after delivering a placement notice will
fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price
of the common stock during the sales period, the limits we set with
the distribution agent in any applicable placement notice, and the
demand for our common stock during the sales period. Because
the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate during the
sales period, it is not currently possible to predict the number of
shares that will be sold or the gross proceeds to be raised in
connection with those sales.
The common stock offered hereby will be sold in “at the
market offerings,” and investors who buy shares at different
times will likely pay different prices.
Investors who
purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay
different prices, and so may experience different levels of
dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We
will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing,
prices, and numbers of shares sold in this offering. In addition,
there is no minimum or maximum sales price for shares to be sold in
this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of
the shares they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made
at prices lower than the prices they paid.
We have entered into new markets for high grade alcohol, including
the sanitizer market and other industrial alcohol segments. These
new markets, along with existing transportation/energy markets
Aemetis already serves, are highly volatile and have significant
risk associated with current market conditions.
We have
limited experience in marketing and selling high grade alcohol and
hand sanitizer. As such, we may not be able to compete successfully
with existing or new competitors in supplying high grade alcohol to
potential customers. We may not be able to reach USP grade alcohol
to compete further in the high grade alcohol and hand sanitizer
market. If we are unable to establish production and sales channels
that allow us to offer comparable products at attractive prices, we
may not be able to compete effectively in the market. Furthermore,
there can be no assurance that our high-grade alcohol business will
ever generate significant revenues or maintain profitability. The
failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our
business and results of operations.
We may
issue and sell shares of our common stock having aggregate gross
proceeds of up to $300,000,000 from time to time. Because there is
no minimum offering amount required as a condition of this
offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and
proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this
time.
We
intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to upgrade our
Keyes, California facility with energy efficiency projects; to fund
engineering, permitting, construction and start-up of new projects;
to construct additional dairy digesters along with the related
pipeline, gas clean-up and pipeline interconnection facilities; to
provide working capital; and to fund general corporate purposes. We
may also use a portion of the net proceeds of this offering to
repay indebtedness. For further details concerning indebtedness,
please read our consolidated financial statements and the related
notes thereto, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and the other
financial information incorporated by reference into this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying base
prospectus.
The
amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on
numerous factors, including the progress of the development and
commercialization of our technologies and other factors described
under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement, the
accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated by
reference herein and therein, as well as the amount of cash used in
our operations. We may find it necessary or advisable to use the
net proceeds for other purposes, and we will have broad discretion
in the application of the net proceeds. Pending the uses described
above, we plan to invest the net proceeds from this offering in
short- and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations,
investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or
guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.
If you
invest in our common stock, your interest will be diluted to the
extent of the difference between the price per share you pay in
this offering and the net tangible book value or deficit per share
of our common stock immediately after this offering. Our historical
net tangible book deficit of our common stock as of June 30, 2021
was approximately $124.0 million, or $3.93 per share of our common
stock based upon 31,572,000 shares outstanding. Historical net
tangible book value or deficit per share is equal to our total
tangible assets, less our total liabilities, divided by the total
number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of June 30,
2021.
Dilution per share
to new investors represents the difference between the amount per
share paid by purchasers for our common stock in this offering and
the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common
stock immediately following the completion of this
offering.
After
giving effect to the sale of our common stock in the aggregate
amount of $300 million at an assumed offering price of $9.16 per
share, being the last reported sale price of our common stock on
The Nasdaq Stock Market on August 16, 2021 and after deducting
commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as
adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2021 would have
been approximately $167.0 million, or $2.60 per share of common
stock. This represents an increase in net tangible book value
compared to the net tangible book deficit as of June 30, 2021 of
$6.52 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate
dilution of $6.56 per share to new investors in this
offering.
The
following table illustrates this calculation on a per share basis.
The as adjusted information is illustrative only and will adjust
based on the actual price to the public, the actual number of
shares sold and other terms of the offering determined at the time
shares of our common stock are sold pursuant to this prospectus
supplement. The as adjusted information assumes that all of our
common stock in the aggregate amount of $300.0 million is sold at
the assumed offering price of $9.16 per share, being the last
reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market
on August 16, 2021. The shares sold in this offering, if any, will
be sold from time to time at various prices.
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Assumed public
offering price per share
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$9.16
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Historical net
tangible book value (deficit) per share as of June 30,
2021
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$(3.93)
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Increase in net
tangible book value (deficit) per share attributable to new
investors in this offering
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6.53
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As adjusted net
tangible book value (deficit) per share immediately after this
offering
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2.60
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Dilution per share
to new investors in this offering
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$6.56
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The foregoing
table is based upon 31,572,000 shares outstanding, which includes
4.0 million shares of common stock issued pursuant to our existing
at-the-market program from January 26, 2021 through August 18,
2021, and does not give effect to the exercise of any outstanding
options or warrants. To the extent options and warrants are
exercised, there may be further dilution to new
investors.
The shares
subject to the sales agreement with the distribution agent are
being sold from time to time at various prices. An increase of $1.00 per share in the
price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price
of $9.16 per share shown in the table above, assuming an adjusted
29,528,000 aggregate number of shares sold pursuant to this
offering, would increase our adjusted net tangible book value per
share after the offering to $2.73 per share and would increase the
dilution per share to new investors in this offering to
$7.43 per share,
after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering
expenses payable by us. A decrease of $1.00 per share in the price
at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of
$9.16 per share shown in the table above, assuming an adjusted
36,765,000 aggregate number of shares sold pursuant to this
offering, would decrease our adjusted net tangible book value per
share after the offering to $2.44 per share and would decrease the
dilution per share to new investors in this offering to $5.72 per
share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering
expenses payable by us. This information is supplied for
illustrative purposes only.
In addition, we may choose to raise additional
capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even
if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future
operating plans. To the extent that additional capital is raised
through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the
issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to
our stockholders.
OUR COMMON STOCK AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Our
common stock has been listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the
symbol “AMTX” since June 6, 2014. Our common stock was
previously quoted on the OTC Markets as an OTCQB company under the
symbol “AMTX” from November 15, 2011 to June 5, 2014.
Prior to November 15, 2011, our common stock was quoted on the OTC
Markets as an OTCQB company under the symbol “AEBF.” On
May 14, 2014, we effected a 1-for-10 reverse split of our
outstanding common stock.
Holders
On
August 17, 2021, we had 182 holders of record of our common
stock.
Transfer Agent
Equiniti is the
transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.
Dividend Policy
Historically, we
have not paid dividends on our common stock, and we currently do
not intend to pay any dividends on our common stock in the
foreseeable future. We currently plan to retain any earnings to
finance the growth of our business rather than to pay cash
dividends. Payments of any cash dividends in the future will depend
on our financial condition, results of operations and capital
requirements as well as other factors deemed relevant by our Board
of Directors. Our credit agreement also prohibits us from paying
dividends on our common stock.
The
following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and
capitalization as of June 30, 2021 on an actual basis, and on an
adjusted basis to give effect to the sale of shares of common stock
in this offering, the effect of sales of common stock pursuant to
our existing at-the-market program between January 26, 2021 through
August 18, 2021, and the use of funds for the capital expenditures.
You should read this table in conjunction with our consolidated
financial statements and the related notes thereto,
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations,” and the other financial
information incorporated by reference into this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying base prospectus.
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In thousands,
except for par value
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Cash and cash
equivalents
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7,175
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160,232
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Long-term
debt:
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Current portion of
long-term debt
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24,017
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10,505
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Long-term
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204,407
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79,976
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Total long-term
debt
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228,424
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90,481
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Shareholders’
equity:
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Series B
convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 7,235 authorized;
1,323 shares issued and outstanding (aggregate liquidation
preference of $3,969)
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1
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1
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Common stock,
$0.001 par value; 40,000 authorized; 31,572 and 22,830 shares
issued and outstanding, respectively
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32
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64
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Additional paid-in
capital
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183,015
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473,983
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Accumulated
deficit
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(302,749)
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(302,749)
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Accumulated other
comprehensive loss
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(4,323)
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(4,323)
|
|
Total
stockholders’ deficit attributable to Aemetis,
Inc.
|
(124,024)
|
(166,976)
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Total
capitalization
|
104,400
|
257,457
|
We have
entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, or the sales
agreement, with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or the distribution
agent, dated January 26, 2021, as amended by that certain amendment
agreement, dated as of the date of this prospectus supplement,
under which we may offer and sell up to $300,000,000 of shares of
our common stock from time to time through the distribution agent,
acting as agent. Sales of shares of our common stock, if any, under
this prospectus supplement may be made in transactions that are
deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in
Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
The
distribution agent will offer our common stock subject to the terms
and conditions of the sales agreement on a daily basis or as
otherwise agreed upon by us and the distribution agent. We will
designate the maximum amount of common stock to be sold through the
distribution agent on a daily basis or otherwise determine such
maximum amount together with the distribution agent. Subject to the
terms and conditions of the sales agreement, the distribution agent
will use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell on our behalf
all of the shares of common stock requested to be sold by us. We
may instruct the distribution agent not to sell common stock if the
sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in
any such instruction. The distribution agent or we may suspend the
offering of our common stock being made through the distribution
agent under the sales agreement upon proper notice to the other
party. The distribution agent and we each have the right, by giving
written notice as specified in the sales agreement, to terminate
the sales agreement in each party’s sole discretion at any
time.
Under
the terms of the sales agreement, we may also sell our common stock
to the distribution agent, as principal for its own account, at a
price negotiated at the time of sale. If we sell shares to the
distribution agent in this manner, we will enter into a separate
agreement setting forth the terms of such transaction, and we will
describe the agreement in a separate prospectus supplement or
pricing supplement.
We will
pay the distribution agent commissions for its services in acting
as agent in the sale of our common stock at a commission rate of up
to 3.0% of the gross sale price per share sold. We estimate that
the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation and
reimbursements payable to the distribution agent under the sales
agreement, will be up to approximately $100,000. We have also
agreed to reimburse the distribution agent its reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses, including attorney’s fees, in an
amount not to exceed $50,000.
Settlement for
sales of common stock will occur on the second business day
following the date on which any sales are made, or on some other
date that is agreed upon by us and the distribution agent in
connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of
the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be
received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
In
connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf,
Wainwright will be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning
of the Securities Act, and the compensation of the distribution
agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts.
We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the
distribution agent against certain civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
The
offering pursuant to the sales agreement will terminate upon the
earlier of (1) the issuance and sale of all shares or our common
stock subject to the sales agreement; and (2) the termination of
the sales agreement as permitted therein.
The
distribution agent 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. To the extent required by Regulation M, the
distribution agent will not engage in any market making activities
involving our common stock while the offering is ongoing under this
prospectus supplement. This summary of the material provisions of
the sales agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of
its terms and conditions. A copy of the sales agreement is filed
with the SEC and is incorporated by reference into the registration
statement of which this prospectus supplement is a
part.
Our
common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol
“AMTX.” On August 16, 2021, the last reported sale
price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market was $9.16 per
share.
The
validity of the shares of common stock offered hereby have been
passed upon for us by McDonald Carano, LLP. Certain other matters
have been passed upon for us by Shearman & Sterling LLP.
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP is counsel for the distribution
agent in connection with this offering.
The
consolidated financial statements of Aemetis, Inc. as of December
31, 2020 and 2019 and for each of the years in the two-year period
ended December 31, 2020 incorporated in this Prospectus by
reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2020, have been audited by RSM US
LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in
their report thereon, incorporated herein by reference, and have
been incorporated in this Prospectus and Registration Statement in
reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such firm as
experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file
annual, quarterly and current reports; proxy statements; and other
information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. Through our
website at www.aemetis.com,
you may access, free of charge, our filings, as soon as reasonably
practical after we electronically file them with or furnish them to
the SEC. Other information contained in our website is not
incorporated by reference in, and should not be considered a part
of, this prospectus supplement or any accompanying base prospectus.
You also may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the
SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the public reference room. Our SEC filings
are also available to the public from the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov.
This
prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement on Form
S-3 that we filed with the SEC to register the securities offered
hereby under the Securities Act. This prospectus supplement does
not contain all of the information included in the registration
statement, including certain exhibits. You may obtain the
registration statement and exhibits to the registration statement
from the SEC at the address listed above or from the SEC’s
Internet website.
INCORPORATION OF
CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC
allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with
the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to
you by referring you to those documents. The information that we
incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this
prospectus supplement. Information that we file with the SEC in the
future and incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement
automatically updates and supersedes previously filed information
as applicable.
We
incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement the
following documents filed by us with the SEC, other than any
portion of any such documents that are not deemed
“filed” under the Exchange Act in accordance with the
Exchange Act and applicable SEC rules:
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●
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Our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2020, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2021 (File No. 000-51354)
(including the information in Part III incorporated by reference
from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the
SEC on July 23, 2021), Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 30,
2021, and the Supplement to the Definitive Proxy Statement filed
with the SEC on July 29, 2021;
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●
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Our
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31,
2021, filed with the SEC on May 12, 2021, and June 30, 2021, filed
with the SEC on August 12, 2021;
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●
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Our
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 27, 2021
and June 14, 2021 (excluding any information furnished pursuant to
Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of such Current Report on Form 8-K);
and
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●
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The
description of our common stock contained in the Registration
Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on June 3,
2014.
|
We also
incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying base prospectus all documents (other than any portions
of any such documents that are not deemed “filed” under
the Exchange Act in accordance with the Exchange Act and applicable
SEC rules) filed by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or
15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus
supplement.
You may
request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or
telephoning us as follows:
Aemetis,
Inc.
Attention:
Corporate Secretary
20400
Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 700
Cupertino,
CA 95014, +1 (408) 213-0940
Any
statement contained in a document that is incorporated by reference
will be modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that
a statement contained in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying base prospectus, or in any other document that is
subsequently filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference,
modifies, or is contrary to that previous statement. Any statement
so modified or superseded will not be deemed a part of this
prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus, except
as so modified or superseded. Since information that we later file
with the SEC will update and supersede previously incorporated
information, you should look at all of the SEC filings that we
incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in
this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus or
in any documents previously incorporated by reference have been
modified or superseded.
PROSPECTUS
$300,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Units
We may
offer and sell from time to time common stock, preferred stock,
debt securities, warrants, rights and units that include any of
these securities. The preferred stock or warrants may be
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common or
preferred stock or other of our securities registered hereunder.
The debt securities may be convertible into, or exercisable or
exchangeable for, common stock. Our common stock is listed on the
NASDAQ Global Market and trades under the symbol
“AMTX.”
We may
offer and sell these securities to or through one or more
underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a
continuous or delayed basis.
This
prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to
these securities and the general manner in which they may be
offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and
the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described
in a supplement to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus
and any applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you
invest.
See the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus on
page 3, our filings with the SEC and the applicable prospectus
supplement for certain risks that you should consider before
investing in our securities.
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state
securities commission or any other regulatory body has approved or
disapproved of these securities nor passed upon the accuracy or
adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is
a criminal offense.
The
date of this prospectus is July
30, 2021.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PROSPECTUS
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This
document is called a prospectus and is part of a registration
statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”), using a “shelf”
registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we
may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities
described in this prospectus in one or more offerings in amounts
that we will determine from time to time, up to a total dollar
amount of $300,000,000.
This
prospectus provides you with a general description of the
securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of
securities described in this prospectus we will provide a
prospectus supplement, incorporate information by reference into
this prospectus, or use other offering material, as applicable,
containing more specific information about the terms of the
securities that are being offered. We may also authorize one or
more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may
contain material information relating to these offerings and
securities. This prospectus, together with applicable prospectus
supplements, any information incorporated by reference, and any
related free writing prospectuses we file with the SEC, includes
all material information relating to these offerings and
securities. We may also add, update or change in the prospectus
supplement any of the information contained in this prospectus or
in the documents that we have incorporated by reference into this
prospectus, including without limitation, a discussion of any risk
factors or other special considerations that apply to these
offerings or securities or the specific plan of distribution. If
there is any inconsistency between the information in this
prospectus and a prospectus supplement or information incorporated
by reference having a later date, you should rely on the
information in that prospectus supplement or incorporated
information having a later date. We urge you to read carefully this
prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related
free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated
herein by reference as described under the heading
“Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference,”
before buying any of the securities being offered.
You
should rely only on the information we have provided or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable
prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. We
have not authorized anyone to provide you with different
information. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized
to give any information or to represent anything not contained in
this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any
related free writing prospectus.
Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made under it
implies that there has been no change in our affairs or that the
information in this prospectus is correct as of any date after the
date of this prospectus. You should assume that the information in
this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any
related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on
the front of the document and that any information we have
incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the
document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of
delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement
or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a
security.
The
registration statement containing this prospectus, including
exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional
information about us and the securities offered under this
prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have filed and plan to
continue to file other documents with the SEC that contain
information about us and our business. Also, we will file legal
documents that control the terms of the securities offered by this
prospectus as exhibits to the reports that we file with the SEC.
The registration statement and other reports can be read at the SEC
Internet site or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading
“Available Information.”
This
prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in
some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to
the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries
are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of
some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be
filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you
may obtain copies of those documents as described below under
“Available Information.”
We have
filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities
Act”), with respect to the securities covered by this
prospectus. This prospectus, which is a part of the registration
statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the
registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed
therewith. For further information with respect to us and the
securities covered by this prospectus, please see the registration
statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. A
copy of the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the
registration statement may be inspected without charge at the
Public Reference Room maintained by the SEC, located at 100 F
Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the
Public Reference Room. The SEC also maintains an Internet website
that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding registrants that file electronically with the
SEC. The address of the website is http://www.sec.gov.
We are
subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange
Act”), and, in accordance therewith, we file periodic
reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such
periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are
available for inspection and copying at the Public Reference Room
and website of the SEC referred to above. We maintain a website at
http://www.aemetis.com. You may access our Annual Reports on
Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on
Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to
Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free
of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after
such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the
SEC. Our website and the information contained on that site, or
connected to that site, are not incorporated into and are not a
part of this prospectus.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN
INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The
SEC’s rules allow us to incorporate by reference information
into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to another 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.
We
incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following
documents or information filed with the SEC (other than, in each
case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and
not filed in accordance with SEC rules):
●
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2020, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2021 (File No. 001-36475)
(including the Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on
April 30, 2021);
●
Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
2021, filed with the SEC on May 12, 2021;
●
Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 14, 2021
and January 27, 2021 (excluding any information furnished pursuant
to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of such Current Report on Form 8-K, if
applicable); and
●
The description of our common stock contained in the Registration
Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on June 3,
2014.
Additionally,
all documents filed by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after (i) the date of the
initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the
registration statement, and (ii) the date of this prospectus
and before the termination or completion of this offering, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus from
the respective dates of filing of such documents, except that we do
not incorporate any document or portion of a document that is
“furnished” to the SEC, but not deemed
“filed.” Any information that we subsequently file with
the SEC that is incorporated by reference as described above will
automatically update and supersede any previous information that is
part of this prospectus.
We
will provide without charge to each person, including any
beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon his or
her written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents
referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by
reference into this prospectus excluding exhibits to those
documents unless they are specifically incorporated by reference
into those documents. Written or telephone requests should be
directed to Aemetis, Inc., 20400 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite
700, Cupertino, CA 95014, Attention: Investor Relations; telephone:
+1 (408) 213-0940.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
prospectus, including the documents we incorporate by reference
into it, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the
Exchange Act, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
(the “PSLRA”) or in releases made by the SEC. Such
statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our
expectations, hopes or intentions regarding the future. Statements
that are not historical fact are forward-looking statements. These
forward looking statements can often be identified by their use of
words such as “expect,” “believe,”
“anticipate,” “outlook,”
“could,” “target,” “project,”
“intend,” “plan,” “seek,”
“estimate,” “should,” “will,”
“may” and “assume,” as well as variations
of such words and similar expressions referring to the future.
These cautionary statements are being made pursuant to the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the PSLRA with the intention
of obtaining the benefits of the “safe harbor”
provisions of such laws.
The forward-looking statements contained in or incorporated by
reference into this prospectus are largely based on our
expectations, which reflect estimates and assumptions made by our
management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best
judgment based on currently known market conditions and other
factors. Although we believe such estimates and assumptions to be
reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve
certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our
control. If any of those risks and uncertainties materialize,
actual results could differ materially from those discussed in any
such forward-looking statement. Among the factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those discussed in
forward-looking statements are those discussed under the heading
“Risk Factors” below, those discussed under the heading
“Risk Factors” and in other sections of our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as
well as in our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC
that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See
“Available Information” and “Incorporation of
Certain Information by Reference” for information about how
to obtain copies of those documents.
All readers are cautioned that the forward-looking statements
contained in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by
reference into this prospectus are not guarantees of future
performance, and we cannot assure any reader that such statements
will be realized or that the forward-looking events and
circumstances will occur. Actual results may differ materially from
those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking
statements. All forward-looking statements in this
prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into it are
made only as of the date of the document in which they are
contained, based on information available to us as of the date of
that document, and we caution you not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements in light of the risks and uncertainties
associated with them. Except as required by law, we undertake no
obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Investing
in our securities involves significant risks. You should review
carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading
“Risk Factors” contained in, or incorporated into, the
applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing
prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that
are incorporated by reference herein or therein. Each of the
referenced risks and uncertainties could adversely affect our
business, operating results and financial condition, as well as
adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities.
When we
offer and sell any securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement,
we may include additional risk factors relevant to such securities
in the prospectus supplement.
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL DATA
The
following tables set forth selected consolidated financial data for
the periods ended or as of the dates indicated. Such historical
consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with the
information set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2021
and incorporated herein by reference.
The
statement of operations data presented below for each of the years
ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the balance sheet data as of
December 31, 2020 and 2019, are derived from the audited
“Consolidated Financial Statements” contained in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the
results to be expected for any future periods.
(in
thousands, except for loss per share)
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Statement of Operations
Data
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Sales
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$165,557
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$201,998
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Cost of goods
sold
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154,532
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189,300
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Gross
profit
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11,025
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12,698
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Research and
development
expenses
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213
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205
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Selling, general
and administrative
expenses
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16,882
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17,424
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Operating
loss
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(6,070)
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(4,931)
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Interest rate
expense, debt related fees and amortization expense
|
26,344
|
25,755
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Accretion of Series
A preferred
units
|
4,673
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2,257
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Loss contingency on
litigation
|
-
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6,200
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Other expense
(income)
|
548
|
(797)
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Income tax
(benefit)
expense
|
(976)
|
1,131
|
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Net
loss
|
$(36,659)
|
$(39,477)
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Loss per common
share – basic and
diluted
|
$(1.74)
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$(1.75)
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Weighted average
shares outstanding – basic and
diluted
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21,012
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20,467
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Balance
Sheet Data
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Total
Assets
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$125,139
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$99,896
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Current
Liabilities
|
102,235
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57,819
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Long-term
Liabilities
|
207,648
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196,449
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Total
Stockholder’s
Deficit
|
$(184,744)
|
$(154,372)
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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY
OFFER
We
may issue from time to time, in one or more offerings the following
securities:
●
shares of common stock;
●
shares of preferred stock;
●
debt securities, which may be senior or subordinated and may be
convertible into or exchangeable for common stock;
●
warrants exercisable for debt securities, common stock or preferred
stock;
●
rights to purchase any of such securities; and
●
units of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or
warrants, in any combination.
This
prospectus contains a summary of the material general terms of the
various securities that we may offer. The specific terms of the
securities will be described in a prospectus supplement,
information incorporated by reference or related free writing
prospectus, which may be in addition to or different from the
general terms summarized in this prospectus. Where applicable, the
prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or
related free writing prospectus will also describe any material
United States federal income tax considerations relating to the
securities offered and indicate whether the securities offered are
or will be listed on any securities exchange. The summaries
contained in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplements,
information incorporated by reference or related free writing
prospectus may not contain all of the information that you would
find useful. Accordingly, you should read the actual documents
relating to any securities sold pursuant to this prospectus. See
“Available Information” and “Incorporation of
Certain Information by Reference” for information about how
to obtain copies of those documents.
The
terms of any particular offering, the initial offering price and
the net proceeds to us will be contained in the prospectus
supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing
prospectus, relating to such offering.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL
STOCK
General
The
following summary of the material features of our capital stock
does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in
its entirety by, the provisions of our amended and restated
articles of incorporation (“Articles of
Incorporation”), the Certificate of Designation of Series B
Preferred Stock, our bylaws (“Bylaws”) and other
applicable law. See “Available
Information.”
Authorized and Outstanding Capital Stock
Our
authorized capital stock consists of 40,000,000 shares of common
stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 65,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, of which 7,235,000
shares are designated as Series B Preferred Stock. As of July 30,
2021, there were 31,689,517 shares of common stock and
1,313,394 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 Articles of
Incorporation, including our Certificate of Designation of Series B
Preferred, and our Bylaws.
Common Stock
Dividends
Subject
to provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes, or the NRS, the
rights of holders of our Series B Preferred Stock and to any future
rights which may be granted to the holders of any series of our
preferred stock, dividends are paid on our common stock when and as
declared by our board of directors.
Voting rights
Each
holder of shares of our common stock is entitled to one vote per
share on all matters submitted to a vote of our common
stockholders. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to
cumulative voting rights.
Liquidation
If we
are liquidated, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive
all remaining assets available for distribution to stockholders
after satisfaction of our liabilities and the preferential rights
of any of our preferred stock that may be outstanding at that
time.
Preemptive rights
The
holders of our common stock do not have any preemptive, conversion
or redemption rights by virtue of their ownership of the common
stock.
Listing
Our
common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market and trades under
the symbol “AMTX.”
Transfer Agent And Registrar
The
Transfer Agent and Registrar for our common stock is
Equiniti.
Preferred Stock
Our
Articles of Incorporation authorize our Board of Directors
(“Board”) to issue shares of preferred stock in one or
more classes or series within a class upon authority of the Board
without further stockholder approval. Any preferred stock issued in
the future may rank senior to the Common Stock with respect to the
payment of dividends or amounts upon our liquidation, dissolution
or winding up. In addition, any such shares of preferred stock may
have class or series voting rights. Moreover, under certain
circumstances, the issuance of preferred stock or the existence of
the un-issued preferred stock might tend to discourage or render
more difficult a merger or other change in control. The issuance of
preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in
connection with possible
acquisitions
and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it
more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a
third party from acquiring, us or a majority of our outstanding
voting stock.
Series
B Preferred Stock
Voting
Holders
of our Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to the number of votes
equal to the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares
of Series B Preferred Stock held by such holder could be converted
as of the record date. Currently, each share of Series B Preferred
Stock is entitled to one-tenth (1/10) of a vote per share of Series
B Preferred Stock. In addition, without obtaining the approval of
the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding Series
B Preferred Stock, the Registrant cannot:
●
increase or decrease (other than by redemption or conversion) the
total number of authorized shares of Series B Preferred
Stock;
●
effect an exchange, reclassification or cancellation of all or a
part of the Series B Preferred Stock, including a reverse stock
split, but excluding a stock split;
●
effect an exchange, or create a right of exchange, of all or part
of the shares of another class of shares into shares of Series B
Preferred Stock; or
●
alter or change the rights, preferences or privileges of the shares
of Series B Preferred Stock so as to affect adversely the shares of
such series.
Dividends
Holders
of all of our shares of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to
receive noncumulative dividends payable in preference and prior to
any declaration or payment of any dividend on the Common Stock as
may from time to time be declared by the Board out of funds legally
available for that purpose at the rate of 5% of the original issue
price of $3.00 per share.
Liquidation Preference
In the
event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Registrant, the holders of the Series B Preferred
Stock are entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any
payment to the holders of the Common Stock, the original issue
price of $3.00 per share plus all declared but unpaid dividends (if
any) on the Series B Preferred Stock.
Conversion
Each
share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible, at the option of
the holder thereof at any time, into shares of Common Stock at the
then effective conversion rate. In addition, at such time as a
registration statement covering the resale of the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock
is declared effective, then all outstanding Series B Preferred
Stock shall be automatically converted into Common Stock at the
then effective conversion rate. The conversion rate of the Series B
Preferred Stock is adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends,
stock combinations, reclassifications, exchanges and the
like. Assuming all of the issued and outstanding shares
of Series B Preferred Stock are converted to Common Stock, the
1,313,394 issued and outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock
as of July 30, 2021 will be converted to an aggregate of 131,340
shares of Common Stock.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
Certain
provisions of Nevada law, our Articles of Incorporation and our
Bylaws may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging
another person from acquiring control of the Company.
Nevada Law
Nevada’s
“combinations with interested stockholders” statutes
(NRS 78.411 through 78.444, inclusive) prohibit specified types of
business “combinations” between certain Nevada
corporations and any person deemed to be an “interested
stockholder” for two years after such person first becomes an
“interested stockholder” unless the corporation’s
board of directors approves the combination (or the transaction by
which such person becomes an “interested stockholder”)
in advance, or unless the combination is approved by the board of
directors and sixty percent of the corporation’s voting power
not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder, its
affiliates and associates. Furthermore, in the absence of prior
approval certain restrictions may apply even after such two-year
period. For purposes of these statutes, an “interested
stockholder” is any person who is (1) the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of ten percent or more of the voting power
of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation, or (2) an
affiliate or associate of the corporation and at any time within
the two previous years was the beneficial owner, directly or
indirectly, of ten percent or more of the voting power of the
then-outstanding shares of the corporation. The definition of the
term “combination” is sufficiently broad to cover most
significant transactions between a corporation and an
“interested stockholder.”
Nevada’s
“acquisition of controlling interest” statutes (NRS
78.378 through 78.3793, inclusive) contain provisions governing the
acquisition of a controlling interest in certain Nevada
corporations. These “control share” laws provide
generally that any person that acquires a “controlling
interest” in certain Nevada corporations may be denied voting
rights, unless a majority of the disinterested stockholders of the
corporation elects to restore such voting rights. These laws would
apply to us if we were to have 200 or more stockholders as of the
record date (at least 100 of whom have had addresses in Nevada
appearing on our stock ledger at all times during the 90 days
immediately preceding such date) and do business in the State of
Nevada directly or through an affiliated corporation, unless the
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws in effect on the tenth day
after the acquisition of a controlling interest provide otherwise.
These laws provide that a person acquires a “controlling
interest” whenever a person acquires shares of a subject
corporation that, but for the application of these provisions of
the NRS, would enable that person to exercise (1) one-fifth or
more, but less than one-third, (2) one-third or more, but less than
a majority or (3) a majority or more, of all of the voting power of
the corporation in the election of directors. Once an acquirer
crosses one of these thresholds, shares which it acquired in the
transaction taking it over the threshold and within the 90 days
immediately preceding the date when the acquiring person acquired
or offered to acquire a controlling interest become “control
shares” to which the voting restrictions described above
apply.
In
addition, NRS 78.139 also provides that directors may resist a
change or potential change in control if the board of directors
determines that the change is opposed to, or not in, the best
interests of the corporation.
Board of Directors Vacancies
Generally,
under NRS 78.335, one or more of the incumbent directors may be
removed from office by the vote of stockholders representing
two-thirds or more of the voting power of the issued and
outstanding stock entitled to vote. In addition, if a court of
competent jurisdiction, or other governmental entity or regulatory
agency with authority over the corporation requires, without
providing any other reasonable and practicable alternative, that
any specified director cease to be a director in order for the
corporation to obtain, or avoid the suspension, conditioning or
revocation of, any permit, license, registration, franchise,
finding of suitability or similar authorization or approval
required for the conduct of all or any material portion of the
business of the corporation or any of its affiliates taken as a
whole and such requirement is not appealable or has otherwise
become final after declination or exhaustion of all appeals
therefrom, then that specified director may be removed as a
director by not less than a majority of the voting power of the
other directors, even if less than a quorum, acting at a meeting
and not by written consent and without a vote of the stockholders.
The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws authorize only the Board
to fill vacant directorships. In addition, the number of directors
constituting the Board is set only by resolution adopted by a
majority vote of the entire Board. These provisions prevent a
stockholder from increasing the size of the Board and gaining
control of the Board by filling the resulting vacancies with its
own nominees.
No Cumulative Voting
The NRS
does not permit stockholders to cumulate their votes other than in
the election of directors, and then only if expressly authorized by
the Articles of Incorporation. The Articles of Incorporation as
currently in effect do not provide for cumulative voting in
election of directors.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
STOCK
Shares
of our preferred stock may be issued in one or more series, and our
Board is authorized to determine the designation and to fix the
number of shares of each series. Our Board is further authorized to
fix and determine the dividend rate, premium or redemption rates,
conversion rights, voting rights, preferences, privileges,
restrictions and other variations granted to or imposed upon any
wholly unissued series of our preferred stock.
Prior
to the issuance of shares of a series of preferred stock, our Board
will adopt resolutions and file a certificate of designation with
the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada. The certificate of
designation will fix for each series the designation and number of
shares and the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of
the shares including, but not limited to, the
following:
●
voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;
●
any rights and terms of redemption;
●
the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or method(s)
of calculation applicable to the preferred stock;
●
whether dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative, and if
cumulative, the date from which dividends on the preferred stock
will accumulate;
●
the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to
dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of our affairs;
●
the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred
stock will be convertible into common stock, another series of
preferred stock, or any other class of securities being registered
hereby, including the conversion price (or manner of calculation)
and conversion period;
●
the provision for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred
stock;
●
the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred
stock;
●
liquidation preferences;
●
any limitations on the issuance of any class or series of preferred
stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the class or series of
preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of our affairs; and
●
any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or
restrictions of the preferred stock.
In
addition to the terms listed above, we will set forth in a
prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or
related free writing prospectus the following terms relating to the
class or series of preferred stock being offered:
●
the number of shares of the preferred stock offered, the
liquidation preference per share and the offering price of the
preferred stock;
●
the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any, for the
preferred stock;
●
any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange;
and
●
a discussion of any material and/or special United States federal
income tax considerations applicable to the preferred
stock.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT
SECURITIES
We
may issue debt securities in one or more distinct series. This
section summarizes the material terms of the debt securities that
are common to all series. Most of the financial terms and other
specific material terms of any series of debt securities that we
offer will be described in a prospectus supplement or term sheet to
be attached to the front of this prospectus. Since the terms of
specific debt securities may differ from the general information
provided below, you should rely on information in the prospectus
supplement or term sheet that contradicts different information
below.
As
required by federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that
are publicly offered, the debt securities are governed by a
document called an “indenture.” An indenture is a
contract between us and a financial institution acting as trustee
on your behalf. The trustee has two main roles. First, the trustee
can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some
limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf,
described in the second paragraph under “Events of
Default.” Second, the trustee performs certain administrative
duties for us.
Senior
and subordinated debt securities will be issued by us under an
indenture (the “indenture”), between us, as issuer, and
a trustee to be named therein, as trustee (the
“trustee”).
The
indenture is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended (the “TIA”). The terms
“we,” “our” and “us,” when used
to refer to an issuer of securities, means Aemetis,
Inc.
Because
this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the
debt securities and the indenture. We urge you to read the
indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights
as a holder of debt securities. For example, in this section, we
use capitalized words to signify terms that are specifically
defined in the indenture. Some of the definitions are repeated in
this prospectus, but for the rest you will need to read the
indenture. See “Where to Find More Information” for
information on how to locate the indenture and any supplemental
indentures that may be filed.
General Provisions of the Indenture
Each
series of debt securities will be unsecured obligations of Aemetis,
Inc. Any senior securities will rank equally with all other
unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Aemetis, Inc. Any
subordinated securities will be subordinated in right of payment to
the prior payment in full of the senior indebtedness of Aemetis,
Inc. as more fully described in a prospectus supplement or term
sheet.
The
indenture provides that any debt securities proposed to be sold
under this prospectus and the attached prospectus supplement or
term sheet (“offered debt securities”) and any debt
securities issuable upon the exercise of debt warrants or upon
conversion or exchange of other offered securities
(“underlying debt securities”), as well as other
unsecured debt securities, may be issued under the indenture in one
or more series.
You
should read the prospectus supplement or term sheet for the
material terms of the offered debt securities and any underlying
debt securities, including the following:
●
The title of the debt securities and whether the debt securities
will be senior securities or subordinated securities of Aemetis,
Inc.
●
The total principal amount of the debt securities of the series and
any limit on such total principal amount.
●
If not the principal amount of the debt securities, the portion of
the principal amount payable upon acceleration of the maturity of
the debt securities or how this portion will be
determined.
●
The date or dates, or how the date or dates will be determined or
extended, when the principal of the debt securities will be
payable.
●
The interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, that
the debt securities will bear, if any, or how the rate or rates
will be determined, the date or dates from which any interest will
accrue or how the date or dates will be determined, the interest
payment dates, any record dates for these payments and the basis
upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
●
Any optional redemption provisions.
●
Any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to
repurchase or otherwise redeem the debt
securities.
●
The form in which we will issue the debt securities and whether we
will have the option of issuing debt securities in
“certificated” form.
●
If other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which the
debt securities are denominated and/or payable.
●
Whether the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest,
if any, on the debt securities will be determined with reference to
an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method
may be based, without limitation, on one or more currencies,
commodities, equity indices or other indices), and how these
amounts will be determined.
●
The place or places, if any, other than or in addition to The City
of New York, of payment, transfer, conversion and/or exchange of
the debt securities.
●
If other than minimum denominations of $2,000 or any integral
multiple of $1,000 above the minimum denomination in the case of
registered securities issued in certificated form, the
denominations in which the offered debt securities will be
issued.
●
If the provisions of Article Fourteen of the indenture described
under “defeasance” are not applicable and any
provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of
these provisions.
●
Whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional
amounts, as contemplated by Section 1010 of the indenture, in
respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so,
whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities
rather than pay the additional amounts (and the terms of this
option).
●
Whether the securities are subordinated and the terms of such
subordination.
●
Any provisions granting special rights to the holders of the debt
securities upon the occurrence of specified events.
●
Any changes or additions to the Events of Default or covenants
contained in the applicable indenture.
●
Whether the debt securities will be convertible into or
exchangeable for any other securities and the applicable terms and
conditions.
●
Any other material terms of the debt securities.
For
purposes of this prospectus, any reference to the payment of
principal of or premium or interest, if any, on the debt securities
will include additional amounts if required by the terms of the
debt securities.
The
indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that may be
issued thereunder from time to time. Debt securities issued under
the indenture when a single trustee is acting for all debt
securities issued under the indenture are called the
“indenture securities.” The indenture also provides
that there may be more than one trustee thereunder, each with
respect to one or more different series of indenture securities.
See “—Resignation of Trustee” below. At a time
when two or more trustees are acting under the indenture, each with
respect to only certain series, the term “indenture
securities” means the one or more series of debt securities
with respect to which each respective trustee is acting. In the
event that there is more than one trustee under the indenture, the
powers and trust obligations of each trustee described in this
prospectus will extend only to the one or more series of indenture
securities for which it is trustee. If two or more trustees are
acting under the indenture, then the indenture securities for which
each trustee is acting would be treated as if issued under separate
indentures.
The
indenture does not contain any provisions that give you protection
in the event we issue a large amount of debt, we repurchase a
significant amount of equity or effect a recapitalization, or we
are acquired by another entity.
We
refer you to the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet for
information with respect to any deletions from, modifications of or
additions to the Events of Default or our covenants that are
described below, including any addition of a covenant or other
provision providing event risk or similar protection.
We have
the ability to issue indenture securities with terms different from
those of indenture securities previously issued and, without the
consent of the holders thereof, to reopen a previous issue of a
series of indenture securities and issue additional indenture
securities of that series unless the reopening was restricted when
that series was created.
Unless
otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or term
sheet, the debt securities will be denominated in U.S. dollars and
all payments on the debt securities will be made in U.S.
dollars.
Payment
of the purchase price of the debt securities must be made in
immediately available funds.
The
authorized denominations of debt securities denominated in U.S.
dollars will be a minimum denomination of $2,000 and integral
multiples of $1,000 above the minimum denomination. The authorized
denominations of foreign currency Notes will be set forth in the
applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet.
Interest
and Interest Rates
Each
debt security will begin to accrue interest from the date it is
originally issued. The related prospectus supplement or term sheet
will describe the method of determining the interest
rate.
Interest
on the debt securities other than in global form denominated in
U.S. dollars will be paid by check mailed on an Interest Payment
Date to the persons entitled thereto to the addresses of such
holders as they appear in the security register or, at our option,
by wire transfer to a bank account maintained by the holder. The
principal of, and premium, if any, and, if other than an Interest
Payment Date, interest on debt securities denominated in U.S.
dollars, together with interest accrued and unpaid thereon, due on
the Maturity Date will be paid in immediately available funds upon
surrender of such debt securities at the corporate trust office of
the trustee in The City of New York, or, at our option, by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account with a bank
designated at least 15 calendar days prior to the Maturity Date by
the applicable registered holder, provided the particular bank has
appropriate facilities to receive these payments and the particular
Note is presented and surrendered at the office or agency
maintained by us for this purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York, in time for the trustee to make these payments in
accordance with its normal procedures.
Global Securities
General
We
usually will issue debt securities as registered securities in
book-entry form only. A global security represents one or any other
number of individual debt securities. Generally, all debt
securities represented by the same global securities will have the
same terms.
Each
debt security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a
global security that we deposit with, or on behalf of, and register
in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we
select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose
is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the
applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, The Depository
Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the
depositary for all debt securities issued in book-entry
form.
A
global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name
of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special
termination situations arise. We describe those situations below
under “Special Situations when a Global Security Will Be
Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the
depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and
holder of all debt securities represented by a global security, and
investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a
global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an
account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in
turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution
that has an account with the depositary. Thus, an investor whose
security is represented by a global security will not be a holder
of the debt security, but only an indirect owner of a beneficial
interest in the global security.
Special Considerations for Global Securities
As an
indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global
security will be governed by the account rules of the
investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as
well as general laws relating to securities transfers. The
depositary that holds the global security will be considered the
holder of the debt securities represented by the global
security.
If debt
securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an
investor should be aware of the following:
●
An investor cannot cause the debt securities to be registered in
his or her name, and cannot obtain certificates for his or her
interest in the debt securities, except in the special situations
we describe below.
●
An investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her
own bank or broker for payments on the debt securities and
protection of his or her legal rights relating to the debt
securities.
●
An investor may not be able to sell interests in the debt
securities to some insurance companies and other institutions that
are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry
form.
●
An investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a
global security in circumstances where certificates representing
the debt securities must be delivered to the lender or other
beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be
effective.
●
The depositary’s policies, which may change from time to
time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters
relating to an investor’s interest in a global security. We
and the trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the
depositary’s actions or for its records of
ownership
interests in
a global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the
depositary in any way.
●
If we redeem less than all the debt securities of a particular
series being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot
the amount to be redeemed from each of its participants holding
that series.
●
An investor is required to give notice of exercise of any option to
elect repayment of its debt securities, through its participant, to
the trustee and to deliver the related debt securities by causing
its participant to transfer its interest in those debt securities,
on DTC’s records, to the trustee.
●
DTC requires that those who purchase and sell interests in a global
security deposited in its book−entry system use immediately
available funds. Your broker or bank may also require you to use
immediately available funds when purchasing or selling interests in
a global security.
●
Financial institutions that participate in the
depositary’s book−entry system, and through which an
investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have
their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters
relating to the debt securities. There may be more than one
financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor.
We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of
those intermediaries.
Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be
Terminated
In a
few special situations described below, a global security will be
terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for debt
securities of the same series in non−book−entry form
(certificated debt securities). After that exchange, the choice of
whether to hold the certificated debt securities directly or in
street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult
their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests
in a global security transferred on termination to their own names,
so that they will be holders.
The
special situations for termination of a global security are as
follows:
●
if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no
longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global
security, and we do not appoint another institution to act as
depositary within 90 days,
●
if we notify the trustee that we wish to terminate that global
security, or
●
if an event of default has occurred with regard to the debt
securities represented by that global security and has not been
cured or waived; we discuss defaults later under “Events of
Default.”
The
prospectus supplement or term sheet may list situations for
terminating a global security that would apply only to the
particular series of debt securities covered by the prospectus
supplement or term sheet. If a global security is terminated, only
the depositary, and not we or the trustee, will be responsible for
deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the debt
securities represented by the global security will be registered
and, therefore, who will be the holders of those debt
securities.
Payment and Paying Agents
We will
pay interest to the person listed in the trustee’s records as
the owner of the debt security at the close of business on a
particular day in advance of each regularly scheduled date for
interest, even if that person no longer owns the debt security on
the interest due date. That day, typically set at a date
approximately two weeks prior to the interest due date, is called
the “record date.” Because we will pay all the interest
for an interest period to the holders on the record date, holders
buying and selling debt securities must work out between themselves
the appropriate purchase price. The most common manner is to adjust
the sales price of the debt securities to prorate interest fairly
between buyer and seller based on their respective ownership
periods within the particular interest period. This prorated
interest amount is called “accrued
interest.”
Payments on Global Securities
We will
make payments on a global security in accordance with the
applicable policies of the depositary as in effect from time to
time. Under those policies, we will make payments directly to the
depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect holders who own
beneficial interests in the global security. An indirect
holder’s right to those payments will be governed by the
rules and practices of the depositary and its participants, as
described under “General” above.
Payments on Certificated Debt Securities
We will
make payments on a certificated debt security as follows. We will
pay interest that is due on an interest payment date by check
mailed on the interest payment date to the holder at his or her
address shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of
business on the regular record date. We will make payments of
principal and premium, if any, duly and punctually to the office of
the trustee.
Alternatively,
if the holder asks us to do so, we may pay any amount that becomes
due on the debt security by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to an account at a bank in New York City, on the due date. To
request payment by wire, the holder must give the trustee or other
paying agent appropriate transfer instructions at least 15 calendar
days before the requested wire payment is due. In the case of any
interest payment due on an interest payment date, the instructions
must be given by the person who is the holder on the relevant
regular record date. Any wire instructions, once properly given,
will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given
in the manner described above. In addition, see the description
under “Interest and Interest Rates.”
Material Covenants
Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance
The
indenture provides that we may not consolidate with or merge into
any other entity or convey, transfer or lease our properties
and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any
entity, unless:
●
the successor or transferee entity, if other than us, is a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United
States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and expressly
assumes by a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the
trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the trustee, the due
and punctual payment of the principal of, any premium on and any
interest on, all of our outstanding debt securities and the
performance of every covenant and obligation in the indenture to be
performed or observed by us; immediately after giving effect to the
transaction, no Event of Default, as defined in the indenture, and
no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become
an Event of Default, has happened and is continuing;
and
●
we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and
an opinion of counsel, each in the form required by the indenture
and stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer
or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection
with such transaction, such supplemental indenture complies with
the foregoing provisions relating to such transaction.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, conveyance
or transfer, the successor entity will succeed to and be
substituted for us as obligor on the debt securities with the same
effect as if it had been named in the indenture as
issuer.
Restrictions on Liens
We will
not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create,
incur, issue, assume or guarantee any indebtedness for money
borrowed secured by a Mortgage (“Secured Debt”) upon
any Operating Property or any shares of stock or indebtedness for
borrowed money of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether owned at the
date of the indenture or thereafter acquired, without effectively
providing concurrently that the debt securities of each series then
outstanding under the indenture are secured equally and ratably
with or, at our option, prior to such Secured Debt so long as such
Secured Debt shall be so secured.
The
foregoing restriction shall not apply to, and there shall be
excluded from Secured Debt in any computation under such
restriction, Secured Debt secured by:
(1) Mortgages
on any property, shares of stock or indebtedness for borrowed money
of any corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary;
(2) Mortgages
on property or shares of stock existing at the time of acquisition
of such property or stock by us or a Restricted Subsidiary or
existing as of the original date of the applicable
indenture;
(3) Mortgages
to secure the payment of all or any part of the price of
acquisition, construction or improvement of such property or stock
by us or a Restricted Subsidiary, or to secure any Secured Debt
incurred by us or a Restricted Subsidiary, prior to, at the time
of, or within 360 days after, the later of the acquisition or
completion of construction (including any improvements on an
existing property), which Secured Debt is incurred for the purpose
of financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof or
construction of improvements thereon; provided, however, that, in
the case of any such acquisition, construction or improvement, the
Mortgage shall not apply to any property theretofore owned by us or
a Restricted Subsidiary, other than, in the case of any such
construction or improvement, any theretofore substantially
unimproved real property on which the property or improvement so
constructed is located;
(4) Mortgages
securing Secured Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to us or to
another Restricted Subsidiary;
(5) Mortgages
on property of a corporation existing at the time such corporation
is merged into or consolidated with us or a Restricted Subsidiary
or at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of the
properties of a corporation or firm as an entirety or substantially
as an entirety to us or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(6) Mortgages
on property of us or a Restricted Subsidiary in favor of the United
States or any state thereof, or any department, agency or
instrumentality or political subdivision of the United States or
any state thereof, or in favor of any other country or any
political subdivision thereof, or any department, agency or
instrumentality of such country or political subdivision, to secure
partial progress, advance or other payments pursuant to any
contract or statute or to secure any indebtedness incurred for the
purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or the
cost of construction of the property subject to such
Mortgages;
(7) Any
extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions,
renewals or replacements) in whole or in part of any Mortgage
referred to in clauses (1) through (6) above and (9) below;
provided, however, that the principal amount of Secured Debt so
secured shall not exceed the principal amount of Secured Debt so
secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, and
that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all
or a part of the property which secured the Mortgage so extended,
renewed or replaced (plus improvements and construction on such
property);
(8) Mortgages
upon any Operating Property, or any transfer or disposition of any
Operating Property, that is created or implemented as a necessary
component of a bond for title transaction, payment in lieu of tax
agreement or other tax incentive vehicle designed to provide us or
any Subsidiary with certain ad valorem property tax savings or
other incentive savings; or
(9) Mortgages
to secure Hedging Obligations entered into the ordinary course of
business to purchase any raw material or other commodity or to
hedge risks or reduce costs with respect to the interest rate,
currency or commodity exposure of us or any Restricted
Subsidiary of ours and not for speculative purposes.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, we and any one or more of our Restricted
Subsidiaries may, however, without securing any debt securities,
create, incur, issue, assume or guarantee Secured Debt secured by a
Mortgage if, after giving effect to the transaction, the aggregate
of the Secured Debt then outstanding (not including Secured Debt
permitted under the above exceptions) does not exceed 15% of our
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as shown on our financial
statements as of the end of the fiscal year preceding the date of
determination.
“Commodity
Agreement” means any forward contract, commodity swap,
commodity option or other financial agreement or arrangement
relating to, or the value of which is dependent upon, fluctuations
in commodity prices.
“Consolidated
Net Tangible Assets” means the total assets of Aemetis, Inc.
and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any
net investment in Subsidiaries that are not Restricted
Subsidiaries) after deducting therefrom (a) all current liabilities
(excluding any thereof constituting indebtedness for borrowed
money) and (b) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, franchises,
patents, unamortized debt discount and expense, organization and
developmental expenses and other like segregated intangibles, all
as computed by us and our Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles as of the end of the
fiscal year preceding the date of determination; provided, that any
items constituting deferred income taxes, deferred investment tax
credit or other similar items shall not be taken into account as a
liability or as a deduction from or adjustment to total
assets.
“Currency
Agreement” means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap
agreement or other similar agreement with respect to currency
values.
“GAAP”
means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles set forth in
the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board
of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and
statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards
Board or in such other statements by such other successor entities
as have been sanctioned and approved by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, approved by a significant segment of the
accounting profession, that are applicable at the date of any
relevant calculation or determination.
“Hedging
Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such
Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Agreement,
Commodity Agreement or derivative contract entered into to hedge
interest rate risk, currency exchange risk, and commodity price
risk.
“Interest
Rate Agreement” means any interest rate swap agreement,
interest rate cap agreement or other financial agreement or
arrangement with respect to exposure to interest
rates.
“Mortgage”
or “Mortgages” means any mortgage, pledge, lien,
security interest or other encumbrances upon any Operating Property
or any shares of stock or on indebtedness for borrowed money of any
Restricted Subsidiary (whether such Operating Property, shares of
stock or indebtedness for borrowed money are now owned or hereafter
acquired).
“Operating
Property” means each plant or facility of Aemetis, Inc. or a
Restricted Subsidiary located within the United States except any
such plant or facility which the Board of Directors of Aemetis,
Inc. by resolution reasonably determines not to be of material
importance to the total business conducted by us and our Restricted
Subsidiaries.
“Person”
means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof.
“Restricted
Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of us (i) substantially all
of the property of which is located, or substantially all of the
business of which is carried on, within the United States, and (ii)
which owns or is the lessee of any Operating Property.
“Subsidiary”
means (1) any corporation of which at least a majority of the
outstanding stock having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power
for the election of directors of such corporation (irrespective of
whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes of
such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of
the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or
indirectly owned by us or by one or more other Subsidiaries
and (2) any other Person in which we or one or more other
Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination,
(x) own at least a majority of the outstanding ownership interests
or (y) have the power to elect or direct the election of, or to
appoint or approve the appointment of, at least the majority of the
directors, trustees or managing members of, or other persons
holding similar positions with, such Person.
Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback Transactions
We will
not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into
any Sale and Leaseback Transaction unless:
(1) we
or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to create, incur,
issue, assume or guarantee indebtedness secured by a Mortgage upon
such property at least equal in amount to the Attributable Debt in
respect of such arrangement without equally and ratably securing
the debt securities; provided, however, that from and after the
date on which such arrangement becomes effective, the Attributable
Debt in respect of such arrangement shall be deemed, for all
purposes described under “—Restrictions on Liens”
above, to be Secured Debt subject to the provisions of the
covenants described therein;
(2) since
the original date of the indenture and within a period commencing
twelve months prior to the consummation of such Sale and Leaseback
Transaction and ending twelve months after the consummation of such
Sale and Leaseback Transaction, we or any Restricted Subsidiary, as
the case may be, has expended or will expend for the Operating
Property an amount equal to (A) the net proceeds of such Sale and
Leaseback Transaction, and we elect to designate such amount as a
credit against such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, or (B) a part
of the net proceeds of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction and we
elect to designate such amount as a credit against such Sale and
Leaseback Transaction and apply an amount equal to the remainder of
the net proceeds as provided in the following paragraph;
or
(3) such
Sale and Leaseback Transaction does not come within the exceptions
provided by the first paragraph above under
“—Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback
Transactions” and we do not make the election permitted by
the second paragraph under “—Restrictions on Sale and
Leaseback Transactions” or make such election only as to a
part of such net proceeds, in either of which events we shall apply
an amount in cash equal to the Attributable Debt in respect of such
arrangement (less any amount elected under the second paragraph
under “—Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback
Transactions”) to the retirement, within 360 days of the
effective date of any such arrangement, of indebtedness for
borrowed money of we or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than
indebtedness for borrowed money of Aemetis, Inc. which is
subordinated to the debt securities) which by its terms matures at
or is extendible or renewable at the sole option of the obligor
without requiring the consent of the obligees to a date more than
twelve months after the date of the creation of such indebtedness
for borrowed money (it being understood that such retirement may be
made by prepayment of such indebtedness for borrowed money, if
permitted by the terms thereof, as well as by payment at maturity,
and that at our option and pursuant to the terms of the indenture,
such indebtedness may include the debt securities).
“Attributable
Debt” under the indenture means the present value (discounted
at the interest rate inherent in the lease, compounded annually) of
the obligation of a lessee for net rental payments during the
remaining term of any lease (including any period for which such
lease has been extended).
“Sale
and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement with any
person providing for the leasing by us or any Restricted Subsidiary
of any Operating Property, whether such Operating Property is now
owned or hereafter acquired (except for temporary leases for a
term, including renewals at the option of the lessee, of not more
than three years and except for leases between us and a Restricted
Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries), which property has
been or is to be sold or transferred by us or such Restricted
Subsidiary to such person with the intention of taking back a lease
of such property.
Events of Default
An
event of default with respect to the debt securities of any series
is defined in the indenture as:
(a) default
for 30 days in payment of any interest on the debt securities of
such series when it becomes due and payable;
(b) default in
payment of principal of or any premium on the debt securities of
such series at maturity or upon redemption or repayment when the
same becomes due and payable;
(c) default by
us in the performance of any other covenant contained in the
applicable indenture for the benefit of the debt securities of such
series that has not been remedied by the end of a period of 90 days
after notice is given as specified in the indenture;
(d) default in
the payment of principal or an acceleration of other indebtedness
for borrowed money of Aemetis, Inc. where the aggregate principal
amount with respect to which the default or acceleration has
occurred exceeds $25 million and such acceleration has not been
rescinded or annulled or such indebtedness repaid within a period
of 30 days after written notice to us by the trustee or to us and
the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of
all outstanding debt securities under the indenture, provided that
if any such default is cured, waived, rescinded or annulled, then
the event of default by reason thereof would be deemed not to have
occurred; and
(e) certain
events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization of Aemetis,
Inc.
The
indenture provides that:
●
if an event of default described in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d)
above has occurred and is continuing, either the trustee or the
holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
debt securities of the applicable series may declare the principal
amount of the debt securities then outstanding, and any accrued and
unpaid interest through the date of such declaration, to be due and
payable immediately;
●
upon certain conditions such declarations may be annulled and past
defaults (except for defaults in the payment of principal of, or
any premium or interest on the debt securities and in compliance
with certain covenants) may be waived by the holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the
applicable series; and
●
if an event of default described in clause (e) occurs and is
continuing, then the principal amount of all debt securities issued
under the indenture, together with any accrued interest through the
occurrence of such event, shall become and be due and payable
immediately, without any declaration or other act by the trustee or
any other holder.
Under
the indenture, the trustee must give to the holders of debt
securities of any series notice of all uncured defaults known to it
with respect to the debt securities of such series within 90 days
after such a default occurs (the term default to include the events
specified above without notice or grace periods); provided that,
except in the case of default in the payments of principal of or
any premium or interest on any of the debt securities of such
series, the trustee will be protected in withholding such notice if
it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is
in the best interest of the holders of such debt
securities.
No
holder of any debt securities may institute any action under the
indenture unless:
●
such holder has given the trustee written notice of a continuing
event of default with respect to the debt securities;
●
the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of
the debt securities of the applicable series have requested the
trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such event of
default;
●
such holder or holders have offered the trustee such reasonable
indemnity as the trustee may require; the trustee has failed to
institute an action for 60 days thereafter; and
●
no inconsistent direction has been given to the trustee during such
60-day period by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of such debt securities.
The
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt
securities of any series will have the right, subject to certain
limitations, 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 such series. The indenture provides that, if an
event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee, in
exercising its rights and powers under the indenture, will be
required to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct
of his own affairs. The indenture further provides that the trustee
shall not be required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise
incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its
duties under the indenture unless it has reasonable grounds for
believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity
against such risk or liability is reasonably assured to
it.
We must
furnish to the trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal
year a statement signed by an officer thereof to the effect that a
review of our activities during such year and our performance under
the indenture and the terms of the debt securities has been made,
and, to the knowledge of the signatories based on such review, we
have complied with all conditions and covenants of the indenture
or, if we are in default, specifying such default.
Modification of the Indenture
We and
the trustee may, without the consent of the holders of the debt
securities issued under such indenture, enter into supplemental
indentures for, among others, one or more of the following
purposes:
●
to evidence the succession of another corporation to us and the
assumption by such successor of its obligations under the indenture
and the debt securities;
●
to add covenants of Aemetis, Inc. or surrender of any of its
rights, or add any rights for the benefit of the holders of debt
securities;
●
to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency in such
indenture;
●
to establish the form or terms of any other series of debt
securities, including any subordinated securities;
●
to evidence and provide the acceptance of any successor trustee
with respect to the debt securities or one or more other series of
debt securities under the indenture or to facilitate the
administration of the trusts thereunder by one or more trustees in
accordance with the indenture; and
●
to provide any additional events of default.
With
certain exceptions, the indenture or the rights of the holders of
the debt securities may be modified by us and the trustee with the
consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the debt securities then outstanding affected thereby, but no
such modification may be made without the consent of the holder of
each outstanding note affected thereby that would:
●
change the maturity of the principal of, or any premium on, or any
installment of principal of or interest on any debt securities, or
reduce the principal amount or any premium or the rate or manner of
calculating interest or any premium payable upon redemption or
repayment of any debt securities, or change the dates or periods
for any redemption or repayment or change any place of payment
where, or the coin or currency in which, any principal, premium or
interest is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after the maturity thereof
(or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the
redemption or repayment date);
●
reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt
securities, the consent of whose holders is required for any such
modification, or the consent of whose holders is required for any
waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or
certain defaults thereunder and their consequences provided for in
the indenture; or
●
modify any of the provisions of certain sections of the indenture,
including the provisions summarized in this paragraph, 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 of the outstanding debt
securities affected thereby.
Defeasance
The
following provisions will be applicable to each series of debt
securities unless we state in the applicable prospectus supplement
or term sheet that the provisions of covenant defeasance and full
defeasance will not be applicable to that series.
Covenant Defeasance
Under
current United States federal tax law, we can make the deposit
described below and be released from some of the restrictive
covenants in the indenture under which the particular series was
issued. This is called “covenant defeasance.” In that
event, you would lose the protection of those restrictive covenants
but would gain the protection of having money and government
securities set aside in trust to repay your debt securities. In
order to achieve covenant defeasance, we must do the
following:
●
Deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of such debt
securities a combination of money and government or government
agency debt securities or bonds in the relevant currency that will
generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other
payments on the debt securities of such series in the relevant
currency on their various due dates.
●
Deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming
that, under current United States federal income tax law, we may
make the above deposit without causing you to be taxed on the debt
securities of such series any differently than if we did not make
the deposit and just repaid such debt securities ourselves at
maturity.
If we
accomplish covenant defeasance, you can still look to us for
repayment of the debt securities if there were a shortfall in the
trust deposit or the trustee is prevented from making payment. In
fact, if one of the remaining Events of Default occurred (such as
our bankruptcy) and the debt securities became immediately due and
payable, there might be a shortfall. Depending on the event causing
the default, you may not be able to obtain payment of the
shortfall.
Full Defeasance
If
there is a change in United States federal tax law, as described
below, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other
obligations on the debt securities of a particular series (called
“full defeasance”) if we put in place the following
other arrangements for you to be repaid:
●
We must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of the debt
securities of such series a combination of money and government or
government agency debt securities or bonds in the relevant currency
that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any
other payments on the debt securities of such series in the
relevant currency on their various due dates.
●
We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion confirming that
there has been a change in current United States federal tax law or
an Internal Revenue Service ruling that allows us to make the above
deposit without causing you to be taxed on the debt securities of
such series any differently than if we did not make the deposit and
just repaid such debt securities ourselves at maturity. Under
current United States federal tax law, the deposit and our legal
release from the debt securities of such series would be treated as
though we paid you your share of the cash and debt securities or
bonds at the time the cash and debt securities or bonds were
deposited in trust in exchange for your debt securities and you
would recognize gain or loss on your debt securities at the time of
the deposit.
If we
ever did accomplish full defeasance, as described above, you would
have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment of the debt
securities of such series. You could not look to us for repayment
in the unlikely event of any
shortfall.
Conversely, the trust deposit would most likely be protected from
claims of our lenders and other creditors if we ever became
bankrupt or insolvent.
Legal
defeasance and full defeasance are both subject to certain
conditions, such as no default or event of default occurring and
continuing, and no breach of any material agreement.
Discharge of the Indenture
We may
satisfy and discharge our obligations under the indenture by
delivering to the trustee for cancellation all outstanding debt
securities or by depositing with the trustee or the paying agent
after the debt securities have become due and payable, whether at
stated maturity, or any redemption or repayment date, or otherwise,
cash sufficient to pay all of the outstanding debt securities and
paying all other sums payable under the indenture.
Form, Exchange and Transfer of Certificated Debt
Securities
If
registered debt securities cease to be issued in book-entry form,
they will be issued:
●
only in fully registered certificated form,
●
without interest coupons, and
●
unless we indicate otherwise in the prospectus supplement or term
sheet, in a minimum denomination of $2,000 and amounts above the
minimum denomination that are integral multiples of
$1,000.
Holders may exchange their certificated debt
securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt
securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal
amount is not changed.
Holders
may exchange or transfer their certificated debt securities at the
office of the trustee. We have appointed the trustee to act as our
agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders
transferring debt securities. We may appoint another entity to
perform these functions or perform them ourselves.
Holders
will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or
exchange their certificated securities, but they may be required to
pay any tax or other governmental charge associated with the
transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange will be made only if
our transfer agent is satisfied with the holder’s proof of
legal ownership.
If we
have designated additional transfer agents for your debt security,
they will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement or term
sheet. We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the
appointment of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a
change in the office through which any transfer agent
acts.
If any
certificated debt securities of a particular series are redeemable
and we redeem less than all the debt securities of that series, we
may block the transfer or exchange of those debt securities during
the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of
redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to
freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also
refuse to register transfers or exchanges of any certificated debt
securities selected for redemption, except that we will continue to
permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any
debt security that will be partially redeemed.
If a
registered debt security is issued in book−entry form, only
the depositary will be entitled to transfer and exchange the debt
security as described in this subsection, since it will be the sole
holder of the debt security.
Resignation of Trustee
The
trustee may resign or be removed at any time with respect to one or
more series of indenture securities provided that a successor
trustee is appointed to act with respect to these series. In the
event that two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect
to different series of indenture securities under the indenture,
each of the trustees will be a trustee of a trust separate and
apart from the trust administered by any other
trustee.
The Trustee Under the Indenture
The
trustee may be one of a number of banks with which we maintain
ordinary banking relationships and from which we may obtain credit
facilities and lines of credit in the future. The trustee may also
serve as trustee under other indentures under which we are the
obligor in the future.
General
We may
issue warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock, preferred
stock or any combination of these securities. We may issue the
warrants independently or together with any underlying securities,
and the warrants may be attached or separate from the underlying
securities. We may also issue a series of warrants under a separate
warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant
agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection
with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation
or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners
of warrants.
The
following description is a summary of selected provisions relating
to the warrants that we may issue. The summary is not complete.
When warrants are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement,
information incorporated by reference or related free writing
prospectus, as applicable, will explain the particular terms of
those securities and the extent to which these general provisions
may apply. The specific terms of the warrants as described in a
prospectus supplement information, incorporated by reference or
related free writing prospectus will supplement and, if applicable,
may modify or replace the general terms described in this
section.
This
summary and any description of warrants in the applicable
prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or
related free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to all the provisions of any specific
warrant document or agreement, which we will file with the SEC for
incorporation by reference into this prospectus. See
“Available Information” and “Incorporation of
Certain Information by Reference” for information on how to
obtain a copy of a warrant document when it is filed.
When we
refer to a series of warrants, we mean all warrants issued as part
of the same series under the applicable warrant
agreement.
Terms
The
applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by
reference or related free writing prospectus, may describe the
terms of any warrants that we may offer, including but not limited
to the following:
●
the title of the warrants;
●
the total number of warrants;
●
the price or prices at which the warrants will be
issued;
●
the currency or currencies that investors may use to pay for the
warrants;
●
the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence
and the date on which the right will expire;
●
whether the warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer
form;
●
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if
any;
●
if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may
be exercised at any one time;
●
if applicable, the designation and terms of the underlying
securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of
warrants issued with each underlying security;
●
if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the
related underlying securities will be separately transferable; if
applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income
tax considerations;
●
if applicable, the terms of redemption of the
warrants;
●
the identity of the warrant agent, if any;
●
the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the
warrants; and
●
any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures, and
limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the
warrants.
Warrant Agreements
We may
issue the warrants in one or more series under one or more warrant
agreements, each to be entered into between us and a bank, trust
company, or other financial institution as warrant agent. We may
add, replace, or terminate warrant agents from time to time. We may
also choose to act as our own warrant agent or may choose one of
our subsidiaries to do so.
The
warrant agent under a warrant agreement will act solely as our
agent in connection with the warrants issued under that agreement.
The warrant agent will not assume any obligation or relationship of
agency or trust for or with any holders of those warrants. Any
holder of warrants may, without the consent of any other person,
enforce by appropriate legal action, on its own behalf, its right
to exercise those warrants in accordance with their terms. Until
the warrant is properly exercised, no holder of any warrant will be
entitled to any rights of a holder of the warrant property
purchasable upon exercise of the warrant.
Form, Exchange, and Transfer
We may
issue the warrants in registered form or bearer form. Warrants
issued in registered form, i.e., book-entry form, will be
represented by a global security registered in the name of a
depository, which will be the holder of all the warrants
represented by the global security. Those investors who own
beneficial interests in a global warrant will do so through
participants in the depository’s system, and the rights of
these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable
procedures of the depository and its participants. In addition, we
may issue warrants in non-global form, i.e., bearer form. If any warrants are
issued in non-global form, warrant certificates may be exchanged
for new warrant certificates of different denominations, and
holders may exchange, transfer, or exercise their warrants at the
warrant agent’s office or any other office indicated in the
applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by
reference or related free writing prospectus.
Prior
to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable
for debt securities will not have any of the rights of holders of
the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be
entitled to payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest,
if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise.
Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants
exercisable for shares of preferred stock or common stock will not
have any rights of holders of the preferred stock or common stock
purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to dividend
payments, if any, or voting rights of the preferred stock or common
stock purchasable upon such exercise.
Exercise of Warrants
A
warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash an amount of
securities at an exercise price that will be stated in, or that
will be determinable as described in, the applicable prospectus
supplement, information incorporated by reference or related free
writing prospectus. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the
close of business on the expiration date set forth in the
applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by
reference or related free writing prospectus. After the close of
business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become
void. Warrants may be redeemed as set forth in the applicable
prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or
related free writing prospectus.
Warrants
may be exercised as set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement, information incorporated by reference or related free
writing prospectus. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant
certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate
trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in
the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or
related free writing prospectus, we will forward, as soon as
practicable, the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less
than all of the warrants represented by such warrant certificate
are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the
remaining warrants.
We may
issue rights to purchase our debt securities, common stock or
preferred stock. These rights may be issued independently or
together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not
be transferable by the stockholder receiving the rights in such
offering. In connection with any offering of such rights, we may
enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or
other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other
purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining
unsubscribed for after such offering.
Each
series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement
which we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as rights
agent, all which will be set forth in the relevant offering
material. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in
connection with the certificates relating to the rights and will
not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with
any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of
rights.
The
following description is a summary of selected provisions relating
to rights that we may offer. The summary is not complete. When
rights are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement,
information incorporated by reference or related free writing
prospectus, as applicable, will explain the particular terms of
those securities and the extent to which these general provisions
may apply. The specific terms of the rights as described in a
prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or
related free writing prospectus will supplement and, if applicable,
may modify or replace the general terms described in this
section.
This
summary and any description of rights in the applicable prospectus
supplement, information incorporated by reference or related free
writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the rights agreement and the rights certificates.
We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC
and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time
we issue a series of rights. See “Available
Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference” above for information on how to obtain a copy of a
document when it is filed.
The
applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by
reference or related free writing prospectus may
describe:
●
in the case of a distribution of rights to our stockholders, the
date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights
distribution;
●
in the case of a distribution of rights to our stockholders, the
number of rights issued or to be issued to each
stockholder;
●
the exercise price payable for the underlying debt securities,
common stock or preferred stock upon the exercise of the
rights;
●
the number and terms of the underlying debt securities, common
stock or preferred stock which may be purchased per each
right;
●
the extent to which the rights are transferable;
●
the date on which the holder’s ability to exercise the rights
shall commence, and the date on which the rights shall
expire;
●
the extent to which the rights may include an over-subscription
privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities;
●
if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or
purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the
offering of such rights; and
●
any other terms of the rights, including, but not limited to, the
terms, procedures, conditions and limitations relating to the
exchange and exercise of the rights.
The
provisions described in this section, as well as those described
under “—Description of Debt Securities” and
“—Description of Capital Stock” above, will
apply, as applicable, to any rights we offer.
General
We may
issue units composed of any combination of our debt securities,
common stock, preferred stock and warrants. We will issue each unit
so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security
included in the unit. As a result, the holder of a unit will have
the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security.
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.
The
following description is a summary of selected provisions relating
to units that we may offer. The summary is not complete. When units
are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information
incorporated by reference or related free writing prospectus, as
applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities
and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The
specific terms of the units as described in a prospectus supplement
or information incorporated by reference will supplement and, if
applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in
this section.
This
summary and any description of units in the applicable prospectus
supplement, information incorporated by reference or related free
writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the unit agreement, collateral arrangements and
depositary arrangements, if applicable. We will file these
documents with the SEC for incorporation by reference into this
prospectus, as applicable. See “Available Information”
and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference”
for information on how to obtain a copy of a document when it is
filed.
The
applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by
reference or related free writing prospectus may
describe:
●
the 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;
●
any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer, or
exchange of the units or of the securities composing the
units;
●
whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global
form; and
●
any other terms of the units.
The
applicable provisions described in this section, as well as those
described under “Description of Debt Securities,”
“Description of Capital Stock” and “Description
of Warrants,” will apply to each unit and to each security
included in each unit, respectively.
Unless
otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement,
information incorporated by reference or related free writing
prospectus, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of
securities for general corporate purposes.
We may
sell the securities through underwriters or dealers, through
agents, directly to one or more purchasers, through a rights
offering, or otherwise. We will describe the terms of the offering
of the securities in a prospectus supplement, information
incorporated by reference or related free writing prospectus,
including:
●
the name or names of any underwriters, if any;
●
the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will
receive from the sale;
●
any underwriting discounts and other items constituting
underwriters’ compensation;
●
any initial public offering price;
●
any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to
dealers; and
●
any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be
listed.
Only
underwriters we name in the prospectus supplement, information
incorporated by reference or related free writing prospectus are
underwriters of the securities offered thereby.
The
distribution of securities may be effected, from time to time, in
one or more transactions, including:
●
block transactions (which may involve crosses) and transactions on
the NASDAQ Global Market or any other organized market where the
securities may be traded;
●
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the
broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus
supplement;
●
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a
broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
●
sales “at the market” to or through a market maker or
into an existing trading market, on an exchange or
otherwise;
●
sales in other ways not involving market makers or established
trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers;
●
a combination of any such methods of disposition; and
●
any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The
securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be
changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at
prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated
prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by
the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid
compensation for offering and selling the securities. That
compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the
securities. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of
the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation
received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be
underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. If
such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be
subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities
Act.
We may
also make direct sales through subscription rights distributed to
our existing stockholders on a pro rata basis, which may or may not
be transferable. In any distribution of subscription rights to our
stockholders, if all of the underlying securities are not
subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed securities
directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more
underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to
sell the unsubscribed securities to third parties.
Some or
all of the securities that we offer though this prospectus may be
new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any
underwriters to whom we sell our securities for public offering and
sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be
obligated to do so and they may discontinue any market making at
any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the
liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities that
we offer.
Agents
may, from time to time, solicit offers to purchase the securities.
If required, we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement,
document incorporated by reference or related free writing
prospectus, as applicable, any agent involved in the offer or sale
of the securities and set forth any compensation payable to the
agent. Unless otherwise indicated, any agent will be acting on a
best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent
selling the securities covered by this prospectus may be deemed to
be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act,
of the securities.
If
underwriters are used in an offering, securities will be acquired
by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold, from
time to time, in one or more transactions, including negotiated
transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices
determined at the time of sale, or under delayed delivery contracts
or other contractual commitments. Securities may be offered to the
public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or
more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting
as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the
sale of securities, an underwriting agreement will be executed with
the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for the
sale is reached. The applicable prospectus supplement will set
forth the managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any
other underwriter or underwriters, with respect to a particular
underwritten offering of securities, and will set forth the terms
of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and
dealers and the public offering price, if applicable. The
prospectus, and the applicable prospectus supplement and any
applicable free writing prospectus will be used by the underwriters
to resell the securities.
If a
dealer is used in the sale of the securities, we or an underwriter
will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer
may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to
be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. To the extent
required, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement, document
incorporated by reference or related free writing prospectus, as
applicable, the name of the dealer and the terms of the
transactions.
We may
directly solicit offers to purchase the securities and may make
sales of securities directly to institutional investors or others.
These persons may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning
of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities.
To the extent required, the prospectus supplement, document
incorporated by reference or related free writing prospectus, as
applicable, will describe the terms of any such sales, including
the terms of any bidding or auction process, if used.
Agents,
underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements which may
be entered into with us to indemnification against specified
liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities
Act, or to contribution to payments they may be required to make in
respect of such liabilities. If required, the prospectus
supplement, document incorporated by reference or related free
writing prospectus, as applicable, will describe the terms and
conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the
agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates may be
customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for
us, our subsidiaries or affiliates in the ordinary course of
business.
Under
the securities laws of some states, the securities offered by this
prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or
licensed brokers or dealers.
Any
person participating in the distribution of common stock registered
under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will
be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the
applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others,
Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of
any of our common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation
M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the
distribution of our common stock to engage in market-making
activities with respect to our common stock. These restrictions may
affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any
person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect
to our common stock.
Certain
persons participating in an offering may engage in over-allotment,
stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty
bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that
stabilize, maintain or
otherwise
affect the price of the offered securities. If any such activities
will occur, they will be described in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
To the
extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented
from time to time to describe a specific plan of
distribution.
All
securities we offer other than common stock will be new issues of
securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may
make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do
so and may discontinue any market making at any time without
notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets
for any securities.
VALIDITY
OF THE SECURITIES
McDonald
Carano LLP will pass upon the validity of the securities offered
pursuant to this prospectus for us. With respect to matters of New
York law, the validity of the securities to be issued by the
Registrant will be passed upon by Shearman & Sterling
LLP.
The
consolidated financial statements of Aemetis, Inc. as of December
31, 2020 and 2019 and for each of the years in the two-year period
ended December 31, 2020 incorporated in this Prospectus by
reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2020, have been audited by RSM US
LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in
their report thereon, incorporated herein by reference, and have
been incorporated in this Prospectus and Registration Statement in
reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such firm as
experts in accounting and auditing.
$300,000,000
Aemetis, Inc.
Common Stock
_____________________________________
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
_____________________________________
H.C. Wainwright & Co.
August 18, 2021