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EX-32 - EXHIBIT 32 - RIDGEWOOD POWER GROWTH FUND /NJex32.htm
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EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - RIDGEWOOD POWER GROWTH FUND /NJFinancial_Report.xls
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013
 
Or
   
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                        to                       

Commission File Number:  0-25935

THE RIDGEWOOD POWER GROWTH FUND
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
 
22-3495594
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

500 Delaware Avenue, #1112
Wilmington, DE
 
 
19801
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)

 
(302) 888-7444
 
 
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 

 
Not Applicable
 
 
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ   No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes þ  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer    o
Accelerated filer    o
Non-accelerated filer    o
Smaller reporting company    þ
   
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o   No þ

As of March 31, 2013, there were 658.2067 Investor Shares outstanding.
 


 
FORM 10-Q


 
 
PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.                 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 

THE RIDGEWOOD POWER GROWTH FUND
 
 
(Liquidation Basis)
 
(in thousands)
 
             
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
   
(unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
                 
Total assets
 
$
-
   
$
-
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
               
                 
Total liabilities
 
$
-
   
$
-
 
                 
Net assets in liquidation
 
$
-
   
$
-
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
 
 
THE RIDGEWOOD POWER GROWTH FUND
 
 
(Liquidation Basis)
 
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Net assets in liquidation, beginning of period
 
$
-
   
$
3,457
 
Distributions to shareholders
   
-
     
(3,457
 
               
Net assets in liquidation, end of period
 
$
-
   
$
-
 
                 
Distributions per Investor Share
 
$
-
   
$
5,170
 

 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE RIDGEWOOD POWER GROWTH FUND
(unaudited, dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
1.             DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

The Ridgewood Power Growth Fund (the “Fund”) is a Delaware trust formed on February 18, 1997. The Fund began offering shares of beneficial interest (“Investor Shares”) in February 1998 and concluded its offering in April 2000. The Fund has 658.2067 Investor Shares outstanding. Prior to the adoption of the Fund’s Plan of Dissolution (described below), the objective of the Fund was to provide benefits to its shareholders through a combination of distributions of operating cash flow and capital appreciation. The Managing Shareholder of the Fund is Ridgewood Renewable Power LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (the “Managing Shareholder”). Historically, the Fund focused primarily on independent power generation facilities, water desalinization plants and other infrastructure projects both in the US and abroad.

On March 2, 2010, the Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution of The Ridgewood Power Growth Fund (the “Plan of Dissolution”) became effective. Under the Plan of Dissolution, the business of the Fund shifted, and became limited to the disposal of its remaining assets and resolution of its remaining liabilities. Upon the completion of these activities, if successful, the Managing Shareholder expects to distribute any remaining cash to the Fund’s shareholders and then proceed to terminate the Fund and its reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Fund is required to make adequate provisions to satisfy its known and unknown liabilities, which could substantially delay or limit the Fund’s ability to make future distributions to shareholders. The process of accounting for the Fund’s liabilities, including those that are presently unknown, may involve difficult valuation decisions, which could adversely impact the amount or timing of any future distributions by the Fund.

Under the Plan of Dissolution, the Managing Shareholder has sole authority to conduct the Fund’s dissolution, liquidation and termination without additional shareholder approval. As of the date of the issuance of these financial statements, the Fund has not been liquidated, primarily due to on-going matters discussed in Note 3. The Managing Shareholder is unable to estimate when these matters will be resolved and what financial impact the matters will have on the Fund’s net assets or the timing, likelihood or amount of any future distributions to shareholders.

In March 2012, the Fund made distributions to its shareholders of $3,457, or $5,170 per Investor Share, as a result of the settlement agreement discussed in Note 3. The Managing Shareholder, and its affiliates, did not receive any portion of the distribution, including any distributions to Investor Shares.  It is possible that resolution of the matters discussed in Note 3 could result in a payment to the Fund; however, the Fund does not anticipate making additional distributions until the Fund has completed the liquidation process. At that time, the Fund’s remaining cash, if any, will be distributed to holders of Investor Shares other than any Investor Shares held by the Managing Shareholder or its affiliates. The Fund currently has no cash, and does not expect to have any cash with which to make further distributions to shareholders unless resolution of the matters discussed in Note 3 results in a payment to the Fund.
 
The Fund believes that it currently has access to sufficient resources to meet its anticipated obligations, as the Managing Shareholder has agreed to pay the on-going normal and recurring operating expenses of the Fund and waive all future management fees.  Additionally, the Fund is not paying any on-going expenses regarding the matters discussed in Note 3.  As a result, no remaining estimated expenses for liquidation have been reflected in the accompanying financial statements of the Fund and there was no financial activity for the quarter ended March 31, 2013.
 
The Fund has evaluated subsequent events and transactions through the date of the issuance of its financial statements, and concluded that there were no such events or transactions that require adjustment to, or disclosure in the notes to, the condensed financial statements.

2.             BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying condensed financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared pursuant to the rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed financial statements for the periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules. These condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on January 15, 2013 (the “2012 Form 10-K”). No significant changes have been made to the Fund’s accounting policies and estimates disclosed in its 2012 Form 10-K.
 
THE RIDGEWOOD POWER GROWTH FUND
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited, dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
The financial statements were prepared on the liquidation basis of accounting. This basis of accounting is considered appropriate when, among other things, liquidation of the Fund is probable. Under this basis of accounting, assets are valued at their estimated net realizable values and liabilities are valued at their estimated settlement amounts. The valuation of assets and liabilities requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions. Upon conversion to the liquidation basis of accounting, the Fund accrued known estimated values of assets expected to be received and known estimated costs expected to be incurred in liquidation. On an on-going basis, the Fund evaluates the estimates and assumptions that can have a significant impact on the Fund’s reported net assets in liquidation. Actual amounts may differ materially and adversely from these estimates.
 
3.             LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On March 20, 2007, the Paul Bergeron Trust (“Bergeron”) commenced a derivative action on behalf of the Fund, in Suffolk County Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Bergeron joined the Fund and affiliated entities, including the Managing Shareholder and a person who is an officer of the Managing Shareholder, alleging that the allocation of the proceeds from the sale of certain assets of the Fund and affiliated entities was unfair. The derivative plaintiffs later amended the complaint to add a claim that the defendants breached fiduciary duties to the Fund and Ridgewood Electric Power Trust V (“Trust V”), by forming affiliated funds to finance the expansion of underlying projects in which each of the Fund and Trust V had an interest, rather than using alternative financing, which allegedly resulted in a misallocation of sale proceeds. In December 2011, the defendants agreed to a settlement agreement with the derivative plaintiffs, subject to approval by the Court. The defendants disputed the allegations, asserted that the financing transactions were fair and denied all wrongdoing, but agreed:

 
·
with participation from the Managing Shareholder’s primary insurer, Twin City Fire Insurance Company, part of the Hartford Insurance Group, to cause a cash payment to be made to the Fund and Trust V, less attorneys’ fees awarded by the court to the plaintiffs’ attorneys and a reimbursement to the Managing Shareholder as partial reimbursement for operating expenses of the Fund and Trust V,
 
·
to assign to the derivative plaintiffs, on behalf of the Fund and Trust V, all of the defendants’ rights and claims for coverage from, and any claims for damages against, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (“Liberty”), the Managing Shareholder’s excess insurance carrier,
 
·
for the Managing Shareholder and any affiliated entities to waive any rights to any future distributions by the Fund and Trust V,
 
·
for the Managing Shareholder to waive the bulk of the Managing Shareholder’s management fees for 2011, as well as all management fees on a going-forward basis, and for the Managing Shareholder to pay the on-going normal and recurring operating expenses of the Fund and Trust V until the two funds are liquidated.

In January 2012, the Court gave its final approval of the settlement. The Court did not determine the merits of the plaintiff’s allegations, rendered no verdict and the settlement agreement is not an admission of any of the facts alleged by the plaintiffs or of any wrongdoing by the defendants. In March 2012, the cash portion of the settlement was made to the two funds, allocated in accordance with the agreement, and distributions made to their respective shareholders. The amount of cash distributed to the Fund shareholders totaled $3,457.

The derivative plaintiffs are responsible for the managing, and ultimate disposition, of any claims against Liberty, and as a result, the Managing Shareholder is not able to predict when there will be a resolution of the claims, or if such resolution will include a payment to the Fund and Trust V. In June 2012, the derivative plaintiffs filed an amended claim in Suffolk County Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, against Liberty, to pursue claims that were assigned as part of the above described settlement, including among other things, breach of contract. The plaintiffs are seeking the award of damages, interest, costs and attorney fees, as well as the authority to enforce the January 2012 settlement agreement against Liberty. The parties have filed cross-motions for summary judgment, which were heard by the Court on March 14, 2013. No decision has been issued as of the date of the issuance of these financial statements.
 
 
 
This management’s discussion and analysis of the Fund as of March 31, 2013 is intended to help readers analyze the accompanying condensed financial statements, notes and other information contained in this report. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the accompanying condensed financial statements, notes and other information included elsewhere in this report as well as the financial statements, notes and other information and Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in the Fund’s 2012 Form 10-K.

Forward-Looking Statements
 
Certain statements discussed in this item and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally relate to the Fund’s plans, objectives and expectations for future events and include statements about the Fund’s expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions, assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based upon management’s expectations, opinions and estimates as of the date they are made. Although management believes that the expectations, opinions and estimates reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties many of which may be beyond the Fund’s control, which could cause actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from the results, performance and achievements projected, expected, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Examples of events that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated include:
 
 
·
possible contingent liabilities and risks associated with the dissolution and liquidation of the Fund,
 
·
costs or liabilities of an unusual or nonrecurring nature incurred during liquidation,
 
·
the actual timing of the completion of the liquidation process, including, without limitation, the timing of the resolution of the matters described in Part I, Item 1, Note 3. “Legal Proceedings”, and
 
·
the amount, likelihood and timing of liquidating distributions, if any.
 
Additional information concerning the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained elsewhere in this report and in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the Fund’s 2012 Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statement that the Fund makes, speaks only as of the date of this report. The Fund undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or cautionary factors, as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Liquidation Basis of Accounting

Upon the effectiveness of the Fund’s Plan of Dissolution, the Fund adopted the liquidation basis of accounting. This basis of accounting is considered appropriate when, among other things, liquidation of the Fund is probable. Under this basis of accounting, assets are valued at their estimated net realizable values and liabilities are valued at their estimated settlement amounts. The valuation of assets and liabilities requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The discussion and analysis of the Fund’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Fund’s financial statements, which have been prepared in conformity with GAAP. In preparing these financial statements, the Fund is required to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amount of the Fund’s assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, including the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, as well as the reported amounts of changes in net assets. The estimates also affect the reported estimated value of net realizable assets and settlement of liabilities. The Fund evaluates these estimates and assumptions on an on-going basis. The Fund bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors that the Fund believes to be reasonable at the time the estimates and assumptions are made. However, future events and their effects cannot be predicted with absolute certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions under different circumstances or conditions, and such differences may be material to the financial statements. No significant changes have been made to the Fund’s accounting policies and estimates disclosed in its 2012 Form 10-K.
 
 
Results of Operations and Changes in Financial Condition

Net assets at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were zero. Since the Managing Shareholder paid the operating expenses of the Fund, no financial activity was reported during the quarter ended March 31, 2013.

Future Liquidity and Capital Resource Requirements

The Managing Shareholder has agreed to pay the on-going normal and recurring operating expenses of the Fund and waive all future management fees. Additionally, the Fund is not paying on-going expenses regarding the matters described in Part I, Item 1, Note 3. “Legal Proceedings.” As a result, the Fund believes that it has access to sufficient working capital for the next 12 months. The Fund intends to distribute excess cash, if any, to its shareholders after liquidating its remaining assets and satisfying its liabilities.

The Fund currently has no cash, and does not expect to have any cash with which to make further distributions to shareholders unless resolution of the legal matters discussed above results in a payment to the Fund. The Managing Shareholder is unable to predict when or how these matters will be resolved or estimate what financial impact these matters will have on the Fund’s net assets or the timing, likelihood or amount of any distribution to shareholders.

The Fund does not anticipate any further distributions to shareholders until the Fund has completed the liquidation process.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

None.

Commitments and Contingencies

None.

ITEM 3.             QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Not required.

ITEM 4.             CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act, the Fund’s management, with the participation of the Fund’s Chief Executive and Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e). Based on this evaluation, the Fund’s Chief Executive and Financial Officer concluded that the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Fund in reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that information required to be disclosed by the Fund is accumulated and communicated to senior management so as to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The Fund’s Chief Executive and Financial Officer has concluded that there was no change in the Fund's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2013 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.             LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
For a discussion of developments regarding the Fund’s legal proceedings, see Note 3 “Legal Proceedings” in the notes to the condensed financial statements in Part I, Item 1.

ITEM 1A.          RISK FACTORS
 
Not required.
 
ITEM 2.             UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
 
None.
 
ITEM 3.             DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
 
None.
 
ITEM 4.             MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
 
Not applicable.
  
ITEM 5.             OTHER INFORMATION
 
None.
 
ITEM 6.             EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
 
Description
     
31
*
Certification of Jeffrey H. Strasberg, Chief Executive and Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a).
     
32
*
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed by Jeffrey H. Strasberg, Chief Executive and Financial Officer of the Registrant.
     
101.INS
*#
XBRL Instance Document.
     
101.SCH
*#
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
     
101.CAL
*#
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
     
101.LAB
*#
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
     
101.PRE
*#
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
                                       
*
Filed herewith.
#
Under Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, this exhibit is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under those sections.
 
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
THE RIDGEWOOD POWER GROWTH FUND
     
     
     
Date: April 16, 2013
By:
/s/  Jeffrey H. Strasberg
   
Jeffrey H. Strasberg
   
Chief Executive and Financial Officer
   
(Principal Executive, Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8