Attached files
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
———————
FORM 10-K/A
Amendment No. 1
———————
☑ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020
Commission file number: 000-51354
AEMETIS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada
|
26-1407544
|
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
|
20400 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 700
Cupertino, CA 95014
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number (including area code):
(408)
213-0940
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange
Act:
Common Stock, Par Value $0.001
(Title of class)
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned
issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes ☐ No
☑
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file
reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Act. Yes ☐ No
☑
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or
Section 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 ☑ No ☐
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 (§ 232.405 of this chapter)
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes
☑ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant
to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is
not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of
registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K
or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a
smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the
definitions of “large accelerated filer,”
“accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting
company,” and “emerging growth company” in
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
|
☐
|
Accelerated filer
☐
|
Non-accelerated filer
|
☐ (Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
|
Smaller reporting company ☑
|
Emerging growth company
|
☐
|
|
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
☐ No
☑
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common
equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately
$15,083,507 as of June 30, 2020 based on the average bid and asked
price on the NASDAQ Global Market reported for such date. This
calculation does not reflect a determination that certain persons
are affiliates of the registrant for any other
purpose.
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common
Stock on February 28, 2021 was 27,099,232 shares.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Aemetis, Inc. (“Aemetis,” the “Company,”
“we,” “our” or “us”) is filing
this Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (this “Amendment”)
to amend the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, originally filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March
15, 2021 (the “2020 10-K”), to include the information
required by Items 10 through 14 of Part III of Form 10-K. This
information was previously omitted from the 2020 10-K in reliance
on General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, which permits the
information in the above referenced items to be incorporated in the
Form 10-K by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy
statement if such statement is filed no later than 120 days after
the Company’s fiscal year-end. We are filing this Amendment
to provide the information required in Part III of Form 10-K
because a definitive proxy statement containing such information
will not be filed by the Company within 120 days after the end of
the fiscal year covered by the 2020 10-K.
This Amendment amends and restates in their entirety Items 10, 11,
12, 13 and 14 of Part III of the 2020 10-K, and amends the exhibit
index set forth in Part IV of the 2020 10-K to add certain exhibits
as noted herein. The cover page of the 2020 10-K is also amended to
delete the reference to the incorporation by reference of the
Company’s definitive proxy statement.
Except as described above, no other changes have been made to the
2020 10-K, and this Amendment does not modify, amend or update in
any way any of the financial or other information contained in the
2020 10-K. This Amendment does not reflect events occurring after
the date of the filing of our 2020 10-K. Accordingly, this
Amendment should be read in conjunction with our 2020 10-K and with
our filings with the SEC subsequent to the filing of our 2020
10-K.
Pursuant to Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the “Exchange Act”), this Form 10-K/A also
contains certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which are attached hereto. Because no
financial statements have been included in this Amendment and this
Amendment does not contain or amend any disclosure with respect to
Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K, paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of the
certifications have been omitted. Terms used but not defined herein
are as defined in our 2020 10-K.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
Page
|
PART III
|
|
|
|
Item
10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate
Governance
|
4
|
|
|
Item
11. Executive Compensation
|
9
|
|
|
Item
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
and Related Stockholder Matters
|
19
|
|
|
Item
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence
|
21
|
|
|
Item
14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
|
22
|
PART IV
|
|
|
|
Item
15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
|
23
|
3
PART III
Set
forth below is the name, age (as of April 30, 2021), position and a
description of the business experience of each of our executive
officers and directors:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
|
Classification
(Term Expiration)
|
Eric A. McAfee
|
|
58
|
|
Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board
|
|
Class I (2022)
|
Francis P. Barton
|
|
74
|
|
Director
|
|
Class I (2022)
|
Lydia I. Beebe
|
|
68
|
|
Director
|
|
Class III (2023)
|
John R. Block
|
|
86
|
|
Director
|
|
Class III (2023)
|
Naomi L. Boness
|
|
44
|
|
Director
|
|
Class II (2024)*
|
Todd A. Waltz
|
|
59
|
|
Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
|
|
N/A
|
Andrew B. Foster
|
|
55
|
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
|
|
N/A
|
*Term expiration assuming reelection in
upcoming 2021 Annual Meeting.
Eric A. McAfee co-founded the Company in 2005 and has served
as its Chairman of the Board since February 2006. Mr. McAfee was
appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company in February 2007.
Mr. McAfee has been an entrepreneur, merchant banker, venture
capitalist and farmer/dairyman for more than 20 years. Since 1995,
Mr. McAfee has been the Chairman of McAfee Capital and since 1998
has been a principal of Berg McAfee Companies, an investment
company. Since 2000, Mr. McAfee has been a principal of Cagan
McAfee Capital Partners through which Mr. McAfee has founded or
acquired twelve energy and technology companies. In 2003, Mr.
McAfee co-founded Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (now Alto Ingredients,
Inc.) (NASDAQ: ALTO), a West Coast ethanol producer and marketer.
Mr. McAfee received a B.S. in Management from Fresno State
University in 1986 and served as Entrepreneur in Residence of The
Wharton Business School MBA Program in 2007. Mr. McAfee is a
graduate of the Harvard Business School Private Equity and Venture
Capital Program and is a 1993 graduate of the Stanford Graduate
School of Business Executive Program. Mr. McAfee’s industry
experience and leadership skills qualify him for the
position.
Francis Barton was appointed to the Company’s Board in
August 2012. From 2008 to present, Mr. Barton served as Chief
Executive Officer in the consulting firm Barton Business Consulting
LLC. Prior to this, Mr. Barton served as the Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of UTStarcom, Inc. from 2005
through 2008 and as a director from 2006 through 2008. From 2003 to
2005, Mr. Barton was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Atmel Corporation. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Barton was
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Broadvision
Inc. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Barton was Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. From 1996
to 1998, Mr. Barton was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of Amdahl Corporation. From 1974 to 1996, Mr. Barton worked at
Digital Equipment Corporation, beginning his career as a financial
analyst and moving his way up through various financial roles to
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Digital Equipment
Corporation’s Personal Computer Division. Mr. Barton holds a
B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Chemical
Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an M.B.A. with
a focus in finance from Northeastern University. Mr. Barton served
on the board of directors of ON Semiconductor from 2008 to 2011.
Mr. Barton has served on the board of directors of SoSo Cards since
January 2013. He is also serving on the board of directors of
Inventergy since January 2014, and is the Chairman of its Audit
Committee, and a member of its Compensation, Governance and
Nominating Committee. Mr. Barton served on the board of directors
of Etubics, Inc. from 2014 to 2016, and was chair of its Audit
Committee and a member of its Compensation, Governance and
Nominating Committee.
4
Mr.
Barton serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and as a
member of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee of
the Company. His executive experience as well as his extensive
financial background qualify him for the position.
Lydia I. Beebe was appointed to the Company’s Board of
Directors in November 2016. Ms. Beebe is Principal of the corporate
governance consulting business, LIBB Advisors. She was Senior of
Counsel for Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati from 2015 until
2017. Prior to this, Ms. Beebe served as Chief Governance Officer
and Corporate Secretary of one of the world’s leading energy
companies, Chevron Corporation (“Chevron”) from 2007 to
2015. Ms. Beebe began her career as a staff attorney for Chevron in
1977. From 1981 to 1985, Ms. Beebe became a Washington D.C.
Representative representing Chevron with the Executive Branch and
the House of Representatives. Returning to California, Ms. Beebe
worked her way up through the Office of Chief Tax Counsel from 1985
to 1995. In 1995, Ms. Beebe was promoted to Corporate Secretary and
an Officer of the company, the first female corporate officer in
Chevron’s 127-year history. Ms. Beebe remained Corporate
Secretary until 2007 when she also became the Chief Governance
Officer until she retired in 2015. Ms. Beebe holds a B. S. in
journalism from University of Kansas, a J.D. from the University of
Kansas, as well as a M.B.A. from Golden Gate University. Ms. Beebe
previously served on the boards of directors of HCC Insurance
Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HCC), the Council of Institutional Investors,
Presidio Trust, University of Delaware’s Weinberg Center for
Corporate Governance and California Fair Employment & Housing
Commission. She currently serves on the boards of Stanford
University’s Rock Center for Corporate Governance, Kansas
City Southern (NYSE: KSU) and EQT Corp. (NYSE:EQT).
Ms.
Beebe serves as the Company’s Chairman of the Governance,
Compensation and Nominating Committee and as a member of the Audit
Committee. Her extensive experience in the energy business and her
expertise in corporate governance qualify her for the
position.
John R. Block has served as a member of the Company’s
Board of Directors since October 2008. From 1981 to 1986, Mr. Block
served as United States Secretary of Agriculture under President
Ronald Reagan. He is currently an Illinois farmer and a Senior
Policy Advisor to Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC, an
organization that represents the food industry. Mr. Block has held
this position since January 2005. From January 2002 to January
2005, he served as Executive Vice President at the Food Marketing
Institute, an organization representing food retailers and
wholesalers. From February 1986 to January 2002, Mr. Block served
as President of Food Distributors International. Mr. Block is
currently a member of the board of directors of Digital Angel
Corporation and Metamorphix, Inc. Mr. Block previously served on
the board of directors of each of Deere and Co., Hormel Foods
Corporation and Blast Energy Services, Inc. Mr. Block received his
Bachelor of Arts degree from the United States Military
Academy.
Mr.
Block serves as a member of the Company’s Governance,
Compensation and Nominating Committee. His experience with
agricultural commodities, understanding of political affairs, and
prior board experience qualify him for the position.
Naomi L. Boness was appointed to the Company’s Board
of Directors in June 2020. Ms. Boness is serving as the Managing
Director of the Stanford Natural Gas Initiative since 2019. She has
served as the Senior Analyst for Upstream Strategy and Planning at
Chevron Corporation from 2016 to 2019. Before that, she was the
Reserve Consultant at Chevron Corporation from 2012 to 2016. Ms.
Boness received her B.Sc. in Geophysics from the University of
Leeds in 1998, her M.Sc. in Geological Science from Indiana
University and her Ph.D. in Geophysics from Stanford University in
2006.
Ms.
Boness serves as a member of the Company’s Audit Committee.
Her experience in the energy business and her expertise in
investment analysis and strategic planning qualify her for the
position.
Todd A. Waltz has served as our Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary since March 2010. From 2007
to March 2010, Mr. Waltz served as the Company’s Corporate
Controller. From 1994 to 2007, Mr. Waltz served in a variety of
senior financial management roles with Apple, Inc. in Cupertino,
CA. Prior to this, Mr. Waltz worked with Ernst & Young. Until
November 2013, Mr. Waltz served as Chief Executive Officer and sole
board member of Vision Global Solutions, Inc. (OTC: VIGS). Mr.
Waltz is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in the state of
California. Mr. Waltz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount
Union College, an MBA from Santa Clara University and a Master of
Science degree in Taxation from San Jose State
University.
5
Andrew B. Foster has served as Executive Vice President of
the Company and President and Chief Operating Officer of Aemetis
Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company, since June 2008. Mr. Foster joined American Ethanol in
March 2006. Mr. Foster served as Vice President of Corporate
Marketing for Marimba, Inc., an enterprise software company, which
was acquired by BMC Software (“BMC”) in July 2004. From
July 2004 to April 2005, Mr. Foster served as Vice President of
Corporate Marketing for the Marimba product line at BMC. In April
2005, Mr. Foster was appointed Director of Worldwide Public
Relations for BMC and served in that capacity until December 2005.
From May 2000 to March 2003, Mr. Foster served as Director of
Corporate Marketing for eSilicon Corporation, a fabless
semiconductor company. Mr. Foster also served as Associate Director
of Political Affairs at the White House from 1989 to 1992, and
Deputy Chief of Staff to Illinois Governor Jim Edgar from 1995 to
1998. Mr. Foster holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political
Science from Marquette University in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among any of our directors and
executive officers.
Board Leadership Structure and Board’s Role in Risk
Oversight
The
Board of Directors of Aemetis, Inc. (the “Board”)
consists of five (5) directors classified into three separate
classes, consisting of two (2) directors in Class I and Class III
and one (1) director in Class II, with one class being elected each
year to serve a staggered three-year term. Under the current
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, elections of
one class of directors are held at each annual meeting of
stockholders and until their respective successors are duly
qualified and elected or such earlier date of resignation or
removal.
Our Board retains flexibility to select its Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer in the manner that it believes is in
the best interests of our stockholders. Accordingly, the Chairman
of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer may be filled by one
individual or two. The Board currently believes that having Mr.
McAfee serve as both Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the
Board is in the best interests of the stockholders given Mr.
McAfee’s extensive knowledge of, years of service to, and
experience with, the Company. The Board has designated
Francis Barton as Lead Independent Director, to preside over the
Board’s Executive Sessions and fulfill other
duties.
Both the full Board and its committees oversee the various risks
faced by the Company. Management is responsible for the day-to-day
management of the Company’s risks and provides periodic
reports to the Board and its committees relating to those risks and
risk-mitigation efforts.
Board oversight of risk is conducted primarily through the standing
committees of the Board, the members of which are independent
directors, with the Audit Committee taking a lead role on oversight
of financial risks and in interfacing with management on
significant risks or exposures and assessing the steps management
has taken to minimize such risks. The Audit Committee is also
charged with, among other tasks, oversight of management on the
Company’s guidelines and policies with respect to risk
monitoring, assessment and management. Members of the
Company’s management periodically report to the Audit
Committee regarding risks overseen by the Audit Committee,
including quarterly reports with respect to the Company’s
internal controls over financial reporting.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The
Board has the following standing committees: (1) Audit Committee
and (2) Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee. The
Board has adopted a written charter for each of these committees,
copies of which can be found in the Governance page of the Investor
Relations section of our website at www.aemetis.com. The Board has
determined that all members of both committees of the Board are
independent under the applicable rules and regulations of NASDAQ
and the SEC, as currently in effect.
6
The
following chart details the current membership of each
committee:
Name of Director
|
|
Audit
|
|
Governance, Compensation and
Nominating
|
Francis Barton
|
|
C
|
|
M
|
Lydia I. Beebe
|
|
M
|
|
C
|
John R. Block
|
|
-
|
|
M
|
Naomi L. Boness
|
|
M
|
|
-
|
M = Member
|
|
C = Chair
|
|
|
Audit Committee
The
Audit Committee (i) oversees our accounting, financial reporting
and audit processes; (ii) appoints, determines the compensation of,
and oversees the independent auditors; (iii) pre-approves audit and
non-audit services provided by the independent auditors; (iv)
reviews the results and scope of audit and other services provided
by the independent auditors; (v) reviews the accounting principles
and practices and procedures used in preparing our financial
statements; (vi) reviews our internal controls; and (vi) oversees,
considers and approves related party transactions.
The
Audit Committee works closely with management and our independent
auditors. The Audit Committee also meets with our independent
auditors without members of management present, on a quarterly
basis, following completion of our auditors’ quarterly
reviews and annual audit and prior to our earnings announcements,
to review the results of their work. The Audit Committee also meets
with our independent auditors to approve the annual scope and fees
for the audit services to be performed.
Francis
Barton, Lydia I. Beebe, and John R. Block (until January 1, 2021,
when Naomi L. Boness was appointed) served as members of the Audit
Committee in 2020, with Mr. Barton serving as Chair. Each of the
Audit Committee members is an independent director within the
meaning set forth in the rules of the SEC and NASDAQ, as currently
in effect. Our Board has determined that all current Audit
Committee members meet the heightened independence criteria of Rule
10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act applicable to Audit Committee
members. In addition, the Board of Directors has determined that
Mr. Barton is an “audit committee financial expert” as
defined by SEC and NASDAQ rules, as currently in
effect.
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee
The
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee (i) annually
evaluates and reports to the Board on the performance and
effectiveness of the Board and management to assist them in serving
the interest of the Company’s shareholders; (ii) identifies,
interviews, recruits, and recommends candidates for the Board;
(iii) reviews the qualification, capability, independence,
diversity, and other relevant factors in connection with candidates
recommended or nominated to the Board or its committees, (iv)
reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to the
chief executive officer’s compensation, evaluates the chief
executive officer’s performance relative to goals and
objectives, and sets the chief executive officer’s
compensation annually; (v) makes recommendations annually to the
Board with respect to non-chief executive officer compensation;
(vi) develops and recommends governance principles applicable to
the Company; and (vii) oversees the evaluation of the Board and
management from a corporate governance perspective.
Francis
Barton, Lydia I. Beebe, and Dr. Steven Hutcheson served as members
of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee in 2020,
with Ms. Beebe serving as Chair. Dr. Hutcheson resigned from the
Board and the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee on
January 31, 2020. John Block joined the Governance, Compensation
and Nominating Committee in January 2021. Each member of the
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee is an independent
director within the meaning set forth in the rules of the SEC and
NASDAQ, as currently in effect, including after giving
consideration to the factors specified in the NASDAQ listing rules
for compensation committee independence.
7
The
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee considers
properly submitted stockholder recommendations for candidates for
membership on the Board as described below under
“Identification and Evaluation of Nominees for
Directors.” In evaluating such recommendations, the
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee seeks to achieve
a balance of knowledge, experience and capability on the Board and
to address the membership criteria set forth under “Director
Qualifications” below.
Director Qualifications
The
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee does not have any
specific, minimum qualifications that must be met by a Governance,
Compensation and Nominating Committee-recommended nominee, but uses
a variety of criteria to evaluate the qualifications and skills
necessary for members of our Board, including capability,
availability to serve, diversity, independence and other factors.
Under these criteria, members of the Board should have the highest
professional and personal ethics and values. A director should have
broad experience at the policy-making level in business,
government, education, technology or public interest. A director
should be committed to enhancing stockholder value and should have
sufficient time to carry out his or her duties, and to provide
insight and practical wisdom based on his or her past experience. A
director’s service on other boards of public companies should
be limited to a number that permit him or her, given individual
circumstances, to perform the director duties responsibly. Each
director must represent the interests of Aemetis
stockholders.
Identification and Evaluation of Nominees for
Directors
The
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee utilizes a
variety of methods for identifying and evaluating nominees for
director. The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee
regularly assesses the appropriate size of the Board and whether
any vacancies on the Board are expected due to retirement or
otherwise. In the event that vacancies are anticipated or otherwise
arise, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee
considers various potential candidates for director. Candidates may
come to the attention of the Governance, Compensation and
Nominating Committee through current members of the Board,
professional search firms, stockholders or other persons. These
candidates are evaluated at regular or special meetings of the
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee, and may be
considered at any point during the year. The Governance,
Compensation and Nominating Committee considers properly submitted
stockholder recommendations for candidates for the Board. In
evaluating such recommendations, the Governance, Compensation and
Nominating Committee uses the qualifications standards discussed
above and seeks to achieve a balance of knowledge, experience and
capability on the Board.
A copy
of the Committee’s written charter is available on the
Governance page of the Investor Relations section of our website at
www.aemetis.com.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
The
Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics, which applies to our directors and all of our employees,
including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and
any other principal financial officer, Controller and any other
principal accounting officer, and any other person performing
similar functions. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is
posted on the Governance page of the Investor Relations section of
our website at www.aemetis.com. The Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics addresses, among other things, honesty and ethical conduct,
conflicts of interest, compliance with laws, regulations and
policies, including disclosure requirements under the federal
securities laws, confidentiality, trading on inside information,
and reporting of violations of the code. Aemetis will disclose any
amendment to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or waiver of a
provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies
to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial
Officer and any other principal financial officer, controller and
any other principal accounting officer, and any other person
performing similar functions and relates to certain elements of the
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, including the name of the
officer to whom the waiver was granted, on the Investor Relations
section of our website at www.aemetis.com.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires
our executive officers and directors and persons who own more than
10% of a registered class of our equity securities to file with the
SEC initial statements of beneficial ownership, reports of changes
in ownership and annual reports concerning their ownership of our
common stock and other equity securities, on Forms 3, 4 and 5
respectively. Executive officers, directors and greater than 10%
shareholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company
with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based upon a
review of those forms and representations regarding the need for
filing Form 5, we believe during the year ended December 31, 2020
that each of our directors, executive officers and 10% stockholders
complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements.
8
In
making this statement, we have relied upon examination of the
copies of Forms 3, 4 and 5, and amendments thereto, provided to the
Company during and with respect to fiscal year 2020 and the written
representations of its directors and executive
officers.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Named Executive Directors
The following table sets forth the name, age (as of April 30, 2021)
and position of each of our named executive officers for
2020.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
Eric A. McAfee
|
|
58
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
|
Todd A. Waltz
|
|
59
|
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary
|
Andrew B. Foster
|
|
55
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
|
The
information provided below is biographical information about each
named executive officer.
Eric A. McAfee co-founded the Company in 2005 and has served
as its Chairman of the Board since February 2006. Mr. McAfee was
appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company in February 2007.
Mr. McAfee has been an entrepreneur, merchant banker, venture
capitalist and farmer/dairyman for more than 20 years. Since 1995,
Mr. McAfee has been the Chairman of McAfee Capital and since 1998
has been a principal of Berg McAfee Companies, an investment
company. Since 2000, Mr. McAfee has been a principal of Cagan
McAfee Capital Partners through which Mr. McAfee has founded or
acquired twelve energy and technology companies. In 2003, Mr.
McAfee co-founded Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (now Alto
Ingredients, Inc.) (NASDAQ: ALTO), a West Coast ethanol
producer and marketer. Mr. McAfee received a B.S. in Management
from Fresno State University in 1986 and served as Entrepreneur in
Residence of The Wharton Business School MBA Program in 2007. Mr.
McAfee is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Private Equity
and Venture Capital Program and is a 1993 graduate of the Stanford
Graduate School of Business Executive Program. Mr. McAfee’s
industry experience and leadership skills qualify him for the
position.
Andrew B. Foster has served as Executive Vice President of
the Company and President and Chief Operating Officer of Aemetis
Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company, since June 2008. Mr. Foster joined American Ethanol in
March 2006. Mr. Foster served as Vice President of Corporate
Marketing for Marimba, Inc., an enterprise software company, which
was acquired by BMC Software (“BMC”) in July 2004. From
July 2004 to April 2005, Mr. Foster served as Vice President of
Corporate Marketing for the Marimba product line at BMC. In April
2005, Mr. Foster was appointed Director of Worldwide Public
Relations for BMC and served in that capacity until December 2005.
From May 2000 to March 2003, Mr. Foster served as Director of
Corporate Marketing for eSilicon Corporation, a fabless
semiconductor company. Mr. Foster also served as Associate Director
of Political Affairs at the White House from 1989 to 1992, and
Deputy Chief of Staff to Illinois Governor Jim Edgar from 1995 to
1998. Mr. Foster holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political
Science from Marquette University in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin.
Todd A. Waltz has served as our Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary since March 2010. From 2007
to March 2010, Mr. Waltz served as the Company’s Corporate
Controller. From 1994 to 2007, Mr. Waltz served in a variety of
senior financial management roles with Apple, Inc. in Cupertino,
CA. Prior to this, Mr. Waltz worked with Ernst & Young. Until
November 2013, Mr. Waltz served as Chief Executive Officer and sole
board member of Vision Global Solutions, Inc. (OTC: VIGS). Mr.
Waltz is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in the state of
California. Mr. Waltz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount
Union College, an MBA from Santa Clara University and a Master of
Science degree in Taxation from San Jose State
University.
The Chief Executive Officer is chosen by the Board and other
executive officers are chosen by the Chief Executive Officer. Each
executive officer holds office until a successor has been elected
and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death,
resignation or removal.
9
Summary Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth information concerning compensation paid
or accrued for services rendered to the Company in all capacities
for the fiscal years 2019 and 2020 to the named executive officers,
which includes the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the
Company’s other two most highly compensated executive
officers who were serving as executive officers at the end of
fiscal year 2020.
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
Salary ($)
|
Bonus ($)
|
Options Awards(1)
($)
|
Other Compensation ($)
|
Total Compensation ($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric
A. McAfee (2),
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
2020
|
310,000
|
50,000
|
-
|
-
|
360,000
|
|
2019
|
310,000
|
50,000
|
-
|
-
|
360,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Todd A. Waltz,
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
2020
|
250,000
|
50,000
|
147,464
|
10,000
|
457,464
|
|
2019
|
250,000
|
50,000
|
111,507
|
10,000
|
421,507
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew B.
Foster, Executive Vice President
|
|
2020
|
230,000
|
50,000
|
134,279
|
9,200
|
423,479
|
|
|
2019
|
230,000
|
50,000
|
97,074
|
9,200
|
386,274
|
(1) These amounts
reflect the value determined by the Company for accounting purposes
for these awards with respect to the current fiscal year and do not
reflect whether the recipient has actually realized a financial
benefit from the awards (such as by exercising stock options or
warrants). This column represents the aggregate grant date fair
value of stock options granted during fiscal years 2019 and 2020 to
each of the named executive officers, in accordance with ASC Topic
718 Compensation. Pursuant
to SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated
forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. The
assumptions made when calculating the amounts in this column are
found in Note 10 (Stock-Based Compensation) of the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of the 2020
Annual Report filed with the SEC on March 15, 2021.
(2) Mr. McAfee’s
compensation is solely for his service as an executive officer and
he does not receive any additional compensation for his service as
Chairman of the Board.
10
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End (2020)
The
following table shows all outstanding equity awards held by the
named executive officers at the end of fiscal year
2020.
OPTIONS/WARRANTS AWARDS
Name
|
Award Date
|
No. of Securities underlying unexercised options/warrants (#)
exercisable
|
No. of Securities underlying unexercised options/warrants (#)
unexercisable
|
Options/Warrant exercise price ($)
|
Option/ Warrant expiration date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Todd
A. Waltz
|
3/28/2020
|
37,500(2)
|
112,500(2)
|
0.60
|
3/28/2030
|
|
1/9/2020
|
30,000(2)
|
90,000(2)
|
0.86
|
1/9/2030
|
|
6/6/2019
|
32,500(2)
|
32,500(2)
|
0.92
|
6/5/2029
|
|
1/8/2019
|
70,000(2)
|
50,000(2)
|
0.70
|
1/7/2029
|
|
5/17/2018
|
50,000(2)
|
10,000(2)
|
1.71
|
5/16/2028
|
|
1/18/2018
|
110,000(2)
|
10,000(2)
|
0.70
|
1/18/2028
|
|
11/16/2017
|
30,000(1)
|
-
|
0.67
|
11/16/2027
|
|
1/19/2017
|
100,000(2)
|
-
|
1.72
|
1/19/2027
|
|
5/19/2016
|
120,000(2)
|
-
|
2.54
|
5/21/2026
|
|
12/10/2015
|
20,000(3)
|
-
|
2.59
|
5/10/2025
|
|
5/21/2015
|
20,000(2)
|
-
|
4.35
|
5/21/2022
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew
B. Foster
|
3/28/2020
|
37,500(2)
|
112,500(2)
|
0.60
|
3/28/2030
|
|
1/9/2020
|
25,000(2)
|
75,000(2)
|
0.86
|
1/9/2030
|
|
6/6/2019
|
30,000(2)
|
30,000(2)
|
0.92
|
6/5/2029
|
|
1/8/2019
|
48,333(2)
|
41,667(2)
|
0.7
|
1/7/2029
|
|
5/17/2018
|
50,000(2)
|
10,000(2)
|
1.71
|
5/16/2028
|
|
1/18/2018
|
91,667(2)
|
8,333(2)
|
0.7
|
1/18/2028
|
|
1/19/2017
|
100,000(2)
|
-
|
1.72
|
1/19/2027
|
|
5/19/2016
|
100,000(2)
|
-
|
2.54
|
5/21/2026
|
|
12/10/2015
|
20,000(3)
|
-
|
2.59
|
5/10/2025
|
|
5/21/2015
|
20,000(2)
|
-
|
4.35
|
5/21/2022
|
(1) Option fully
vested on the date of grant.
(2) One-twelfth
(1/12) of the shares subject to the option vest every three months
following the date of grant.
(3) One-twelfth (1/12)
of the shares subject to the warrant vest every three months
following the date of grant.
Stock Option Grants (2020)
The
exercise price for stock option awards granted during 2020 was set
at the closing price as reported by NASDAQ on the date of grant,
and each such award has a term of 10 years from the date of grant.
One twelfth (1/12th) of the shares
subject to the options granted to employees and executives during
January 2020, March 2020, and April 2020 vest every three months
from the date of grant. Grants to non-employee Board members vested
immediately. No outstanding stock option awards were materially
modified during 2020.
11
Option Exercises and Stock Vested (2020)
|
Option Awards
|
|
Name
|
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)
|
Value Realized on Exercise ($)
|
|
|
|
Andrew
B. Foster
|
40,000
|
$158,500
|
Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and
Change-In-Control Arrangements
We are
party to the following agreements with our named executive
officers:
Eric A. McAfee
Effective
September 1, 2011, the Company entered into an employment agreement
with Mr. McAfee in connection with his continuing responsibilities
as Chief Executive Officer. Under Mr. McAfee’s employment
agreement, he originally received an annual salary of $180,000 per
year, subject to annual review and adjustments. Effective January
1, 2017, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee
approved an increase in his annual salary from $250,000 per year to
$310,000 per year. Effective January 1, 2020, Mr. McAfee entered
into an employment agreement on substantially the same terms as the
prior agreement except for the change of control increase to a
period of twelve (12) months. In addition, Mr. McAfee is entitled
to an annual cash bonus in an amount determined by the Board of
Directors based upon attainment of certain performance milestones
as determined by the Board from time to time. For 2019, the annual
bonus for Mr. McAfee was determined by taking into consideration
the profitability of future operations, likelihood of future
success of the company, and executive leadership participation
qualities, adjusted by the impact of external policy, political and
economic events as positive or negative influences on the amount of
difficulty required to execute on the business plan. This amount
was then scaled to $50,000 to reflect the amount of cash available
for executive bonuses for the 2020 fiscal year. The initial term of
Mr. McAfee’s employment agreement was for three years with
automatic one-year renewals thereafter, unless terminated by either
party on sixty days’ notice prior to the end of the
then-current period.
If,
prior to a Change in Control (as defined in the agreement), Mr.
McAfee is terminated other than for Cause (as defined in the
agreement) or as a result of his death or Total Disability (as
defined in the agreement) or is Constructively Terminated (as
defined in the agreement), then provided he signs a release of
claims, Mr. McAfee is entitled to receive severance benefits of (i)
cash payments equal to his then-current base salary for a period of
twelve (12) months payable in accordance with the Company’s
normal payroll practices, and (ii) company-paid health, dental, and
vision insurance coverage for him and his dependents until the
earlier of six (6) months following the date of termination or
until such time as Mr. McAfee is covered under another
employer’s group policy for such benefits. If, on or
following a Change in Control, Mr. McAfee’s employment is
Constructively Terminated or involuntarily terminated other than
for Cause, death or Total Disability, then provided he signs a
release of claims, in addition to the severance benefits provided
above, all of his then unvested restricted stock or stock options
shall become immediately vested.
Todd A. Waltz
On
March 15, 2010, the Company entered into an employment agreement
with Mr. Waltz to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial
Officer. Under Mr. Waltz’s employment agreement, Mr. Waltz
originally received an annual salary of $180,000 per year, subject
to annual review and adjustments. Effective January 1, 2017, the
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee approved an
increase in his annual salary from $230,000 per year to $250,000
per year. Effective January 1, 2020, Mr. Waltz entered into an
employment agreement on substantially the same terms as the prior
agreement except for the change of control increase to a period of
twelve (12) months. Mr. Waltz is entitled to an annual bonus of up
to $50,000. For 2019, the annual bonus for Mr. Waltz was based on
an estimation of his contribution to the goals achieved by the
Company, as defined by the same formula applied to the Chief
Executive Officer. The initial term of Mr. Waltz’s employment
agreement was for three years with automatic one-year renewals
unless terminated by either party on sixty days’ notice prior
to the end of the then-current extension period.
12
If,
prior to a Change in Control (as defined in the agreement), Mr.
Waltz is terminated other than for Cause (as defined in the
agreement) or as a result of his death or Total Disability (as
defined in the agreement) or is Constructively Terminated (as
defined in the agreement), then provided he signs a release of
claims, Mr. Waltz is entitled to severance benefits of (i) cash
payments equal to his monthly base salary for a period of one (1)
year payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll
practices, and (ii) company-paid health, dental, and vision
insurance coverage for him and his dependents until the earlier of
three (3) months following the date of termination or until such
time as Mr. Waltz is covered under another employer’s group
policy for such benefits. If, on or following a Change of Control,
Mr. Waltz’s employment is Constructively Terminated or
involuntarily terminated other than for Cause, death or Total
Disability, then provided he signs a release of claims, in addition
to the severance benefits provided above, all of his then unvested
restricted stock or stock options shall become immediately
vested.
Andrew B. Foster
On May
22, 2007, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr.
Foster to serve as the Company’s Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer. Under Mr. Foster’s employment
agreement, Mr. Foster originally received an annual salary of
$180,000 per year, subject to annual review and adjustments.
Effective January 1, 2017, the Governance, Compensation and
Nominating Committee approved an increase in his annual salary from
$210,000 per year to $230,000 per year. Effective January 1, 2020,
Mr. Foster entered into an employment agreement on substantially
the same terms as the prior agreement except for the change of
control increase to a period of twelve (12) months. Mr. Foster is
entitled to a discretionary annual bonus of up to $50,000. For
2019, the annual bonus for Mr. Foster was based on an estimation of
his contribution to the goals achieved by the Company, as defined
by the same formula applied to the Chief Executive Officer. The
initial term of Mr. Foster’s employment agreement was for
three years with automatic one-year renewals unless terminated by
either party on sixty days’ notice prior to the end of the
then-current extension period.
If,
prior to a Change in Control (as defined in the agreement), Mr.
Foster is terminated other than for Cause (as defined in the
agreement) or as a result of his death or Total Disability (as
defined in the agreement) or is Constructively Terminated (as
defined in the agreement), then provided he signs a release of
claims, Mr. Foster is entitled to severance benefits of (i) cash
payments equal to his monthly base salary for a period of one (1)
year payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll
practices, and (ii) company-paid health, dental, and vision
insurance coverage for him and his dependents until the earlier of
three (3) months following the date of termination or until such
time as Mr. Foster is covered under another employer’s group
policy for such benefits. If, on or following a Change of Control,
Mr. Foster’s employment is Constructively Terminated or
involuntarily terminated other than for Cause, death or Total
Disability, then provided he signs a release of claims, in addition
to the severance benefits provided above, all of his then unvested
restricted stock or stock options shall become immediately
vested.
13
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-In-Control
(2020)
The
following table quantifies the estimated payments and benefits that
would be provided to each named executive officer upon the
occurrence of the indicated event, assuming that the event occurred
on December 31, 2020, pursuant to those arrangements described
above in detail under the heading “Employment Contracts and
Termination of Employment and Change-In-Control
Arrangements.” The values related to vesting of stock options
and awards are based upon the fair market value of our common stock
of $2.49 per share as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market on
December 31, 2020, the last trading day of our fiscal year. Actual
payments made at any future date would vary, including based upon
the amount the named executive officer would have accrued under the
applicable benefit or compensation plan as well as based upon the
price of our common stock.
Name
|
|
Category of
Benefit
|
|
Termination
Without Cause or Constructive Termination
Not in Connection
with a Change
in Control ($)
|
|
Termination
Without Cause or Constructive Termination in Connection
with
or after a
Change in Control ($)
|
|
Eric A. McAfee
|
|
Salary
|
|
310,000
|
|
310,000
|
|
|
|
COBRA
|
|
41,760
|
|
41,760
|
|
|
|
Equity Acceleration
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
351,760
|
|
351,760
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Todd A. Waltz
|
|
Salary
|
|
250,000
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
COBRA
|
|
39,944
|
|
39,944
|
|
|
|
Equity Acceleration
|
|
-
|
|
525,550
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
289,944
|
|
815,494
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew B. Foster
|
|
Salary
|
|
230,000
|
|
230,000
|
|
|
|
COBRA
|
|
41,455
|
|
41,455
|
|
|
|
Equity Acceleration
|
|
-
|
|
479,275
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
271,455
|
|
750,730
|
|
Equity Compensation Plans
On
April 29, 2019, the Aemetis 2019 Stock Plan (the “2019 Stock
Plan”) was approved by stockholders of the Company. This plan
permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Statutory Stock
Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted
Stock Units, Performance Units, Performance Shares and other stock
or cash awards as the Administrator may determine in its
discretion. The 2019 Stock Plan’s term is 10 years and
supersedes all prior plans. The 2019 Stock Plan authorized the
issuance of 200,000 shares of common stock for the 2019 calendar
year, in addition to permitting transferring and granting any
available and unissued or expired options under the Amended and
Restated 2007 Stock Plan in an amount up to 177,246 options. With
the approval of the 2019 Stock Plan, the Zymetis 2007 Stock Plan
and the Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Plan (collectively, the
“Prior Plans”) were terminated any no further options
may be granted under either Prior Plan. However, any options
granted prior to the 2019 Stock Plan was approved will remain
outstanding and can be exercised, and any expired options will be
available to grant under the 2019 Stock Plan.
14
The
Company’s shareholders approved the Company’s 2007
Stock Plan at the Company’s 2010 Annual Shareholders Meeting.
The Company’s shareholders further approved an amendment to
the 2007 Stock Plan at the 2015 Annual Shareholders Meeting to
extend its term and increase the number of shares automatically
added to the shares reserved for issuance thereunder each year. On
July 1, 2011, the Company acquired the 2006 Stock Plan pursuant to
the acquisition of Zymetis, Inc. and gave Zymetis, Inc. option
holders the right to convert shares of Zymetis, Inc. into the
Company’s common stock pursuant to the terms provided in the
2006 Stock Plan. During 2015, the Company established an Equity
Inducement plan pursuant to which 100,000 shares were made
available specifically to attract human talent. The following table
provides information about the Prior Plans and the compensatory
warrants and options as of December 31, 2020.
Plan
Category
|
Number of
Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and
Rights
|
Number of
Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance under Equity
Compensation Plans(1)
|
|
|
|
|
Aemetis 2019 Stock
Plan Approved by Shareholders
|
2,279,086
|
0.74
|
281,202
|
Aemetis Amended
& Restated 2007 Stock Plan Approved by
Shareholders
|
3,047,500
|
1.44
|
-
|
Equity in the form
of warrants Approved by Shareholders
|
95,000
|
2.59
|
-
|
Equity in the form
of options issued to new hire employees not approved by security
holders
|
-
|
-
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
5,421,586
|
|
381,202
|
(1) Amount consists
of shares available for future issuance under the Prior
Plans.
15
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
During
fiscal year 2020, no member of the Governance, Compensation and
Nominating Committee was an officer or employee of the Company or
had any relationship requiring disclosure under “Certain
Relationships and Related Transaction” below. In addition, no
member of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee or
executive officer of the Company served as a member of the board of
directors or compensation committee of any entity that has an
executive officer serving as a member of our Board or Governance,
Compensation and Nominating Committee.
The
Company has reviewed and considered all of its compensation plans
and practices and does not believe that its compensation policies
and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a
material adverse effect on the Company.
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee
Report
The
following is the report of the Governance, Compensation and
Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the
Company’s previous or future filings under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, that might incorporate filings made by the Company,
including this Amendment No.1 to the 2020 10-K, in whole or in
part, the following Governance, Compensation and Nominating
Committee Report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting
material” or to be incorporated by reference into any prior
or future filings made by the Company.
The
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee has reviewed and
discussed the foregoing Executive Compensation section with
management, and based on that review and discussion, the
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee recommended to
the Board that the foregoing Executive Compensation section be
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2020 and the Company’s proxy statement for the
2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Respectfully
submitted,
Governance,
Compensation and Nominating Committee
Lydia
I. Beebe (Chair)
Francis
P. Barton
John
R. Block
16
Director Compensation
The
following table provides information regarding all compensation
awarded to, earned by or paid to each person who served as a
non-employee director of the Company for some portion or all of
2020. Other than as set forth in the table and described more fully
below, the Company did not pay any fees, make any equity or
non-equity awards, or pay any other compensation, to its
non-employee directors. All compensation paid to its employee
directors is set forth in the tables summarizing executive officer
compensation below.
Name
|
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash ($)
|
Total
|
|
Francis
Barton
|
129,500
|
63,556
|
193,056
|
|
|
|
|
Lydia
I. Beebe
|
98,250
|
31,771
|
130,021
|
|
|
|
|
John
R. Block
|
78,250
|
74,866
|
153,116
|
|
|
|
|
Naomi
L. Boness
|
45,500
|
5,952
|
51,452
|
(1) The amounts in
this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of
awarded stock options under ASC Topic 718. The assumptions made
when calculating the amounts in this table are found in Note 10
(Stock Based Compensation) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements in our 2020 Annual Report filed with the SEC on March
15, 2021.
(2) For information
regarding the aggregate number of shares subject to all outstanding
stock option awards and warrant awards held by each named
individual at the end of fiscal year 2020, please see the table
below titled “Directors’ Outstanding Equity Awards at
Fiscal Year End (2020).”
In
2007, the Board adopted a director compensation policy pursuant to
which each non-employee director is paid an annual cash retainer of
$75,000 and a cash payment of $250 per Board or committee meeting
attended telephonically and a cash payment of $500 per Board or
committee meeting attended in person. In January, 2021, the
Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee eliminated the
payment of meeting attendance fees by granting stock. For the 2021
attendance fees, the Committee provide each Board member with
shares representing of $4,000 of value per director, or 1,300
shares. In addition, each non-employee director is initially
granted an option exercisable for 10,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock, which vests quarterly over two years
subject to continuing service to the Company. Board members also
receive discretionary annual equity compensation awards in the form
of stock options, based upon the Governance, Compensation and
Nominating Committee’s evaluation of the contribution of the
director to the overall functioning of the Board. In addition, a
quarterly cash retainer of $6,000 is paid to the Lead Independent
Director, an annual retainer of $10,000 is paid to the chairman of
the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee and an annual
cash retainer of $20,000 is paid to the chairman of the Audit
Committee.
17
Directors’ Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
(2020)
The
following table shows all outstanding equity awards held by each
person serving as a director of the Company at the end of
2020.
|
|
|
Option/Warrant Awards
|
||||||
Name
|
|
AwardDate
|
No. of securities underlying unexercised options/ warrants (#)
exercisable
|
|
No. of securities underlying unexercised options/ warrants (#)
-unexercisable
|
|
Option/ warrant exerciseprice ($)
|
|
Option/ warrant expiration date
|
Francis Barton
|
|
3/28/2020
|
60,000(1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.60
|
|
3/28/2030
|
|
|
1/9/2020
|
60,000(1)
|
|
|
|
0.86
|
|
1/9/2030
|
|
|
6/6/2019
|
12,500(1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.92
|
|
6/5/2029
|
|
|
1/8/2019
|
60,000(1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.70
|
|
1/7/2029
|
|
|
5/17/2018
|
30,000
(1)
|
|
-
|
|
1.71
|
|
5/16/2028
|
|
|
1/18/2018
|
60,000
(1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.70
|
|
1/18/2028
|
|
|
11/16/2017
|
30,000 (1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.67
|
|
11/16/2027
|
|
|
1/19/2017
|
50,000 (1)
|
|
-
|
|
1.72
|
|
1/19/2027
|
|
|
5/19/2016
|
51,000 (2)
|
|
-
|
|
2.54
|
|
5/21/2026
|
|
|
12/10/2015
|
15,000 (3)
|
|
-
|
|
2.59
|
|
12/10/2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lydia I. Beebe
|
|
3/28/2020
|
5,000
(1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.60
|
|
3/28/2030
|
|
|
1/9/2020
|
50,000(1)
|
|
|
|
0.86
|
|
1/9/2030
|
|
|
6/6/2019
|
10,000
(1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.92
|
|
6/5/2029
|
|
|
1/8/2019
|
50,000(1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.70
|
|
1/7/2029
|
|
|
5/17/2018
|
30,000(1)
|
|
-
|
|
1.71
|
|
5/16/2028
|
|
|
1/18/2018
|
50,000(1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.70
|
|
1/18/2028
|
|
|
11/16/2017
|
10,000(1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.67
|
|
11/17/2026
|
|
|
1/19/2017
|
15,000 (1)
|
|
-
|
|
1.72
|
|
1/19/2027
|
|
|
11/17/2016
|
10,000 (4)
|
|
-
|
|
1.85
|
|
11/17/2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John R. Block
|
|
3/28/2020
|
109,000 (1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.60
|
|
3/28/2030
|
|
|
1/9/2020
|
40,000
(1)
|
|
|
|
0.86
|
|
1/9/2030
|
|
|
6/6/2019
|
8,000
(1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.92
|
|
6/5/2029
|
|
|
1/8/2019
|
40,000
(1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.70
|
|
1/7/2029
|
|
|
5/17/2018
|
25,000
(1)
|
|
-
|
|
1.71
|
|
5/16/2028
|
|
|
01/18/18
|
40,000
(1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.70
|
|
1/18/2028
|
|
|
11/16/2017
|
20,000 (1)
|
|
-
|
|
0.67
|
|
11/16/2027
|
|
|
1/19/2017
|
35,000 (1)
|
|
-
|
|
1.72
|
|
1/19/2027
|
|
|
5/19/2016
|
36,000 (2)
|
|
-
|
|
2.54
|
|
5/21/2026
|
|
|
12/10/2015
|
10,000 (3)
|
|
-
|
|
2.59
|
|
12/10/2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Naomi L. Boness
|
|
6/4/2020
|
10,000 (4)
|
|
-
|
|
0.81
|
|
6/4/2030
|
(1) Option fully
vested on the date of grant.
(2) 50% vested
immediately on the date of grant and one-twelfth (1/12) of the
remaining 50% shares subject to the option vest every three months
following the date of grant.
(3) Warrants fully
vested on the date of grant.
(4) One-twelfth (1/8)
of the shares subject to the warrant vest every three months
following the date of grant.
18
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Security Ownership by Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management
The
following table sets forth information as of April 5, 2021,
regarding the beneficial ownership of each class of our voting
stock, including (a) each stockholder who is known by the Company
to own beneficially in excess of 5% of each class of our voting
stock; (b) each director; (c) the Company’s named executive
officers; and (d) the Company’s executive officers and
directors as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, all persons
listed below have (i) sole voting power and investment power with
respect to their shares of stock, except to the extent that
authority is shared by spouses under applicable law, and (ii)
record and beneficial ownership with respect to their shares of
stock. The percentage of beneficial ownership of common stock is
based upon 30,030,300 shares of common stock outstanding as of
April 5, 2021. The percentage of beneficial ownership of Series B
preferred stock is based upon 1,323,394 shares of Series B
preferred stock outstanding as of April 5, 2021. Unless otherwise
identified, the address of the directors and officers of the
Company is 20400 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 700, Cupertino, CA
95014.
|
Common Stock
|
Series B Preferred Stock
|
||
Name and Address
|
Amount and
Nature of Beneficial
Ownership
|
Percentage
of Class
|
Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
|
Percentage
of Class
|
Officers & Directors
|
|
|
|
|
Eric A. McAfee (1)
|
2,781,548
|
9.26%
|
-
|
*
|
Francis Barton (2)
|
421,952
|
1.41%
|
-
|
*
|
Lydia I. Beebe (3)
|
309,397
|
1.03%
|
-
|
*
|
John
R. Block (4)
|
431,627
|
1.44%
|
-
|
*
|
Naomi L. Boness (5)
|
56,300
|
0.19%
|
-
|
*
|
Andrew Foster (6)
|
62,356
|
0.21%
|
-
|
*
|
Todd A. Waltz (7)
|
485,438
|
1.62%
|
-
|
*
|
All officers and directors as a group (7 Persons)
|
4,548,618
|
15.16%
|
-
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
5% or more Holders
|
|
|
|
|
Powershares
Capital Management
301
W Roosevelt Rd.
Wheaton,
IL 60187
|
1,676,740
|
5.58%
|
-
|
*
|
Third
Eye Capital (8)
161
Bay Street, Suite 3930
Toronto,
Ontario M5J 2S1
|
1,598,608
|
5.32%
|
-
|
*
|
Mahesh
Pawani
Villa
No. 6, Street 29, Community 317, Al Mankhool,
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
|
53,536
|
*
|
400,000
|
30.23%
|
Frederick
WB Vogel
902
Duke Street
Shelby,
NC 281504
|
53,144
|
*
|
350,000
|
26.45%
|
19
———————
(1)
Includes 2,781,548
shares held by McAfee Capital, LLC, a company owned by Mr. McAfee.
McAfee Capital has directly or indirectly pledged all of these
shares as security for Third Eye Capital debt
arrangements.
(2)
Includes 13,452
shares held by Mr. Barton, 393,500 shares issuable pursuant to
options exercisable within 60 days of April 5, 2021 and 15,000
common stock warrants fully exercisable.
(3)
Includes 19,397
shares held by Ms. Beebe, 290,000 shares issuable pursuant to
options exercisable within 60 days of April 5, 2021.
(4)
Includes 54,627
shares held by Mr. Block, 367,000 shares issuable pursuant to
options exercisable within 60 days of April 5, 2021, and 10,000
common stock warrants fully exercisable.
(5)
Includes 1,300
shares held by Ms. Boness, 55,000 shares issuable pursuant to
options exercisable within 60 days of April 5, 2021.
(6)
Includes 3,310
shares held by Mr. Foster, 59,046 shares issuable pursuant to
options exercisable within 60 days of April 5, 2021.
(7)
Includes 167,940
shares held by Mr. Waltz, 317,498 shares issuable pursuant to
options exercisable within 60 days of April 5, 2021.
(8)
Includes 1,151,373
held by Third Eye Capital Management, 436,569 shares held by Roytor
& Co and 10,666 Sprott Private Credit Credit Trust residing in
Canada.
20
Equity Compensation Plans
The
information required regarding equity compensation plans is
incorporated herein by reference from the Item. 11 to this Amendment No. 1 on Form
10-K/A.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and
Director Independence
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
The
following are transactions entered into in fiscal years 2020 and
2019 and any currently proposed transaction, (i) in which the
Company was or is to be a participant, (ii) the amount involved
exceeds $120,000, and (iii) in which any director, executive
officer, five percent stockholder or any member of the immediate
family of any of the foregoing persons had or will have a direct or
indirect material interest.
The
Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving in
advance any proposed related person transactions. The Governance,
Compensation and Nominating Committee is also responsible for
reviewing the Company’s policies with respect to related
person transactions and overseeing compliance with such
policies.
The
Company owes Eric McAfee, the Company’s Chairman and CEO, and
McAfee Capital LLC (“McAfee Capital”), owned by Eric
McAfee, $1.1 million in connection with employment agreements and
expense reimbursements previously accrued as salaries expense and
accrued liabilities. The balance accrued related to these
employment agreements was $0.4 million as of December 31, 2019. For
the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company expensed
$23 thousand and $36 thousand, respectively, to reimburse actual
expenses incurred by McAfee Capital and related entities. The
Company previously prepaid $0.2 million to Redwood Capital, a
company controlled by Eric McAfee, for the Company’s use of
flight time on a corporate jet. As of December 31, 2020, $0.1
million remained as a prepaid expense.
As
consideration for the reaffirmation of guaranties required by
Amendment No. 13 and 14 to the Note Purchase Agreement which the
Company entered into with Third Eye Capital on March 1, 2017 and
March 27, 2018 respectively, the Company also agreed to pay $0.2
million annually as consideration to McAfee Capital in exchange for
its willingness to provide the guaranties. On May 7, 2020 the Audit
Committee of the Company approved a guarantee fee of 0.4% on the
outstanding balance of Third Eye Capital Notes annually. The
balance of $0.8 million and $0.3 million remained as an accrued
liability for guaranty fees as of December 31, 2020 and December
31, 2019, respectively.
The
Company owes various members of the Board amounts totaling $1.2
million as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, for each
period, in connection with board compensation fees, which are
included in accounts payable on the balance sheet. For the years
ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company expensed $0.4 million
and $0.3 million, respectively, in connection with board
compensation fees.
We
employ Mr. Adam McAfee as Vice President, Finance at the base
salary of $180,000. Mr. Adam McAfee is the brother of Mr. Eric
McAfee, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Mr.
Adam McAfee received compensation, including stock option of
$33,448 during the fiscal year 2020 and, $30,546 during the fiscal
year 2019.
Board Independence
The Board of Directors has determined that all of its current
directors except Eric A. McAfee, who currently serves as
Aemetis’ Chief Executive Officer, are independent directors
within the meaning set forth in the applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC and The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, as
currently in effect
21
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Auditor Fee and Services in Fiscal Years 2019 and 2020
RSM US
LLP was appointed as our registered independent public accountant
on May 21, 2012. The fees billed by RSM US LLP for the audits of
the 2019 and 2020 financial statements are as follows:
|
2019
|
2020
|
Audit
Fees
|
$361,228
|
$340,375
|
Audit-Related
Fees
|
-
|
31,343
|
Total
Audit and Audit-Related Fees
|
$361,228
|
$371,718
|
Audit
Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for
the audit of the Company’s consolidated annual financial
statements, and review of the interim consolidated financial
statements included in quarterly reports and services that normally
provided by RSM US LLP in connection with statutory and regulatory
filings or engagements.
Audit-Related
Fees consist of assistance provided with respect to the Form S-8,
Prospectus Supplement and Comfort Letters.
Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Policies and
Procedures
Consistent
with policies of the SEC regarding auditor independence and the
Audit Committee charter, the Audit Committee has the responsibility
for appointing, setting compensation and overseeing the work of the
registered independent public accounting firm (the
“Firm”). The Audit Committee’s policy is to
pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided
by the Firm. Pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service
to category of services and is generally subject to a specific
budget. The Audit Committee may also pre-approve particular
services on a case-by-case basis. In assessing request for services
by the Firm, the Audit Committee considers whether such services
are consistent with the Firm’s independence, whether the Firm
is likely to provide the most effective and efficient service based
upon their familiarity with the Company, and whether the service
could enhance the Company’s ability to manage or control risk
or improve audit quality.
In
fiscal years 2019 and 2020, all fees identified above under the
captions “Audit Fees” and “Audit-Related
Fees” that were billed by RSM US LLP were approved by the
Audit Committee in accordance with SEC requirements.
22
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this Form
10-K/A:
1.
Financial Statements:
All financial statements are omitted for the reason that they are
not required or the information is otherwise supplied in Item 8.
“Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in the
2020 10-K filed on March 15, 2021.
2. Financial Statement Schedules:
None
3. Exhibits:
The exhibits listed on the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed or
incorporated by reference as part of this report.
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
|
||||||
|
|
Incorporated by Reference
|
Filed Herewith
|
|||
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
Form
|
File No.
|
Exhibit
|
Filing Date
|
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, relating to the Registrant’s
Amendment No.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year
ended December 31, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, relating to the Registrant’s
Amendment No.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year
ended December 31, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
23