Convergence Ethanol, Inc.
U.S.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-QSB
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR
15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the
quarterly period ended December 31, 2006
Commission
file number 0-4846-3
CONVERGENCE
ETHANOL, INC.
(Name
of small business issuer in its charter)
Nevada
|
|
82-0288840
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
|
|
(I.R.S.
employer
|
incorporation
or organization)
|
|
identification
no.)
|
|
|
|
5701
Lindero Canyon Road, Suite 2-100
|
|
|
Westlake
Village, California
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91362
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
|
(Zip
code)
|
Issuer’s
telephone number, including area code (818)
735-4750
Check
whether the issuer (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
x
No
o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act)
Yes
o
No
x
State
the
number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock,
as
of the latest practicable date.
Common
Stock Outstanding as of February
10, 2007 was 17,487,254.
Transitional
Small Business Disclosure Format: Yes o
No
x
Documents
incorporated by reference:
None
PART
I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
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Page
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Item
1.
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Financial
Statements
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Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2006 (Unaudited)
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F-2
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|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended December 31,
2006 and
2005 (unaudited)
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F-4
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|
Consolidated
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Three Months Ended
December 31, 2006 and 2005 (Unaudited)
|
F-5
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|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended December 31,
2006 and
2005 (Unaudited)
|
F-6
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|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
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F-8
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Item
2.
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Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
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2
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Item
3.
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Controls
and Procedures
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16
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|
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|
PART
II
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
Item
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
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21
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Item
1A.
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Risk
Factors
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23
|
Item
2.
|
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
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34
|
Item
3.
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Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
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34
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Item
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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34
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Item
5.
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Other
Information
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35
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Item
6.
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Exhibits
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35
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|
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|
Signatures |
36 |
ITEM
1 --
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONVERGENCE
ETHANOL, INC. (fka Mems USA, Inc.)
Consolidated
Balance Sheet
(Unaudited)
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|
December
31, 2006
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|
A
S S E T S
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|
|
|
Current
assets:
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalent
|
|
$
|
169,306
|
|
Accounts
receivable, net allowance for uncollectible of $144,060
|
|
|
1,534,644
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|
Inventories,
net
|
|
|
1,177,066
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|
Other
current assets
|
|
|
730,719
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|
Total
current assets
|
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|
3,611,735
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|
Plant,
property and equipment, net
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2,548,235
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|
Other
assets
|
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|
721,703
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|
Total
assets
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$
|
6,881,673
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|
|
|
|
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LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
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|
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Current
liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
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$
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1,667,038
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|
Current
portion of long-term debt
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|
|
8,044
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|
Other
liabilities
|
|
|
142,812
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|
Loans
from shareholders
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|
103,108
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|
Liability
to be satisfied through the issuance of shares
|
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1,200,375
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|
Derivative
liability
|
|
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3,953,337
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|
Total
current liabilities
|
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|
7,074,714
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|
Long-term
liabilities
|
|
|
13,446
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|
Liability
related to convertible debenture payable
|
|
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876,228
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|
Total
liabilities
|
|
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7,964,388
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|
Minority
interests
|
|
|
101,125
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|
Stockholders'
Deficit :
|
|
|
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Common
stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 20,256,938 shares
issued and outstanding
|
|
|
20,257
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|
Additional
paid in capital
|
|
|
19,559,734
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|
Accumulated
deficit
|
|
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(16,964,274
|
)
|
Treasury
stock (2,710,436 shares)
|
|
|
(3,799,558
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)
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Total
stockholders' deficit
|
|
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(1,183,840
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)
|
Total
liabilities and stockholders' deficit
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|
$
|
6,881,673
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|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated
financial statements.
CONVERGENCE
ETHANOL, INC. (fka Mems USA, Inc.)
Consolidated
Statement of Operations
Three
month periods ended December 31, 2006 and 2005
(Unaudited)
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2006
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2005
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|
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Net
Revenue
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$
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3,947,772
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|
$
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2,626,519
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|
Cost
of revenue
|
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3,281,511
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2,071,744
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|
Gross
profit
|
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|
666,261
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|
554,775
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|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
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1,387,825
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1,321,547
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|
Loss
from operations
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|
(721,564
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)
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|
(766,772
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)
|
Other
income (expenses)
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
Gain
from change in derivative liability
|
|
|
543,469
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|
|
-
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|
Income
due to legal settlement
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-
|
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3,703,634
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|
Interest
expense
|
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|
(249,869
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)
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|
(35,498
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)
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Other
income (expense)
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|
(65,093
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)
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12,217
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|
Total
other income
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|
|
228,507
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3,680,353
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Income
(loss) before minority interest
|
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(493,057
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)
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2,913,581
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|
Loss
attributable to minority interest
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2,806
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|
|
-
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|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(490,251
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)
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$
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2,913,581
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|
|
|
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|
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Net
income (loss) per share, basic and diluted:
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Weighted
average number of shares outstanding, basic & diluted
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17,610,368
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18,439,506
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|
Net
income (loss) per share, basic & diluted
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|
$
|
(0.03
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)
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$
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0.16
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|
|
|
|
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|
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The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated
financial statements.
CONVERGENCE
ETHANOL, INC. (fka Mems USA, Inc.)
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Three
Month Periods ended December 31, 2006 & 2005
(Unaudited)
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2006
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|
2005
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Cash
flows used for operating activities:
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|
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|
|
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Net
income (loss)
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$
|
(490,251
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)
|
$
|
2,913,581
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|
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
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|
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Income
due to legal settlement
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|
|
-
|
|
|
(3,703,634
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)
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
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|
64,989
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|
|
61,693
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|
Stock
base compensation, director and employee
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85,894
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|
|
-
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|
Amortization
of prepaid loan fees
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|
47,864
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|
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-
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Amortization
of discount on convertible debenture
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178,593
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|
|
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Gain
from derivative liability
|
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|
(543,469
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)
|
|
-
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Common
stock issued for services
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|
|
6,000
|
|
|
10,000
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|
Loss
attributable to minority interest
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|
|
(2,805
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)
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Change
in assets and liabilities:
|
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|
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|
|
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Accounts
receivable
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|
(252,646
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)
|
|
(186,172
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)
|
Inventories
|
|
|
862,622
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|
112,176
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|
Other
current assets
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|
287,750
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|
72,133
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Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
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|
(1,714,428
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)
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5,445
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|
Other
current liabilities
|
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63,533
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|
-
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|
Total
adjustments
|
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|
(916,103
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)
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|
(3,628,359
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)
|
Net
cash used for operating activities
|
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|
(1,406,354
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)
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|
(714,778
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)
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Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(20,769
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)
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Other
assets
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
24,000
|
|
Net
cash used for investing activities
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
3,231
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|
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds
from convertible loan
|
|
|
3,177,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
Debts
issuance cost
|
|
|
(476,370
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Lines
of credit
|
|
|
(325,114
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Promissory
notes payable
|
|
|
(365,245
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
|
|
(43,860
|
)
|
|
(30,398
|
)
|
Convertible
loan
|
|
|
(150,000
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Payment
due to legal settlement
|
|
|
(307,000
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Repayment
of loan from shareholders
|
|
|
(64,300
|
)
|
|
20,000
|
|
Net
cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
1,445,111
|
|
|
(10,398
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
38,756
|
|
|
(721,945
|
)
|
Cash
and cash equivalents, beginning of period
|
|
|
130,550
|
|
|
828,153
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents, end of period
|
|
$
|
169,306
|
|
$
|
106,208
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosure of cash flow information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
paid
|
|
$
|
71,276
|
|
$
|
35,498
|
|
Income
taxes paid
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Supplemental
disclosure of non-cash financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
stock issued for finder's fees for HEO property
|
|
$
|
38,500
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated
financial statements.
CONVERGENCE
ETHANOL, INC.
(fka
MEMS USA, Inc.)
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
1) Organization
and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:
Organization
Convergence
Ethanol, Inc. formerly known as MEMS USA, Inc. (the “Company” or “we”) has been
incorporated in November, 2002; The Company changed its name to Convergence
Ethanol, Inc. in November 2006. The Company’s mission is to support the
energy industry in producing cleaner burning fuels. Each of our subsidiaries
has
a specific eco-energy focus: (1) development of a woodwaste to bio-renewable
fuel-grade alcohol/ethanol project (HEO); (2) selling engineered products
(Bott); and (3) engineering, fabrication and sale of eco-focused energy systems
(Gulfgate).
Subsidiaries:
The
Company is comprised of three wholly owned subsidiaries, California MEMS USA,
Inc., a California Corporation (“CA MEMS”), Bott Equipment Company, Inc.
(“Bott”), a Texas Corporation, and Gulfgate Equipment, Inc. (“Gulfgate”) a Texas
Corporation, and a majority interest (87%) of Hearst Ethanol One, Inc., a
Federal Canadian Corporation (“HEO”).
CA
Mems
CA
MEMS
engineers, designs and oversees the construction of “Intelligent Filtration
Systems” (“IFS™”) for the gas and oil industry. The Company’s IFS™ systems are
fully integrated and are composed of a “Smart Backflush Filtration System” with
an integral electronic decanting system, a carbon bed filter and an ion-exchange
resin bed system.
Bott
Bott
is a
stocking distributor for premier lines of industrial pumps, valves and
instrumentation. Bott specializes in the construction of aviation refueling
systems for helicopter refueling on oil rigs throughout the world. Bott
and Gulfgate have a combined direct sales force as well as commissioned sales
representatives that sell their products.
Gulfgate
Gulfgate
engineers, designs, fabricates and commissions eco-focused energy systems
including particulate filtration equipment for the oil and power
industries. Gulfgate also makes and sells vacuum dehydration and
coalescing systems that remove water from hydrocarbon oils. Gulfgate
maintains and operates a rental fleet of filtration and dehydration
systems.
HEO
- Hearst Ethanol One
In
December 2005, the Company incorporated Hearst Ethanol One, Inc., a Federal
Canadian Corporation (“HEO”). Since that time, HEO has acquired 720 acres in
Hearst, Ontario, Canada together with approximately 1.3 million cubic meters
of
woodwaste. The property was purchased to provide the site and the biomass
material to produce bio-renewable fuel-grade alcohol/ethanol from
woodwaste. HEO has obtained construction and zoning permits. The Company
currently owns 87% of HEO.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments:
The
Company measures its financial assets and liabilities in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America. For certain of the Company's financial instruments,
including accounts receivable (trade and related party), notes receivable
and accounts payable (trade and related party), and
accrued expenses, the carrying amounts approximate fair
value due to their short maturities.
Use
of Estimates:
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted
in
the
United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect
the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets
and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts
of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
Concentration
of Credit Risk:
The
Company's financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit
risk consist primarily of cash and accounts receivable. The Company maintains
cash with various major financial institutions and performs evaluations of
the
relative credit standing of these financial institutions in order to limit
the
amount of credit exposure with any institution. The Company extends credit
to
customers based upon an evaluation of the customer's financial condition and
credit history and generally requires no collateral. The Company's customers
are
principally located throughout North America, and their ability to pay amounts
due to the Company may be dependent on the prevailing economic conditions of
their geographic region. Management performs regular evaluations concerning
the
ability of its customers to satisfy their obligations and records a provision
for doubtful accounts based on these evaluations. The Company's credit losses
for the periods presented are insignificant and have not significantly exceeded
management's estimates.
Cash
and Cash Equivalents:
All
highly liquid investments maturing in three months or less when purchased are
considered as cash equivalents.
Accounts
Receivable:
In
the
normal course of business, the Company provides credit to customers. We monitor
our customers’ payment history, and perform credit evaluation of their financial
condition. We maintain adequate reserves for potential credit losses based
on
the age of the receivable and specific customer circumstance.
Inventories:
Inventories
are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market value and have
been reduced by an allowance for excess, slow-moving and obsolete inventories.
The estimated allowance is based on Management's review of inventories on hand
compared to historical usage and estimated future usage and sales. Inventories
under long-term contracts reflect accumulated production costs, factory
overhead, initial tooling and other related costs less the portion of such
costs
charged to cost of sales and any un-liquidated progress payments. In accordance
with industry practice, costs incurred on contracts in progress include amounts
relating to programs having production cycles longer than one year, and a
portion thereof may not be realized within one year.
Property
and Equipment:
Property
and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of equipment is provided for
by
the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives ranging from three
to
ten years for equipment and 28 to 30 years for plants.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
The
Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, "Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets" ("SFAS 144"), which
addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal
of
long-lived assets and supersedes SFAS No. 121,"Accounting for the Impairment
of
Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of," and the
accounting and reporting provisions of APB Opinion No. 30, "Reporting the
Results of Operations for a Disposal of a Segment of a Business." The Company
periodically evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and
used in accordance with SFAS 144. SFAS 144 requires impairment losses to be
recorded on long-lived assets used in operations when indicators of impairment
are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those
assets are less than the assets' carrying amounts. In that event, a loss is
recognized based on the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair
market value of the long-lived assets. Loss on long-lived assets to be disposed
of is determined in a similar manner, except that fair market values are reduced
for the cost of disposal.
Accounts
Payable and accrued expenses:
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses includes trade accounts payable of $1,132,980
for
the three month periods ended December 31, 2006 and accrued expenses of $534,059
respectively.
Revenue
Recognition:
The
Company’s revenue recognition policies are in compliance with Staff accounting
bulletin (SAB) 104. Sales revenue is recognized at the date of shipment to
customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable,
the delivery is completed, no other significant obligations of the Company
exist
and collectibility is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the
relevant criteria for revenue recognition are satisfied are recorded as unearned
revenue.
Advertising
Costs:
The
Company expenses the cost of advertising as incurred. The advertising expense
charged against operations for the three month periods ended December 31, 2006
and 2005 were $3,798 and $5,561 respectively.
Income
Taxes:
The
Company accounts for income taxes under the provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 109 ("SFAS 109"). Under SFAS 109,
deferred income tax assets or liabilities are computed based on the temporary
difference between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and
liabilities using the currently enacted marginal income tax rate. Deferred
income tax expenses or credits are based on the changes in the deferred income
tax assets or liabilities from period to period. Deferred tax assets may be
recognized for temporary differences that will result in deductible amounts
in
future periods and for loss carry forwards. A valuation allowance is established
if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that
some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.
Earnings
Per Share:
Basic
earnings (loss) per share are computed by dividing net income (loss)
attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed similar to
basic earnings (loss) per share except that the denominator is increased to
include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been
outstanding if the potential shares of common stock equivalents had been
exercised and issued and if the additional common shares were dilutive. Diluted
earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if
securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted
into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared
in the earnings of the Company. There were 87,919 shares of common stock
equivalents for the three month period ended December 31, 2006 which were
excluded because they are not dilutive. Common stock equivalents includes,
but
is not limited to warrants, stock options, convertible debentures,
etc.
Accounting
change
On
October 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 123 (revised 2004) “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”) that requires
companies to expense the value of employee stock purchase plans, stock option
grants and similar awards. The Company adopted SFAS 123R under the modified
prospective method, which requires the application of SFAS 123R in 2006 to
new
awards and to awards modified, repurchased or cancelled after the effective
date. Additionally, compensation cost for the portion of outstanding awards
for
which service has not been rendered (such as unvested options) that are
outstanding as of October 1, 2006, shall be recognized as the remaining services
are rendered.
Stock-based
compensation
The
Company adopted SFAS No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share Based Payment (“SFAS
No. 123R”), under the modified-prospective transition method on
October 1, 2006. SFAS No. 123R requires companies to measure and
recognize the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of
equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value. Share-based compensation
recognized under the modified-prospective transition method of SFAS
No. 123R includes share-based compensation based on the grant-date fair
value determined in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS
No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, for all share-based
payments granted prior to and not yet vested as of October 1, 2006 and
share-based compensation based on the grant-date fair-value determined in
accordance with SFAS No. 123R for all share-based payments granted after
October 1, 2006. SFAS No. 123R eliminates the ability to account for
the award of these instruments under the intrinsic value method prescribed
by
Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees, and allowed under the original provisions of SFAS
No. 123. Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company accounted
for our stock option plans using the intrinsic value method in accordance with
the provisions of APB Opinion No. 25 and related
interpretations.
As
of December 31, 2006, the Company has adopted one share-based compensation
plan
which is described below. In addition to this plan, the Company grants various
other stock options, warrants and stock directly to certain parties. The Company
grants all such awards as incentive compensation to officers, directors, and
employees, and as compensation for the services of independent contractors
and
consultants of the Company.
MEMS
USA, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan
The
MEMS USA, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, which was approved by the board of
directors and stockholders, permits the grant of share options to officers,
directors, employees, and consultants of the Company for up to 1,850,000 shares
of common stock. The board of directors has the right to amend, suspend or
terminate the MEMS USA, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan at any time. Unless
sooner terminated by the board of directors, the MEMS USA, Inc. 2004 Stock
Incentive Plan will terminate on December 31, 2007. As of December 31, 2006,
under the 2004 plan the Company has granted options to purchase 1,297,500 shares
of common stock under the MEMS USA, Inc. 2004 Incentive Plan, 345,000 of which
have been forfeited leaving 952,500 outstanding, of which, 587,250 have vested.
The
Company’s stock-based compensation to officers, directors, employees, and
consultants of the Company primarily consists of the
following:
Stock
options: The Company generally grants stock options to employees, directors
and
consultants at exercise prices equal to the fair market value of the Company’s
stock at the dates of grant. Stock options may be granted throughout the year,
vest immediately, vest based on years of continuous service, or vest upon
completion of specified performance conditions, and expire over various terms
ranging from 5 to 10 years. The Company recognizes compensation expense for
the
fair value of the stock options over the requisite service period for each
separate vesting portion of the stock option award, or, for awards with
performance conditions, when the performance condition is met.
Stock
warrants: The Company generally grants stock warrants relating to compensation
to consultants at exercise prices equal to or above the fair market value of
the
Company’s stock at the dates of grant. Stock warrants may be granted throughout
the year, vest immediately, and expire over various terms between 2 and 5 years.
The Company recognizes compensation expense for the fair value of the stock
warrants over the requisite service period.
Stock
grants: The Company generally grants stock relating to compensation to
employees, directors and consultants at prices equal to or below the fair market
value of the Company’s stock at the date of grant. The Company recognizes
compensation expense for the fair value of the stock over the requisite service
period.
The
fair
value of each option and warrant award is estimated on the date of grant using
the Black-Scholes option-pricing model that uses the assumptions noted in the
following table. The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for
use
in estimating the fair value of traded options. In addition, option valuation
models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected
stock price volatility. Because the Company’s stock options and warrants have
characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and
because changes in the subjective assumptions can materially affect the fair
value estimate, in management’s opinion, the existing models do not necessarily
provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its stock options and
warrants. The expected dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s
expectation of dividend payouts. Expected volatilities are based on historical
volatility of the Company’s stock. The average risk-free interest rate is based
on the U.S. treasury yield curve in effect as of the grant date. The expected
life is primarily determined using guidance from SAB 107. As such, the expected
life of the options and warrants is the average of the vesting term and the
full
contractual term of the options and warrants. In addition to the assumptions
in
the table, the Company applies a forfeiture-rate assumption in its estimate
of
fair value that is primarily based on historical annual forfeiture rates of
the
Company.
|
|
|
Three
Months Ended
December
31, 2006
|
Expected
dividend yield
|
|
|
0.00%
|
Expected
volatility
|
|
|
92.5%
to 93.6%
|
Average
risk-free interest rate
|
|
|
4.52%
to 4.81%
|
Expected
life (in years)
|
|
|
2.5
to 6
|
The
Company did not issue stock options or warrants during the three months ended
December 31, 2005.
During
the three months ended December 31, 2006, $163,677 of employee and director
compensation cost has been recognized from the grant and vesting of options,
$85,893 of which has been charged against income, and $77,784 of which
represents the unamortized portion of deferred director compensation cost.
Deferred director compensation cost is being amortized on a straight-line basis
over two years.
Stock
Options and Warrants Issued to Third Parties for Services
The
Company accounts for stock options and warrants issued to third parties for
services in accordance with the provisions of the Emerging Issues Task Force
(“EITF”) Issue No. 96-18, “Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to
Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling Goods or
Services”. Under the provisions of EITF 96-18, because none of the Company’s
agreements have a disincentive for nonperformance, the Company records a charge
for the fair value of the portion of the stock options and warrants earned
from
the point in time when vesting of the stock options and warrants becomes
probable. Final determination of fair value of the stock options and warrants
occurs upon actual vesting.
The
Company did not issue stock options or warrants to third parties for services
during the three months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.
Stock
Options Issued to Employees and Directors for Compensation
Following
is the Company’s stock option activity during the three months ended December
31, 2006:
On
October 1, 2006, the date the Company adopted SFAS 123R, the Company had
outstanding options to purchase 1,884,358 shares of common stock with officers,
directors and employees. Of these options, 1,000,000 vested immediately and
the
remainder vest over 3 years. The options have exercise prices ranging from
$0.90
to $2.70 per share, and expire in 10 years. Of these options, 539,324 were
unvested on October 1, 2006 with an unrecognized unvested grant date fair value
of $527,858. During the three months ended December 31, 2006, $328,887 of the
unrecognized unvested fair value of these options was forfeited, the Company
recorded officer, director and employee compensation of $71,609 relating to
these options, and $127,363 remained unrecognized as of December 31, 2006.
On
October 18, 2006, the Company issued options to purchase 300,000 shares of
common stock to a director. The options vested upon issuance, have an exercise
price of $0.51 per share, and expire in 5 years. The fair value of these options
on the date of grant amounted to $86,829, was recorded as deferred director
compensation, and is being amortized over two years on the straight-line method.
Amortization of this deferred director compensation amounted to $9,045 during
the three months ended December 31, 2006. The unamortized deferred director
compensation amounted to $77,784 at December 31, 2006.
On
November 1, 2006, the Company issued options to purchase 300,000 shares of
common stock to an officer. The options vest over 3 years, have an exercise
price of $0.45 per share, expire in 10 years, and also vest the day before
any
merger or acquisition of more than 50% of the Company’s capital stock, or the
purchase of substantially all of the Company’s assets, by a third-party. The
fair value of these options on the date of grant amounted to $104,792 and is
being recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.
The
Company recorded officer compensation of $5,240 relating to these options during
the three months ended December 31, 2006.
The
Company did not issue stock options to employees and directors for compensation
during the three months ended December 31, 2005.
Prior
to October 1, 2006, the Company accounted for its stock options in accordance
with the intrinsic value provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion
No.
25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”). Under APB 25, the
difference between the quoted market price as of the date of grant and the
contractual purchase price of shares was recognized as compensation expense
over
the vesting period on a straight-line basis. The Company did not recognize
compensation expense in its consolidated financial statements for stock options
as the exercise price was not less than 100% of the fair value of the underlying
common stock on the date of grant.
The
following table illustrates the effect on net income and net income per share
had the Company recognized compensation expense consistent with the fair value
provisions of SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, as amended
by SFAS 148 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Transaction and Disclosure
- An Amendment to SFAS 123, prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R:
Three
Months Ended December 31, 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income, as reported
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,913,581
|
|
Deduct:
Total stock-based employee compensation expenses determined under
the fair
value Black-Scholes method with a 128% volatility at December 31,
2005 and
a 6% risk free rate of return assumption
|
|
|
|
|
|
(175,664
|
)
|
Pro
forma net income
|
$
|
2,737,917
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
per share:
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares, basic
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,439,506
|
|
Basic,
pro forma, per share
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares, diluted
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,131,642
|
|
Diluted,
pro forma, per share
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.14
|
|
A
summary of option activity relating to employee and director compensation as
of
December 31, 2006, and changes during the three months then ended is presented
below:
Options
|
Shares
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
|
|
Weighted-Average
Remaining Contractual Term
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
|
Outstanding
at October 1, 2006
|
1,884,358
|
$
|
1.85
|
|
|
$
|
20,000
|
Granted
|
600,000
|
$
|
.48
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
Exercised
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
Forfeited
|
(345,000)
|
$
|
1.50
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
Converted
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
Expired
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
Canceled
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
Outstanding
at December 31, 2006
|
2,139,358
|
$
|
1.52
|
|
7.60
|
$
|
132,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable
at December 31, 2006
|
1,758,696
|
$
|
1.65
|
|
7.25
|
$
|
64,500
|
A
summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested option shares relating to
employee and director compensation as of December 31, 2006, and changes during
the three months then ended is presented below:
Non-vested
Options
|
Shares
|
|
Weighted-Average
Grant-Date Fair Value
|
Non-vested
at October 1, 2006
|
539,324
|
|
$
|
1.25
|
Granted
|
300,000
|
|
$
|
0.35
|
Vested
|
(143,662)
|
|
$
|
1.16
|
Forfeited
|
(315,000)
|
|
$
|
1.09
|
Non-vested
at December 31, 2006
|
380,662
|
|
$
|
0.70
|
As
of December 31, 2006, there was approximately $227,000 of total unrecognized
compensation cost related to non-vested option share-based compensation
arrangements. Of the amount, $133,000 is expected to be recognized throughout
the remainder of fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and $49,000 and $45,000
is expected to be recognized throughout fiscal years ending September 30, 2008
and 2009, respectively.
A
summary of warrant activity relating to compensation to consultants as of
December 31, 2006, and changes during the three months then ended is presented
below:
Warrants
|
Shares
|
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
|
Weighted-Average
Remaining Contractual Term
|
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
|
Outstanding
at October 1, 2006
|
822,000
|
$
|
2.61
|
|
$
|
-
|
Granted
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
Exercised
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
Forfeited
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
Converted
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
Expired
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
Canceled
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
Outstanding
at December 31, 2006
|
822,000
|
$
|
2.61
|
2.13
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable
at December 31, 2006
|
822,000
|
$
|
2.61
|
2.13
|
$
|
-
|
All
of the Company’s warrants were fully vested as of October 1, 2006.
Interim
Financial Statements:
The
accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months
ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 include all adjustments (consisting of only
normal recurring accruals), which, in the opinion of management, are necessary
for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the periods presented.
Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected
for
a full year. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read
in
conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year
ended September 30, 2006 included in the Company’s 2006 Annual
Report.
Going
Concern:
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which
contemplates the Company as a going concern. However, the Company has sustained
net losses of $16,964,274 and has used substantial amounts of working capital
in
its operations. Realization of a major portion of the assets reflected on
the accompanying balance sheet is dependent upon continued operations of the
Company which, in turn, is dependent upon the Company's ability to meet its
financing requirements and succeed in its future operations. Management believes
that actions presently being taken to revise the Company's operating and
financial requirements provide them with the opportunity for the Company to
continue as a going concern. We will continue to raise additional cash through
debt or equity financings in 2007 in order to meet our working capital
requirements.
Derivative
Instruments
In
June
1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 133, “Accounting
for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 133, as amended by
SFAS No. 137, is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000.
SFAS
No. 133 requires the Company to recognize all derivatives as either assets
or
liabilities and measure those instruments at fair value. It further provides
criteria for derivative instruments to be designated as fair value, cash flow
and foreign currency hedges and establishes respective accounting standards
for
reporting changes in the fair value of the derivative instruments. After
adoption, the Company is required to adjust hedging instruments to fair value
in
the balance sheet and recognize the offsetting gains or losses as adjustments
to
be reported in net income or other comprehensive income, as appropriate.
Reclassifications
Certain
reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current
year presentation. These changes had no effect on reported financial positions
or results of operations.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements:
In
September 2006, FASB issued SFAS 158 Employers Accounting for Defined Benefit
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87,
88, 106, and 132(R). This Statement improves financial reporting by requiring
an
employer to recognize the over-funded or under-funded status of a defined
benefit postretirement plan (other than a multiemployer plan) as an asset or
liability in its statement of financial position and to recognize changes in
that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive
income of a business entity or changes in unrestricted net assets of a
not-for-profit organization. This Statement also improves financial reporting
by
requiring an employer to measure the funded status of a plan as of the date
of
its year-end statement of financial position, with limited exceptions. An
employer with publicly traded equity securities is required to initially
recognize the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan and to
provide the required disclosures as of the end of the fiscal year ending after
December 15, 2006. An employer without publicly traded equity securities is
required to recognize the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement
plan
and to provide the required disclosures as of the end of the fiscal year ending
after June 15, 2007. However, an employer without publicly traded equity
securities is required to disclose the following information in the notes to
financial statements for a fiscal year ending after December 15, 2006, but
before June 16, 2007, unless it has applied the recognition provisions of this
Statement in preparing those financial statements. The disclosures include
a
brief description of the provisions of this Statement; the date that adoption
is
required; and the date the employer plans to adopt the recognition provisions
of
this Statement, if earlier.
This
statement is effective for fiscal year ending after December 15, 2008.
Management has not determined the effect if any, the adoption of this statement
will have on the financial statements.
(2) Investments
in Hearst Ethanol One, Inc.:
Hearst
Ethanol One Inc. Agreement:
In
December 2005, the Company incorporated Hearst Ethanol One, Inc., a Federal
Canadian Corporation (“HEO”). On April 21, 2006 the Company completed the
acquisition of 720 acres of real property, together with all biomass material
located thereon. The site is located in the Township of Kendall, District of
Cochrane, Canada, The property was purchased from C. Villeneuve Construction
Co.
LTD., a Canadian Corporation to provide the site and the biomass material for
the construction and operation of bio-renewable woodwaste-to-fuel-grade
alcohol/ethanol refinery to be owned by HEO.
Pursuant
to the provisions of the Agreement, HEO issued ten point five percent (10.5%)
of
HEO’s common shares to Villeneuve as consideration for the transfer of the
Property. At the close of the transaction, the Company owned 87% of the common
stock of HEO.
Pursuant
to a Memorandum of Understanding entered into on April 20, 2006 between HEO
and
Villeneuve to clarify the Agreement, Villeneuve shall be entitled to appoint
one
member of HEO’s board of directors for so long as Villeneuve is at least a ten
percent (10%) shareholder of HEO.
Hearst
Ethanol One Inc. Valuation:
Hearst
Ethanol One Inc. Valuation:
The
valuation based on the residual property valuation of the land is $253,070,
building $88,574, raw material (mature timber) of $647,953 and Forest Waste
Disposal license Bond $67,780. Also included in the valuation was the residual
value of the biomass on the HEO site of US$11,461,362.
The
other
tangible and intangible assets owned by HEO include: a small rock quarry (and
associated mineral rights) on the property, as well as a landfill license and
permits as issued by the Government of Ontario Ministry of the Environment
(“MOE”).
Writing
off Inventory:
During
the fourth quarter of last year the company wrote off the value of HEO’s
inventory to a nominal amount. After conducting an asset evaluation review
it
was determined that no known market for the materials other than utilization
in
the Company’s planned manufacturing facility currently exists.
At
September 30, 2006, HEO’s inventory with a gross value of US $11,461,362 was
fully written off.
(3) Business
Acquisition:
On
October 26, 2004 (“Closing Date”), effective October 1, 2004, the Company
purchased 100% of the outstanding shares of two Texas corporations, Bott
Equipment Company, Inc. (“Bott”) and Gulfgate Equipment, Inc. (“Gulfgate”) from
their president and sole shareholder, Mr. Mark Trumble.
Under
the
terms of the stock purchase agreement, the Company acquired 100% of the shares
of Bott and Gulfgate from Mr. Trumble for $50,000 in cash and 1,309,677 shares
of the Company’s newly issued common stock.
The
Company also agreed, to raise $2,000,000 in gross equity funding within 120
days
of the Closing Date. The Company failed to achieve this milestone and issued
Trumble an additional 123,659 shares of its restricted stock
During
the first quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Company, in order to avoid the
issuance of 61,829 penalty shares, paid $75,000 directly to Mr. Trumble. As
of
the date of this report the Company has received approximately $39,000 of the
$75,000 from Mr. Weisdorn Sr. The Company has recorded this payment as a
reduction to additional paid-in capital.
On
December 15, 2005, the Company assumed Weisdorn Sr.’s obligation to purchase
165,054 shares from Mr. Trumble at $1.86 per share.
First
amended stock purchase agreement with Mark Trumble
Effective
May 8, 2006, the Company and its officers entered into a First Amended Stock
Purchase Agreement and Release (“Agreement”) with Mark Trumble, amending that
certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 1, 2004 (the “SPA”), pursuant
to which the parties agreed to, among other things, Trumble agreed to release
the Company from its obligations under the put, including any obligation to
make
the interest payment or to pay interest on any sum whatsoever, and release
any
security interest he claims in the real estate owned by Gulfgate and/or Bott,
and the Company, within 60 days, shall secure a funding commitment in which
Trumble shall be paid the sum of $307,000 at the time of the closing of the
funding. This sum shall be used to purchase 165,053 shares of the common stock
of the Company from Trumble at the price of $1.86 per share. The Company shall
also pay from the funding all amounts of bank or other indebtedness owed by
the
Company, Bott or Gulfgate, which is personally guaranteed by Trumble. The
Company shall issue Trumble, upon closing of the funding, 60,000 shares of
the
Company’s common stock. This additional issuance of shares of the common stock
of the Company shall be in full and final satisfaction of all claims that
Trumble has or may have to additional shares of the Company’s common stock as a
result of any breach of, or failure to meet a milestone under, the
SPA.
(4) Accounts
Receivable:
Accounts
receivable has been reduced by an allowance for amounts that may become
uncollectible. This estimated allowance is based primarily on Management's
evaluation of the financial condition of the customer and historical bad debt
experience. The Company has provided reserves for doubtful accounts as of
December 31, 2006 in the amount of $144,060 that the Company believes
are adequate.
(5) Inventories:
Inventories
consist of finished goods of $568,070, raw material of mature timber of
$647,953, and work in process in the amount of $362,497 at December 31, 2006.
The inventory reserves in the books is $401,454.
(6)
Plant, Property and Equipment:
A
summary
at December 31, 2006 are as follows:
Land
|
|
$
|
917,108
|
|
Buildings
and improvements
|
|
|
1,244,453
|
|
Furniture,
Machinery and equipment
|
|
|
1,025,414
|
|
Automobiles
and trucks
|
|
|
47,508
|
|
|
|
|
3,234,483
|
|
Less
accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
(586,248
|
)
|
|
|
$
|
2,648,235
|
|
Depreciation
expense charged to operations totaled $64,989 and $61,693 respectively, for
the
three months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.
We
evaluate impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with SFAS No. 144,
Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. We
assess
the impairment of long-lived assets, including property and equipment and
purchased intangibles subject to amortization, when our review of events, or
changes in circumstances suggest the fair value of assets could be less then
their net book value. In such event, we would assess long-lived assets for
impairment by determining their fair value based on the forecasted, undiscounted
cash flows the assets are expected to generate plus the net proceeds expected
from the sale of the asset. An impairment loss would be recognized when the
fair
value is less than the related asset’s net book value, and an impairment expense
would be recorded in the amount of the difference. Forecasts of future cash
flows are judgments based on our experience and knowledge of our operations
and
the industries in which we operate. These forecasts could be significantly
affected by future changes in market conditions, the economic environment,
and
capital spending decisions of our customers and inflation. We have not
recognized any impairment losses on long-lived assets for the period ended
December 31, 2006.
(7) Goodwill
Impairment
We
account for goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (“ SFAS”) No. 142, Goodwill
and Other Intangible Assets .
The
Company evaluates intangible assets and other long-lived assets for impairment,
at a minimum, on an annual basis and whenever events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable from its estimated
future cash flows. Recoverability of intangible assets, other long-lived assets
and goodwill is measured by comparing their net book value to the related
projected undiscounted cash flows from these assets, considering a number of
factors including past operating results, budgets, economic projections, market
trends and product development cycles. If the net book value of the asset
exceeds the related undiscounted cash flows, the asset is considered impaired,
and a second test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss. We
have
not recognized any impairment losses on any of our intangible assets for the
period ended December 31, 2006.
(9) Business
Lines of Credits - Bott:
Bott
previously maintained three lines of credits with a bank in Houston, Texas.
The
credit lines were evidenced by three promissory notes, a Business Loan Agreement
and certain commercial guarantees issued in favor of the bank.
In
May
2004, Bott entered into a promissory note with a bank whereby Bott could borrow
up to $250,000 over a three year term. The note required monthly payments of
one
thirty-sixth (1/36) of the outstanding principal balance plus accrued interest
at the Bank's prime rate plus 1.0 percent.
In
June
2004, Bott executed a promissory note ("Note") with a bank whereby Bott could
borrow up to $600,000, at an interest rate equal to the bank's prime rate.
The
Note provided for monthly payments of all accrued unpaid interest due as of
the
date of each payment. The Note further provided for a balloon payment of all
principal and interest outstanding on the Note's one year anniversary. The
Company informed the bank that it would not renew the line of credit and
negotiated a long-term promissory note.
This
replacement promissory note was finalized in December 2005, for $372,012 at
a
variable interest rate equal to the bank's prime rate. The note provides for
five monthly principal payments of $3,092 and a final payment of the remaining
principal and interest in June 2006.
The
Agreements and Notes are secured by the inventory, chattel paper, accounts
receivable and general intangibles. The Agreements and Notes are also secured
by
the personal performance guarantees of certain executives of the
Company (Commercial Guarantees). All amounts related to Bott’s outstanding
promissory notes totaled $496,877 on September 30, 2006 and were paid in
full on October 31, 2006.
(10) Business
Line of Credit - Gulfgate:
In
June
2002, Gulfgate executed a promissory note (“Note”) with a bank that allowed
Gulfgate to borrow up to $200,000 at an interest rate equal to the bank’s prime
rate, or a minimum interest rate of 5.00% per annum, whichever was greater.
The
Note provided for monthly payments of all accrued unpaid interest due as of
the
date of each payment. The Note remains in force and effect until the bank
provides notice to Gulfgate that no additional withdrawals are permitted (Final
Availability Date). Thereafter, payments equal to either $250 or the outstanding
interest plus one percent of the outstanding principal as of the Final
Availability Date are due monthly until the Note is repaid in full. The Note
allows for prepayment of all or part of the outstanding principal or interest
without penalty. The Note is secured by Gulfgate’s accounts with the bank, and
by Gulfgate’s inventory, chattel paper, accounts receivable, and general
intangibles. The Agreement is also secured by the performance guarantees of
Mr.
Mark Trumble, Mr. Lawrence Weisdorn and the Company. Amounts outstanding at
September 30, 2006 totaled $171,539 and were paid in full on October 31,
2006.
(11) Liability
to be satisfied through the issuance of shares
As
of
December 31, 2006, the Company incurred a liability for stock subscribed in
the
amount of $1,200,376. The Company sold 670,000 shares of its common stock
for $1,005,000 via a private placement offering through SW Bach & Company, a
New York securities dealer. The Company anticipates satisfying its private
placement obligations through issuance of common stock to shareholders as soon
as the Company completes its SB-2 registration with the Securities &
Exchange Commission.
The
Company sold 277,978 shares of its common stock for $180,000 via another private
placement offering from June through August 2006. The balance of the liability
($15,376 / 12,298 shares) was for services rendered during 2006. The Company
intends to satisfy these obligations through issuance of common stock to
shareholders in February 2007.
(12) Long-Term
Debts:
Promissory
Notes:
In
May
2003, Bott executed a promissory note with a bank in the amount of $26,398
at an
interest rate equals to four point fifty five percent (4.55%) for a vehicle
purchase. The term of the note is for fifty-nine (59) months at $494 per month.
Balance outstanding at September 30, 2006 was $10,143 and was paid in full
on
October 31, 2006.
Mortgage:
On
May
31, 2002, Gulfgate entered into a $140,000 promissory note (“Note”) with a bank
in connection with the refinancing of Gulfgate’s real estate. The
Note bears a fixed interest rate of seven percent (7.00%) per annum.
The Loan provided for fifty-nine monthly payments of $1,267 due beginning July
2002 and ending June 2007. The Note may be prepaid without fee or penalty
and is secured by a deed of trust on Gulfgate’s realty. Balance
outstanding at September 30, 2006 was $19,724 and was fully paid for on October
31, 2006.
Loans
from shareholders:
At
December 31, 2006 the Company owes James A. Latty, President, CEO and Chairman,
the sum of $91,534 in loan and accrued interest. The Company also owes Mr.
Latty
reimbursement for business travel expenses of $11,574.
.
In
September 2005, Daniel K. Moscaritolo, then COO and Director, and James A.
Latty, CEO and Chairman, (“Lenders”) each loaned the Company, $95,800
(collectively, $191,600). The transactions are evidenced by two notes dated
November 1, 2005 (hereinafter, “Notes”). The terms of the Notes require
repayment of the principal and interest, which accrues at a rate of ten percent
(10%) per annum on May 1, 2006. The Notes are accompanied by Security Agreements
that grant the Lenders a security interest in all personal property belonging
to
the Company, as well as granting an undivided ½ security interest in all of the
Company’s right title and interest to any trademarks, trade names, contract
rights, and leasehold interests. Balance outstanding at September 30, 2006
was
$147,163. The interest recorded was $17,563 for the year ended September 30,
2006.
On
October 31, 2006 the Company paid Mr. Daniel Moscaritolo a sum of $54,358 of
which $8,558 was for accrued interest. As of October 31, 2006 Mr. Moscaritiolo’s
loan was paid in full.
Convertible
Loan Payable:
|
A.
|
Securities
Purchase Agreement with an Individual
Investor:
|
In
September 2004, the Company entered into a convertible loan with an investor.
The principal amount of the convertible loan payable is $150,000 at an interest
rate of 8% per annum paid quarterly. The loan is convertible into common stock
at any time within two (2) years (24 months) starting September 3, 2004 at
the
conversion price of $2.20 or 68,182 shares. Each share converted entitles the
holder to purchase one additional share of stock at an exercise price of $3.30
within the ensuing 12 months.
The
loan
plus accrued interest was paid in full on October 31, 2006.
B.
Securities Purchase Agreement with GCA Strategic Investment Fund
Limited:
On
October 31, 2006, the Company closed its Securities Purchase Agreement (the
“Agreement”) with GCA Strategic Investment Fund Limited (“Purchaser”). The
Company issued a $3,530,000 Convertible Note due October 31, 2009 (the “Note”),
and the purchase price of the Note was $3,177,000 (ninety per cent of the
principal amount of the Note). The Note does not bear interest except upon
an
event of default, at which time interest shall accrue at the rate of 18% per
annum.
Security-The
Note is secured by a first security position in all assets of the Company and
its subsidiaries, Bott Equipment Company, Inc., a Texas corporation, and
Gulfgate Equipment, Inc., in their inventory, equipment, furniture and fixtures,
rental fleet equipment and any other of their assets wherever located except
accounts receivable and assets solely attributable to their alternative fuel
projects.
Registration
Rights-The Company agreed to use its best efforts to file a registration
statement to register the resale of the common shares issuable upon the
conversion of the Note and exercise of the warrants (the “Conversion Shares”) by
December 31, 2006. The Company will also use its best efforts to cause the
registration statement to become effective within by January 31, 2007. If the
registration statement is not timely filed, the Company owes Purchaser
liquidated damages in the amount of 1% of the principal amount of the then
outstanding balance due under the Note for each 60-day period, prorated, until
the registration statement is filed. If the registration statement is not
declared effective within such 90 day period, the Company will owe Purchaser
liquidated damages in the amount of 2% of the principal amount of the then
outstanding balance of the Note for each 30-day period, prorated, until the
registration statement is declared effective.
Conversion
Price: The Note may be converted into Company's common shares. The conversion
price will be 85% of the trading volume weighted average price, as reported
by
Bloomberg LP (the “VWAP”), for the five trading days immediately prior to the
date of notice of conversion. During the first 30 days after the registration
statement is effective registration the conversion price will not be less than
$0.47 (the “Floor Conversion Price”), nor greater than $0.61 (the “Ceiling
Conversion Price”). For the ninety (90) day period following the Initial Pricing
Period and each successive ninety (90) day period thereafter (each a “Reset
Period”), the Floor Conversion Price shall be reduced by an amount equal to 40%
of the lesser of (i) the Floor Conversion Price or (ii) the Closing Bid Price
as
reported by Bloomberg on the trading day immediately following the Initial
Pricing Period or Reset Period, as the case may be, and the Ceiling Conversion
Price shall be increased by an amount equal to 40% of the lesser of (y) the
current Ceiling Conversion Price or (z) the closing bid price as reported by
Bloomberg on the trading day immediately following the Initial Pricing Period
or
Reset Period as the case may be.
Prepayment-For
so long as Company is not in default and Company is not in receipt of
a notice of conversion from the holder of the Note, Company may, at its
option, prepay, in whole or in part, this Convertible Note for a pre-payment
price (the “Prepayment Price”) equal to the greater of (i) 110% of the
outstanding principal amount of the Note plus all accrued and unpaid interest
if
any, and any outstanding liquidated damages, if any, or (ii) (x) the number
of Company's common shares into which the Notes is then convertible, times
(y) the average VWAP of Company's common shares for the five (5) trading
days immediately prior to the date that the Note is called for redemption,
plus
accrued and unpaid interest.
Redemption-The
Company may be required under certain circumstances to redeem any
outstanding balance of the Note and the warrants. The redemption price under
these circumstances of the outstanding balance due under the Note is equal
to
the greater of: (i) the Prepayment Price or (ii) (x) the number of Company's
common shares into which the unpaid balance due under the Note is then
convertible, times (y) the five (5) day VWAP price of Company's common shares
for the five trading days immediately prior to the date that the unpaid balance
due under the Note is called for redemption, plus accrued and unpaid interest,
if any.
Warrant-The
Company issued warrants to purchase 1,000,000 shares of its common stock. These
warrants are callable if the common stock trades at a price equal to 200% of
the
strike price of the warrants based on any consecutive five day trading average
VWAP value. The warrants have a term of five years and an exercise price of
$0.66 (120% of the average five day VWAP price for Company's common stock
for the five trading days immediately prior to October 31, 2006).
Company paid
an application fee to Global Capital Advisors, LLC (“Adviser”), Purchaser's
adviser, from the proceeds of the funding in an amount equal to one percent
of
the funding, excluding warrants. Additionally, Company issued to Adviser on
warrant to purchase 500,000 shares of Company's common stock. These
warrants have a term of five years and have an initial fixed exercise price
of $0.66 (120% of the five day VWAP for the five trading days immediately prior
to October 31, 2006).
The
proceeds received from this agreement were used to pay off all notes payable
to
third party listed under Footnotes 9, 10 and 12. Major disbursements included
three notes payable to a bank (Notes 9 and 10) totaling $668,030; auto and
property loans totaling $40,561; convertible loan $150,000; and $307,000 related
to the First
amended stock purchase agreement with Mark Trumble (Note
3),
and Daniel Moscaritolo (see section F)
Per
EITF
00-19, paragraph 4, these convertible debentures do not meet the definition
of a
“conventional convertible debt instrument” since the debt is not convertible
into a fixed number of shares. The debt can be converted into common stock
at a
conversions price that is a percentage of the market price; therefore the number
of shares that could be required to be delivered upon “net-share settlement” is
essentially indeterminate. Therefore, the convertible debenture is considered
“non-conventional,” which means that the conversion feature must be bifurcated
from the debt and shown as a separate derivative liability. This beneficial
conversion liability has been calculated to be $2,254,258 at December 31, 2006.
In addition, since the convertible debenture is convertible into an
indeterminate number of shares of common stock, it is assumed that the Company
could never have enough authorized and unissued shares to settle the conversion
of the warrants into common stock. Therefore, the warrants issued in connection
with this transaction have been reported as a liability at December 31, 2006
in
the accompanying balance sheet with a fair value of $1,076,138. The value of
the
warrant was calculated using the Black-Scholes model using the following
assumptions: Discount rate of 4.64%, volatility of 93.54% and expected term
of
five year. The redemption liability was $622,941 as at December 31, 2006. The
fair value of the beneficial conversion feature, redemption liability and the
warrant liability will be adjusted to fair value each balance sheet date with
the change being shown as a component of net income.
The
fair
value of the beneficial conversion feature and the warrants at the inception
of
these convertible debentures were $2,414,852 and $406,229, respectively.
$2,821,081 has been recorded as a discount to the convertible debentures which
will be amortized over the term of the debentures.
Principal
payments on these convertible debentures are as follows:
Year
ending September 30,
|
|
2007
|
$
-0-
|
2008
|
-0-
|
2009
|
-0-
|
2010
|
3,530,000
|
|
$
3,530,000
|
(15) Warrants:
Warrants
outstanding as of December 31, 2006 are as follows
:-
|
|
|
Wt
Avg
|
|
Warrants
|
Exercise
Price
|
Outstanding
as of October 1, 2006
|
$
1,569,262
|
$
2.39
|
Granted
|
1,561,729
|
$
0.66
|
Exercised
|
-
|
|
Forfeited
|
-
|
|
Outstanding
as of December 31, 2006
|
$
3,130,991
|
$
1.53
|
|
|
Weighted
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
Price
range:
|
Warrants
|
Price
|
Life
|
Warrants
|
Price
|
Weighted
Life
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$0.61-$3.75
|
3,130,991
|
1.53
|
3.74
|
3,130,991
|
1.53
|
3.74
|
Total
|
3,130,991
|
1.53
|
3.74
|
3,130,991
|
1.53
|
3.74
|
All
of the Company’s warrants were fully vested as of October 1, 2006.
(16) Stockholders’
Equity
On
November 10, 2005, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with
Mercatus & Partners, Limited, a private limited company of the United
Kingdom (“Mercatus Limited”), for the sale of 1,530,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock for a minimum purchase price of $0.73 per share (the “SICAV One
Agreement), and another stock purchase agreement with Mercatus Limited also
for
the sale of 1,530,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for a minimum
purchase price of $0.73 per share (the “SICAV Two Agreement” and together with
the SICAV One Agreement, the “SICAV Agreements”). The shares offered and sold
under the SICAV Agreements were offered and sold pursuant to a private placement
that is exempt from the registration provisions of the Securities Act under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act pursuant to Mercatus Limited’s exemption from
registration afforded by Regulation S. Pursuant to the terms of the SICAV
Agreements, the Company issued and delivered an aggregate number of 3,060,000
shares of the Company’s common stock within five days of the execution of the
respective SICAV Agreements to a custodial lock box on behalf of Mercatus
Limited for placement into two European SICAV funds. The SICAV Agreements
provided Mercatus Limited with up to 30 days after the delivery of the shares
of
the Company’s common stock to issue payment to the Company. If payment for the
shares was not received by the Company within 30 days of the delivery of the
shares, the Company had the right to demand the issued shares be returned.
On
November 12, 2005, the Company also entered into another private stock purchase
agreement with Mercatus & Partners, Limited, a private limited company of
the United Kingdom (“Mercatus Limited”) for the sale of 170,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock for a minimum purchase price of $0.82 per share (the
“Private SICAV One Agreement”) and another private stock purchase agreement with
Mercatus LP also for the sale 170,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for a
minimum purchase price of $0.82 per share (the “Private SICAV Two Agreement” and
with the Private SICAV One Agreement, the “Private SICAV Agreements”). The
shares offered and sold under the SICAV Agreements were offered and sold
pursuant to a private placement that is exempt from the registration provisions
of the Securities Act under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act pursuant to
Mercatus Limited’s exemption from registration afforded by Regulation S.
Pursuant to the terms of the Private SICAV Agreements, the Company issued and
delivered an aggregate amount of 340,000 shares of the Company’s common stock
within five days of the execution of the respective Private SICAV Agreements
to
a custodial lock box on behalf of Mercatus Limited for placement into a European
bank SICAV fund. Subject to a valuation of the shares, Mercatus LP had up to
30
days after the delivery of the shares of the Company’s common stock to issue
payment to the Company. If payment was not received by the Company within 45
days of the issuance of the shares to Mercatus Limited, the Company had the
right to demand the issued shares be returned.
In
a
letter to Mercatus dated April 13, 2006 the Company declared Mercatus to be
in
material breach of the above Private Purchase Agreements due to non-payment,
terminated the Agreements in their entirety and exercised its right to demand
the return of all the shares. All 3,400,000 shares were returned to the
Company’s treasury in August 2006.
On
December 13, 2005 the Company issued and delivered 125,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock for $100,000.
During
the month of December 2005, the Company issued and delivered an aggregate amount
of 8,254 shares of the Company’s common stock to three consultants for services
valued at approximately $16,000.
During
the month of October 2006, the Company issued and delivered 70,000 shares of
the
Company’s common stock to one consultant for services valued at approximately
$38,500.
(18) Legal
settlement:
On
December 15, 2005, the Company and its officers entered into a Settlement
Agreement and Release with the Weisdorn Parties and other Weisdorn related
parties, effective as of July 1, 2005 (the “Settlement Agreement”), pursuant to
which the Weisdorn Parties and other Weisdorn related Parties agreed to deliver
to the Company all shares or rights to shares of the Company’s common stock
owned by such parties. The net common stock returned to the Company by the
Weisdorn parties and other Weisdorn related parties was 2,699,684 shares.
The
fair
value of 2,669,684 shares of the Company’s common stock at December 15, 2005 was
$3,779,558. The per share closing price of the Company’s stock at December 15,
2005 was $1.40.
(19) Assignment
of the Trumble Claims:
The
Company and the Weisdorn Parties further agreed the Weisdorn Parties, and each
of them; assigned to the Company any and all rights or interest they, or any
of
them, have in or to the Trumble Claims. On December 15, 2005, the Company
assumed Weisdorn Sr.’s obligation to purchase 165,054 shares from Mr. Trumble at
$1.86 per share for a total liability of $307,000. The fair value of this
obligation at December 15, 2005 is $231,076 (165,054 shares at $1.40 per share)
with the difference charged to other income ($75,924). This liability was paid
in full as of December 31, 2006.
(15) Commitments
:
Provide
commitment schedule for Newsom
For
the year ended September 30,
|
|
2007
|
$44,000
|
2008
|
$48,000
|
2009
|
$48,000
|
(20) Departure
of Directors or Principal Officers; Election
of Directors; Appointment of Principal
Officers:
A.
Appointment of Director
Effective
October 18, 2006, Mr. Steven Newsom was appointed to the Board of Directors
of
the Company. As of November 15, 2006, the Board of Directors is comprised of
two
members, Mr. Newsom and James A. Latty.
Pursuant
to his appointment, Mr. Newsom and the Company entered into a Consulting
Agreement. Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, Mr. Newsom shall receive the
following: (i) the sum of $20,000, (ii) the sum of $4,000 per month payable
on
the first day of each month during his tenure as a member of the Company's
Board of Directors, (iii) an additional $2,000 per trip, if Mr. Newsom makes
more than three trips (per quarter) to attend meetings on Company's
business, (iv) $250 per hour for work performed for the Company over and
above time spent on trips to attend meetings on Company's business, (v)
travel expenses for trips to attend meetings on Company's business, and
(vi) options for the purchase of up to 300,000 shares of common stock of
the Company at an exercise price of $0.51 per share. The option period
shall be 60 months from October 18, 2006.
B.
Resignation and termination of Daniel Moscaritolo as a director and
officer:
On
December 14, 2006, the Company filed a lawsuit in the United States District
Court, Central District of California, Western Division (Case No.: CV06-07971)
against Daniel Moscaritolo for violations of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, declaratory relief, breach of fiduciary duty, intentional interference
with contract, and conversion arising out of Mr. Moscaritolo's improper actions
to wrest control of the Company by soliciting proxies for a shareholder vote
to
take over the Company.
On
December 15, 2006, Mr. Moscaritolo and Mr. Hemingway, individually, and
purporting to act derivatively on behalf of the shareholders of the Company,
filed a lawsuit in Nevada State Court, County of Washoe (Case No.: CV0603002)
against Dr. Latty and Mr. York for injunctive relief, declaratory relief,
receivership, and accounting relating to the failed effort to remove them from
the Board of Directors of the Company and seeking a court order approving their
removal (the “Moscaritolo Action”). The Moscaritolo action has been dismissed,
but on January 9, 2007 he filed a second lawsuit in Nevada State Court against
the Company, Dr. Latty, and Mr. Newsom for injuctive relief to hold Annual
Shareholders Meeting.
The
Company intends to pursue the claims set forth in the Company Action and to
oppose the claims set forth in the Second Moscaritolo Action.
(21) Amendments
to Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
On
December 5, 2006, the Company filed Articles of Merger with the Secretary of
State of Nevada in order to effectuate a merger whereby the Company (as MEMS
USA, Inc.) would merge with a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary, Convergence
Ethanol, Inc., as a parent/ subsidiary merger with the Company as the surviving
corporation. This merger, which became effective as of December 5, 2006, was
completed pursuant to Section 92A.180 of the Nevada Revised Statutes.
Shareholder approval to this merger was not required under Section 92A.180.
The
purpose of this merger was to change the Company's name to "Convergence Ethanol,
Inc."
(22) Contingencies
and Subsequent Events:
On
February 12, 2007 the United States District Court, Central District of
California, Western Division entered a preliminary injunction in favor of the
Company. Thus, the December 13, 2006 proxies are void, and so too are the
shareholder and director actions taken in reliance upon them. Moscaritolo is
also enjoined from disseminating confidential company information and from
claiming that he is an officer or director of Convergence or HEO.
ITEM
2 - MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF
OPERATIONS
The
following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our
consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements
included elsewhere in this report. This report and our consolidated financial
statements and notes to consolidated financial statements contain
forward-looking statements, which generally include the plans and objectives
of
management for future operations, including plans and objectives relating to
our
future economic performance and our current beliefs regarding revenues we might
generate and profits we might earn if we are successful in implementing our
business strategies. The forward-looking statements and associated risks may
include, relate to or be qualified by other important factors, including,
without limitation:
·
|
quarterly
variations in our revenues and operating
expenses;
|
·
|
announcements
of new products or services by us;
|
·
|
fluctuations
in interest rates;
|
·
|
significant
sales of our common stock, including “short”
sales;
|
·
|
the
operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors
may deem comparable to us; and
|
·
|
news
reports relating to trends in our markets or general economic
conditions;
|
·
|
anticipated
trends in our financial condition and results of operations;
and
|
·
|
our
ability to successfully develop, finance, construct and operate our
planned ethanol production facilities;
|
We
do not
undertake to update, revise or correct any forward-looking
statements.
Any
of
the factors described above or in the “Risk Factors” section of this report
could cause our financial results, including our net income or loss or growth
in
net income or loss to differ materially from prior results, which in turn could,
among other things, cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate
substantially.
Overview
We
are
engaged in the business of developing bio-renewable energy projects and
providing professional engineered systems to the energy industry. The Company’s
mission is to support the energy industry in producing cleaner burning fuels.
Each of three company-operating divisions has a specific eco-energy focus:
(1)
development of a woodwaste to bio-renewable fuel-grade alcohol/ethanol project,
(2) selling engineered products; and (3) engineering, fabrication and sale
of
eco-focused energy systems. ISO 9001:2000-certified, operating divisions have
served customers throughout the energy sector since 1952.
We
were
incorporated in the State of Nevada on April 12, 2002. On November 29, 2006,
we
incorporated a wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary for the sole purpose of effecting
a name change of our company through a merger with our subsidiary. On December
5, 2006, we merged our subsidiary with and into our company, with our company
carrying on as the surviving corporation under the name Convergence Ethanol,
Inc. Our name change was effected with NASDAQ on December 13, 2006 and our
ticker symbol on the OTC Bulletin Board was changed to “CETH”.
California-based
Convergence Ethanol, Inc. is comprised of three wholly owned subsidiaries,
California MEMS USA, Inc., (“CA MEMS”) a California Corporation, Bott Equipment
Company, Inc. (“Bott”), Gulfgate Equipment, Inc. (“Gulfgate”) and a fourth
majority-owned subsidiary, Hearst Ethanol One, Inc., a Federal Canadian
Corporation (“HEO”).
CURRENT
BUSINESS SUMMARY
We
are a
renewable energy company with a mission to support the energy industry’s
production of cleaner burning fuels, through the development of profitable,
bio-renewable energy projects and through the engineering, fabrication and
sale
of environmentally focused systems and equipment.
Our
subsidiary, Hearst Ethanol One Inc. (HEO), is working on plans for a
woodwaste-to-ethanol refinery to be built in Hearst Ontario Canada. The company
owns 87% of HEO. We intend that the refinery will use modern catalytic
processing, as used in oil refineries, to synthetically convert cellulosic
woodwaste into ethanol. Given the high and rising price of corn, we believe
that
the conversion of low-cost woodwaste will be important in future ethanol
production. Our plan of operation is to focus in geographic areas which offer
abundant supplies of cellulosic woodwaste, superior transportation
infrastructure, expedited permitting processes, high local demand for Ethanol
and favorable, provincial and federal tax incentives. The Company's ability
to
complete this project is wholly dependent, however, on the successful
fulfillment of several conditions, including receipt of all necessary
environmental and other permits and the acquisition of capital for the
development and construction of the plant.
OUR
OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES:
HEO
The
Company is currently developing a project that is expected to produce 120
million gallons a year of bio-renewable fuel-grade alcohol/ethanol. In December
2005, the Company incorporated Hearst Ethanol One, Inc., a Federal Canadian
Corporation (“HEO”). HEO, which owns 720 acres in Hearst, Ontario, Canada and
nearly 1.3 million cubic meters of woodwaste.
HEO
plans
to build an ecologically sound woodwaste refinery to produce bio-renewable,
fuel-grade alcohol or ethanol. Organic woodwaste (organic chips or fiber),
the
raw material for fuel-grade alcohol/ethanol, is an overabundant waste stream
of
the Canadian forest products industries. The proposed refinery will use modern
catalytic processing, as used in oil refineries, to synthetically convert
organic woodwaste into fuel-grade alcohol or ethanol. We believe the convergence
of technologies will enable the continuous production of bio renewable
fuel-grade alcohol in high volume, at low cost. Currently, HEO is 87% owned
by
parent.
Fuel-grade
alcohol/ethanol is the world's most used alternative liquid fuel. Worldwide
demand is more than double production capacity and grows at over 25% per year.
Next year’s market for fuel-grade alcohol/ethanol in Canada is eight times
greater than last year’s production capability.
The
Province of Ontario where our HEO facility will be located has mandated that
all
motor gasoline sold in Ontario must contain at least 5% ethanol by 2007, with
the goal of 10% by 2010. We believe this will provide an assured market for
fuel-grade alcohol/ethanol. HEO, owns 720 acres in Hearst, Ontario, has obtained
forest resources, acquired construction permits, acquired a quarry for
construction aggregate and owns a woodwaste repository containing nearly 1.5
million tons of woodwaste. We believe that the existing woodwaste on site will
be sufficient to run the future plant for more than one year for production
of
120 million gallons of fuel-grade alcohol/ethanol.
Formation
of HEO
In
December 2005, the Company incorporated Hearst Ethanol One, Inc., an Ontario
corporation (“HEO”) for the purpose of building, owning and operating an ethanol
production facility in Canada. On December 21, 2005, HEO entered into a land
purchase agreement with C. Villeneuve Construction Company, Ltd. The transaction
closed on April 7, 2006 and the Company owns 87% of HEO.
CA
MEMS
Our
CA
MEMS subsidiary engineers, designs and oversees the construction of “Intelligent
Filtration Systems” (“IFS™”) for the gas and oil industry. These systems filter
solids from oil or water. Our IFS™ systems are fully integrated and are composed
of a “Smart Backflush Filtration System” with an integral electronic decanting
system, a carbon bed filter and an ion-exchange resin bed system. This equipment
will purify the amine fluid by removing particulate, chemical contaminants,
and
heat stable salts to allow the amine to more effectively remove carbon dioxide
and sulfur compounds during refining. Unlike a typical canister filter system,
such as the oil filter in an automobile, which needs to be periodically replaced
and disposed of, the filters utilized in Intelligent Filtration Systems can
last
for decades. Furthermore, the filter system is self cleaning. Once the system
recognizes that its filter is becoming clogged by debris filtered from the
fluid
flow, it turns the fluid flow through the filter off and “back flushes” the
debris caked on the filter into a collection decanter. The system then turns
the
fluid flow through the system back on through the freshly cleaned filter. The
filter cleaning process takes only seconds to complete and repeats as necessary
to assure optimum filtration. A facility utilizing IFS™ technology needn’t
dispose of contaminated filters, but only need dispose of the contaminate
itself. Thus, while a filtration system based upon IFS™ technology typically
requires a greater capital investment on the part of the purchaser, these costs
are offset in the long run by savings in filter replacement and disposal costs.
The
U.S.
EPA and California CARB requirements for cleaner burning fuels have opened
up
additional opportunities for our IFS™. We believe our IFS™ product can help our
customers achieve lower operating costs and minimize wastes while enhancing
their ability to meet the more stringent government requirements for cleaner
burning fuels. The system dramatically reduces hazardous waste disposal
costs.
The
Company anticipates that it may be able to utilize its intelligent filtration
systems as an integral part of any ethanol production facility that it may
design. The Company is presently aware of three competitors offering similar
technologies to CA MEMS IFS™ technology.
GULFGATE
Our
Gulfgate subsidiary engineers, designs, fabricates and commissions eco-focused
energy systems including particulate filtration equipment for the oil and power
industries. Gulfgate also makes and sells vacuum dehydration and
coalescing systems that remove water from turbine engine oils. These same
systems are used by electric power generation facilities to remove water from
transformer oils. To help meet its customers’ diverse needs, Gulfgate
maintains and operates a rental fleet of filtration and dehydration
systems. All Convergence Ethanol is ISO 9001:2000 certified and is a
qualified international vendor to the oil and gas industries. Gulfgate has
served customers throughout the energy sector since 1957; we acquired Gulfgate
in 2004.
BOTT
Our
Bott
subsidiary is a stocking distributor for premier lines of industrial pumps,
compressors, flow meters, valves and instrumentation. Bott specializes in the
construction of aviation refueling systems for helicopter refueling on oil
rigs
throughout the world. Bott and Gulfgate have a combined direct sales force
as well as commissioned sales representatives that sell their products. Gulfgate
also constructs refueling systems that Bott sells for commercial marine
vessels. Bott’s customers include chemical manufacturers, refineries,
power plants and other industrial customers.
Bott
has
served customers throughout the energy sector since 1952; we acquired Bott
in
2004.
MARKETING
CA
MEMS,
Bott and Gulfgate have a combined direct sales force as well as commissioned
sales representatives that sell their products.
Former
Subsidiary
We
created Can Am to manufacture, own and operate one ethanol production facility
in British Columbia Canada. In June 2005, the Company and its Canadian
counterpart each made a CN$25,000 at risk deposit to open escrow toward purchase
of 2,150 acres of land intended to serve as a plant site in British Columbia,
Canada.
Subsequently,
the Company paid an additional at-risk deposit of CN$50,000 for an extension
of
the closing date of the purchase agreement. This project was discontinued upon
the death of one of the principals.
Company
History:
We
were
incorporated in the State of Nevada on April 12, 2002. Prior to the reverse
acquisition described below, our corporate name was Lumalite Holdings, Inc.
and
we had not generated significant revenues and were considered a development
stage company as defined in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
7.
Pursuant
to a Merger Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated January 28, 2004 between
us and MEMS USA, Inc., a California corporation (“CA MEMS”), we acquired all of
the outstanding capital shares of CA MEMS in exchange for 10 million shares
of
our common stock. Since the stockholders of CA MEMS acquired approximately
75%
of our issued and outstanding shares and the CA MEMS management team and board
of directors became our management team and board of directors, according to
FASB Statement No. 141 - "Business Combinations," this acquisition has been
treated as a recapitalization for accounting purposes, in a manner similar
to
reverse acquisition accounting. In accounting for this transaction:
·
|
CA
MEMS is deemed to be the purchaser and surviving company for accounting
purposes. Accordingly, its net assets are included in our consolidated
balance sheet at their historical book values and the results of
operations of CA MEMS have been presented for all prior periods;
and
|
·
|
Control
of the net assets and business of our company were acquired effective
February 18, 2004. This transaction has been accounted for as a purchase
of our assets and liabilities by CA MEMS. The historical cost of
the net
liabilities assumed was $-0-.
|
Pursuant
to the transaction described above, we changed our name from Lumalite Holdings,
Inc to MEMS USA, Inc. As described above, in 2006, we merged into a wholly
owned
subsidiary to change our name to Convergence Ethanol, Inc.
On
October 26, 2004 (“Closing Date”), effective October 1, 2004, the Company
purchased 100% of the outstanding shares of two Texas corporations, Bott
Equipment Company, Inc. (“Bott”) and Gulfgate Equipment, Inc. (“Gulfgate”) from
their president and sole shareholder, Mr. Mark Trumble.
On
December 15, 2005, the Company assumed Weisdorn Sr.’s obligation to purchase
165,054 shares from Mr. Trumble at $1.86 per share.
Delivery
of Intelligent Filtration System (IFS) - a $1.6 million
contract
On
December 1, 2006 the Company delivered of its first Intelligent Filtration
System (IFS™) to a major Los Angeles-area oil refinery. This advanced filtration
system enables the production of cleaner-burning, reduced-sulfur motor fuel,
supporting refinery environmental improvement goals.
The
IFS™
integrates previously separate units into a dynamic filtration system.
Engineered for ease of operation and maintenance, it gives the refinery
exceptional and coordinated control. Direct ecological benefits of the
energy-efficient design include reduced greenhouse emissions and a dramatic
reduction in the volume of hazardous waste.
Comparison
of Operations
Net
sales
for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 were $3,947,772
and
$2,626,519, respectively. The sales increase for the three months (50.3%) ended
December 31, 2006 as compared to the prior year were due primarily to the
delivery of the Company’s first Intelligent Filtration System. The Company
recognized 95% of the IFS contract value or sales of $1.5 million during the
month of December, 2006. The remaining sales (5%) are expected to be recognized
during the second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2007. This represents system
commissioning and documentation. We have received several requests for quotes
for our IFS system products which we’re currently responding to. We also
continue to experience strong customer demand for our industrial pumps,
equipment rentals and repairs services.
The
Company computes gross profit as net sales less cost of sales. Gross profit
for
the three-month periods ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 were $666,261 and
$554,775 respectively. The gross profit increase for the three months ended
December 31, 2006 as compared to the prior year was due primarily to the
delivery of an IFS system. The gross profit margin is the gross profit divided
by net sales, expressed as a percentage. Gross profit margin for the three-month
periods ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 were 16.9% and 21.1% respectively.
This
decrease of 4.2% was primarily due to a combination of lower margins on
commercial aviation refueling systems shipments and the IFS System. Also
impacting the margins were higher physical inventory adjustments and material
costs as compared to the prior year. Margins for this segment of the business
continue to reflect the significant competitive pressures encountered on bidding
and winning this business.
Selling,
general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $1,387,825 and $1,321,547
for the three months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The
increase in SG&A spending for the three months ended December 31, 2006 as
compared to the prior year were due primarily to legal costs (See Part I, Item
3, Legal Proceedings), consulting fees and commissions.
We
expect
that over the near term, our selling, general and administration expenses will
increase as a result of, among other things, increased accounting fees
associated with increased corporate governance activities in response to the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, recently adopted rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the filing of a registration statement
with
the Securities and Exchange Commission to register for resale the shares of
common stock and shares of common stock underlying warrants issued in various
private offerings, increased employee costs associated with planned staffing
increases (replacements), increased sales and marketing expenses, increased
activities related to the design, engineering and construction of the Hearst
Ethanol One, Inc. ethanol production facility and increased activity in
searching for and analyzing potential acquisitions.
For
the
quarter ended December 31, 2006, shareholder’s deficit was $560,899 as compared
to equity of $577,844 for the prior year period ended September 30, 2006. The
decrease in shareholder equity is primarily attributable to the change in
derivative liability.
Other
expense (income), net for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2006 and
2005 were $(851,448) and $(3,680,353), respectively. The decrease in other
income is attributable to proceeds from a legal settlement (see note 18) in
the
prior year partially offset by a gain from a change in the derivative liability
associated with the Global note and warrants outstanding at December 31, 2006.
(See note 12).
Net
income for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 were
$132,690 and $2,913,581, respectively.
The
Company launched a profit improvement - cost savings initiative in the second
half of 2006. The initiative is significantly improving operations efficiency,
increasing competitiveness and improving business profitability. The cost
savings initiative includes: administrative workforce reduction, phase out
of
low margin products, tighter control of travel costs and a decrease in external
costs across the company. The initiative is expected to deliver over $1,200,000
in annualized savings, for only a one-time $200,000 related pre-tax charge.
On
an annualized basis, the company expects to increase profitability by more
than
$2,000,000 as a combined result of cost savings and business
growth.
This
initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to improve our rate of return on
invested capital and deliver stronger bottom-line performance. Senior management
is focused on ensuring that our cost structure is competitive and that it is
aligned with the company’s strategic market opportunities, such as our
development of a woodwaste-to-ethanol refinery in Ontario, Canada.”
Workforce
reductions were made in non-revenue generating areas, with the greatest
reductions in corporate headquarters administrative jobs and outside consulting.
The company has not reduced sales, marketing, engineering, manufacturing,
finance or audit capabilities.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Our
plan
of operations over the next 12 months includes the continued pursuit of our
goal
to design, engineer, build and operate one or more ethanol plants. In that
regard we are dependent upon Hearst Ethanol One, Inc.’s efforts to raise the
necessary capital. We believe that our working capital as of the date of this
report will not be sufficient to satisfy our estimated working capital
requirements at our current level of operations for the next twelve months.
Our
cash and cash equivalents were $169,306 as of December 31, 2006, compared to
cash and cash equivalents of $130,550 as of September 30, 2006.
At
our
current cash “burn rate”, we will need to raise additional cash through debt or
equity financings during 2007 in order to fund our continued development and
marketing of our IFS™ product line and to finance possible future losses from
operations as we expand our business lines and reach a profitable level of
operations. Before considering Hearst Ethanol One, Inc., we believe that we
require a minimum of $1,800,000 in order to fund our planned operations over
the
next 12 months, in addition to the capital required for the establishment of
any
ethanol production facilities. We plan to obtain the additional working capital
through private placement sales of our equity securities. As of the date of
this
report the Company has no firm commitment for additional funds. In the absence
of this commitment there is no assurance that such funds will be available
on
commercially reasonable terms, if at all. Should we be unable to raise the
required funds, our ability to finance our continued operations will be
materially adversely affected.
Subsequent
Event - None
ITEM
3 --
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Our
disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information
required to be disclosed in reports that we file or submit under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within
the
time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our
management, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure. Our President and Chief Financial Officer have reviewed the
effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and have concluded
that
the disclosure controls and procedures, overall, are effective as of the end
of
the period covered by this report. There has been no change in the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under
the Exchange Act) during the period covered by this report that have materially
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affected, the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting.
PART
II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item1.
Legal Proceedings
As
a
normal incident of the businesses in which the Company is engaged, various
claims, charges and litigation are asserted or commenced from time to time
against the Company. The Company believes that final judgments, if any, which
might be rendered against the Company in current litigation are adequately
reserved, covered by insurance, or would not have a material adverse effect
on
its financial statements. In addition, we are subject to the following
proceedings:
On
December 12, 2006, the Company filed a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange
Commission disclosing the resignation and termination of Daniel Moscaritolo
as a
director and officer of the Company.
On
December 13, 2006, Mr. Moscaritolo presented management with a purported action
by written consent of the shareholders of the Company indicating that the
shareholders had elected to remove the current board of directors and elect
Daniel Moscaritolo and Thomas Hemingway as directors in their place. Mr.
Moscaritolo also presented management with two separate purported actions by
written consent of the new purported board of directors indicating that the
Company's current officers, James A. Latty and Richard W. York, were terminated
and that Mr. Moscaritolo was elected to serve as Secretary of the Company and
Mr. Hemingway was elected to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer
of
the Company. The Company rejected the purported shareholder action on the
grounds that, on its face, the purported action showed an insufficient number
of
votes had been obtained to approve the requested action, and on the further
grounds that the consent of shareholders was solicited and obtained in violation
of the proxy rules set forth in Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Act”). As a consequence of the invalidity of the
purported shareholder action, the Company also rejected the actions of the
new
purported board of directors terminating and replacing the officers of the
Company.
On
December 14, 2006, the Company filed a lawsuit in the United States District
Court, Central District of California, Western Division (Case No.: CV06-07971)
against Daniel Moscaritolo for violations of the Act, declaratory relief, breach
of fiduciary duty, intentional interference with contract, and conversion (the
“Company Action”). Specifically, the Company alleged that Mr. Moscaritolo's
actions to wrest control of the board of directors were invalid and unlawful.
On
February 8, 2007, a default was entered against Mr. Moscaritolo after he failed
to timely file a responsive pleading to the Complaint. On February 12, 2007,
the
Court entered an Order granting the Company’s Motion for a Preliminary
Injunction. Pursuant to the Order, the Court ruled that: (1) the attempted
shareholder action initiated by Mr. Moscaritolo and his purported proxies was
void as the proxies were solicited and obtained in violation of federal
securities laws; (2) Mr. Moscaritolo and those acting in his control or
direction were enjoined from (a) attempting to vote any of the illegally
obtained proxies; (b) purporting to act as directors of officers of the Company
or its subsidiaries; (c) further soliciting shareholder proxies in violation
of
federal securities laws; and (d) disclosing any confidential or proprietary
information of the Company.
On
December 15, 2006, Mr. Moscaritolo and Mr. Hemingway, individually, and
purporting to act derivatively on behalf of the shareholders of the Company,
filed a lawsuit in Nevada State Court, County of Washoe (Case No.: CV0603002)
against Mr. Latty and Mr. York for injunctive relief, declaratory relief,
receivership, and accounting relating to the failed effort to remove them from
the Board of Directors of the Company and seeking a court order approving their
removal (the “Moscaritolo Action”). In January 2007, Mr. Moscaritolo and Mr.
Hemingway voluntarily dismissed the Moscaritolo Action.
On
January 10, 2007, Mr. Moscaritolo and Charles L. Christensen filed a lawsuit
in
the First Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada in and for Carson
City
(Case No.: 07-00035A) against the Company, Dr. Latty, and Mr. Newsom for
injunctive relief to hold an Annual Shareholders Meeting. On February 9, 2007,
the Company filed a Motion to Dismiss or Stay the Action based upon the Company
Action pending in the United States District Court, Central District of
California, Western Division.
An
investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. In addition
to
the other information in this report and in our other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, you should carefully consider the following
risk factors before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock or to
maintain or increase your investment in shares of our common stock. If any
of
the following risks actually occur, it is likely that our business, financial
condition and results of operations could be seriously harmed. As a result,
the
trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose part or
all
of your investment.
Risks
Related to our Business
We
make
written and oral statements from time to time regarding our business and
prospects, such as projections of future performance, statements of management’s
plans and objectives, forecasts of market trends, and other matters that are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. Statements containing the words or phrases “will likely result,” “are
expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimates,” “projects,”
“believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “target,” “goal,” “plans,”
“objective,” “should” or similar expressions identify forward-looking
statements, which may appear in documents, reports, filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, news releases, written or oral presentations made
by
officers or other representatives made by us to analysts, stockholders,
investors, news organizations and others, and discussions with management and
other representatives of us.
Our
future results, including results related to forward-looking statements, involve
a number of risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that the results
reflected in any forward-looking statements will be achieved. Any
forward-looking statement made by or on behalf of us speaks only as of the
date
on which such statement is made. Our forward-looking statements are based upon
assumptions that are sometimes based upon estimates, data, communications and
other information from suppliers, government agencies and other sources that
may
be subject to revision. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any
obligation to update or keep current either (i) any forward-looking
statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date of such
statement, or (ii) the important factors that could cause our future
results to differ materially from historical results or trends, results
anticipated or planned by us, or which are reflected from time to time in any
forward-looking statement which may be made by or on behalf of us.
In
addition to other matters identified or described by us from time to time in
filings with the SEC, there are several important factors that could cause
our
future results to differ materially from historical results or trends, results
anticipated or planned by us, or results that are reflected from time to time
in
any forward-looking statement that may be made by or on behalf of us. Some
of
these important factors, but not necessarily all important factors, include
the
following:
We
are an emerging growth company with limited operating history, accordingly
there
is limited historical information available upon which you can judge the merits
of an investment in our company.
We
have generated net losses since inception, which may continue for the
foreseeable future as we try to grow our business, which means that you may
be
unable to realize a return on your investment for a long period of time, if
ever.
Our
present business operation’s commenced in February, 2004. From inception through
December 31, 2006, incurred a cumulative net loss of $16,245,966 which included
non-cash net asset impairment charges of $10,900,000 and gains from a change
in
derivative liability of $1,166,410. We expect to continue incurring operating
losses until we are able to derive meaningful revenues from our proposed
business relating to ethanol production, energy generation and supply.
We
have limited available working capital and require significant additional
capital in order to sustain our operations, and if we cannot obtain additional
financing we might cease to continue.
As of
December 31, 2006, we had total current assets of $ 3,220,192 and working
capital of $1,398,513 before including a liability for common stock subscribed
of $1,194,376 and the derivative liability of $3,330,396. We believe that we
require a minimum of $1,800,000 in order to fund our planned operations over
the
next 12 months, in addition to the capital required for the establishment of
any
ethanol production facilities. We plan to obtain the additional working capital
through private placement sales of our equity securities. We have not received
any funds, nor can there be any assurance that such funds will be forthcoming.
Should we be unable to raise the required funds, our ability to finance our
continued operations will be materially adversely affected.
Our
independent auditors' report raises substantial doubt about our ability to
continue as a going concern.
Our
independent auditors have prepared their report on our 2006 financial statements
assuming that we will continue as a going concern. Their report has an
explanatory paragraph stating that our recurring losses from operations since
inception, limited operating revenue and limited capital resources raise
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going
concern. Realization of a major portion of the assets reflected on the
accompanying balance sheet is dependent upon continued operations of the Company
which, in turn, is dependent upon the Company's ability to meet its financing
requirements and succeed in its future operations. Management believes that
actions presently being taken to revise the Company's operating and financial
requirements provide them with the opportunity for the Company to continue
as a
going concern.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which
contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern. The financial
statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and
classification of recorded asset amounts, or amounts and classification of
liabilities that might be necessary, should the Company be unable to continue
as
a going concern.
Because
we have few proprietary rights, others can provide products and services
substantially equivalent to ours.
We hold
a provisional patent application relating to our MEMS operations, however we
hold no patents or patents applications relating to our energy generation and
supply business or our proposed ethanol production business. We believe that
most of the technology used in the design and building of ethanol production
facilities and in the area of the energy generation and supply business is
generally known and available to others. Consequently, others will be able
to
compete with us in these areas. We rely on a combination of confidentiality
agreements and trade secret law to protect our confidential information. In
addition, we restrict access to confidential information on a ‘‘need to know’’
basis. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain
the
confidentiality of our proprietary information. If our proprietary rights are
violated, or if a third party claims that we violate their trademark or other
proprietary rights, we may be required to engage in litigation. Proprietary
rights litigation tends to be costly and time consuming. Bringing or defending
claims related to our proprietary rights may require us to redirect our human
and monetary resources to address those claims.
We
may not be able to compete effectively or competitive pressures faced by us
may
materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results
of
operations.
We
expect to face significant competition in our ethanol production, energy
generation and supply and MEMS operations. Virtually all of our competitors
have
greater marketing and financial resources than us and, accordingly, there can
be
no assurance that we will be able to compete effectively or that competitive
pressures faced by us will not materially adversely affect our business,
financial condition, and results of operations.
We
are dependent upon our key personnel. Our
performance is substantially dependent on the continued services and on the
performance of our senior management and other key personnel. We plan to obtain
“key person” life insurance for our key personnel, however, at this time, no
such policies are in effect. Our performance will also depend upon our ability
to retain and motivate other officers and key employees. The loss of the
services of any of our executive officers or other key employees could have
a
material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and
results of operations. Our future success also depends on our ability to
identify, attract, hire, train, retain and motivate other highly skilled
technical and managerial personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense,
and there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully attract,
assimilate or retain sufficiently qualified personnel. The failure
to retain and attract the necessary technical, and managerial personnel
could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial
condition and results of operations.
Because
we are smaller and have fewer financial and other resources than many ethanol
producers, we may not be able to successfully compete in the very competitive
ethanol industry. Ethanol
is a commodity. There is significant competition among existing ethanol
producers. Our business faces competition from a number of producers that can
produce significantly greater volumes of ethanol than we can or expect to
produce, producers that can produce a wider range of products than we can,
and
producers that have the financial and other resources that would enable them
to
expand their production rapidly if they chose to. These producers may be able
to
achieve substantial economies of scale and scope, thereby substantially reducing
their fixed production costs and their marginal productions costs. If these
producers are able to substantially reduce their marginal production costs,
the
market price of ethanol may decline and we may be not be able to produce ethanol
at a cost that allows us to operate profitably. Even if we are able to operate
profitably, these other producers may be substantially more profitable than
us,
which may make it more difficult for us to raise any financing necessary for
us
to achieve our business plan and may have a materially adverse effect on the
market price of our common stock.
Competition
from large producers of petroleum-based gasoline additives and other competitive
products may impact our profitability. Our
success depends substantially upon continued demand for ethanol from major
oil
refiners. There are other gasoline additives that have octane and oxygenate
values similar to those of ethanol but which currently cannot be produced at
a
cost that makes them competitive. The major oil refiners have significantly
greater financial, technological and personal resources than we have to reduce
the costs of producing these alternative products or to develop other
alternative products that may be produced at lower cost. The major oil refiners
also have significantly greater resources than we have to influence legislation
and public perception of ethanol. If the major oil refiners are able to produce
ethanol substitutes at a cost that is lower than the cost of ethanol production,
the demand for ethanol may substantially decrease. A substantial decrease in
the
demand for ethanol will reduce the price of ethanol, adversely affect our
profitability and decrease the value of your stock.
If
ethanol and gasoline prices drop significantly, we will also be forced to reduce
our prices, which potentially may lead to losses. Prices
for ethanol products can vary significantly over time and decreases in price
levels could adversely affect our profitability and viability. The price of
ethanol has some relation to the price of gasoline. The price of ethanol tends
to increase as the price of gasoline increases, and the price of ethanol tends
to decrease as the price of gasoline decreases. Any lowering of gasoline prices
will likely also lead to lower prices for ethanol and adversely affect our
operating results. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell our ethanol
profitably, or at all.
Lax
enforcement of environmental and energy policy regulations may adversely affect
the demand for ethanol. Our
success will depend, in part, on effective enforcement of existing environmental
and energy policy regulations. Many of our potential customers are unlikely
to
switch from the use of conventional fuels unless compliance with applicable
regulatory requirements leads, directly or indirectly, to the use of ethanol.
Both additional regulation and enforcement of such regulatory provisions are
likely to be vigorously opposed by the entities affected by such requirements.
If existing emissions-reducing standards are weakened, or if governments are
not
active and effective in enforcing such standards, our business and results
of
operations could be adversely affected. Even if the current trend toward more
stringent emissions standards continues, our future prospects will depend on
the
ability of ethanol to satisfy these emissions standards more efficiently than
other alternative technologies. Certain standards imposed by regulatory programs
may limit or preclude the use of our products to comply with environmental
or
energy requirements. Any decrease in the emission standards or the failure
to
enforce existing emission standards and other regulations could result in a
reduced demand for ethanol. A significant decrease in the demand for ethanol
will reduce the price of ethanol, adversely affect our profitability and
decrease the value of your stock.
Price
increases or interruptions in needed energy supplies could cause loss of
customers and impair our profitability. Ethanol
production requires a constant and consistent supply of energy. If there is
any
interruption in our supply of energy for whatever reason, such as availability,
delivery or mechanical problems, we may be required to halt production. If
we
halt production for any extended period of time, it will have a material,
adverse effect on our business. Natural gas and electricity prices have
historically fluctuated significantly. We purchase significant amounts of these
resources as part of our ethanol production. Increases in the price of natural
gas or electricity would harm our business and financial results by increasing
our energy costs.
Our
common stock may be thinly traded, so you may be unable to sell at or near
ask
prices or at all if you need to sell your shares to raise money or otherwise
desire to liquidate your shares.
Our
common stock is thinly traded and we will be required to undertake efforts
to
develop market recognition for us and support for our shares of common stock
in
the public market. The price and volume for our common stock that will develop
cannot be assured.
The
number of persons interested in purchasing our common stock at or near ask
prices at any given time may be relatively small or non-existent. This situation
may be attributable to a number of factors, including the fact that we are
a
small company which is relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers,
institutional investors and others in the investment community that generate
or
influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such
persons, they tend to be risk-averse and would be reluctant to follow an
unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our
shares until such time as we became more seasoned and viable. As a consequence,
there may be periods of several days, weeks, months, or more when trading
activity in our shares is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned
issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will
generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price.
We
cannot give you any assurance that a broader or more active public trading
market for our common stock will develop or be sustained. While we are trading
on the OTC Bulletin Board, the trading volume we will develop may be limited
by
the fact that many major institutional investment funds, including mutual funds,
as well as individual investors follow a policy of not investing in Bulletin
Board stocks and certain major brokerage firms restrict their brokers from
recommending Bulletin Board stocks because they are considered speculative,
volatile and thinly traded.
Our
common stock is subject to the “penny stock” rules which could limit the trading
and liquidity of the common stock, adversely affect the market price of our
common stock and increase your transaction costs to sell those
shares.
The
trading price of our common stock is below $5 per share; and therefore, the
open-market trading of our common stock will be subject to the “penny stock”
rules, unless we otherwise qualify for an exemption from the “penny stock”
definition. The “penny stock” rules impose additional sales practice
requirements on certain broker-dealers who sell securities to persons other
than
established customers and accredited investors (generally those with assets
in
excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000 or $300,000 together
with their spouse). These regulations, if they apply, require the delivery,
prior to any transaction involving a penny stock, of a disclosure schedule
explaining the penny stock market and the associated risks. Under these
regulations, certain brokers who recommend such securities to persons other
than
established customers or certain accredited investors must make a special
written suitability determination regarding such a purchaser and receive such
purchaser’s written agreement to a transaction prior to sale. These regulations
may have the effect of limiting the trading activity of our common stock,
reducing the liquidity of an investment in our common stock and increasing
the
transaction costs for sales and purchases of our common stock as compared to
other securities.
The
market price for our common stock may be particularly volatile given our status
as a relatively unknown company with a small and thinly traded public float
and
lack of history as a public company which could lead to wide fluctuations in
our
share price.
The
market for our common stock may be characterized by significant price volatility
when compared to seasoned issuers, and we expect that our share price could
continue to be more volatile than a seasoned issuer for the indefinite future.
The potential volatility in our share price is attributable to a number of
factors. First, as noted above, our shares of common stock may be sporadically
and thinly traded. As a consequence of this lack of liquidity, the trading
of
relatively small quantities of shares by our stockholders may disproportionately
influence the price of those shares in either direction. The price for our
shares could, for example, decline precipitously in the event that a large
number of our shares of common stock are sold on the market without commensurate
demand, as compared to a seasoned issuer which could better absorb those sales
without adverse impact on its share price. Many of these factors will be beyond
our control and may decrease the market price of our common shares, regardless
of our operating performance. We cannot make any predictions or projections
as
to what the prevailing market price for our common stock will be at any
time.
In
addition, the market price of our common stock could be subject to wide
fluctuations in response to:
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quarterly
variations in our revenues and operating
expenses;
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announcements
of new products or services by us;
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·
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fluctuations
in interest rates;
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significant
sales of our common stock, including “short”
sales;
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the
operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors
may deem comparable to us; and
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·
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news
reports relating to trends in our markets or general economic
conditions
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The
stock
market, in general, and the market prices for penny stock companies in
particular, have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the
operating performance of such companies. These broad market and industry
fluctuations may adversely affect the price of our stock, regardless of our
operating performance.
Stockholders
should be aware that, according to SEC Release No. 34-29093, the market for
penny stocks has suffered in recent years from patterns of fraud and abuse.
Such
patterns include (1) control of the market for the security by one or a few
broker-dealers that are often related to the promoter or issuer; (2)
manipulation of prices through prearranged matching of purchases and sales
and
false and misleading press releases; (3) boiler room practices involving
high-pressure sales tactics and unrealistic price projections by inexperienced
sales persons; (4) excessive and undisclosed bid-ask differential and markups
by
selling broker-dealers; and (5) the wholesale dumping of the same securities
by
promoters and broker-dealers after prices have been manipulated to a desired
level, along with the resulting inevitable collapse of those prices and with
consequent investor losses. Our management is aware of the abuses that have
occurred historically in the penny stock market. Although we do not expect
to be
in a position to dictate the behavior of the market or of broker-dealers who
participate in the market, management will strive within the confines of
practical limitations to prevent the described patterns from being established
with respect to our securities. The occurrence of these patterns or practices
could increase the volatility of our share price.
Limitations
on director and officer liability and indemnification of our officers and
directors by us may discourage stockholders from bringing suit against a
director.
Our
bylaws provide, with certain exceptions as permitted by governing state law,
that a director or officer shall not be personally liable to us or our
stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for acts or
omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or knowing violation
of
law, or unlawful payments of dividends. These provisions may discourage
stockholders from bringing suit against a director for breach of fiduciary
duty
and may reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation brought by stockholders
on our behalf against a director. In addition, our articles of incorporation
and
bylaws may provide for mandatory indemnification of directors and officers
to
the fullest extent permitted by governing state law.
We
do not expect to pay dividends for the foreseeable future, and we may never
pay
dividends.
We
currently intend to retain any future earnings to support the development and
expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the
foreseeable future. Our payment of any future dividends will be at the
discretion of our board of directors after taking into account various factors,
including but not limited to our financial condition, operating results, cash
needs, growth plans and the terms of any credit agreements that we may be a
party to at the time. In addition, our ability to pay dividends on our common
stock may be limited by state law. Accordingly, investors must rely on sales
of
their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the
only
way to realize their investment.
Our
management owns 29.7% and an investment group may own a significant percentage
of our outstanding common stock, which may limit your ability and the ability
of
our other shareholders, whether acting alone or together, to propose or direct
the management or overall direction of our Company.
Such
concentrated control of the Company may adversely affect the price of our common
stock. Our principal stockholders may be able to control matters requiring
approval by our shareholders, including the election of directors, mergers
or
other business combinations. Such concentrated control may also make it
difficult for our shareholders to receive a premium for their shares of our
common stock in the event we merge with a third party or enter into different
transactions which require shareholder approval. These provisions could also
limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares
of our common stock. Accordingly, if all of our officers and directors exercise
outstanding option this shareholder together with our directors and executive
officers could have the power to control the election of our directors and
the
approval of actions for which the approval of our shareholders is required.
If
you acquire shares, you may have no effective voice in the management of the
Company.
Future
sales of our equity securities could put downward selling pressure on our
securities, and adversely affect the stock price. There is a risk that this
downward pressure may make it impossible for an investor to sell his securities
at any reasonable price, if at all.
Future
sales of substantial amounts of our equity securities in the public market,
or
the perception that such sales could occur, could put downward selling pressure
on our securities, and adversely affect the market price of our common
stock.
Item
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds:
During
the month of October 2006, the Company issued and delivered 70,000 shares of
the
Company’s common stock to one consultant for services valued at approximately
$38,500.
The
company issued warrants to the underwriters to purchase 310,000 shares of its
common stock at a price of $1.60 per share. The proceeds from the issuance
of
the 2,013,510 shares were recorded net of the fair value of the warrants and
the
underwriter’s fees. The fair value of the warrants, $419,639 was calculated
using the Black Scholes option pricing model using the following assumptions:
risk free rate of return of 6%, volatility of 145%, dividend yield of 0% and
expected life of 3 years.
Exemption
from the registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 for the
transactions described above is claimed under Section 4(2) of the Securities
Act
of 1933, among others, on the basis that such transactions did not involve
any
public offering and the purchasers were sophisticated or accredited with access
to the kind of information registration would provide.
Item
3.
Defaults upon Senior Securities - None
Item
4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders - None
Item
5.
Other Information - None
Item
6.
Exhibits
(a) Exhibits
31.1 Certification
of President Pursuant
to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Filed electronically
herewith)
31.2 Certification
of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant
to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Filed electronically
herewith)
32.2 Certification
of President and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18
U.S.C
Section 1350 (Furnished electronically herewith).
SIGNATURES
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.
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CONVERGENCE
ETHANOL, INC. |
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Date: February
16, 2007 |
By: |
/s/ James
A.
Latty |
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James
A. Latty
Chief Executive
Officer
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