Item 1. Business
Corporate History:
We were formed as a Nevada corporation on May 14, 2008. Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger dated May 19, 2008, by and between Vertex Holdings, L.P. (formerly Vertex Energy, L.P.), a Texas limited partnership (“Holdings”), us, World Waste Technologies, Inc., a California corporation (“WWT” or “World Waste”), Vertex Merger Sub, LLC, a California limited liability company and our wholly-owned subsidiary (“Merger Subsidiary”), and Benjamin P. Cowart, our Chief Executive Officer, as agent for our shareholders (as amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), effective on April 16, 2009, World Waste merged with and into Merger Subsidiary, with Merger Subsidiary continuing as the surviving corporation and becoming our wholly-owned subsidiary (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger, (i) each outstanding share of World Waste common stock was cancelled and exchanged for 0.10 shares of our common stock; (ii) each outstanding share of World Waste Series A preferred stock was cancelled and exchanged for 0.4062 shares of our Series A preferred stock; and (iii) each outstanding share of World Waste Series B preferred stock was cancelled and exchanged for 11.651 shares of our Series A preferred stock.
Additionally, as a result of the Merger, as the successor entity of World Waste, we assumed World Waste’s filing obligations with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our common stock began trading on the Over-The-Counter Bulletin Board under the symbol “VTNR.OB” effective May 4, 2009. Subsequently, effective February 13, 2013, our common stock began trading on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “VTNR”, where it has continued to trade.
Prior Material Acquisitions and Transactions
Vertex Holdings Acquisition
Effective as of August 31, 2012, we acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Vertex Acquisition Sub, LLC (“Acquisition Sub”), a special purpose entity consisting of substantially all of the assets of Holdings and real-estate properties of B & S Cowart Family L.P. (“B&S LP” and the “Acquisition”). Prior to closing the Acquisition, Holdings contributed to Acquisition Sub substantially all of its assets and liabilities relating to the business of transporting, storing, processing and re-refining petroleum products, crudes and used lubricants, including all of the outstanding equity interests in Holdings’ wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, Cedar Marine Terminals, L.P. (“CMT” or "Cedar Marine Terminals"), which operates a 19-acre bulk liquid storage facility and terminal on the Houston Ship Channel, which serves as a truck-in, barge-out facility and provides throughput terminal operations and which terminal is also the site of our proprietary, patented, Thermal Chemical Extraction Process ("TCEP") (described below); Crossroad Carriers, L.P. (“Crossroad”) is a common carrier that provides transportation and logistical services for liquid petroleum products, as well as other hazardous materials and product streams; Vertex Recovery, L.P. (“Vertex Recovery”), is a generator solutions company for the recycling and collection of used oil and oil-related residual materials from large regional and national customers throughout the U.S. and Canada, which it facilitates through a network of independent recyclers and franchise collectors; and H&H Oil, L.P. (“H&H Oil”), which collects and recycles used oil and residual materials from customers based in Austin, Baytown, Dallas, San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Texas and B&S LP contributed real estate associated with the operations of H&H Oil.
Benjamin P. Cowart, our Chief Executive Officer, President, Chairman and largest shareholder directly or indirectly owned a 77% interest in Holdings and a 100% interest in B&S LP at the time of the acquisition. Additionally, Chris Carlson, our Chief Financial Officer, owned a 10% interest in Holdings at the time of the acquisition.
Omega Refining Acquisition
In May 2014, we acquired certain of the assets of Omega Refining, LLC (“Omega Refining”), Bango Refining NV, LLC (“Bango Refining”) and Omega Holdings Company LLC (“Omega Holdings” and collectively with Omega Refining and Bango Refining, “Omega” or the “sellers”) related to (1) the operation of oil re-refineries and, in connection therewith, purchasing used lubricating oils and re-refining such oils into processed oils and other products for the distribution, supply and sale to end-customers and (2) the provision of related products and support services. The assets included Omega’s Marrero, Louisiana plant which produces vacuum gas oil (VGO) and a Bango, Nevada plant which produces base lubricating oils. We acquired the assets in the name of our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Vertex Refining LA, LLC (“Vertex LA”). The assets and operations acquired from Omega fall under our Black Oil segment. The Bango Refining operations were sold in January 2016.
Heartland Acquisition
In December 2014, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Warren Ohio Holdings Co., LLC, f/k/a Heartland Group Holdings, LLC (“Heartland”) related to and used in an oil re-refinery and, in connection with the collecting, aggregating and purchasing of used lubricating oils and the re-refining of such oils into processed oils and other products for the distribution, supply and sale to end-customers, including raw materials, finished products and work-in-process, equipment and other fixed assets, customer lists and marketing information, the name ‘Heartland’ and other related trade names, Heartland’s real property relating to its used oil refining facility located in Columbus, Ohio, the ownership of 65% of which was transferred to Tensile in connection with the Heartland SPV (discussed below), effective January 1, 2020, used oil storage and transfer facilities located in Columbus, Zanesville and Norwalk, Ohio, and leases related to storage and transfer facilities located in Zanesville, Ohio, Mount Sterling, Kentucky, and Ravenswood, West Virginia (collectively, the “Heartland Assets”). The Heartland Assets were acquired by our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Vertex Refining OH, LLC ("Vertex OH"). The assets and operations acquired from Heartland fall under our Black Oil segment.
Myrtle Grove Share Purchase and Subscription Agreement
On July 26, 2019 (the “MG Closing Date”), Vertex Refining Myrtle Grove LLC (“MG SPV”), a Delaware limited liability company, which entity was formed as a special purpose vehicle in connection with the transactions, described in greater detail below, Vertex Operating, LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary (“Vertex Operating”), Tensile-Myrtle Grove Acquisition Corporation (“Tensile-MG”), an affiliate of Tensile Capital Partners Master Fund LP, an investment fund based in San Francisco, California (“Tensile”), and solely for the purposes of the MG Guaranty (defined below), the Company, entered into and closed the transactions contemplated by a Share Purchase and Subscription Agreement (the “MG Share Purchase”).
Prior to entering into the MG Share Purchase, Vertex Operating’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Vertex Refining LA, LLC, (“Vertex LA”), transferred all of the operating assets owned by it and related to the planned development of the MG Refinery (as defined below), which the parties agreed had a fair market value of $22,666,667, to MG SPV in consideration for 21,667 Class A Units and 1,000 Class B Units of MG SPV, which units were distributed to Vertex Operating. At the closing of the MG Share Purchase (on the MG Closing Date), Vertex Operating sold 1,000 of the Class B Units to Tensile-MG in consideration of the payment to it of $1 million by Tensile-MG, and Tensile-MG purchased an additional 3,000 Class B Units directly from MG SPV for $3 million (less Tensile’s fees and expenses incurred in connection with the transaction, totaling $850,000).
As a result of the transaction, Tensile, through Tensile-MG, acquired an approximate 15% ownership interest in MG SPV, which in turn now owns the Company’s former Belle Chasse, Louisiana, re-refining complex (the “MG Refinery”). Vertex Operating owns the remaining 85% of MG SPV.
MG SPV Limited Liability Company Agreement
The Class B Units held by Tensile-MG are convertible into Class A Units at the option of Tensile-MG, as provided in the Limited Liability Company Agreement of MG SPV dated July 25, 2019 (the “MG Company Agreement”), based on a conversion price (initially one-for-one) which may be reduced from time to time if new Units of MG SPV are issued, and automatically convert into Series A Units upon certain events described in the MG Company Agreement.
Additionally, the Class B Unit holders may force MG SPV to redeem the outstanding Class B Units at any time on or after the earlier of (a) July 26, 2024 and (ii) the occurrence of an MG Triggering Event (defined below)(an “MG Redemption”). The cash purchase price for such redeemed Class B Units is the greater of (y) the fair market value of such units (without discount for illiquidity, minority status or otherwise) as determined by a qualified third party agreed to in writing by a majority of the holders seeking an MG Redemption and Vertex Operating (provided that Vertex Operating still owns Class A Units on such date) and (z) the original per-unit price for such Class B Units plus any unpaid Class B preference. The preference is defined as the greater of the (A) aggregate unpaid Class B yield, equal to 22.5% per year and (B) amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate capital invested by the Class B Unit holders through such MG Redemption date. “MG Triggering Events” mean (a) any dissolution, winding up or liquidation of the Company, Vertex Operating or any significant subsidiary of Vertex Operating, (b) any sale, lease, license or disposition of any material assets of the Company, Vertex Operating or any significant subsidiary of Vertex Operating, (c) any transaction or series of related transactions (whether by merger, exchange, contribution, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization, combination or otherwise) involving the Company, Vertex Operating or any significant subsidiary of Vertex Operating, the result of which is that the holders of the voting securities of the relevant entity as of the MG Closing Date are no longer the beneficial owners, in the aggregate, after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the
outstanding voting securities of the entity, subject to certain other requirements set forth in the MG Company Agreement, (d) the failure of Vertex Operating to operate MG SPV in good faith with appropriate resources, or (e) the material failure of the Company and its affiliates to comply with the terms of the contribution agreement, whereby the Company contributed assets and operations to MG SPV.
Distributions of available cash of MG SPV pursuant to the MG Company Agreement (including pursuant to liquidations of MG SPV), subject to certain exemptions set forth therein, are to be made (a) first, to the holders of the Class B Units, in an amount equal to the greater of (A) the aggregate unpaid “Class B Yield” (equal to an annual return of 22.5% per annum) and (B) an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate capital invested by the Class B Unit holders (initially Tensile-MG)(such aggregate capital invested by the Class B Unit holders, the “MG Invested Capital”, which totals approximately $4 million as of December 31, 2021, less prior distributions (the greater amount of (A) and (B), the “Class B Priority Distributions”); (b) second, the Class B Unitholders, together as a separate and distinct class, are entitled to receive an amount equal to the aggregate MG Invested Capital; (c) third, the Class A Unitholders (other than Class A Unitholders which received Class A Units upon conversion of Class B Units), together as a separate and distinct class, are entitled to receive all or a portion of any distribution equal to the sum of all distributions made under sections (a) and (b) above; and (d) fourth, to the holders of Units who are eligible to receive such distributions in proportion to the number of Units held by such holders.
On or after July 26, 2022, the Company or any of its subsidiaries, may elect to purchase all of the outstanding units of MG SPV held by Tensile-MG (or any assignee of Tensile-MG) as discussed in the MG Company Agreement.
On the MG Closing Date, Tensile-MG, Vertex Operating and the Company entered into a right of first offer letter agreement (the “ROFO Agreement”), whereby we agreed that if we, at any time, propose to issue, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or otherwise directly or indirectly dispose of any equity or debt securities of (x) MG SPV and/or (y) Cedar Marine Terminals, L.P., or any other entity formed or designated to operate the Cedar Marine Terminal in Baytown, Texas, we would provide Tensile-MG written notice of such, and Tensile-MG would have thirty days to purchase the amount of securities offered on terms at least as favorable as those in the original proposal. The rights under the ROFO Agreement continue to apply until such time, if ever, as Tensile-MG has acquired $50 million of securities pursuant to the terms thereof.
Heads of Agreement
On January 10, 2020, Vertex Operating entered into a Heads of Agreement (the “Heads of Agreement”) with Bunker One (USA) Inc., which is owned by Bunker Holding, a Danish holding company (“Bunker One”). Pursuant to the Heads of Agreement, the Company and Bunker One agreed to form a joint decision-making body (the “JDMB”) to focus on strategic matters related to the overall cooperation of the parties and to establish rules and procedures for identifying and undertaking joint projects. The JDMB has six members, three each from the Company and Bunker One.
The goal of the parties, pursuant to the Heads of Agreement and the JDMB, is to jointly develop and acquire direct or indirect equity or equity-related interests in projects and companies in the marine fuel sector in North America, with Bunker One focusing on opportunities related to the supply and optimization of marine fuels or components and the Company focusing on business opportunities relating to refining of bunker fuels.
For each project that the parties agree to pursue, the parties will enter into a form of Co-Operation and Joint Supply and Marketing Agreement (each a “Co-Operation JSMA”). The principal objective of each such Co-Operation JSMA will be the expansion of the business of each party by cooperating in the sourcing, storing, transportation, marketing and selling of products, where: (a) Vertex is primarily responsible for the sourcing and storing of the product (bunker fuels); (b) Bunker One is primarily responsible for the transporting, blending, marketing, selling and delivering of the product (bunker fuels); (c) Bunker One is responsible for the risk management/exposure (e.g. hedging) of the bunker fuels; and (d) Bunker One is the exclusive seller of the product to third parties.
The Heads of Agreement also allows for certain projects outside of the scope of Co-Operation JSMA’s which will be subject to separate Authorization for Expenditures agreed to by the JDMB.
The Heads of Agreement has a term of ten years, beginning effective on January 1, 2020, and continuing through April 30, 2029, provided that the agreement extends for additional five-year periods thereafter unless either party provides the other at least 120 days’ notice of non-renewal before any such automatic renewal date. The agreement can also be terminated by either party upon an event of default (as described in the Heads of Agreement), subject to required thirty days’ notice of such event of default and the opportunity for the breaching party to cure. The Heads of Agreement contains standard and customary events of default, including failure to pay amounts when due, failure to comply with the terms of the agreement, insolvency and the
occurrence of a Change of Control, each subject to the terms of the agreement. A Change of Control is defined in the agreement as any party (a) engaged in the bunkering business (i.e., the supplying of fuel used by ships), as to Bunker One, or (b) engaged in the refining business, as to Vertex, obtaining control of such applicable party by way of any transaction or series of transactions.
The Heads of Agreement also contains a right of first refusal provision, whereby if at any time Bunker One, or any of its U.S. affiliates (each a “Bunker One Party”), proposes to issue, sell, transfer, assign, or otherwise directly or indirectly dispose of (x) all or any substantial portion of its bunkering business in the United States, or, if mutually agreed, outside of the United States and/or (y) the controlling equity interests in any corporation, limited liability company or partnership that owns all or any substantial portion of the bunkering business, held by such Bunker One Party for value, the Bunker One Party is required to provide the Company written notice of such event and the Company is provided the right to make an offer to purchase such entity/assets, from such Bunker One Party, subject to the terms of the Heads of Agreement.
Additionally, under the Heads of Agreement, at any time Bunker One determines to extend its existing bunkering business to any port in North America that is not served by Bunker One as of August 1, 2019, Bunker One is required to extend to the Company the right to elect to expand the terms and conditions of the Heads of Agreement to include any such new port.
Finally, under the Heads of Agreement, if at any time the Company acquires a supply of material that the Company intends to sell in Texas, Louisiana or Alabama and that is suitable for use in Bunker One’s bunkering business in such area from a third party, or produces additional material for sale in such area, the Company is required to provide Bunker One the right to purchase such supply/material pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Heads of Agreement.
JSMA
Also, on January 10, 2020, Vertex Operating entered into a Joint Supply and Marketing Agreement (the “JSMA”), with Bunker One. The JSMA is effective as of May 1, 2020, and provides for Bunker One to acquire 100% of the production from the Company’s Marrero, Louisiana re-refining facility (which produces approximately 100,000 barrels per month of a bunker suitable fuel for offshore use and use as a marine vessel’s propulsion system (“Bunker Fuel”)) at the arithmetic mean of Platts #2 USGC Pipe and Platt’s ULSD USGC Waterborne on agreed pricing days less an agreed upon discount, adjusted every three months.
Pursuant to the JSMA, the parties agreed to the percentages pursuant to which net profit will be split between the parties, relating to the sale of such Bunker Fuel by Bunker One, which is to be sold in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and areas immediately adjacent thereto if mutually agreed (collectively, the “Area”).
Pursuant to the JSMA, (i) the Company is primarily responsible for the sourcing and storing of the feedstock which is used to produce the Bunker Fuel, (ii) Bunker One is primarily responsible for the transporting, blending, marketing, selling and delivering of the Bunker Fuel, (iii) Bunker One is responsible for the risk management/exposure (e.g., hedging) of the Bunker Fuel, and (iv) Bunker One is the exclusive seller of the Bunker Fuel to third parties.
The Bunker Fuel is meant for blending by Bunker One into other products for the purpose of being transformed into bunker suitable fuel for a marine vessel’s propulsion system and/or marketable wholesale products in various other markets for sale by Bunker One to customers in the Area.
Pursuant to the JSMA, the Company agreed that during the term of the agreement, neither the Company, nor any affiliate of the Company, would sell any Bunker Fuel to any customers for their use as bunker fuel other than pursuant to the terms of the Agreement.
Payment for the Bunker Fuel is required to be made by Bunker One within three days after invoiced by the Company, and at the end of each three months during the term of the agreement, Bunker One is required to provide a detailed accounting to the Company setting forth the consideration due to the Company and the calculation of such amounts. The agreement also provides for a yearly accounting by Bunker One and true up of amounts paid and due throughout such year.
The JSMA has a term from May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2029, provided that the term is automatically renewable for additional five-year periods thereafter unless either party provides the other at least 120 days prior written notice of non-renewal, prior to any automatic renewal date. The agreement can also be terminated by either party upon an event of default (as described in the JSMA), subject to required ten days’ notice of such event of default and the opportunity for the breaching party to cure. The Heads of Agreement contains standard and customary events of default, including failure to pay amounts when due, failure to comply with the terms of the agreement and insolvency, each subject to the terms of the agreement. In the event
that the individual or group of individuals who ultimately own or control each party or such party’s parent as of May 1, 2020 no longer has the right or ability to control or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity, the agreement can be terminated immediately by the party not subject to such change of control.
The JSMA prohibits either party from promoting activities which compete against the other party’s business in the Area for the term of the agreement and for two years thereafter.
The JSMA also provides, during the term of such agreement, for Bunker One to be allowed to have a representative attend meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company and the committees of the Board (in a non-voting observer capacity)(the “Board Observer Right”). The Board Observer Right was provided partially in connection with Bunker One’s agreement to acquire up to $5 million of the Company’s securities which it did through the purchase of shares of Series B1 Preferred Stock (which shares have since been converted into common stock) and common stock, in privately negotiated purchases, with holders of the Company’s Series B1 Preferred Stock.
Heartland Share Purchase and Subscription Agreement
On January 17, 2020 (the “Heartland Closing Date”), a Share Purchase and Subscription Agreement (the “Heartland Share Purchase”) by and among HPRM LLC (“Heartland SPV”), a Delaware limited liability company, which entity was formed as a special purpose vehicle in connection with the transactions, described in greater detail below, Vertex Operating, Tensile-Heartland Acquisition Corporation (“Tensile-Heartland”), an affiliate of Tensile, and solely for the purposes of the Heartland Guaranty (defined below), the Company, was entered into.
Prior to entering into the Heartland Share Purchase, the Company transferred 100% of the ownership of Vertex Refining OH, LLC, its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary (“Vertex OH”) to Heartland SPV in consideration for 13,500 Class A Units, 13,500 Class A-1 Preferred Units and 11,300 Class B Units of Heartland SPV and immediately thereafter contributed 248 Class B Units to Vertex Splitter, as a contribution to capital.
Vertex OH owns the Company’s Columbus, Ohio, Heartland facility, which produces a base oil product that is sold to lubricant packagers and distributors.
Pursuant to the Heartland Share Purchase, Vertex Operating sold Tensile-Heartland the 13,500 Class A Units and 13,500 Class A-1 Preferred Units of Heartland SPV in consideration for $13.5 million. Also, on the Heartland Closing Date, Tensile-Heartland purchased 7,500 Class A Units and 7,500 Class A-1 Units in consideration for $7.5 million directly from Heartland SPV.
Concurrently with the closing of the transactions described above, and pursuant to the terms of the Heartland Share Purchase, the Company, through Vertex Operating, purchased 1,000 newly issued Class A Units from MG SPV at a cost of $1,000 per unit ($1 million in aggregate).
The Heartland Share Purchase provides Tensile-Heartland an option, exercisable at its election, any time after the Heartland Closing Date, subject to the terms of the Heartland Share Purchase, to purchase up to an additional 7,000 Class A-2 Preferred Units at a cost of $1,000 per Class A-2 Preferred Unit from Heartland SPV.
The Heartland Share Purchase also provided for a guarantee by the Company to Tensile-Heartland of the payment obligations of Vertex Operating as set forth in the Heartland Share Purchase (the “Heartland Guaranty”).
The Heartland Share Purchase had an effective date of January 1, 2020.
Administrative Services Agreement
Pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement, entered into on the Heartland Closing Date, Heartland SPV engaged Vertex Operating and the Company to provide administrative/management services and day-to-day operational management services of Heartland SPV in connection with the collection, storage, transportation, transfer, refining, re-refining, distilling, aggregating, processing, blending, sale of used motor oil, used lubricants, wholesale lubricants, recycled fuel oil, or related products and services such as vacuum gas oil, base oil, and asphalt flux, in consideration for a monthly fee. The Administrative Services Agreement has a term continuing until the earlier of (a) the date terminated with the mutual consent of the parties; (b) a liquidation of Heartland SPV; (c) a Heartland Redemption (defined below); (d) the determination of Heartland SPV to terminate following a change of control (as described in the Administrative Services Agreement) of Heartland SPV or
the Company; or (e) written notice from the non-breaching party upon the occurrence of a breach which is not cured within the cure period set forth in the Administrative Services Agreement.
The Administrative Services Agreement also provides that in the event that Heartland SPV is unable to procure used motor-oil (“UMO”) through its ordinary course operations, subject to certain conditions, Vertex Operating and the Company are required to use their best efforts to sell (or cause an affiliate to sell) UMO to Heartland SPV, at the lesser of the (i) then-current market price for UMO sold in the same geography area and (ii) price paid by such entity for such UMO. Finally, the Administrative Services Agreement provides that in the event that the Heartland SPV is unable to procure vacuum gas oil (“VGO”) feedstock through its ordinary course operations, subject to certain conditions, Vertex Operating and the Company are required to use their best efforts to sell (or cause an affiliate to sell) VGO to Heartland SPV, at the lesser of the (i) then-current market price for VGO sold in the same geographic area and (ii) price paid for such VGO.
Heartland Limited Liability Company Agreement
The Heartland SPV is currently owned 35% by Vertex Operating and 65% by Tensile-Heartland. The Class A Units held by Tensile-Heartland are convertible into Class B Units as provided in the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Heartland SPV (the “Heartland Company Agreement”), based on a conversion price (initially one-for-one) which may be reduced from time to time if new Units of Heartland SPV are issued and will automatically convert into Series A Units upon certain events described in the Heartland Company Agreement.
The Class A-1 and A-2 Preferred Units (“Class A Preferred Units”), which are 100% owned by Tensile-Heartland, accrue a 22.5% per annum preferred return subject to terms of the Heartland Company Agreement (the “Class A Yield”).
Additionally, the Class A Unit holders (common and preferred) may force Heartland SPV to redeem the outstanding Class A Units at any time on or after the earlier of (a) January 17, 2025 and (b) the occurrence of a Heartland Triggering Event (defined below)(a “Heartland Redemption”). The cash purchase price for such redeemed Class A Unit will be the greater of (y) the fair market value of such units (without discount for illiquidity, minority status or otherwise) as determined by a qualified third party agreed to in writing by a majority of the holders seeking Heartland Redemption and Vertex Operating (provided that Vertex Operating still owns Class B Units on such date) and (z) the Class A preference. The Class A preference is defined as the greater of (A) the aggregate unpaid Class A yield equal to 225% per year or (B) an amount equal to the original per-unit price for such Class A Units plus fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate capital invested by the Class A Unit holders through such Heartland Redemption date. “Heartland Triggering Events” include (a) any termination of the Administrative Services Agreement pursuant to its terms and/or any material breach by us of the environmental remediation and indemnity agreement, (b) any dissolution, winding up or liquidation of the Company, Vertex Operating or any significant subsidiary of Vertex Operating, (c) any sale, lease, license or disposition of any material assets of the Company, Vertex Operating or any significant subsidiary of Vertex Operating, or (d) any transaction or series of related transactions (whether by merger, exchange, contribution, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization, combination or otherwise) involving the Company, Vertex Operating or any significant subsidiary of Vertex Operating, the result of which is that the holders of the voting securities of the relevant entity as of the Heartland Closing Date are no longer the beneficial owners, in the aggregate, after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the entity, subject to certain other requirements set forth in the Heartland Company Agreement.
In the event that Heartland SPV fails to redeem such Class A Units within 180 days after a redemption is triggered, the Class A Yield is increased to 25% until such time as such redemption is completed (with such increase being effective back to the original date of a notice of redemption). In addition, in such event, the Class A Unit holders may cause Heartland SPV to initiate a process intended to result in a sale of Heartland SPV.
Distributions of available cash of Heartland SPV pursuant to the Heartland Company Agreement (including pursuant to liquidations of Heartland SPV), subject to certain exceptions set forth therein, are to be made (a) first, to the holders of the Class A Preferred Units, in an amount equal to the greater of (A) the aggregate unpaid Class A Yield and (B) an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate capital invested by the Class A Preferred Unit holders (initially Tensile-Heartland)(such aggregate capital invested by the Class A Preferred Unit holders, the “Heartland Invested Capital”, which totaled approximately $21 million as of the Heartland Closing Date, subject to adjustment as provided in the Heartland Share Purchase), less prior distributions (such greater amount of (A) and (B), the “Class A Preferred Priority Distributions”); (b) second, the Class A Preferred Unitholders, together as a separate and distinct class, are entitled to receive an amount equal to the aggregate Heartland Invested Capital; (c) third, the Class B Unitholders (other than Class B Unitholders which received Class B Units
upon conversion of Class A Preferred Units), together as a separate and distinct class, are entitled to receive all or a portion of any distribution equal to the sum of all distributions made under sections (a) and (b) above; and (d) fourth, to the holders of Units who are eligible to receive such distributions in proportion to the number of Units held by such holders.
On or after January 17, 2023, the Company (through Vertex Operating) may elect to purchase all of the outstanding units of Heartland SPV held by Tensile-Heartland at the greatest of (i) the amount of the Class A Priority Distributions and the amount of the Heartland Invested Capital, had the Class A Yield accrued at 30% per annum (instead of the original stated 22.5% per annum), (ii) two hundred and seventy-five percent (275%) of the total Heartland Invested Capital, and (iii) a calculation based on the greater of six (6) times the trailing twelve (12) months’ adjusted EBITDA and (B) six (6) times the next twelve (12) months’ projected adjusted EBITDA, each as described in further detail in the Heartland Company Agreement.
Upon the occurrence of a Heartland Triggering Event (described above), the Class A Unitholders (initially Tensile-Heartland) may elect, by a majority vote, to (a) terminate the Administrative Services Agreement and appoint new management of Heartland SPV, (b) trigger a Heartland Redemption, and/or (c) purchase the Class B Units from the Class B Unitholders (initially Vertex Operating) at the fair market value of such units as determined by a qualified third party agreed to in writing by the parties.
Crystal Energy, LLC
On June 1, 2020, the Company, through Vertex Operating, entered into and closed a Member Interest Purchase Agreement with Crystal Energy, LLC ("Crystal") pursuant to which Vertex Operating agreed to buy the outstanding membership interests of Crystal for aggregate cash consideration of $1,822,690. This resulted in the recognition of $1,939,364 in accounts receivable, $976,512 in inventory, $14,484 in other current assets, and $1,107,670 in current liabilities. Upon the closing of the acquisition, Crystal became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vertex Operating.
Crystal is an Alabama limited liability company that was organized on September 7, 2016, for the purpose of purchasing, storing, selling, and distributing refined motor fuels. These activities include the wholesale distribution of gasoline, blended gasoline, and diesel for use as engine fuel to operate automobiles, trucks, locomotives, and construction equipment. Crystal markets its products to third-party customers, and customers will typically resell these products to retailers, end-use consumers, and others. These assets are used in our Refining segment.
Penthol Agreement Termination
On June 5, 2016, the Company and Penthol LLC reached an agreement for the Company to act as Penthol's exclusive agent to market and promote Group III base oil from the United Arab Emirates to the United States. The Company also agreed to provide logistical support. The start-up date was July 25, 2016, with a 5-year term through 2021. Over the Company's objection, Penthol terminated the Agreement effective January 19, 2021. The Company and Penthol are currently involved in litigation involving such termination and related matters as described in greater detail in “Part II” - “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Note 4. Concentrations, Significant Customers, Commitments and Contingencies”, under the heading “Litigation”. Recent Transactions
May 2021 Purchase Agreement
On May 26, 2021, Vertex Operating, entered into a definitive Sale and Purchase Agreement (the “Refinery Purchase Agreement”) with Equilon Enterprises LLC d/b/a Shell Oil Products US, Shell Oil Company and Shell Chemical LP, subsidiaries of Shell plc (“Shell”), to purchase the Shell’s Mobile, Alabama refinery, certain real property associated therewith, and related assets, including all inventory at the refinery as of closing and certain equipment, rolling stock, and other personal property associated with the Mobile refinery (collectively, the “Mobile Refinery” and the “Mobile Acquisition”). The Mobile Refinery is located on an 800+ acre site in the city and county of Mobile, Alabama. The 91,000 barrel-per-day nameplate capacity Mobile Refinery is capable of sourcing a flexible mix of cost-advantaged light-sweet domestic and international feedstocks. Approximately 70% of the refinery’s current annual production is distillate, gasoline and jet fuel, with the remainder being vacuum gas oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other products. The facility distributes its finished product across the southeastern United States through a high-capacity truck rack, together with deep and shallow water distribution points capable of supplying waterborne vessels.
In addition to refining assets, the transaction will include the acquisition by the Company of approximately 3.2 million barrels of inventory and product storage, logistics and distribution assets, together with more than 800+ acres of developed and undeveloped land.
The initial base purchase price for the assets is $75 million. In addition, Vertex Operating will also pay for the hydrocarbon inventory located at the Mobile Refinery, as valued at closing, which we currently anticipate having a value of
approximately $100 million and the purchase price is subject to other customary purchase price adjustments and reimbursement for certain capital expenditures in the amount of approximately $440,000. Upon closing of the acquisition, the Company (through one or more of its subsidiaries and affiliates) plans to complete an $85 million capital project designed to modify the Mobile Refinery’s hydrocracking unit to produce renewable diesel fuel on a standalone basis (the “Conversion”).
In connection with Vertex Operating’s execution of the Refinery Purchase Agreement, and as a required term and condition thereof, Vertex Operating provided the Shell a promissory note in the amount of $10 million (the “Deposit Note”). Pursuant to the terms of the Refinery Purchase Agreement, the terms of such agreement (other than exclusivity through December 31, 2021, or such earlier date that the Refinery Purchase Agreement is terminated), were not legally binding on Shell until such time as Vertex Operating funds the Deposit Note in cash (which note has been paid in full to date). The Deposit Note did not accrue interest unless or until an event of default occurs under such note, at which time interest accrues at 12% per annum until paid. The entire balance of the Deposit Note was due upon the earlier of (i) 45 calendar days following the date of the Deposit Note (i.e., July 10, 2021); and (ii) five calendar days following the closing of any transaction between Vertex Operating and any third party, which Deposit Note was paid in full prior to such applicable due date.
In the event of the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Refinery Purchase Agreement, the funded portion of the Deposit Note, and any interest thereon (the “Deposit”) is credited against the purchase price due to the Shell. In the event the Refinery Purchase Agreement is terminated, the Deposit is non-refundable except as more particularly described in the Refinery Purchase Agreement, which provides that in some circumstances the Company may receive a complete refund of the Deposit or must pay a portion of (or in some cases all) the costs for the Swapkit (defined below) and/or the audit of the Shell’s operations, to the extent requested by the Company.
The Refinery Purchase Agreement is subject to termination prior to closing under certain circumstances, and may be terminated: at any time prior to the closing date, by the mutual consent of the parties; by Vertex Operating or Shell in the event the closing has not occurred by May 26, 2022 (the “Outside Date”, subject to extensions as discussed in the Refinery Purchase Agreement), in the event such failure to close is not a result of Vertex Operating’s or Shell’s breach of the agreement, respectively, or the failure to obtain any government consent; by Vertex Operating or Shell, if the other party has breached any representation, warranty or covenant set forth in the agreement, subject to certain cases to the right to cure such breach, or required regulatory approvals have not been received as of the Outside Date.
The Refinery Purchase Agreement provides that if all conditions to closing are satisfied other than government approvals and required permits and registrations, then the Outside Date is extended to such date as the parties mutually agree; provided, however, in the event the parties do not mutually agree, then the Outside Date is automatically extended to May 26, 2023.
The Refinery Purchase Agreement contemplates the Company and the Shell entering into various supply and offtake agreements at closing.
The Mobile Acquisition is expected to close early in the second quarter of 2022, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, the absence of legal impediments prohibiting the Mobile Acquisition, receipt of regulatory approvals and required consents, absence of a material adverse effect and the Company raising sufficient cash to pay such aggregate purchase price, a portion of which the Company raised through the sale of the Convertible Notes and a portion of which the Company plans to raise through the entry into the Term Loan, each defined and discussed below. The conditions to the closing of the Mobile Acquisition may not be met, and such closing may not ultimately occur on the terms set forth in the Refinery Purchase Agreement, if at all.
In connection with the entry into the Refinery Purchase Agreement, Vertex Operating and Shell entered into a Swapkit Purchase Agreement (the “Swapkit Agreement”). Pursuant to the agreement, Vertex Operating agreed to fund a technology solution comprising the ecosystem required for the Company to run the Mobile Refinery after closing (the “Swapkit”), at a cost of $8.7 million, which is payable at closing (subject to certain adjustments), or in certain circumstances, upon termination of the Purchase and Sale Agreement.
Series B and B1 Preferred Stock Automatic Conversion
Pursuant to the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series B1 Preferred Stock of the Company, in the event that the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock was at least $6.20 (as to the Series B Preferred Stock) and $3.90 (as to the Series B1 Preferred Stock) per share for at least 20 consecutive trading days, such shares of Series B Preferred Stock and
Series B1 Preferred Stock were to convert automatically into common stock of the Company on a one-for-one basis (the “Automatic Conversion Provisions”).
Effective on June 24, 2021 (as to the Series B1 Preferred Stock) and June 25, 2021 (as to the Series B Preferred Stock), the Automatic Conversion Provisions of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series B1 Preferred Stock were triggered, and the outstanding shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock and Series B1 Preferred Stock automatically converted into common stock of the Company.
Specifically, the 1,783,292 then outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock automatically converted into 1,783,292 shares of common stock and the 3,134,889 then outstanding shares of Series B1 Preferred Stock automatically converted into 3,134,889 shares of common stock (or 4,918,181 shares of common stock in total).
As a result, there are no outstanding shares of Series B or B1 Preferred Stock as of December 31, 2021.
Safety-Kleen Sale Agreement
On June 29, 2021, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Sale Agreement” and the transactions contemplated therein, the “Sale Transaction” or the “Sale”) with Vertex Operating, Vertex LA, Vertex OH, CMT, H & H Oil, as sellers, and Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc., as purchaser (“Safety-Kleen”), dated as of June 28, 2021.
Pursuant to the Sale Agreement, Safety-Kleen agreed to acquire the Company’s Marrero used oil refinery in Louisiana (currently owned by Vertex LA); our Heartland used oil refinery in Ohio (currently owned by Vertex OH); our H&H and Heartland used motor oil (“UMO”) collections business; our oil filters and absorbent materials recycling facility in East Texas; and the rights CMT holds to a lease on the Cedar Marine terminal in Baytown, Texas (the “UMO Business”).
The initial base purchase price for the assets was $140 million, which is subject to customary adjustments to account for working capital, taxes and assumed liabilities.
The Sale Agreement was expected to close in the first half of 2022, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, the absence of legal impediments prohibiting the transaction, and receipt of regulatory approvals and required consents.
On January 24, 2022, each of the Company Parties and Safety-Kleen entered into an Asset Purchase Termination Agreement (the “Termination Agreement”) pursuant to which the Sale Agreement was terminated. Pursuant to the terms of the Termination Agreement, the Company agreed to pay a termination fee to Safety-Kleen of $3,000,000. Immediately upon receipt of such termination fee, which the Company paid simultaneously with the execution of the Termination Agreement, the Sale Agreement was terminated and is of no further force or effect, and with no further liability to any party thereunder, other than certain confidentiality obligations of the parties and ongoing liability for any willful or intentional breach of, or non-compliance with, the Sale Agreement.
The Company is exploring other opportunities for the sale of the UMO business.
Tensile Transactions
On July 1, 2021, the Operating Agreement of MG SPV was amended to provide that from the date of such agreement until December 31, 2021, the Company (through Vertex Operating), was required to fund the working capital requirements of MG SPV, which advances were initially characterized as debt, but that Tensile MG may convert such debt into additional Class A Units of MG SPV (after December 31, 2021), at $1,000 per unit (the “MG SPV Amendment”).
On July 1, 2021, Heartland SPV loaned Vertex Operating $7,000,000, which was evidenced by a Promissory Note (the “Heartland Note”). The Heartland Note accrues interest at the applicable federal rate of interest from time to time, increasing to 12% upon an event of default. Amounts borrowed under the Heartland Note are currently due upon the earlier of (i) June 30, 2022; and (ii) five calendar days following the closing of a sale of substantially all the assets of Vertex Refining OH, LLC (“VROH”), and/or the sale of membership interests in VROH possessing voting control (with the consent of the Company), provided that the Heartland Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time without premium or penalty. The Heartland Note includes customary events of defaults. The Company used the funds borrowed under the Heartland Note, to paydown a portion of the Deposit Note, with the remaining funds coming from a loan from EBC as discussed below.
On July 25, 2019, Tensile purchased 1,500,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 1,500,000 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $2.25 per share, and we entered into a Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement with Tensile which required us to register the shares of common stock issued to Tensile, and the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants issued to Tensile, and Tensile agreed to certain restrictions on the sale of the shares held by Tensile. On July 1, 2021, we entered into a First Amendment to Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement with Tensile (the “RRA Amendment”) to adjust the restriction on Tensile’s ability to sell shares of common stock under the lock-up to provide for Tensile to not sell more than 500,000 shares of common stock in any seven day period until July 25, 2024, without the prior written consent of the Company.
Indenture and Convertible Notes
On November 1, 2021, we issued $155.0 million aggregate principal amount at maturity of our 6.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Convertible Notes”) pursuant to an Indenture (the “Indenture”), dated November 1, 2021, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), in a private offering (the “Note Offering”) to persons reasonably believed to be “qualified institutional buyers” and/or to “accredited investors” in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, pursuant to Securities Purchase Agreements.
The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting placement agent fees and estimated offering costs and expenses payable by the Company, were approximately $133.9 million. The Company intends to use approximately $33.7 million of the net proceeds from the offering to fund a portion of the funds payable in connection with the Refinery Purchase Agreement. The Company has previously used (1) $10.9 million of the net proceeds from the offering to repay amounts owed by the Company under its credit facilities with Encina Business Credit, LLC and certain of its affiliates (the “EBC Lenders”), and (2) $0.4 million of the net proceeds to repay certain secured equipment leases with certain affiliates of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. The Company intends to use the remainder of the net proceeds for working capital and other general corporate purposes, which may include debt retirement and organic and inorganic growth initiatives, provided that the Company has no current specific plans for such uses.
Key terms of the Convertible Notes are as follows:
•Issue price – 90% of the face amount of each Note.
•Interest rate of 6.25% – The Convertible Notes will bear interest at a rate of 6.25% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on April 1, 2022.
•Conversion price of approximately $5.89 – The Convertible Notes will be convertible at an initial conversion rate of 169.9235 shares of the Company’s common stock, per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $5.89 per share, which represents a conversion premium of approximately 37.5% to the last reported sale price of $4.28 per share of the Company’s common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on October 26, 2021).
•Maturity date –The Convertible Notes will mature on October 1, 2027, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted.
•Conversion – Prior to July 1, 2027, the Convertible Notes will be convertible at the option of the holders of the Convertible Notes only upon the satisfaction of certain conditions and during certain periods, and thereafter, at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date.
•Cash settlement of principal amount in connection with conversions – Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at its election.
•Limited investor put rights – Holders of the Convertible Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase for cash all or part of their Convertible Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the accreted principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding the repurchase date, upon the occurrence of certain change of control transactions or liquidation, dissolution or common stock delisting events (collectively, a “fundamental change”), subject to certain conditions.
•Optional Redemption – Prior to October 6, 2024, the Convertible Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option. On a redemption date occurring on or after October 6, 2024 and on or before the 30 scheduled trading day before the maturity date, the Company may redeem for cash all or part of the Convertible Notes (subject to certain restrictions), at its option, if the last reported sale price of our Company’s common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive), including the trading day immediately preceding the date on which the Company provides a notice of redemption, during any 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the redemption notice date at a redemption price equal to 100% of the accreted principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. No “sinking fund” is provided for the Convertible Notes, which means that we are not required to redeem or retire the Convertible Notes periodically.
•Escrow of proceeds; special mandatory redemption. A total of seventy-five percent (75%) of the net proceeds from the offering (approximately $100 million) were placed into an escrow account to be released to the Company, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions precedent to the Company’s obligation to consummate the Mobile Acquisition (collectively, the “Escrow Release Conditions”). If the Mobile Acquisition is not consummated on or prior to April 1, 2022, if the Company has not certified to the escrow agent that all conditions precedent to the Company’s obligations to consummate the Mobile Acquisition have been satisfied, or if the Company notifies the trustee and the escrow agent in writing that the agreement relating to the purchase of the Mobile Refinery has been terminated, the Convertible Notes will be subject to a special mandatory redemption equal to 100% of the accreted principal amount of the Convertible Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the special mandatory redemption date, plus interest that would have accrued on the Convertible Notes from the special mandatory redemption date to, and including, the date that is nine (9) months after the special mandatory redemption date. If the Escrow Release Conditions have been satisfied or waived, the Company can request that the escrowed funds be released to the Company.
•Conversion rate increase in certain customary circumstances – The Company will also be required to increase the conversion rate for holders who convert their Convertible Notes in connection with a fundamental change and certain other corporate events or convert their Convertible Notes called for optional redemption (or deemed called for redemption) following delivery by the Company of a notice of optional redemption, in either case, in certain circumstances.
The Convertible Notes are Vertex Energy’s senior unsecured obligations.
The Indenture contains additional customary terms and covenants, including that upon certain events of default occurring and continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes then outstanding may declare the entire principal amount of all the Convertible Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to be immediately due and payable, provided that in the case of an event of default with respect to the Convertible Notes arising from specified events of bankruptcy or insolvency, 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid special interest, if any, on the Convertible Notes will automatically become due and payable.
The following events are considered an “event of default,” which may result in acceleration of the maturity of the Convertible Notes: (1) default in any payment of interest on any Convertible Note when due and payable and the default continues for a period of 30 consecutive days; (2) default in the payment of the accreted principal amount of any Convertible Note when due and payable at its stated maturity, upon optional redemption, upon any required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise; (3) our failure to comply with our obligation to convert the Convertible Notes in accordance with the Indenture upon exercise of a holder’s conversion right and such failure continues for three business days; (4) our failure to give certain required notices under the Indenture, in each case when due and such failure continues for five business days; (5) our failure to comply with certain of our obligations under the Indenture; (6) our failure for 60 days after written notice from the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Convertible Notes then outstanding to comply with any of our other agreements contained in the Convertible Notes or Indenture; (7) default by us or any of our significant subsidiaries with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $15,000,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) in an aggregate of us and/or any such significant subsidiary, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created (i) resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity date or (ii) constituting a failure to pay the principal of any such indebtedness when due and payable (after the expiration of all applicable grace periods) at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise and in the cases of clauses (i) and (ii), such acceleration shall not have been rescinded or annulled or such failure to pay or default shall not have been cured or waived, or such indebtedness is not paid or discharged, as the case may be, within 30 days after written notice to us by the Trustee or to us and the Trustee by holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes then outstanding in accordance with the Indenture; (8) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization of us or any of our significant subsidiaries; or (9) a final judgment or judgments for the payment of $15,000,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) (excluding any amounts covered by insurance) or more (excluding any amounts covered by insurance) in the aggregate rendered against us or any of our significant subsidiaries, which judgment is not discharged, bonded, paid, waived or stayed within 60 days after (i) the date on which the right to appeal thereof has expired if no such appeal has commenced, or (ii) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished.
The Company may elect that the sole remedy for an event of default relating to a failure by it to comply with certain reporting obligations set forth in the Indenture, will after the occurrence of such an event of default consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the Convertible Notes at a rate equal to (i) 1.00% per annum of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes outstanding for each day during the period beginning on, and including, the date on which such event of default first occurred and ending on the earlier of (x) the date on which such event of default is cured or validly waived and (y) the 365th day immediately following, and including, the date on which such event of default first occurred. On the 366th day
after such event of default (if the event of default relating to the reporting obligations is not cured or waived prior to such 366th day), the Trustee by notice to us, or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Convertible Notes by notice to us and the Trustee, may declare 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Convertible Notes to be due and payable.
If on or after the date that is six months after the last original issue date of the Convertible Notes, the Company has not satisfied the reporting conditions (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the requirement for current Form 10 information) set forth in Rule 144(c) and (i)(2) under the Securities Act, or the Convertible Notes are not otherwise able to be traded pursuant to Rule 144 by holders other than the Company’s affiliates or holders that were affiliates of the Company at any time during the three months immediately preceding (as a result of restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities laws or the terms of the Indenture or the Convertible Notes), the Company will pay additional interest on the Convertible Notes at a rate equal to 1.00% per annum of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes outstanding, in each case for each day for which the Company’s failure to file has occurred and is continuing or the Convertible Notes are not otherwise able to be traded pursuant to Rule 144 as described above.
Initially, a maximum of 36,214,960 shares of common stock may be issued upon conversion of the Convertible Notes, based on the initial maximum conversion rate of 233.6449 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes, which is subject to customary and other adjustments described in the Indenture.
Encina Credit Agreement Term Loan
On November 1, 2021, the Company repaid in full the amounts owed to the EBC Lenders with the funds raised through the sale of the Convertible Notes.
Idemitsu Offtake Agreement
On February 14, 2022, Vertex Refining Alabama LLC (“Vertex Refining”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Master Offtake Agreement dated February 4, 2022 (the “Offtake Agreement”) with Idemitsu Apollo Renewable Corp. (“Idemitsu”). Pursuant to the Offtake Agreement, Vertex Refining agreed to sell Idemitsu renewable diesel which is planned to be produced by the Mobile Refinery, subject to completion of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery and the capital project discussed above. Following phase 1 of the planned modifications of the Mobile Refinery, it is expected to produce 10,000 barrels of renewable diesel and following phase 2, 14,000 barrels of renewable diesel. “Phase 1” means the first stage of conversion of the hydrocracker unit to renewable diesel production and “phase 2” means the second stage of the conversion of the hydrocracker conversion which will be completed after the new hydrogen plant is operating at ratable hydrogen supply. During the term of the Offtake Agreement, Idemitsu agreed to purchase all of the renewable diesel produced at the refinery (provided it meets certain specifications), up to a maximum volume of 14,000 barrels per day.
The obligations of the parties under the Offtake Agreement are subject to certain conditions precedent, including (a) the closing of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery occurring prior to April 30, 2022; (b) the parties having entered into a mutually acceptable storage agreement for the storage of renewable diesel on or before the commencement of commercial operations of the refinery following the completion of the capital project (the “COD”); (c) Idemitsu having delivered to Vertex Refining the Guaranty (discussed below) on or before COD; (d) absence of certain actions or proceedings to set aside, enjoin or prevent the performance by either party of its respective obligations under the agreement; (e) no project assets, related facilities or products having been affected adversely or threatened to be affected adversely by any material loss or damage, subject to certain exceptions; (f) the mutual representations and warranties of each party being true and correct; and (g) COD having occurred within eighteen months of the Company’s acquisition of the Mobile Refinery.
If a party terminates the Offtake Agreement as a result of any of the conditions precedent required under the Offtake Agreement, as summarized above, not being satisfied, neither party has any further obligation under the Offtake Agreement to the other party, except that (i) Vertex Refining is responsible for payment to Idemitsu of a Termination Payment (defined below), in the event the Master Agreement is terminated due to the failure to satisfy or waive the condition that COD occur within eighteen months of the Company’s acquisition of the Mobile Refinery, and (ii) each party shall remain liable to the other party for any and all damages incurred as a result of a breach by a party of its representations, warranties or any other obligations prior to such termination. “Termination Payment” means the actual and documented storage costs incurred by Idemitsu to acquire or lease 300,000 barrels of storage tanks for twelve (12) months. The Termination Payment is payable in monthly installments in an amount equal to the monthly storage costs incurred by Idemitsu.
A performing party may terminate the Offtake Agreement (a) by delivery of a written notice to the other Party within thirty days of any of the conditions precedent required under the Offtake Agreement, as summarized above, not being waived or satisfied by the date required for such condition, or a determination that a condition is not capable of being satisfied by the date indicated for such condition, or (b) if there is an event of default under the agreement.
The initial term of the Offtake Agreement (the “Initial Term”) commences on COD and continues for a period of five years thereafter, subject to certain early termination provisions set forth in the agreement, including, but not limited to, the right of either party to request a review of the terms of the agreement prior to the commencement of the 4th and 5th contract years of the agreement, which, if triggered, and if the parties fail to mutually agree in writing to any such requested revisions, will result in the agreement expiring three years or four years after COD, as applicable. The parties may mutually agree to extend the term of the agreement beyond the Initial Term pursuant to the terms of the Offtake Agreement.
Pursuant to the Offtake Agreement, Idemitsu shall be the exclusive offtake party for certain amounts of renewable diesel produced by Vertex Refining, up to a total of 14,000 barrels of renewable diesel, provided that if Idemitsu fails to purchase or accept any portion of such committed volume in accordance with the terms of the Offtake Agreement, Vertex Refining has the right to sell such product and regulatory credits to a third-party. Vertex Refining is also required to transfer all regulatory credits associated with the product purchased to Idemitsu pursuant to the terms of the Offtake Agreement.
The Offtake Agreement also includes a requirement that Idemitsu pay for certain minimum volumes of renewable diesels per month and that Vertex Refining supply certain minimum volumes per month, subject to certain make whole payments or reimbursements due from the appropriate party.
Vertex Refining may also, in its sole discretion, offer to Idemitsu renewable diesel and associated regulatory credits produced by the Mobile Refinery in excess of the committed volume.
In the event the refinery produces and Vertex Refining offers for sale during the term of the agreement, renewable products other than renewable diesel (“Other Renewable Products”), prior to offering the Other Renewable Products to any third party, Vertex Refining is required to first offer such products to Idemitsu and Idemitsu has a 14 day right of first refusal to purchase such Other Renewable Products.
Idemitsu agreed to pay to Vertex Refining a per gallon of product purchased at an indexed, spot-market price at the time of production.
The Offtake Agreement includes customary representations and warranties of the parties, requirements of the parties, force majeure provisions, reimbursement obligations, limitations on damages, events of default, and confidentiality obligations. The agreement also requires Vertex Refining to (i) register with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a renewable fuel producer; (ii) use reasonable efforts to maintain such registration and generate the maximum allowable number of certain renewable fuel credits on all product delivered to Idemitsu; and (iii) maintain all documentation and any other information required under the EPA renewable fuel standard.
Pursuant to the Offtake Agreement, Idemitsu has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase from Vertex Refining, quantities of ultra low sulfur diesel (“ULSD”), up to an amount required by Idemitsu to blend with the renewal diesel to a ratio of 0.1% ULSD or greater; provided that Vertex Refining has such volumes available for sale. The purchase price for any ULSD purchased by Idemitsu from Vertex shall be the monthly average of the daily prompt CME Group ULSD futures (heating oil) settlement for each day during the month in which delivery occurred.
As a condition to the effectiveness of the Offtake Agreement, Idemitsu’s parent entity, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (“Idemitsu Parent”), must enter into a Continuing Guaranty in favor of Vertex Refining (the “Guaranty”) prior to COD. Pursuant to the Guaranty, Idemitsu Parent will guaranty the full and prompt payment when due, whether upon acceleration, demand or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the indebtedness of Idemitsu under the Offtake Agreement and related agreements and the punctual performance of all of such payment obligations under the Offtake Agreement, with such liability limited to the lesser of (i) the amounts owed to Vertex Refining under the Offtake Agreement and related agreements; and (ii) $100,000,000. The Guaranty will have customary covenants and requirements, including requiring Idemitsu Parent to subordinate any debt owed by Idemitsu to Idemitsu Parent to the obligations to Vertex Refining under the Guaranty.
Commitment Letter
On February 17, 2022, the Company and the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Vertex Refining, entered into a Commitment Letter with a syndicate of lenders in respect of a three-year, $125 million first-lien senior secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan”). The closing date and the funding of the Term Loan are subject to the closing of the Mobile Acquisition, in addition to various conditions precedent, as set forth in more detail in the Commitment Letter.
The Term Loan syndicate is led by, among others, certain funds and accounts managed by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., Whitebox Advisors LLC and Highbridge Capital Management, LLC. The Term Loan proceeds are expected to be used by the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Mobile Refinery, a portion of a planned renewable diesel conversion project at the Mobile Refinery, liquidity needs, and certain fees and expenses
associated with the closing of the Term Loan. The Term Loan is expected to be secured by substantially all of the present and after-acquired assets of the Company and its subsidiaries and to be guaranteed by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries.
The commitments and undertakings of the lenders under the Commitment Letter will automatically terminate on the first to occur of (a) April 1, 2022, (b) consummation of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery without use of the facility or if the lenders become aware of a breach of the exclusivity provisions of the Commitment Letter, (c) the closing date of the Term Loan and the release of the Term Loan proceeds to the Company, (d) the termination of the Refinery Purchase Agreement in accordance with its terms prior to the closing date, and (e) the date upon which the Company breaches its obligations under the Commitment Letter or otherwise fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the Commitment Letter (unless such breach or failure is cured within two (2) business days following the Company’s receipt of notice of such breach or failure).
As described in more detail in the Commitment Letter, the Term Loan will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the greater of (x) the per annum rate publicly quoted from time to time by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States minus 1.50% as in effect on such day and (y) the Fed Funds rate for such day plus 0.50% (subject to a floor of 1.0%), plus (ii) 8.75%. The facility will also be issued with an original issue discount of 1.5%. Beginning on the first anniversary of the closing date of the facility, the loan will amortize in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 5.0% of the original principal amount of the facility. The facility will be subject to certain mandatory prepayment obligations as described in the Commitment Letter, and to be further documented in the definitive loan agreements.
Additionally, subject to the terms of the Commitment Letter, if an escrow agent has been appointed by the parties and the parties have entered into an escrow agreement prior to the termination of the Commitment Letter, but in no event prior to February 21, 2022, the lenders have agreed to fund the full amount of the Term Loan (less certain amounts) into the escrow account. If the conditions required for the Term Loan funding have been satisfied prior to the date that the Commitment Letter terminates, the amount of funds in the escrow account is to be distributed to the Company, net of certain fees and expenses, otherwise such funds are to be returned to the lenders upon termination of the Commitment Letter.
As a closing condition to the facility, the Company will issue warrants (the “Lender Warrants”) to purchase 2.75 million shares of common stock of the Company to the lenders, on a pro-rata basis based on each lender’s lending commitments. The Lender Warrants will be subject to customary registration and antidilution rights, have a three-year term and a $4.50 per share exercise price.
The lenders received certain exclusivity rights for future fundings of the Company, relating to any transaction that would replace all or any portion of the funding under the facility, as described in greater detail in the Commitment Letter.
The obligation of the lenders party to the Commitment Letter to honor their respective commitments under the Commitment Letter is subject to satisfaction (or waiver) of certain conditions precedent, including, without limitation, the negotiation and receipt of customary closing documents, together with certain collateral documents, execution of a working capital credit agreement by the Company and certain third party lenders, execution of an intercreditor agreement, the issuance of the Lender Warrants, the consummation of the acquisition of the Mobile refinery, substantially simultaneously with the initial borrowings under the facility, completion of applicable “know your customer” requests and delivery of documentation related thereto, no material adverse effect with respect to the Company, the occurrence of no events of default, completion of lender due diligence, payment of required fees, delivery of customary financial reporting information, specified representations and warranties, perfection of certain security interests, and delivery of customary opinions. The Company will pay certain fees and expenses in connection with obtaining the facility. Given the conditional nature of the Commitment Letter and the commitments of the lenders thereunder, the lenders may not be obligated to provide funding under the planned facility, and, as a result, the Company may not be able to consummate such financing or obtain such loan funds, on the terms described in the Commitment Letter, if at all.
On March 2, 2022, (1) the Company, (2) Vertex Refining, (3) the Lenders and (4) Cantor Fitzgerald Securities (the “Escrow Agent”), entered into an Escrow Agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”). Pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, on March 2, 2022 each of the Lenders deposited their pro rata portion of the $125 million loan amount, less certain upfront fees, into an escrow account. Such funds will be released to (i) Vertex Refining if the Credit Agreement is entered into by April 1, 2022, and certain other conditions precedent are satisfied by that date or (ii) the Lenders if (a) the Credit Agreement is not entered into by such date and the other conditions precedent are not satisfied, (b) the Acquisition (as defined below) is consummated without use of the loan amount under the Credit Agreement or if the Lenders become aware of a breach under the exclusivity provision of the Commitment Letter, (c) the termination of the Refinery Purchase Agreement in accordance with its terms prior to the closing date of the Credit Agreement, or (d) the date upon which Vertex Refining breaches its obligations under the Commitment Letter or otherwise fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the Commitment Letter (unless such breach or failure is cured within two business days following Vertex Refining’s receipt of notice of such breach or failure). The
Escrow Agreement includes customary indemnification obligations of Vertex Refining and the Company and certain limited indemnification obligations of the Lenders. The Company is required to pay a ‘ticking fee’ equal to 10.5% per annum on the gross aggregate amount of escrow account proceeds, beginning on March 2, 2022, which was the date funds were deposited, into the escrow account.
Heartland and Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreements
On February 25, 2022, Vertex Splitter Corporation (“Vertex Splitter”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into (1) a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Tensile-Vertex Holdings LLC (“Tensile-Vertex”), an affiliate of Tensile and Tensile-Heartland (the “Heartland Purchase Agreement”); and (2) a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Tensile-Vertex and Tensile-MG (the “Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreement”, and together with the Heartland Purchase Agreement, the “Purchase Agreements”).
As discussed above, Tensile-Heartland holds 65% of Heartland SPV and Tensile-MG owns 15% of MG SPV, and Tensile-Vertex holds 100% of both Tensile-Heartland and Tensile-MG.
Pursuant to the Heartland Purchase Agreement, the Company, through Vertex Splitter, agreed to acquire 100% of the outstanding securities of Tensile-Heartland and pursuant to the Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreement, the Company, through Vertex Splitter, agreed to acquire 100% of the outstanding securities of Tensile-MG, from Vertex-Tensile, the result of which will be that Vertex Splitter will own 100% of each of Heartland SPV and MG SPV.
Pursuant to the Heartland Purchase Agreement, the purchase price payable by Vertex Splitter to Vertex-Tensile, for 100% of Tensile-Heartland is $35 million (the “Base Amount”), plus an amount accrued and accruing from and after May 31, 2021, on the Base Amount on a daily basis at the rate of 22.5% per annum compounded on the last day of each calendar quarter plus an amount equal to any and all cash and cash equivalents of Tensile-Heartland, as of the closing date, which we currently anticipate will total an aggregate of approximately $44 million. The purchase contemplated by the Heartland Purchase Agreement is required to take place on June 30, 2022, or earlier as mutually agreed by the parties, subject to customary conditions to closing. The Heartland Purchase Agreement includes customary representations of the parties, requires Vertex Splitter to maintain officer and director insurance for Tensile-Heartland for at least six years following the closing; requires that they bear their own fees and expenses, except that each party is required to pay the fees and expenses of the other party upon termination of the agreement in certain situations; includes customary indemnification obligations; and includes mutual releases of the parties, effective upon closing.
The Heartland Purchase Agreement may be terminated prior to closing, by the mutual consent of the parties; by Vertex Splitter if Vertex-Tensile has failed to consummate the agreement, or breached a covenant, representation or warranty set forth in the agreement, that prevents such closing, and such breach is not cured, if capable of being cured, within 30 days after notice thereof; by Vertex-Tensile if Vertex Splitter has failed to consummate the agreement, or breached a covenant, representation or warranty set forth in the agreement, that prevents such closing, and such breach is not cured, if capable of being cured, within 30 days after notice thereof; or by either party if there is a final, non-appealable judgment preventing the closing.
Pursuant to the Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreement, the purchase price payable by Vertex Splitter to Vertex-Tensile, for 100% of Tensile-MG is estimated to be approximately $7 million, and will be based on the value of the Class B Unit preference of MG SPV held by Tensile-MG, plus capital invested by Tensile-MG in MG SPV (which has not been returned as of the date of payment), plus cash and cash equivalents held by Tensile-MG as of the closing date. The purchase contemplated by the Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreement is required to take place on March 31, 2022, or earlier as mutually agreed by the parties, subject to customary conditions to closing. The Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreement includes customary representations of the parties, requires Vertex Splitter to maintain officer and director insurance for Tensile-MG for at least six years following the closing; requires that they bear their own fees and expenses, except that each party is required to pay the fees and expenses of the other party upon termination of the agreement in certain situations; includes customary indemnification obligations; and includes mutual releases of the parties, effective upon closing.
The Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreement may be terminated prior to closing, by the mutual approval of the parties; by Vertex Splitter if Vertex-Tensile has failed to consummate the agreement, or breached a covenant, representation or warranty set forth in the agreement, that prevents such closing, and such breach is not cured, if capable of being cured, within 30 days after notice thereof; by Vertex-Tensile if Vertex Splitter has failed to consummate the agreement, or breached a covenant, representation or warranty set forth in the agreement that prevents such closing, and such breach is not cured, if capable of being cured, within 30 days after notice thereof; or by either party if there is a final, non-appealable judgment preventing the closing.
Tensile-Vertex, Vertex Splitter and the Company (collectively, Vertex Splitter and the Company, the “Vertex Parties”) also entered into a Side Letter Re Purchase and Sale Agreements (the “Side Letter”), pursuant to which the parties agreed that in the event that (i) the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreement does not occur on or prior to March 31, 2022, and/or (ii) the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Heartland Purchase Agreement does not occur on or prior to June 30, 2022, then, in addition to any of the rights of Tensile-Vertex under the Purchase Agreements: (a) the Vertex Parties will use their best efforts to cause the closings under the Purchase Agreements to occur, including without limitation by raising debt financing, selling equity in a private or public transaction, selling assets and/or otherwise doing all things necessary or appropriate to raise the funds necessary to make the payments required to be made by Vertex Splitter under the Purchase Agreements, in each case on commercially reasonable terms and conditions, subject to certain exceptions; (b) upon the written election of Tensile-Vertex, the Vertex Parties will and will cause their affiliates to consent to the distribution or other payment of any and all cash and cash equivalents of Heartland SPV (including any proceeds from the repayment of that certain $7,000,000 promissory note, issued by Vertex Operating to Heartland SPV on July 1, 2021, as amended to date (the “Heartland Note”)) and any direct and indirect subsidiaries to Tensile-Vertex, with such distribution or other payment to be structured as specified by Tensile-Vertex so as to be tax efficient for Tensile-Vertex; and (c) Tensile-Vertex may, with written notice, cause Heartland SPV to initiate a process intended to result in a sale of Heartland SPV, with Tensile-Vertex being entitled, upon the consummation of such sale, of the greater of (i) 65% of the total net equity proceeds of such sale, and (ii) the amount due to Tensile-Vertex under the Heartland Purchase Agreement as of the date of the consummation of such sale.
Heartland Note Amendment
Also on February 25, 2022, Vertex Operating, the Company and Heartland SPV, entered into a Second Amendment to Promissory Note (the “Second Note Amendment”), which amended the Heartland Note, to extend the due date of the Heartland Note until the earlier of (i) June 30, 2022; and (ii) five (5) calendar days following the closing of a sale of substantially all the assets of Vertex Refining OH, LLC (“VROH”), and/or the sale of membership interests in VROH possessing voting control (with the consent of the Company), provided that the Heartland Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time without premium or penalty and without the consent of Heartland SPV. The Heartland Note accrues interest at the applicable federal rate of interest from time to time, increasing to 12% upon an event of default.
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The COVID-19 pandemic and actions of governments and others in response thereto has resulted in significant business and operational disruptions, including business closures, supply chain disruptions, travel restrictions, stay-at-home orders, and limitations on the availability and effectiveness of the workforce. The worldwide vaccine rollouts in 2021 have allowed governments to ease COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown protocols; however, the recent increase in COVID-19 cases resulting from the Delta and Omicron variants has created questions about whether lockdown protocols must be adjusted and the ultimate impact of those variants is unknown. Notwithstanding such ‘stay-at-home’ orders, to date, our operations have for the most part been deemed an essential business under applicable governmental orders based on the critical nature of the products we offer.
We sell products and services primarily in the U.S. domestic oil and gas commodity markets. During 2021, we continued to see incremental improvements in the demand for our products and services consistent with the lifting of travel and other government restrictions and the ongoing and state vaccination efforts. Over the year, our business has been gradually recovering after the decline in 2020.
Our goal through this downturn has been to remain disciplined in allocating capital and to focus on liquidity and cash preservation. We are taking the necessary actions to right-size the business for expected activity levels.
The full extent of the impact of COVID-19 on our business and operations currently cannot be estimated and will depend on a number of factors including the scope and duration of the global pandemic, the efficacy of, ability to manufacture a sufficient amount of, and the willingness of the general public to obtain, vaccines.
Currently we believe that we have sufficient cash on hand and will generate sufficient cash through operations to support our operations for the foreseeable future; however, we will continue to evaluate our business operations based on new information as it becomes available and will make changes that we consider necessary in light of any new developments regarding the pandemic.
The pandemic is developing rapidly and the full extent to which COVID-19 will ultimately impact us depends on future developments, including the duration and spread of the virus, the impact of vaccines and virus mutations and the potential seasonality of new outbreaks.
Description of Business Activities:
We are an environmental services company that recycles industrial waste streams and off-specification commercial chemical products. Our primary focus is recycling used motor oil and other petroleum by-products. We are engaged in operations across the entire petroleum recycling value chain including collection, aggregation, transportation, storage, re-refinement, and sales of aggregated feedstock and re-refined products to end users. We operate in three segments:
(1) Black Oil,
(2) Refining and Marketing, and
(3) Recovery.
We currently provide our services in 15 states, primarily in the Gulf Coast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. For the rolling twelve-month period ending December 31, 2021, we aggregated approximately 87.5 million gallons of used motor oil and other petroleum by-product feedstocks and managed the re-refining of approximately 79.7 million gallons of used motor oil with our proprietary TCEP, VGO and Base Oil processes.
Our Black Oil segment collects and purchases used motor oil directly from third-party generators, aggregates used motor oil from an established network of local and regional collectors, and sells used motor oil to our customers for use as a feedstock or replacement fuel for industrial burners. We operate a refining facility that uses our proprietary TCEP and we also utilize third-party processing facilities. TCEP’s original purpose was to re-fine used oil into marine cutterstock; however, in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, that use ceased to be economically accretive, and instead, we operated TCEP for the purposes of pre-treating our used motor oil feedstock prior to shipping to our facility in Marrero, Louisiana. During the fourth quarter of 2019, the original purpose of TCEP once again became economically viable and at that time we switched to using TCEP to re-fine used oil into marine cutterstock; provided that with the decline in oil prices and challenges in obtaining feedstock during early 2020, we switched back to using TCEP for the purposes of pre-treating our used motor oil feedstock prior to shipping to our facility in Marrero, Louisiana, and continuing through the filing date of this report.
We also operate a facility in Marrero, Louisiana, which facility re-refines used motor oil and also produces VGO and own 85% of an entity which owns a re-refining complex in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, which we call our Myrtle Grove facility.
Our Refining and Marketing segment aggregates and manages the re-refinement of used motor oil and other petroleum by-products and sells the re-refined products to end customers. In addition, we are distributing refined motor fuels such as gasoline, blended gasoline products and diesel used as engine fuels, to third party customers who typically resell these products to retailers and end consumers.
Our Recovery segment includes a generator solutions company for the proper recovery and management of hydrocarbon streams as well as metals which includes transportation and marine salvage services throughout the Gulf Coast.
Black Oil Segment
Our Black Oil segment is engaged in operations across the entire used motor oil recycling value chain including collection, aggregation, transportation, storage, refinement, and sales of aggregated feedstock and re-refined products to end users. We collect and purchase used oil directly from generators such as oil change service stations, automotive repair shops, manufacturing facilities, petroleum refineries, and petrochemical manufacturing operations. We own a fleet of 43 collection vehicles, which routinely visit generators to collect and purchase used motor oil. We also aggregate used oil from a diverse network of approximately 50 suppliers who operate similar collection businesses to ours.
We manage the logistics of transport, storage and delivery of used oil to our customers. We own a fleet of 30 transportation trucks and more than 80 aboveground storage tanks with over 8.6 million gallons of storage capacity. These assets are used by both the Black Oil segment and the Refining and Marketing segment. In addition, we also utilize third parties for the transportation and storage of used oil feedstocks. Typically, we sell used oil to our customers in bulk to ensure efficient delivery by truck, rail, or barge. In many cases, we have contractual purchase and sale agreements with our suppliers and customers, respectively. We believe these contracts are beneficial to all parties involved because it ensures that a minimum
volume is purchased from collectors and generators, a minimum volume is sold to our customers, and we are able to minimize our inventory risk by a spread between the costs to acquire used oil and the revenues received from the sale and delivery of used oil. Also, as discussed above under “Description of Business Activities”, from time to time, when market conditions warrant (i.e., when oil prices are sufficiently high), we have used our proprietary TCEP technology to re-refine used oil into marine fuel cutterstock. Due to the decline in oil prices and challenges in obtaining feedstock during the first quarter of 2020, we have used TCEP solely to pre-treat our used motor oil feedstock prior to shipping to our facility in Marrero, Louisiana. In addition, at our Marrero, Louisiana facility, we produce a Vacuum Gas Oil (VGO) product that is sold to refineries as well as to the marine fuels market. At our Columbus, Ohio facility (Heartland Petroleum), the ownership of 65% of which was transferred to Tensile in connection with the Heartland SPV (discussed above), effective January 1, 2020, we produce a base oil product that is sold to lubricant packagers and distributors.
Refining and Marketing Segment
Our Refining and Marketing segment is engaged in the aggregation of feedstock, re-refining it into higher value end products, and selling these products to our customers, as well as related transportation and storage activities. We aggregate a diverse mix of feedstocks including used motor oil, petroleum distillates, transmix and other off-specification chemical products. These feedstock streams are purchased from pipeline operators, refineries, chemical processing facilities and third-party providers, and are also transferred from our Black Oil segment. We have a toll-based processing agreement in place with Monument Chemical Port Arthur, LLC (formerly with KMTEX) to re-refine feedstock streams, under our direction, into various end products that we specify. Monument Chemical uses industry standard processing technologies to re-refine our feedstocks into pygas, gasoline blendstock and marine fuel cutterstock. We sell all of our re-refined products directly to end-customers or to processing facilities for further refinement. In addition, we are distributing refined motor fuels such as gasoline, blended gasoline products and diesel used as engine fuels, to third party customers who typically resell these products to retailers and end consumers.
Recovery Segment
The Company’s Recovery Segment includes a generator solutions company for the proper recovery and management of hydrocarbon streams, the sales and marketing of Group III base oils through January 2021, and other petroleum-based products, together with the recovery and processing of metals.
Thermal Chemical Extraction Process
We own the intellectual property for our patented TCEP. TCEP is a technology which utilizes thermal and chemical dynamics to extract impurities from used oil which increases the value of the feedstock. We intend to continue to develop our TCEP technology and design with the goal of producing additional re-refined products, which may include lubricating base oil.
TCEP differs from conventional re-refining technologies, such as vacuum distillation and hydrotreatment, by relying more heavily on chemical processes to remove impurities rather than temperature and pressure. Therefore, the capital requirements to build a TCEP plant are typically much less than a traditional re-refinery because large feed heaters, vacuum distillation columns, and a hydrotreating unit are not required. The end product currently produced by TCEP is used as fuel oil cutterstock. Conventional re-refineries produce lubricating base oils or product grades slightly lower than base oil that can be used as industrial fuels or transportation fuel blendstocks.
We currently estimate the cost to construct a new, fully-functional, commercial facility using our TCEP technology, with annual processing capacity of between 25 and 50 million gallons at another location would be approximately $10 - $15 million, which could fluctuate based on throughput capacity. The facility infrastructure would require additional capitalized expenditures which would depend on the location and site specifics of the facility. Our TCEP technology converts feedstock into a low sulfur marine fuel that can be sold into the new 0.5% low sulfur marine fuel specification mandated under International Maritime Organization (IMO) rules which went into effect on January 1, 2020. As described above, due to the decline in oil prices and challenges in obtaining feedstock in the early part of 2020, we are currently using TCEP for the purposes of pre-treating our used motor oil feedstock prior to shipping to our facility in Marrero, Louisiana. We have no current plans to construct any other TCEP facilities at this time.
Organizational Structure
The following chart reflects our current organization structure, including significant subsidiaries (all of which are wholly-owned, except as discussed below):
Our Industry
The used oil recycling industry is comprised of multiple participants including generators, collectors, aggregators, processors, re-refiners and end users. Generators are entities that generate used oil through conducting oil changes on consumer and commercial vehicles, or machinery and heavy equipment. Collectors are intermediaries who collect used oil from generators as an on-site removal service and transport to aggregators, processors and re-refiners. The collection market is highly fragmented and industry estimates indicate that there are 350-400 used oil collection companies in the United States. Aggregators are specialized businesses that purchase used oil and petroleum by-products from multiple collectors and sell and deliver it as feedstock to processors and re-refiners. Processors and re-refineries, utilize a processing technology to convert the used oil or petroleum by-product into a higher-value feedstock or end-product. Used oil is any oil that has been refined from crude oil or any synthetic oil that has been used and, as a result of such use, is contaminated by physical or chemical impurities. Physical impurities could include contamination by metal shavings, sawdust, or dirt. Chemical impurities could include contamination by water or benzene, or degradation of lubricating additives.
Conventional re-refineries typically employ vacuum distillation and hydrotreating processes to transform used oil into various grades of base oil. Vacuum distillation is a process that removes emulsified contaminated water and separates used oil into vacuum gas oil and light fuels. The vacuum gas oil is then hydrotreated to produce lubricating base oil. Hydrotreating is a process which combines chemical catalysts, heat, and pressure to remove impurities such as sulfur, chlorine, and oxygen and to stabilize the end product. A re-refined lubricating base oil is of equal quality and will last as long as a virgin base oil. In addition, other re-refining processes transform used oil into product grades slightly lower than base oil. These products, along with vacuum gas oil and the end product produced by TCEP, are commonly referred to as intermediate products and are used as industrial fuels or transportation fuel blendstocks.
The petroleum by-products industry is driven by the financial and environmental benefits of recycling, as well as by the amount of petroleum by-product generated each year. Used oil is typically used: (a) as an industrial burner oil, where the used oil is dewatered, filtered and demineralized for use in industrial burners; (b) as hydraulic oil; (c) as bitumen-based products (for road surfacing and roofing); (d) as an additive in manufactured products; or (e) as a re-refined base oil for use as a lubricant, hydraulic or transformer oil - which is how the Company uses such used oil. The market value of recycled oil is based, in large part, on its end use. In general, the market price for used motor oil that is burned as an industrial fuel is driven by the cost of competing fuels, including natural gas, while the market value of re-refined used motor oil is driven by competing petroleum products.
The extent to which the financial benefits of recycling used oil are realized is driven by operating efficiency in aggregating, storing and transporting used oil supply; the extent to which the used oil is re-refined; and to the price spread between natural gas and crude oil.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Report to Congress dated December 2020, entitled, “Used Oil Management and Beneficial Reuse Options to Address Section 1: Energy Savings from Lubricating Oil Public Law 115-345” (the “U.S. Dept. of Energy Report”), of the annual total U.S. lubricant demand, an average of between 900 million and 1 billion gallons of used oil is collected commercially, while approximately from 200 million gallons of used oil is improperly disposed of into the environment. Of the 900 million and 1 billion gallons collected, approximately 287 million gallons are re-refined into lubricating base oils, approximately 195 million gallons are re-refined into intermediate products with grades slightly lower than base oil, approximately 380 million gallons are burned as an industrial fuel source, approximately 50 million gallons are blended into High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO); and roughly 20 million gallons of used oil is exported—either directly or as-is, or indirectly through blending into HSFO for export to non-marine utility and industrial plants overseas (all numbers are estimates as of 2017). Also pursuant to the U.S. Dept. of Energy Report, each year the U.S. is estimated to generate 425 million used automotive oil filters containing approximately 160,000 tons of steel units and 18 million gallons of oil, , according to a January 2002 feasibility study prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy. We expect that the amount of used oil being re-refined into base oils and intermediate products in the U.S. will stay relatively flat in 2022.
As of the date of this Report, the approximate market price for used oil at the generator level is approximately $0.30 to $0.40 per gallon (which is required to be paid to acquire such used oil), the approximate market price of intermediate re-refined products ranges from $1.85 to $2.00 per gallon, and the approximate price for lubricating base oil ranges from $3.75 to $4.00 per gallon, representing a U.S. market size of approximately $2.0 - $2.75 billion for recycled oil.
As with the financial benefits of recycling used oil, the environmental benefits are also driven by its end use. Environmental regulations prohibit the disposal of used oil in sewers or landfills because used motor oil is insoluble and contains heavy metals and other contaminants that make it detrimental to the environment if improperly disposed; one gallon of used oil can contaminate up to 1 million gallons of fresh drinking water. Additionally, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, it takes 42 gallons of crude oil, but only 1 gallon of used oil, to produce 2.5 quarts of new, high-quality lubricating oil. Compared to burning used oil as an industrial fuel, re-refined oil significantly reduces the amount of toxic heavy metals and greenhouse gases and other pollutants introduced into the environment. In addition, the use of re-refined motor oil conserves petroleum that would have otherwise been refined into virgin base stock oil.
We believe that the used oil recycling market has significant growth potential through increasing the percentage of recycled oil that is re-refined rather than burned as a low-cost industrial fuel. We believe that the financial and environmental benefits of re-refining used oil combined with consumer and commercial demand for high-quality, environmentally responsible products will drive growth in demand for re-refined oil and re-refining capacity in the United States. Furthermore, we believe that increasing consumer and industrial awareness of the environmental impact of improperly disposing used oil may drive additional market growth as approximately 200 million gallons of used oil generated each year are improperly disposed rather than recycled.
Used motor oil is burned by various users such as asphalt companies, paper mills and industrial facilities as an alternative to their base fuels, to offset operational costs. Therefore, the commercial price of used oil is typically slightly less than the base fuels for the burners. Similarly, re-refined oil is used as a substitute for various virgin petroleum-based products with pricing driven by the market price of crude oil. Since there is not an active marketplace for used and re-refined oil prices, we use the prices of natural gas and crude as benchmarks in our industry. Typically, the spread between crude and natural gas prices is an accurate proxy for the potential incremental value of re-refining used oil.
Our Competitive Strengths
Large, Diversified Feedstock Supply Network.
We obtain our feedstock supply through a combination of direct collection activities and purchases from third-party suppliers. We believe our balanced direct and indirect approach to obtaining feedstock is highly advantageous because it enables us to maximize total supply and reduce our reliance on any single supplier and the risk of not fulfilling our minimum feedstock sale quotas. We collect feedstock directly from over 4,500 generators including oil change service stations, automotive repair shops, manufacturing facilities, petroleum refineries and petrochemical manufacturing operations, as well as brokers. We aggregate used oil from a diverse network of approximately 50 suppliers who operate similar collection businesses to ours.
Strategic Relationships.
We have established relationships with key feedstock suppliers, storage and transportation providers, oil re-refineries, and end-user customers. We believe our relationships with these parties are strong, in part due to our high level of customer service, competitive prices, and our ability to contract (for purchase or sale) long-term, minimum monthly feedstock commitments. We believe that our strategic relationships could lead to contract extensions and expanded feedstock supply or purchase agreements.
Proprietary Technology.
Our proprietary TCEP technology produces a fuel oil cutterstock for the fuel oil market or a refining feedstock. We believe we are able to build TCEP re-refining facilities at a significantly lower cost than conventional re-refineries. We estimate the cost to build a TCEP plant with capacity of up to 50 million gallons at approximately $10 - $15 million, whereas a similar sized base oil plant with vacuum distillation towers and a hydrotreater can cost in excess of $50 million. Notwithstanding the lower cost of TCEP plants, with volume of feedstock during 2021, we do not believe that it makes economic sense to expand our TCEP technology at this time due to the fixed operating costs involved.
Logistics Capabilities.
We have extensive expertise and experience managing and operating feedstock supply chain logistics and multimodal transportation services for customers who purchase our feedstock or higher-value, re-refined products. We believe that our scale, infrastructure, expertise, and contracts enable us to cost effectively transport product and consistently meet our customers’ volume, quality and delivery schedule requirements.
Scale of Operations.
We believe that the size and scale of our operations is a significant competitive advantage when competing for new business and maintaining existing customer relationships. Price is one of the main competitive factors in the feedstock collection industry and because we are able to effectively leverage our fixed operating costs and economies of scale, we believe that our prices are competitive. Through our network of suppliers and customers, we aggregate a large amount of feedstock, which enables us to enter into minimum purchase and sale contracts as well as accept large volume orders year-round. We believe this is a competitive advantage because it minimizes our suppliers’ inventory risk and ensures our customers’ minimum order volumes are satisfied. In addition, we believe our end customers prefer to work with an exclusive supplier rather than manage multiple customer relationships.
Diversified End Product Sales.
We believe that the diversity of the products we sell reduces our overall risk and exposure to price fluctuations. Prices for petroleum-based products can be impacted significantly by supply and demand fluctuations which are not correlated with general commodity price changes. For instance, in a rising commodity price environment with a significant over-supply of base oil, the price of base oil may fall precipitously while the price of gasoline increases; and in a falling commodity price environment with a shortage of base oil, the price of base oil may increase precipitously while the price of gasoline falls. We offer a diversified product mix consisting of used motor oil, fuel oil, pygas, and gasoline blendstock. We can also control our mix of end products by choosing to either resell collected feedstock or re-refine it into a higher-value product.
Management Team.
We are led by a management team with expertise in petroleum recycling, finance, operations, and re-refinement technology. Each member of our senior management team has more than 22 years of industry experience. We believe the strength of our management team will help our success in the marketplace.
Our Business Strategy
The principal elements of our strategy include:
Pursue Strategic Acquisitions and Partnerships
We plan to grow market share by consolidating feedstock supply through partnering with or acquiring collection and aggregation assets. Our executive team has a proven ability to evaluate resource potential and identify acquisition targets. The
acquisitions and/or partnerships could increase our revenue and provide better control over the quality and quantity of feedstock available for resale and/or upgrading as well as providing additional locations for the potential future implementation of TCEP (assuming future favorable market conditions). We also intend to diversify our revenue by acquiring complementary recycling service businesses, refining assets and technologies, and other vertically integrated businesses or assets. We believe we can realize synergies on acquisitions by leveraging our customer and vendor relationships, infrastructure, and personnel, and by eliminating duplicative overhead costs.
During the second quarter 2021, we announced the entry into an agreement to acquire the Mobile refinery from Equilon Enterprises LLC d/b/a Shell Oil Products US, Shell Oil Company and Shell Chemical LP, subsidiaries of Shell plc ("Shell"), subsidiaries of royal Dutch Shell plc. Upon completion of the acquisition, Vertex intends to initiate two capital projects; (1) modify the Mobile refinery's hydrocracking unit to produce renewable diesel fuel on a standalone basis; and (2) development of a pre-treatment facility intended to provide for increased renewable feedstock optionality.
Expand Feedstock Supply Volume
We intend to expand our feedstock supply volume by growing our collection and aggregation operations. We plan to increase the volume of feedstock we collect directly by developing new relationships with generators and working to displace incumbent collectors; increasing the number of collection personnel, vehicles, equipment, and geographical areas we serve; and acquiring collectors in new or existing territories. We intend to increase the volume of feedstock we aggregate from third-party collectors by expanding our existing relationships and developing new vendor relationships. We believe that our ability to acquire large feedstock volumes will help to cultivate new vendor relationships because collectors often prefer to work with a single, reliable customer rather than manage multiple relationships and the uncertainty of excess inventory.
Broaden Existing Customer Relationships and Secure New Large Accounts
We intend to broaden our existing customer relationships by increasing sales of used motor oil and re-refined products to these accounts. In some cases, we may also seek to serve as our customers’ primary or exclusive supplier. We also believe that as we increase our supply of feedstock and re-refined products, we will have the opportunity to secure larger customer accounts that require a partner who can consistently deliver high volumes.
Re-Refine Higher Value End Products
We intend to develop, lease, or acquire technologies to re-refine our feedstock supply into higher value end products, including assets or technologies which complement TCEP. From the third quarter of 2015 to the fourth quarter of 2019, we utilized TCEP to pre-treat our used motor oil feedstocks prior to shipping to our facility in Marrero, Louisiana; however, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019, we once again began using TCEP for the purpose of producing finished cutterstock until the first quarter of 2020, when such use became no longer economical due to falling oil prices, and we once again switched to using TCEP to pre-treat used motor oil feedstocks. We hope that continued improvements in our technologies and investments in additional technologies will enable us to upgrade feedstock into higher value end products, such as fuels and lubricating base oil that command higher market prices.
Products and Services
We generate substantially all of our revenue from the sale of eight categories of product and services. All of these products are commodities that are subject to various degrees of product quality and performance specifications.
Base Oil
Base oil is an oil to which other oils or substances are added to produce a lubricant. Typically, the main substance in lubricants, base oils, are refined from crude oil.
Pygas
Pygas, or pyrolysis gasoline, is a product that can be blended with gasoline as an octane booster or that can be distilled and separated into its components, including benzene and other hydrocarbons.
Industrial Fuel
Industrial fuel is a distillate fuel oil which is typically a blend of lower quality fuel oils. It can include diesel fuels and fuel oils such as No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 diesel fuels that are historically used for space heating and power generation. Industrial fuel is typically a fuel with low viscosity, as well as low sulfur, ash, and heavy metal content, making it an ideal blending agent.
Distillates
Distillates are finished fuel products such as gasoline and diesel fuels.
Oil Collection Services
Oil collection services include the collection, handling, treatment and sales of used motor oil and products which include used motor oil (such as oil filters) which are collected from our customers.
Metals
Metals consist of recoverable ferrous and non-ferrous recyclable metals from manufacturing and consumption. Scrap metal can be recovered from pipes, barges, boats, building supplies, surplus equipment, tanks, and other items consisting of metal composition. These materials are segregated, processed, cut-up and sent back to a steel mill for re-purposing.
Other re-refinery products
Other re-refinery products include the sales of asphalt, condensate, recovered products, and other petroleum products.
VGO/Marine fuel sales
VGO/Marine fuel sales relate to the sale of low sulfur fuel meeting the criteria for IMO 2020 compliant marine fuels.
The way that the product categories above fit into our three operating segments (1) Black Oil; (2) Refining and Marketing; and (3) Recovery, are indicated below:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Black Oil(1) | Refining and Marketing(2) | Recovery(3) |
Base oil | X | | X |
Pygas | | X | |
Industrial fuel | X | X | |
Distillates | | X | |
Oil collection services | X | | |
Metals | | | X |
Other re-refinery products | X | | X |
VGO/Marine fuel sales | X | | |
(1) As discussed in greater detail above under “Black Oil Segment”, the Black Oil segment consists primary of the sale of (a) petroleum products which include base oil and industrial fuels—which consist of used motor oils, cutterstock and fuel oil generated by our facilities; (b) oil collection services—which consist of used oil sales, burner fuel sales, antifreeze sales and service charges; (c) the sale of other re-refinery products including asphalt, condensate, recovered products, and used motor oil; (d) transportation revenues; and (e) the sale of VGO (vacuum gas oil)/marine fuel.
(2) As discussed in greater detail above under “Refining and Marketing Segment”, the Refining and Marketing segment consists primarily of the sale of pygas; industrial fuels, which are produced at a third-party facility (Monument Chemical); and distillates.
(3) As discussed in greater detail above under “Recovery Segment”, the Recovery segment consists primarily of revenues generated from the sale of ferrous and non-ferrous recyclable Metal(s) products that are recovered from manufacturing and consumption. It also includes revenues generated from trading/marketing of Group III Base Oils.
Suppliers
We conduct business with a number of used oil generators, as well as a large network of suppliers that collect used oil from used oil generators. In our capacity as a collector of used oil, we purchase feedstock from approximately 4,500 businesses, such as oil change service stations, automotive repair shops, manufacturing facilities, petroleum refineries, and petrochemical manufacturing operations, which generate used oil through their operations.
In our capacity as a broker of used oil, we work with approximately 50 suppliers that collect used oil from businesses such as those mentioned above.
Customers
The Black Oil segment sells used oil, VGO, base oil and other petroleum feedstocks to numerous customers in the Gulf Coast and Midwest regions of the United States. The primary customers of its products are packagers, distributers, blenders and industrial burners, as described above as well as re-refiners of the feedstock. The Black Oil segment is party to various feedstock sale agreements whereby we sell used oil feedstock to third parties. The agreements provide for us to sell certain minimum gallons of used oil feedstock per month at a price per barrel equal to our direct costs, plus certain commissions, based on the quality and quantity of the used oil we supply.
The Recovery segment does not rely solely on contracts, but mainly on the spot market as well as a strategic network of customers and vendors to support the purchase and sale of its products which are commodities. It also relies on project-based work which it bids on from time to time of which there is no guarantee or assurance of repeat business.
KMTEX/Monument Chemical Tolling Agreement
On or around April 17, 2013, and effective June 1, 2012, we entered into a Tolling Agreement with KMTEX, Ltd. (“KMTEX” and the agreement as amended to date, the “Tolling Agreement”). The Company was previously party to a tolling agreement with KMTEX which expired pursuant to its terms on June 30, 2010, provided that the parties had continued to operate under the terms of the expired agreement until their entry into the April 2013 Tolling Agreement.
On December 14, 2016, and effective January 1, 2017, we entered into a Third Amendment to Processing Agreement with KMTEX. The amendment formally extended the date of the initial term of the Tolling Agreement to December 31, 2018, provided that if not terminated by either party by written notice to the other, received within ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the initial term, as amended (or any Extension Term, defined below), the agreement automatically renews for a successive one (1) year period (an “Extension Term”). The Tolling Agreement can be automatically extended for up to six (6) Extension Terms from the end of the extended initial term. The amendment also updated the pricing terms of the agreement. As the Tolling Agreement, as amended, was not terminated by either party within 90 days of December 31, 2020, the term of the Tolling Agreement automatically extended for an additional one (1) year period through December 31, 2021, and such agreement could be extended for up to three (3) additional one (1) year extensions.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, Monument Chemical Port Arthur, LLC. ("Monument Chemical") acquired KMTEX LLC. Effective January 1, 2022, we entered into a Custom Chemical Manufacturing Agreement with Monument Chemical, which replaced and superseded the prior agreement we had with KMTEX. Pursuant to that agreement, Monument Chemical agreed to provide us custom chemical manufacturing and related services in Port Arthur, Texas. The agreement has a term of one year (automatically renewable for additional one year terms thereof, subject to the termination provisions of the agreement) and requires us to pay certain per pound processing fees to Monument Chemical, as well as certain other fees and charges, as well as certain tank rental fees. The agreement contains certain customary confidentiality, indemnification, limitation of liability and insurance requirements, and customary representations and warranties of the parties.
Swap Agreement and Base Oil Agreement
On January 29, 2016, we (through Vertex Operating) and Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc. (“Safety-Kleen”) entered into a Swap Agreement (the “Swap Agreement”). The Swap Agreement has a term of five years, beginning January 29, 2016, and automatically renews for additional one-year terms thereafter unless either party provides the other 90 days prior written notice of their intention not to renew prior to any automatic extension. Pursuant to the Swap Agreement, we and Safety-Kleen agreed to swap certain quantities of used oil feedstock (the agreement includes monthly maximums, quarterly minimums and maximums, and annual maximums of used oil feedstock volume required to be ‘swapped’) between Safety-Kleen's plant in Nevada and our Marrero, Louisiana plant and/or the Cedar Marine Terminal in Baytown, Texas, on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis, with any shortfall in the amount of used oil feedstock ‘swapped’ on a quarterly basis, being paid for in cash based on a discount to U.S. Platts mid-range per gallon rate for Gulf Coast No. 6, 3% oil (the “Platts”). The Swap Agreement could be terminated with 30 days prior written notice in the event either party failed to meet the specifications for oil feedstock set forth in the agreement, a party failed to deliver the required minimum quarterly volumes of oil feedstock during any three consecutive quarters, or a party materially breached a term of the agreement. Effective January 29, 2021, the Swap Agreement initial term expired and the agreement was not renewed.
Additionally, we (through Vertex Operating) and Safety-Kleen also entered into a Base Oil Agreement on January 29, 2016 (the “Base Oil Agreement”). The Base Oil Agreement provides for us to purchase from Safety-Kleen, and Safety-Kleen to sell to us, certain required quantities of base oils and other finished lubricants described in greater detail in the Base Oil Agreement (the “Base Oil”)(the agreement contains quarterly and annual maximum volumes of Base Oil to be acquired by us). The agreement has a term of five years and automatically renews for additional one-year terms thereafter unless either party provides the other 90 days prior written notice of their intention not to renew prior to any automatic extension. Effective January 29, 2021, the Base Oil Agreement initial term expired and the agreement was not renewed.
Competition
The industrial waste and brokerage of petroleum products industries are highly competitive. There are numerous small to mid-size firms that are engaged in the collection, transportation, treatment and brokerage of virgin and used petroleum products. Competitors include, but are not limited to: Safety-Kleen, Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clean Harbors, Inc.), Rio Energy, Inc., Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc., and Origin Americas LLC (formerly Flex Oil Service, LLC). These competitors actively seek to purchase feedstock from local, regional and industrial collectors, refineries, pipelines and other sources. Competition for these feedstocks may result in increasing prices to obtain used motor oil and transmix feedstocks critical to the success of our business. In order to remain competitive, we must control costs and maintain strong relationships with our feedstock suppliers. Our network of generators and collectors minimizes our reliance on any single supplier. A portion of the sales of the collected and aggregated used motor oil product are based on supply contracts which include a range of prices which change based on feedstock quality specifications and volumes. This pricing structure helps to insulate us from inventory risk by ensuring a spread between costs to acquire used motor oil feedstock and the revenues received for delivery of the feedstock. We believe that price and service are the main competitive factors in the used motor oil collection industry. We believe that our ability to accept and transport large volumes of oil year round gives us an advantage over many of our competitors. In addition, we believe that our storage capacity and ability to process the streams of products we receive as well as our ability to transport the end product by barge, rail and truck provide further advantages over many of our competitors.
Employees
The Company works diligently to attract the best talent from a diverse range of sources in order to meet the current and future demands of our business. We have established relationships with trade schools, world-class universities, professional associations and industry groups to proactively attract talent.
We have a strong employee value proposition that leverages our unique culture, collaborative working environment, shared sense of purpose, desire to do the right thing and ground-breaking work to attract talent to our Company. Although we have a broad footprint in our business, our people feel like they are amongst friends and can be themselves. We empower them to find new and better ways of doing things and the scale of our business means that careers can develop in exciting and unexpected directions.
In 2021, we hired 70 new employees at our Company. When we hire talent, they tend to stay at the Company. The average employee has 5.85 years of service. As of February 21, 2022, we employed 282 full-time employees. We believe that our relations with our employees are good.
Seasonality
The industrial hydrocarbon recovery business is seasonal to the extent that it is dependent on streams from seasonal industries. For example, asphalt plants burn recycled waste oil in their process, placing pricing and supply availability constraints on the industry during the good weather construction and road building seasons. In our current markets, road paving typically occurs from late spring to early fall. Therefore, it is somewhat easier to procure certain waste streams during winter months when competition for used motor oil feedstock is historically not as strong. Currently we are seeing increased demand for used motor oil feedstocks throughout the year due to the addition of re-refining technologies in the marketplace.
Governmental Regulation, Including Environmental Regulation and Climate Change
Our operations are subject to stringent United States federal, state and local laws and regulations concerning the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to health and safety or the protection of the environment. Additional laws and regulations, or changes in the interpretations of existing laws and regulations, that affect our business and operations may be adopted, which may in turn impact our financial condition.
Additionally, the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Coast Guard and Homeland Security as well as various federal, state, local and foreign agencies exercise broad powers over our transportation operations, generally governing such activities as authorization to engage in motor carrier operations, safety and permits to conduct transportation business. We may also become subject to new or more restrictive regulations that the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency or other authorities impose, including regulations relating to engine exhaust emissions, the hours of service that our drivers may provide in any one time-period, security and other matters.
Our compliance challenges arise from various legislative and regulatory bodies influenced by political, environmental, health and safety concerns.
For example, changes in federal regulations relating to the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether and new sulfur limitations for product shipped in domestic pipelines resulted in tightened specifications of gasoline blendstock that we were refining, causing a corresponding decrease in revenue and gross margin growth during 2016, as compared to prior years. This change in regulation, as well as other emission-related regulations, had a material impact on the entire petroleum industry, and we adapted and managed our operations by finding materials better suited to comply with these regulations. As such, it is possible that future changes in federal regulations could have a material adverse effect on our results from operations.
We must also obtain and maintain a range of federal, state and local permits for our various logistical needs as well as our planned industrial processes.
The following is a summary of the more significant existing health, safety and environmental laws and regulations to which our operations are subject.
Hazardous Substances and Waste
The United States Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended, referred to as “CERCLA” or the “Superfund” law, and comparable state laws impose liability without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct on certain defined persons, including current and prior owners or operators of a site where a release of hazardous substances occurred and entities that disposed or arranged for the disposal of the hazardous substances found at the site. Under CERCLA, these “responsible persons” may be liable for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances, for damages to natural resources and for the costs of certain health studies.
In the course of our operations, we occasionally generate materials that are considered “hazardous substances” and, as a result, may incur CERCLA liability for cleanup costs. Also, claims may be filed for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of hazardous substances or other pollutants. We also generate solid wastes that are subject to the requirements of the United States Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, or “RCRA,” and comparable state statutes.
Although we use operating and disposal practices that are standard in the industry, hydrocarbons or other wastes may have been released at properties owned or leased by us now or in the past, or at other locations where these hydrocarbons and wastes were taken for treatment or disposal. Under CERCLA, RCRA and analogous state laws, we could be required to clean up contaminated property (including contaminated groundwater), or to perform remedial activities to prevent future contamination.
Air Emissions
The Clean Air Act, as amended, or “CAA,” and similar state laws and regulations restrict the emission of air pollutants and also impose various monitoring and reporting requirements. These laws and regulations may require us to obtain approvals or permits for construction, modification or operation of certain projects or facilities and may require use of emission controls.
Global Warming and Climate Change
While we do not believe our operations raise climate change issues different from those generally raised by the commercial use of fossil fuels, legislation or regulatory programs that restrict greenhouse gas emissions in areas where we conduct business or that would require reducing emissions from our truck fleet could increase our costs.
Water Discharges
We operate facilities that are subject to requirements of the United States Clean Water Act, as amended, or “CWA,” and analogous state laws for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. Among other things, these laws impose restrictions and controls on the discharge of pollutants, including into navigable waters as well as the protection of drinking water sources. Spill prevention, control and counter-measure requirements under the CWA require implementation of measures to help prevent the contamination of navigable waters in the event of a hydrocarbon spill. Other requirements for the prevention of spills are established under the United States Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as amended, or “OPA”, which amended the CWA and applies to owners and operators of vessels, including barges, offshore platforms and certain onshore facilities. Under OPA, regulated parties are strictly liable for oil spills and must establish and maintain evidence of financial responsibility sufficient to cover liabilities related to an oil spill for which such parties could be statutorily responsible.
State Environmental Regulations
Our operations involve the storage, handling, transport and disposal of bulk waste materials, some of which contain oil, contaminants and other regulated substances. Various environmental laws and regulations require prevention, and where necessary, cleanup of spills and leaks of such materials and some of our operations must obtain permits that limit the discharge of materials. Failure to comply with such environmental requirements or permits may result in fines and penalties, remediation orders and revocation of permits. Specifically, in Texas, we are subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Texas Railroad Commission and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, including those designed to protect the environment and monitor compliance with water quality. In Louisiana, we are subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources as to environmental and water quality issues, and the Louisiana Public Service Commission as to allocation of intrastate routes and territories for waste water transportation. We believe that we are in compliance with regulations in the states where we conduct business.
Occupational Safety and Health Act
We are subject to the requirements of the United States Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended, or “OSHA,” and comparable state laws that regulate the protection of employee health and safety. OSHA’s hazard communication standard requires that information about hazardous materials used or produced in our operations be maintained and provided to employees, state and local government authorities and citizens.
Transportation Regulations
We may conduct interstate motor carrier (trucking) operations that are subject to federal regulation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or “FMCSA,” a unit within the United States Department of Transportation, or “USDOT.” The FMCSA publishes and enforces comprehensive trucking safety regulations, including rules on commercial driver licensing, controlled substance testing, medical and other qualifications for drivers, equipment maintenance, and drivers’ hours of service, referred to as “HOS.” The agency also performs certain functions relating to such matters as motor carrier registration (licensing), insurance, and extension of credit to motor carriers’ customers. Another unit within USDOT publishes and enforces regulations regarding the transportation of hazardous materials, or “hazmat.”
In December 2010, the FMCSA launched a program called Compliance, Safety, Accountability, or “CSA,” in an effort to improve commercial truck and bus safety. A component of CSA is the Safety Measurement System, or “SMS,” which analyzes all safety violations recorded by federal and state law enforcement personnel to determine a carrier’s safety performance. The SMS is intended to allow the FMCSA to identify carriers with safety issues and intervene to address those
problems. Although our trucking operations currently hold a “Satisfactory” safety rating from FMCSA (the best rating available), the agency has announced a future intention to revise its safety rating system by making greater use of SMS data in lieu of on-site compliance audits of carriers. We cannot predict the effect such a revision may have on our safety rating.
Our intrastate trucking operations are also subject to various state environmental transportation regulations discussed under “Environmental Regulations” above. Federal law also allows states to impose insurance and safety requirements on motor carriers conducting intrastate business within their borders, and to collect a variety of taxes and fees on an apportioned basis reflecting miles actually operated within each state.
HOS regulations establish the maximum number of hours that a commercial truck driver may work. A FMCSA rule reducing the number of hours a commercial truck driver may work each day became effective in February 2012 and the compliance date of selected provisions was July 1, 2013. The rule, which is intended to reduce the risk of fatigue and fatigue-related crashes and harm to driver health, prohibits a driver from driving if more than eight hours have passed since the driver’s last off-duty or sleeper berth break of at least 30 minutes and limits the use of the restart to once a week, which, on average, cut the maximum work week from 82 to 70 hours.
A new regulation primarily impacting our marine bunker fuel production is known as “IMO 2020”. On January 1, 2020, the International Maritime Organization (the "IMO") implemented a new regulation for a 0.50% global sulphur cap for marine fuels. Under the new global cap, ships that traverse the oceans will be required to use marine fuels with a sulphur content of no more than 0.50%, versus the prior limit of 3.50%, in an effort to reduce the amount of sulphur oxide and decrease pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the global shipping fleet.
Our Marrero facility produces and sells IMO 2020 compliant bunker fuel.
Inflation and Commodity Price Risk
We have seen increases in costs when comparing to the prior year as well as inflationary and supply chain pressures across our business in areas such as labor, transportation, supplies and overall energy related expenses. We purchase petroleum and petroleum by-products for consolidation and delivery, as well as for our own refining operations. By virtue of constant changes in the market value of petroleum products, we are exposed to fluctuations in both revenues and expenses. We are exposed to market risks related to the volatility in the price of crude oil, No. 6 Fuel Oil and refined petroleum products. To reduce the impact of price volatility on our results of operations and cash flows, we use commodity derivative instruments, such as futures and options. Our positions in commodity derivative instruments are monitored and managed on a daily basis to ensure compliance with our stated risk management policy that has been approved by our board of directors.
We primarily use commodity derivative instruments as economic hedges, which are not designated as hedging instruments, and we use fair value and cash flow hedges from time to time.
Our objectives for holding economic hedges are to (i) manage price volatility in certain feedstock and refined petroleum product inventories and fixed-price purchasing, and (ii) lock in the price of forecasted feedstock, refined petroleum product, and refined petroleum product sales at existing market prices.
The purchase of our used motor oil feedstock tends to track with natural gas pricing due to the market’s typical practice of substituting used motor oil for natural gas as a fuel source for various industrial processes. On the other hand, the prices of the products that may in the future be generated through the re-refining processes that we hope to develop are expected to track with market pricing for marine diesel and vacuum-gas oil. The recent rise in oil prices has increased the spread between the price of used motor oil, feedstock and re-refining end-products.
Intellectual Property
We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws in the United States and other jurisdictions as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect our proprietary technology, trade secrets, technical know-how and other proprietary information. We also enter into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees.
We have five patents registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office:
•“System For Making A Usable Hydrocarbon Product From Used Oil” (US #8,613,838 B2), which was granted on December 24, 2013.
•“Method for Making a Usable Hydrocarbon Product From Used Oil” (US #8,398,847 B2), which was granted on March 19, 2013.
•“System for producing an American Petroleum Institute Standards Group III Base Stock from vacuum gas oil” (US #10,421,916 B2), which was granted on September 24, 2019.
•“Method for producing an American Petroleum Institute Standards Group III Base Stock from vacuum gas oil” (US #10,287,515 B1), which was granted on May 14, 2019.
•“System for producing an American Petroleum Institute Standards Group III Base Stock from vacuum gas oil” (US #10,723,961 B2), which was granted on July 28, 2020
•“Process for recycling components of a confided space metal container” (US #10,421,196 B2), which was published February 18, 2021, and is still pending.
In addition, we have developed a website and have registered www.vertexenergy.com as our domain name, which contains information we do not desire to incorporate by reference herein.
Available Information
We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and are available for download, free of charge, soon after such reports are filed with or furnished to the SEC, on the “Investor Relations,” “SEC Filings” page of our website at www.vertexenergy.com. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC like us at http://www.sec.gov. Our internet address is www.vertexnergy.com. Information on our website is not part of this Report, and we do not desire to incorporate by reference such information herein. Copies of documents filed by us with the SEC are also available from us without charge, upon oral or written request to our Secretary, who can be contacted at the address and telephone number set forth on the cover page of this Report.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Summary Risk Factors
We face risks and uncertainties related to our business, many of which are beyond our control. In particular, risks associated with our business include:
•our need for additional funding, the availability of, and terms of, such funding, our ability to pay amounts due on such indebtedness, covenants of such indebtedness and security interests in connection therewith;
•risks associated with our outstanding Convertible Notes, including amounts owed, conversion rights associated therewith, dilution caused thereby, redemption obligations associated therewith and our ability to repay such facilities and amounts due thereon when due;
•risks associated with our outstanding preferred stock, including the liquidation preference associated therewith;
•risks related to our planned Mobile refinery acquisition, including funding required in connection therewith, our ability to obtain such funding, the terms of such funding, security interests in connection therewith, conditions to obtaining such funding, conditions to closing the acquisition of the Mobile refinery, costs associated therewith, costs of combining such operations with the Company, business uncertainties and termination rights associated therewith, including negative effects of such termination on the Company and its securities;
•risks associated with an offtake agreement which will only become effective upon the occurrence of certain events, including the planned Mobile acquisition and the completion of a capital project thereon, which much be completed timely;
•risks associated with a planned capital project associated with the Mobile refinery, including the timing thereof, costs associated therewith and our ability to generate revenues while such project is pending;
•the level of competition in our industry and our ability to compete;
•the supply and demand for oil and used oil, as well as used oil feed stocks and the price of oil and the feedstocks we use in our operations, process and sell;
•the availability of used oil feedstocks;
•our economics of using TCEP for its intended purpose;
•the outcome of natural disasters, hurricanes, floods, war, terrorist attacks, fires and other events negatively impacting our facilities and operations;
•our ability to respond to changes in our industry;
•the loss of key personnel or failure to attract, integrate and retain additional personnel;
•our ability to protect our intellectual property and not infringe on others’ intellectual property;
•our ability to scale our business;
•our ability to maintain supplier relationships and obtain adequate supplies of feedstocks;
•our ability to obtain and retain customers;
•our ability to produce our products at competitive rates;
•our ability to execute our business strategy in a very competitive environment;
•trends in, and the market for, the price of oil and gas and alternative energy sources;
•our ability to maintain our relationship with Bunker One (USA) Inc.;
•the impact of competitive services and products;
•our ability to integrate acquisitions;
•our ability to complete future acquisitions;
•our ability to maintain insurance;
•potential future litigation, judgments and settlements;
•risk of increased regulation of our operations and products and rules and regulations making our operations more costly or restrictive, including IMO 2020;
•changes in environmental and other laws and regulations and risks associated with such laws and regulations;
•economic downturns both in the United States and globally;
•negative publicity and public opposition to our operations;
•disruptions in the infrastructure that we and our partners rely on;
•an inability to identify attractive acquisition opportunities and successfully negotiate acquisition terms;
•our ability to effectively integrate acquired assets, companies, employees or businesses;
•liabilities associated with acquired companies, assets or businesses;
•unexpected changes in our anticipated capital expenditures resulting from unforeseen required maintenance, repairs, or upgrades;
•prohibitions on borrowing and other covenants of our future debt facilities;
•our ability to effectively manage our growth;
•the costs of required insurance, our lack of insurance, or claims not covered by our insurance;
•the redemptive rights of our agreements with partners;
•our lack of effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting;
•loss of our ability to use net operating loss carry-forwards;
•improvements in alternative energy sources and technologies;
•decreases in global demand for, and the price of, oil, due to COVID-19, state, federal and foreign responses thereto;
•our ability to acquire sufficient amounts of used oil feedstock through our collection routes, to produce finished products, and in the absence of such internally collected feedstocks, our ability to acquire third-party feedstocks on commercially reasonable terms;
•risks associated with COVID-19, the global efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, potential downturns in the U.S. and global economies due to COVID-19 and the efforts to stop the spread of the virus, and COVID-19 in general;
•the volatile nature of the market for our common stock;
•our ability to meet earnings guidance;
•anti-take-over rights in our governing documents;
• our ability to maintain the listing of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market; and
•dilution caused by new equity offerings, the exercise of warrants and/or the conversion of outstanding preferred stock or convertible notes.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider each of the following risk factors and all of the other information set forth in this filing, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes, before investing in our common stock. The following risks and the risks described elsewhere in this filing, including in the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” could materially harm our business, financial condition, future results and cash flow. If that occurs, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Relating to Our Outstanding Debt and Receivables, and Financial Statements
We will need to raise additional capital in the future and our ability to obtain the necessary funding is uncertain.
We will need to raise additional funding or refinance our existing debt to meet the requirements of the terms and conditions of our outstanding Convertible Notes, will need to raise additional funding through the Term Loan or otherwise to complete the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery, and will further need to raise additional funding to acquire the inventory required to be purchased in connection with the Mobile Refinery acquisition. If we raise additional funds in the future, by issuing equity securities, dilution to existing stockholders will result, and such securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of our common stock and preferred stock. If funding is insufficient at any time in the future and we are unable to generate sufficient revenue from new business arrangements, to repay our outstanding debts, complete planned acquisitions or operations, our results of operations and the value of our securities could be adversely affected. Future funding may not be available on favorable terms, if at all.
We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow to meet our debt service and other obligations due to events beyond our control.
Our ability to generate cash flows from operations, to make scheduled payments on or refinance our indebtedness and to fund working capital needs and planned capital expenditures will depend on our future financial performance and our ability to generate cash in the future. Our future financial performance will be affected by a range of economic, financial, competitive, business and other factors that we cannot control, such as general economic, legislative, regulatory and financial conditions in our industry, the economy generally, the price of oil and other risks described below. A significant reduction in operating cash flows resulting from changes in economic, legislative or regulatory conditions, increased competition or other events beyond our control could increase the need for additional or alternative sources of liquidity and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects and our ability to service our debt and other obligations. If we are unable to service our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs, we may be forced to adopt an alternative strategy that may include actions such as reducing or delaying capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our indebtedness, seeking additional capital, or any combination of the foregoing. If we raise additional debt, it would increase our interest expense, leverage, and our operating and financial costs. We cannot assure you that any of these alternative strategies could be affected on satisfactory terms, if at all, or that they would yield sufficient funds to make required payments on our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. Reducing or delaying capital expenditures or selling assets could delay future cash flows. In addition, the terms of current or existing or future debt agreements may restrict us from adopting any of these alternatives. We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations or that future borrowings will be available in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs.
If for any reason we are unable to meet our debt service and repayment obligations, we would be in default under the terms of the agreements governing our indebtedness, which would allow our creditors at that time to declare all of our outstanding indebtedness to be due and payable (subject to certain cure periods). This would likely in turn trigger cross-acceleration or cross-default rights between our applicable debt agreements. Under these circumstances, we could be forced to apply all of our available cash to repay our borrowings. In addition, the lenders under our future debt facilities or other secured indebtedness could seek to foreclose on our assets that are their collateral. If the amounts outstanding under our indebtedness were to be accelerated, or were the subject of foreclosure actions, our assets may not be sufficient to repay in full the money owed to the lenders or to our other debt holders.
Uncertainty and illiquidity in credit and capital markets can impair our ability to obtain credit and financing on acceptable terms and can adversely affect the financial strength of our business partners.
Our ability to obtain credit and capital depends in large measure on the state of the credit and capital markets, which is beyond our control. Our ability to access credit and capital markets may be restricted at a time when we would like, or need, access to those markets, which could constrain our flexibility to react to changing economic and business conditions. In addition, the cost and availability of debt and equity financing may be adversely impacted by unstable or illiquid market conditions. Protracted uncertainty and illiquidity in these markets also could have an adverse impact on our lenders, commodity hedging counterparties, or our customers, preventing them from meeting their obligations to us.
From time to time, our cash needs may exceed our internally generated cash flow, and our business could be materially and adversely affected if we are unable to obtain necessary funds from financing activities. From time to time, we may need to supplement cash generated from operations with proceeds from financing activities. Uncertainty and illiquidity in financial markets may materially impact the ability of the participating financial institutions to fund their commitments to us under our liquidity facilities. Accordingly, we may not be able to obtain the full amount of the funds available under our liquidity facilities to satisfy our cash requirements, and our failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial position.
We have substantial indebtedness and plan to acquire additional indebtedness in the future, which could adversely affect our financial flexibility and our competitive position. Our future failure to comply with financial covenants in our debt agreements could result in such debt agreements again being declared in default.
Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences and significant effects on our business. For example, it could:
•increase our vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions;
•require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to make payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes;
•restrict us from taking advantage of business opportunities;
•make it more difficult to satisfy our financial obligations;
•place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt obligations; and
•limit our ability to borrow additional funds for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our business strategy or other general corporate purposes on satisfactory terms or at all.
We may need to raise additional funding in the future to repay or refinance the Senior Notes, planned future borrowings and our accounts payable, and as such may need to seek additional debt or equity financing. Such additional financing may not be available on favorable terms, if at all. If debt financing is available and obtained, our interest expense may increase and we may be subject to the risk of default, depending on the terms of such financing. If equity financing is available and obtained it may result in our stockholders experiencing significant dilution. If such financing is unavailable, we may be forced to curtail our operations, which may cause the value of our securities to decline in value and/or become worthless.
The covenants in our future credit and loan agreements may restrict our ability to operate our business and might lead to a default under our credit agreements.
Our future debt agreements may limit, among other things, our ability to:
•incur or guarantee additional indebtedness;
•create liens;
•make payments to junior creditors;
•make investments;
•sell material assets;
•affect fundamental changes in our structure;
•make certain acquisitions;
•sell interests in our subsidiaries;
•consolidate or merge with or into other companies or transfer all or substantially all of our assets; and
•engage in transactions with affiliates.
As a result of these covenants and limitations, we may not be able to respond to changes in business and economic conditions and to obtain additional financing, if needed, and we may be prevented from engaging in transactions that might otherwise be beneficial to us. Our future debt facilities and loan agreements may require, us to maintain certain financial ratios and satisfy certain other financial condition tests. Our ability to meet these financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond our control, and we may not be able to meet those tests. The breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under our Senior Notes or future credit facilities. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under such Senior Notes or future debt facilities, including accrued interest or other obligations, to be immediately due and payable. If amounts outstanding under such Senior Notes or future debt facilities were to be accelerated, our assets might not be sufficient to repay in full that indebtedness and our other indebtedness.
Our Senior Notes also contain cross-default and cross-acceleration provisions as may our future debt facilities. Under these provisions, a default or acceleration under one instrument governing our debt will in the case of the Senior Notes and
may in the case of future indebtedness, constitute a default under our other debt instruments that contain cross-default and cross-acceleration provisions, which could result in the related debt and the debt issued under such other instruments becoming immediately due and payable. In such event, we would need to raise funds from alternative sources, which funds might not be available to us on favorable terms, on a timely basis or at all. Alternatively, such a default could require us to sell assets and otherwise curtail operations to pay our creditors. The proceeds of such a sale of assets, or curtailment of operations, might not enable us to pay all of our liabilities.
A prolonged period of weak, or a significant decrease in, industry activity and overall markets, due to COVID-19 or otherwise, may make it difficult to comply with our covenants and the other restrictions in the agreements governing our debt and current global and market conditions have increased the potential for that difficulty.
Our ability to service our indebtedness will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future.
Our ability to make payments on our current (including our Convertible Notes) and future indebtedness will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. Our ability to generate cash is subject to general economic and market conditions and financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. Our business may not generate sufficient cash to fund our working capital requirements, capital expenditures, debt service and other liquidity needs, which could result in our inability to comply with financial and other covenants contained in our debt agreements, our being unable to repay or pay interest on our indebtedness, and our inability to fund our other liquidity needs. If we are unable to service our debt obligations, fund our other liquidity needs and maintain compliance with our financial and other covenants, we could be forced to curtail our operations, our creditors could accelerate our indebtedness and exercise other remedies and we could be required to pursue one or more alternative strategies, such as selling assets or refinancing or restructuring our indebtedness. However, such alternatives may not be feasible or adequate.
We expect that our obligations under future planned debt facilities will be secured by a first priority security interest in substantially all of our assets.
We expect that our obligations under future planned debt facilities (including the Term Loan) will be secured by a first priority security interest in substantially all of our assets. Additionally, substantially all of our subsidiaries will be required to agree to guarantee our obligations under such agreements (including the Term Loan). As such, our creditors may enforce their security interests over our assets and/or our subsidiaries which secure the repayment of such obligations, take control of our assets and operations, force us to seek bankruptcy protection, or force us to curtail or abandon our current business plans and operations. If that were to happen, any investment in the Company could become worthless.
If we are unable to maintain a credit facility, it could have an adverse effect on our business.
We have historically been able to maintain lines of credit and other credit facilities. We rely heavily on the availability and utilization of these lines of credit and credit facilities for our operations and for the purchase of inventory. If we are unable to borrow funds under a credit facility or similar lending agreement in the future, we may be forced to curtail or abandon our current and/or future planned business operations.
A decline in expected profitability of the Company or any of our business segments could result in the impairment of assets and other long-lived assets.
We hold material amounts of long-lived assets on our balance sheet. A decline in expected profitability of one of our operating segments or a decline in the global economy, could call into question the recoverability of our long-lived tangible and intangible assets, and require us to write down or write off these assets. Such an occurrence could have a material adverse effect on our annual results of operations and financial position.
Changes in interest rates could adversely affect our earnings and/or cash flows.
Changes in interest rates could have a material adverse impact on our earnings and cash flows. Because our future notes payable are expected to have variable interest rates, our business results are expected to be subject to fluctuations in interest rates. Changes in market interest rates may influence our financing costs, returns on financial investments and the valuation of derivative contracts and could reduce our earnings and cash flows.
Risks Relating to Our Operations, Business and Industry
Epidemics, including the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus, and other crises have, and will in the future, negatively impact our business and results of operations.
Our revenues and cost of revenues are significantly impacted by fluctuations in commodity prices; decreases in commodity prices typically result in decreases in revenue and cost of revenues. Our revenue is to a large extent a function of the market discount we are able to obtain in purchasing feedstock, as well as how efficiently management conducts operations. Additionally, our sales volumes, and as a result, our results of operations and cash flows, significantly depend on the U.S. and to a lesser extent, worldwide demand for oil and used oil. As a result, pandemics, epidemics, and public health crises, which effect the U.S. and the world as a whole, and which result in travel disruptions, reductions in shipping and therefore declines in the need for oil and used oil, will harm our business and cause our operating results to suffer. Similarly, the economic slowdown and general market uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak and the steps taken by local, state and federal governments to attempt to reduce the spread of, and effects of, such virus, significantly reduced the demand for, and price of oil (which reached all-time lows during 2020), but has more recently recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and concurrent therewith, the slowdown in the U.S. economy caused by stay-at-home and similar orders during 2020, reduced the amount of feedstock being produced and as a result, our ability to obtain feedstocks, and produce finished products, which had a material adverse effect on our year-over-year results of operations for 2020. While the majority of COVID-19 restrictions in the jurisdictions in which we operate have since expired or been terminated due to the availability of vaccines, the possibility of future variants and potential waning immunity of vaccinations, creates continued uncertainty as to the total length and effect of the pandemic and/or whether future government actions will result in further reduced economic activity or new ‘stay-at-home’ or similar orders.
A public health pandemic, including COVID-19, poses the risk that the Company or its affiliates, employees, suppliers, customers and others may be prevented from conducting business activities for an indefinite period of time, including as a result of shutdowns, travel restrictions and other actions that may be requested or mandated by governmental authorities. Such actions may prevent the Company from accessing or operating its facilities, delivering products or continuing to obtain feedstocks. While a substantial portion of the Company’s businesses have been classified as an essential business in jurisdictions in which facility closures have been mandated, the Company can give no assurance that this will not change in the future or that the Company’s businesses will be classified as essential in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates.
It is also possible that the current outbreak or continued spread of COVID-19 will cause a global recession, or continued shortages in supplies of certain materials and equipment.
A continued prolonged period of weak, or a significant decrease in, industry activity and overall markets, due to COVID-19 or otherwise, may make it difficult to comply with our covenants and the other restrictions in the agreements governing our debt (including our recently sold Convertible Notes). Current global and market conditions have increased the potential for that difficulty.
The price of oil and fluctuations in oil prices may have a negative effect on our results of operations.
The majority of our operations are associated with collecting used oil, re-refining or otherwise processing a portion of such used oil and then selling both such re-refined/processed oil and the excess feedstock oil which we do not currently have the capacity to re-refine, to other customers. The prices at which we sell our re-refined/processed oil and extra feedstock are affected by changes in the reported spot market prices of oil. If applicable rates increase or decrease, we typically will charge a higher or lower corresponding price for our re-refined/processed oil and excess feedstock. The price at which we sell our re-refined/processed oil and excess feedstock is affected by changes in certain indices measuring changes in the price of heavy fuel oil, with increases and decreases in the indices typically translating into a higher or lower price for our re-refined/processed oil and excess feedstock. The cost to collect used oil, including the amounts we pay to obtain a portion of our used oil and therefore ability to collect necessary volumes as well as the fuel costs of our oil collection fleet, typically also increases or decreases when the relevant indices increase or decrease. However, even though the prices we can charge for our re-refined/processed oil and excess feedstock and the costs to collect and re-refine/processed used oil typically increase and decrease together, there is no assurance that when our costs to collect and re-refine/process used oil increase we will be able to increase the prices we charge for our re-refined/processed oil excess feedstock to cover such increased costs, or that our costs to collect and re-refine/process used oil will decline when the prices we can charge for re-refined/processed oil declines. These risks are exacerbated when there are rapid fluctuations in these oil indices and when there is lower pricing due to decreased demand, which have both occurred recently as a result of the economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. These risks are also greater when there is an increased supply of oil from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which has also recently occurred.
In addition to the above, the value of re-refined and processed used oil is usually greater the more expensive oil is. As the price of oil decreases so does the spread between re-refined/processed used oil and refined oil and extremely low oil prices, such as those which we are currently experiencing, customers will often be willing to pay the slightly higher cost of refined oil rather than paying for re-refined/processed oil. Furthermore, as the price of oil decreases, the price we can charge for re-refined/processed oil decreases, and while in general the cost of our feedstocks decreases, the prices required to process such feedstock and operate our plans remain fixed. As such, in the event the price of oil remains low and we are not able to increase the prices we charge for re-refined/processed oil, our margins will likely decrease and it may not become economically feasible to continue to operate our facilities. In the event that were to occur, we may be forced to shut down our facilities.
The occurrence of any of the events described above could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and could in turn cause our securities to decline in value.
The prices of many of our products are subject to significant volatility.
Our principal products include marine fuel cutterstock and a higher-value feedstock for further processing, vacuum oil gas, base oil that is sold to lubricant packagers and distributors, pygas and gasoline blendstock. The prices of these products are tied to the value of oil. Accordingly, our results of operations will be affected by fluctuations in the prevailing market price for oil. Historically, market prices for oil have fluctuated in response to a number of factors, including global changes in supply and demand resulting from changes in local and global economic conditions, changes in energy policies of U.S. and foreign governments, changes in international trading policies, OPEC, and other factors. While we seek to mitigate the risks associated with price declines, including in some situations, by using hedging, a significant decrease in the market price of any of our products or of oil would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flow. Furthermore, rapid and material changes in feedstock prices generally have an immediate and, often times, material impact on the Company’s gross margin and profitability resulting from the lag effect or lapse of time from the procurement of the feedstock until they are re-refined/processed and the finished products are sold. Our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected in the future by this volatility.
Downturns and volatility in global economies and commodity and credit markets could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our results of operations are materially affected by the conditions of the global economies and the credit, commodities and stock markets. Among other things, we may be adversely impacted if our customers and suppliers are not able to access sufficient capital to continue to operate their businesses or to operate them at prior levels. A decline in consumer confidence or changing patterns in the availability and use of disposable income by consumers can negatively affect both our suppliers and customers. Declining discretionary consumer spending or the loss or impairment of a meaningful number of our suppliers or customers could lead to a dislocation in either feedstock availability or customer demand. Any tightening in credit supply could negatively affect our customers’ ability to pay for our products on a timely basis or at all and could result in a requirement for additional bad debt reserves. Although many of our customer contracts are formula-based, continued volatility in the oil market could negatively impact our revenues and overall profits. Counterparty risk on finished product sales can also impact revenue and operating profits when customers either are unable to obtain credit or refuse to take delivery of finished products due to market price declines.
If we are unable to retain current, and obtain new customers, our revenue and cash flows could be reduced to levels that could adversely affect our results of operations.
Any of the following factors could result in our inability to maintain current customers or attain new customers. If that were to happen our results of operations could be materially adversely affected and the value of our securities could decline in value:
•a material decrease in the supply or price of crude oil or petroleum related products in which we deal;
•a material decrease in demand for the finished products in the markets we serve;
•scheduled refinery turnarounds or unscheduled maintenance; and
•operational problems or catastrophic events at any of our facilities.
We are dependent on third parties for the disposal of our waste streams.
We do not own any waste disposal sites. As a result, we are dependent on third parties for the disposal of waste streams. To date, disposal vendors have met their requirements, but they may not continue to do so. If for some reason our current disposal vendors cannot perform up to standards, we may be required to replace them. Although we believe there are a number of potential replacement disposal vendors that could provide such services, we may incur additional costs and delays in identifying and qualifying such replacements. In addition, any mishandling of our waste streams by disposal vendors could expose us to liability. Any failure by disposal vendors to properly collect, transport, handle or dispose of our waste streams could expose us to liability, damage our reputation and generally have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to risks associated with our relationship with Bunker One.
On January 10, 2020, we entered into a Heads of Agreement and a Joint Supply and Marketing Agreement, with Bunker One (USA) Inc. Pursuant to the Heads of Agreement, the Company and Bunker One agreed to form a joint decision-making body to focus on strategic matters related to the overall cooperation of the parties and to establish rules and procedures for identifying and undertaking joint projects. For each project that the parties agree to pursue, the parties will enter into a form of Co-Operation and Joint Supply and Marketing Agreement. The principal objective of each such Co-Operation JSMA will be the expansion of the business of each party by cooperating in the sourcing, storing, transportation, marketing and selling of products, where: (a) Vertex is primarily responsible for the sourcing and storing of the product (bunker fuels); (b) Bunker One is primarily responsible for the transporting, blending, marketing, selling and delivering of the product (bunker fuels); (c) Bunker One is responsible for the risk management/exposure (e.g. hedging) of the bunker fuels; and (d) Bunker One is the exclusive seller of the product to third parties. The Heads of Agreement has a term of ten years, beginning effective on January 1, 2020, and continuing through April 30, 2029, provided that the agreement extends for additional five-year periods thereafter unless either party provides the other at least 120 days’ notice of non-renewal before any such automatic renewal date. Finally, under the agreement, if at any time the Company acquires a supply of material that the Company intends to sell in Texas, Louisiana or Alabama and that is suitable for use in Bunker One’s bunkering business in such area from a third party, or produces additional material for sale in such area, the Company is required to provide Bunker One the right to purchase such supply/material pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Heads of Agreement.
The JSMA is effective as of May 1, 2020, and provides for Bunker One to acquire 100% of the production from the Company’s Marrero, Louisiana re-refining facility (which produces approximately 100,000 barrels per month of Bunker Fuel). Pursuant to the JSMA, the parties agreed to the percentages pursuant to which net profit will be split between the parties, relating to the sale of such Bunker Fuel by Bunker One, which is to be sold in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and areas immediately adjacent thereto if mutually agreed. The JSMA has a term from May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2029, provided that the term is automatically renewable for additional five-year periods thereafter unless either party provides the other at least 120 days prior written notice of non-renewal, prior to any automatic renewal date.
As a result of the above, Bunker One is the purchaser of the majority of the Company’s finished product from its Marrero, Louisiana re-refining facility, which makes up approximately 29% of the Company’s revenues. Bunker One also currently owns certain shares of our outstanding common stock and has the right, during the term of the JSMA, to have a representative attend each meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company and the committees of the board (in a non-voting observer capacity). As such, we rely on Bunker One for a significant source of our revenues and the termination of, or material adverse change in, the terms of our relationship, or a material adverse change to Bunker One or its operations, could affect our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. If our relationship with Bunker One is terminated, we would have to find a new purchaser of our Marrero finished products, or enter into another similar counterparty arrangement with a third party, which we may not be able to enter into on terms that are as favorable to us, or at all. We are also reliant on Bunker One’s ability to timely pay us amounts due under the JSMA and in the event that Bunker One is unable to pay such amounts, timely, or at all, it could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Due to our significant reliance on Bunker One, in the event Bunker One experiences issues in selling our finished products, or in connection with its operations in general, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
We are dependent on third party generators and collectors for our feedstock.
Generators are entities that generate used oil through their daily operations such as automotive businesses conducting oil changes on consumer and commercial vehicles and industrial users changing lubricants on machinery and heavy equipment.
Collectors are typically local businesses that purchase used oil from generators and provide on-site collection services. The collection market is highly fragmented and we believe there are more than 400 used oil collectors in the United States.
We depend on generators to generate used oil feedstock and collectors to collect such feedstock. In the event a significant number of generators cease generating feedstock, or generators and collectors cease providing us their feedstock or otherwise materially change the current process by which feedstock is collected, due to COVID-19, other future pandemics, or otherwise, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Worsening economic conditions and trends and downturns in the business cycles of the industries we serve and which provide services to impact our business and operating results.
A significant portion of our customer base is comprised of companies in the chemical manufacturing and hydrocarbon recovery industries. The overall levels of demand for our products, refining operations, and future planned re-refined oil products are driven by fluctuations in levels of end-user demand, which depend in large part on general macroeconomic conditions in the U.S., as well as regional economic conditions. For example, many of our principal consumers are themselves heavily dependent on general economic conditions, including the price of fuel and energy, availability of affordable credit and capital, employment levels, interest rates, consumer confidence and housing demand. These cyclical shifts in our customers’ businesses may result in fluctuations in demand, volumes, pricing and operating margins for our services and products.
In addition to our customers, the suppliers of our feedstock are also affected by downturns in the economy and adverse changes in the price of feedstock. For example, we previously experienced difficulty obtaining feedstock from our suppliers who, because of prior sharp downturns in the price of oil (used and otherwise) in 2015-16 saw their margins decrease substantially, which in some cases made it uneconomical for such suppliers to purchase feedstock from their suppliers and/or sell to us at the rates set forth in their contracts. Similarly, the economic slowdown and general market uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak and the steps taken by local, state and federal governments to attempt to reduce the spread of, and effects of, such virus, significantly reduced the demand for, and price of oil (which reached all-time lows during 2020), but has more recently recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and concurrent therewith, the slowdown in the U.S. economy caused by stay-at-home and similar orders during 2020, reduced the amount of feedstock being produced and as a result, our ability to obtain feedstocks, and produce finished products. While the majority of COVID-19 restrictions in the jurisdictions in which we operate have since expired or been terminated due to the availability of vaccines, the possibility of future variants and potential waning immunity of vaccinations, creates continued uncertainty as to the total length and effect of the pandemic and/or whether future government actions will result in further reduced economic activity or new ‘stay-at-home’ or similar orders.
Inflation may increase our costs and create supply chain pressures.
We have seen increases in costs when comparing to the prior year as well as inflationary and supply chain pressures across our business in areas such as labor, transportation, supplies and overall energy related expenses. We purchase petroleum and petroleum by-products for consolidation and delivery, as well as for our own refining operations. By virtue of constant changes in the market value of petroleum products, we are exposed to fluctuations in both revenues and expenses. We are exposed to market risks related to the volatility in the price of crude oil, No. 6 Fuel Oil and refined petroleum products. Continued increases in inflation may increase our costs, which increased costs we may not be able to pass on to purchasers of our products, and create supply chain pressures, which may result in a decrease in available feed stocks, an increase in the price of such feedstocks, or unavailability of equipment or machinery needed for us or third parties to operate our or their facilities, which could prevent us from operating at capacity, decrease our revenues, or have a material adverse effect on our operating results.
Our operating margins and profitability may be negatively impacted by changes in fuel and energy costs.
We transport our feedstock, refined oil and re-refined oil, VGO and other materials with trucks and by rail. As a result, increases in shipping and transportation costs caused by increases in oil, gasoline and diesel prices have a significant impact on our operating expenses. The price and supply of oil and gas is unpredictable and fluctuates based on events beyond our control, including geopolitical developments, natural disasters, supply and demand for oil and natural gas, actions by OPEC and other oil and gas producers, war and unrest in oil producing countries, regional production patterns and environmental concerns. A significant increase in transportation or fuel costs could lower our operating margins and negatively impact our profitability.
Additionally, the price at which we sell our refined oil and our re-refined oil, VGO and other materials is affected by changes in certain oil indexes. If the relevant oil index rises, we anticipate being able to increase the prices for our refined and re-refined oil. If the relevant oil index declines, we anticipate having to reduce prices for our refined and re-refined oil. However, the cost to collect used oil and refinery feedstock, including the amounts that must be paid to obtain used oil and feedstock, generally also increases or decreases when the relevant index increases or decreases. Even though the prices that can be charged for our refined and re-refined products and the costs to collect, refine, and re-refine the feedstock generally increase and decrease together, if the costs to collect, refine and re-refine used oil and petrochemical products increase in the future, we
may not be able to increase the prices we charge for our refined and re-refined products to cover such increased costs. Additionally, the costs to collect, refine and re-refine used oil and petrochemical products may not decline if the prices we can charge for our products decline. If the prices we charge for our finished products and the costs to collect, refine and re-refine products do not move together or in similar magnitudes, our profitability may be materially and negatively impacted.
We are vulnerable to the potential difficulties associated with rapid growth.
We believe that our future success depends on our ability to manage the rapid growth that we have experienced, and the continued growth that we expect to experience organically and through acquisitions, including, but not limited to, the planned acquisition of the Mobile Refinery. Our growth places additional demands and responsibilities on our management to, among other things, maintain existing suppliers and customers and attract, recruit, retain and effectively manage employees, as well as expand operations. The following factors could present difficulties to us: lack of sufficient executive-level personnel and increased administrative burden; availability of suitable acquisition candidates, trucks, barges, tanks, rail cars and processing facilities; and the ability to provide focused service attention to our customers, among others.
Our contracts may not be renewed and our existing relationships may not continue, which could be exacerbated by the fact that a limited number of our customers represent a significant portion of our sales.
Our contracts and relationships in the black oil business include feedstock purchasing agreements with local waste oil collectors, feedstock sale agreements, a few key relationships in the bunkering, blending and No. 6 oil industry, and other relationships. Because our operations are extremely dependent on the black oil key bunkering, blending and No. 6 oil relationships as well as our third-party refining contracts, if we were to lose relationships, there would be a material adverse effect on our operations and results of operations. Additionally, if we were to lose any of our current local waste oil collectors, we could be required to spend additional resources locating and providing incentives for other waste oil collectors, which could cause our expenses to increase and/or cause us to curtail or abandon our business plans.
We operate in competitive markets, and there can be no certainty that we will maintain our current customers or attract new customers or that our operating margins will not be impacted by competition.
The industries in which we operate are highly competitive. We compete with numerous local and regional companies of varying sizes and financial resources in our refining and feedstock consolidation operations, transportation services, feedstock collection and aggregation and used oil recycling, and we compete with larger oil companies, with significantly greater resources than us, in our oil re-refining operations. We expect competition to intensify in the future. Furthermore, numerous well-established companies are focusing significant resources on providing used oil collection, transportation, refining and re-refining services that will compete with our services. We may not be able to effectively compete with these other companies and competitive pressures, including possible downward pressure on the prices we charge for our products and services, may arise. In the event that we cannot effectively compete on a continuing basis, or competitive pressures arise, such inability to compete or competitive pressures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Disruptions in the supply of feedstock and/or increases in the cost of feedstock could have an adverse effect on our business.
We depend on the continuing availability of raw materials, including feedstock, to remain in production. Additionally, we depend on the price of such raw materials, including feedstock being reasonable to us in relation to the prices we are able to receive for our final products. As a result of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, some of our feedstock suppliers have permanently or temporarily closed their businesses, limited our access to their businesses, and/or have experienced a decreased demand for services. As a result of the above, and due to ‘stay-at-home’ and other social distancing orders, as well as the decline in U.S. travel caused by COVID-19, we have seen a significant decline in the volume of feedstocks (specifically used oil) that we have been able to collect, and therefore process through our facilities. A continued disruption in supply of feedstock, such as we are currently experiencing, or significant increases in the prices of feedstock, has significantly reduced/could significantly reduce, the availability of raw materials at our plants and which are available to be processed by our third-party processors. Additionally, increases in production costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In the event the margins of our feedstock suppliers decrease substantially, it may become uneconomical for such suppliers to purchase feedstock from their suppliers and/or sell to us at the rates set forth in their contracts. This could prevent us from maintaining our required levels of output and/or force us to seek out additional suppliers of feedstock, who may charge more than our current suppliers, and therefore adversely affect our results of operations—as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the issues described above, we have recently been forced to seek out additional suppliers of feedstock, who in some cases have charged us more than our current suppliers.
Our reliance on small business customers causes us to be subject to the trends and downturns that impact small businesses, which could adversely affect our business.
Our feedstock customer base is primarily composed of small businesses in the vehicle repair and manufacturing industries. The high concentration of our feedstock customers that are small businesses exposes us to significant risk. Small businesses start, close, relocate, and are acquired and sold frequently. In addition, small businesses are often impacted more significantly by economic recessions when compared to larger businesses. As a result, we must continually identify new feedstock customers and expand our business with existing feedstock customers in order to sustain our growth and feedstock supply. If we experience a rise in levels of customer turnover, it may have a negative impact on the profitability of our business.
Unanticipated problems at, or downtime effecting, our facilities and those operated by third parties on which we rely, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our ability to process feedstocks depends on our ability to operate our refining/processing operations and facilities, and those operated by third parties on which we rely, including, but not limited to Monument Chemical, and the total time that such facilities are online and operational. The occurrence of significant unforeseen conditions or events in connection with the operation or maintenance of such facilities, such as the need to refurbish such facilities, complete capital projects at such facilities, shortages of workers or materials, adverse weather, including, but not limited to lightning strikes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes, equipment failures, fires, explosions, oil or other leaks, damage to or destruction of property and equipment associated therewith, environmental releases and/or damage, government regulation changes affecting the use of such facilities, terrorist attacks, mechanical or physical failures of equipment, acts of God, or other conditions or events, could prevent us from operating our facilities, or prevent such third parties from operating their facilities, or could force us or such third parties to shut such facilities down for repairs, maintenance, refurbishment or upgrades for a significant period of time. In the event any of our facilities or those of third parties on which we rely are offline for an extended period of time, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and consequently the price of our securities. For example, on October 7, 2020, we had a fire at our Marrero refinery which took the facility offline for repairs for about two weeks. The refinery suffered some minor structural damage along with piping, valves and instrumentation in the immediate area of the fire, the largest impact was the damage to the electrical conduit that feeds the power to the refinery equipment and was back up October 26, 2020. Additionally, during August and September 2020, two hurricanes brought severe flooding and high winds that adversely impacted operations in the Gulf Coast and, specifically at the Company’s Marrero, Louisiana refinery, while also limiting outbound shipments of finished product along adjacent waterways between Houston and New Orleans for approximately two weeks. Additionally, during August 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall in southeast Louisiana, approximately 30 miles directly south and west of the Myrtle Grove facility, which resulted in the entire 42 acre Myrtle Grove site to be covered with 4-6 feet of storm surge and thus damages of assets and equipment. The Company reviewed the inspection report and related information from insurance companies and a third party engineer, and determined that there is no 100% certainty around the recoverability of some Construction-In-Progress assets such as fire heaters and pumps and instrumentation. The Company recorded $2.1 million of loss on assets impairment on the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the fourth quarter of 2021, of which the entire amount is related to our Black Oil segment. Subsequent downtime at our facilities, losses of equipment or use of such facilities may have a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flows or assets. The Company believes that it maintains adequate insurance coverage.
The fees charged to customers under our agreements with them may not escalate sufficiently to cover increases in costs and the agreements may be suspended in some circumstances, which would affect our profitability.
Under our agreements with our customers, we may be unable to increase the fees that we charge our customers at a rate sufficient to offset any increases in our costs. Additionally, some customers’ obligations under their agreements with us may be permanently or temporarily reduced upon the occurrence of certain events, some of which are beyond our control, including force majeure events. Force majeure events may include (but are not limited to) events such as revolutions, wars, acts of enemies, embargoes, import or export restrictions, strikes, lockouts, fires, storms, floods, acts of God, explosions, mechanical or physical failures of our equipment or facilities of our customers. If the escalation of fees is insufficient to cover increased costs or if any customer suspends or terminates its contracts with us, our profitability could be materially and adversely affected.
Improvements in or new discoveries of alternative energy technologies and/or government mandated use of such technologies and/or government restrictions or quotas on the use of oil and gas, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Because our business depends on the demand for oil and used oil, any improvement in or new discoveries of alternative energy technologies (such as wind, solar, geothermal, fuel cells and biofuels and/or increases in battery technology
or capacity), government mandated use of such technologies and/or government restrictions or quotas on the use of oil and gas that increase the use of alternative forms of energy and/or reduce the demand or market for oil, used oil and oil and used oil related products could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition to the above, we may be exposed to risks related to laws passed by governments or regulations incentivizing or mandating the use of alternative energy sources, such as wind power and solar energy, and/or phasing out the use of traditional hydrocarbon energy sources, which may reduce demand for oil and natural gas. For example, California has recently passed a law which requires the state to adopt regulations around gas-powered tools by July 1, 2022, and ban their sale by the start of 2024, if such ban is determined feasible, and has further discussed the adoption of laws to ban gas car sales by 2030 or 2035. Such laws, regulations, treaties or international agreements could result in increased compliance costs or additional operating restrictions, which may have a negative impact on our business, and could adversely affect our operations by limiting opportunities.
Improvements in or new methodologies or technology relating to the refining and re-refining of used oil feedstocks could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
In the event our competitors or future competitors design or implement new methodologies or new technology relating to the refining or re-refining of used oil feedstock it could reduce demand for our processes, or make such processes commercially irrelevant. In the event we are not able to duplicate or license such new methodologies or technology it could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business is subject to operational and safety risks, including the risk of personal injury to employees and others.
Our operations involve risks such as truck accidents, equipment defects, malfunctions and failures. Additionally, our operations are subject to risk associated with releases of oil and other materials. Operation of our facilities involves additional risks of fire and explosion. Any of these risks could potentially result in injury or death of employees and others, a need to shut down or reduce operation of facilities, increased operating expense and exposure to liability for pollution and other environmental damage, and property damage or destruction.
While we seek to minimize our exposure to such risks through comprehensive training, compliance and response and recovery programs, as well as vehicle and equipment maintenance programs, if we were to incur substantial liabilities in excess of any applicable insurance, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. Any such incidents could also tarnish our reputation and reduce the value of our brand. Additionally, a major operational failure, even if suffered by a competitor, may bring enhanced scrutiny and regulation of our industry, with a corresponding increase in operating expense.
We may be subject to citizen opposition and negative publicity due to public concerns over our operations and planned future operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
There currently exists a high level of public concern over hazardous waste and refining and re-refining operations, including with respect to the location and operation of transfer, processing, storage and disposal facilities. Part of our business strategy is to increase our re-refining capacity through the construction of new facilities in growth markets. Zoning, permit and licensing applications and proceedings, as well as regulatory enforcement proceedings, are all matters open to public scrutiny and comment. Accordingly, from time to time we may be subject to citizen opposition and publicity which may damage our reputation and delay or limit the planned expansion and development of future facilities or operations or impair our ability to renew existing permits, any of which could prevent us from implementing our growth strategy and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We depend heavily on the services of our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Benjamin P. Cowart.
Our success depends heavily upon the personal efforts and abilities of Benjamin P. Cowart, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, who is employed by us pursuant to an employment contract which continues in effect until December 31, 2022, provided that the agreement automatically extends for additional one-year terms thereafter in the event neither party provides the other at least 60 days prior notice of their intention not to renew the terms of the agreement. The loss of Mr. Cowart or other key employees could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. In addition, the absence of Mr. Cowart may force us to seek a replacement who may have less experience or who may not understand our business as well, or we may not be able to find a suitable replacement.
Unanticipated problems or delays in building our facilities to the proper specifications may harm our business and viability.
Our future growth will depend on our ability to timely and economically complete and operate our re-refining facilities and operate our existing refining operations and facilities, and complete planned acquisitions and capital projects, including our planned acquisition of the Mobile Refinery and the capital project planned in connection therewith. If our operations are disrupted or our economic integrity is threatened for unexpected reasons, our business may experience a substantial setback. Moreover, the occurrence of significant unforeseen conditions or events in connection with the construction of our planned facilities may require us to reexamine our business model. Any change to our business model or management’s evaluation of the viability of our planned services may adversely affect our business. Construction costs for our future facilities may also increase to a level that would make a new facility too expensive to complete or unprofitable to operate. Contractors, engineering firms, construction firms and equipment suppliers also receive requests and orders from other companies and, therefore, we may not be able to secure their services or products on a timely basis or on acceptable financial terms. We may suffer significant delays or cost overruns as a result of a variety of factors, such as increases in the prices of raw materials, shortages of workers or materials, transportation constraints, adverse weather, equipment failures, fires, damage to or destruction of property and equipment, environmental damage, unforeseen difficulties or labor issues, or issues associated with planned capital projects, including cost overruns and unforeseen delays, any of which could prevent us from beginning or completing construction or capital projects, or commencing operations at future re-refining facilities or other facilities, including the Mobile Refinery.
Strategic relationships on which we rely are subject to change.
Our ability to identify and enter into commercial arrangements with feedstock suppliers and refined and re-refined oil clients depends on developing and maintaining close working relationships with industry participants. Our success in this area also depends on our ability to select and evaluate suitable projects as well as to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment. These factors are subject to change and may impair our ability to grow.
Disruptions to infrastructure and our and our partner’s facilities could materially and adversely affect our business.
Our business depends on the continuing availability of road, railroad, port, storage and distribution infrastructure and our re-refining facilities. Any disruptions in this infrastructure network or such facilities, whether caused by labor difficulties, earthquakes, storms, other natural disasters, human error or malfeasance or other reasons, could have a material adverse effect on our business. We rely on third parties to maintain the rail lines from our plants to the national rail network, and any failure by these third parties to maintain the lines could impede the delivery of products, impose additional costs and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. For example, previous damage to our terminal facility located at Cedar Marine Terminal in Baytown, Texas as a result of Hurricane Ike in 2008 (which caused the terminal to temporarily be out of operation) resulted in increased costs associated with the shipping of feedstock through third-party contractors, thereby raising the overall cost of the feedstock and lowering our margins. Additionally, on October 7, 2020, we had a fire at our Marrero refinery which took the facility offline for repairs for about two weeks. The refinery suffered some minor structural damage along with piping, valves and instrumentation in the immediate area of the fire, the largest impact was the damage to the electrical conduit that feeds the power to the refinery equipment. On October 26, 2020, the facility was back up and running. Additionally, during August 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall in southeast Louisiana, approximately 30 miles directly south and west of the Myrtle Grove facility, which resulted in the entire 42 acre Myrtle Grove site to be covered with 4-6 feet of storm surge and thus damages of assets and equipment. The Company reviewed the inspection report and related information from insurance companies and a third party engineer, and determined that there is no 100% certainty around the recoverability of some Construction-In-Progress assets such as fire heaters and pumps and instrumentation. The Company recorded $2.1 million of loss on assets impairment on the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the fourth quarter of 2021, of which the entire amount is related to our Black Oil segment. Additional hurricanes, storms, floods, fires or natural disasters in the future could cause similar damage to our infrastructure, prevent us from generating revenues while such infrastructure is undergoing repair (if repairable) and/or cause our margins and therefore our results of operations to be adversely affected.
Any prolonged period during which the facilities we operate or acquire are non-operational or operational on a limited basis due to the decision to refurbish or upgrade such facilities, due to accidents or events which occur at such facilities, including, but not limited to fires, floods or other acts of God, or any other reason, including problems with the facilities, could adversely affect our revenues and results of operations. Furthermore, any period during which Monument Chemical’s and Bunker One's facilities or our other facilities are offline could have an adverse effect on our revenues, force us to seek alternative re-refining facilities (which may be more expensive or require us to transport our feedstock over longer distances) and may increase our expenses, decreasing our operating margins.
Negative publicity may harm our operations and we may face additional expenses due to such negative publicity.
Only a relatively small number of entities operate in our industry including competitors, feedstock suppliers, re-refining operators, purchasers of our products and transportation companies. If issues arise with our products or third parties (including entities which operate in our industry) allege issues with our products, even if no issues with such products exist, such negative publicity may force us to change service providers, undertake certain transportation activities ourselves, at higher costs than third parties would charge, or cause certain of our buyers, sellers or service providers to cease working with us. The result of such actions may result in our expenses increasing, a decrease in our ability to purchase feedstock, or our ability to sell or transport our resulting products, which could cause our revenues to decrease and/or expenses to increase, which could cause a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our commercial success will depend in part on our ability to obtain and maintain protection of our intellectual property.
Our success will depend in part on our ability to maintain or obtain and enforce patent rights and other intellectual property protection for our technologies, to preserve our trade secrets, and to operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of third parties. We currently have five registered patents in the United States (none, internationally), and one pending patent application. If we file additional patent applications for our technologies in the future, such patents may not be granted and the scope of any claims granted in any patent may not provide us with proprietary protection or a competitive advantage. Furthermore, our current patents, or future patents, if granted, may not be valid and may not afford us with protection against competitors with similar technology. The failure to obtain or maintain patents or other intellectual property protection on the technologies underlying our technologies may have a material adverse effect on our competitive position and business prospects. It is also possible that our technologies may infringe on patents or other intellectual property rights owned by others. We may have to alter our products or processes, pay licensing fees, defend an infringement action or challenge the validity of the patents in court, or cease activities altogether because of patent rights of third parties, thereby causing additional unexpected costs and delays to it. A license may not be available to us, if at all, upon terms and conditions acceptable to us and we may not prevail in any intellectual property litigation. Intellectual property litigation is costly and time consuming, and we may not have sufficient resources to pursue such litigation. If we do not obtain a license under such intellectual property rights, are found liable for infringement or are not able to have such patents declared invalid, we may be liable for significant money damages and may encounter significant delays in bringing products to market.
We may be unable to sell our UMO Business.
Our agreement with Safety-Kleen to acquire our UMO Business was terminated in January 2022. We are continuing to seek sales opportunities relating to such UMO Business, but we may be unable to find a purchaser to purchase such UMO Business on as favorable terms as Safety-Kleen had previously agreed to acquire such assets, such sale may be unable to be completed due to required conditions to closing, including governmental regulations, and the knowledge that we are actively trying to sell our UMO Business may result in depressed prices. As a result, we may not be able to sell our UMO Business on favorable terms, if at all and/or may face termination and other fees in connection with any planned sale which is subsequently abandoned.
Competition may impair our success.
New technologies may be developed by others that could compete with our refining and re-refining technologies. In addition, we face competition from other producers of oil substitutes and related products. Such competition is expected to be intense and could significantly drive down the price for our products. Competition will likely increase as prices of energy in the commodities market, including refined and re-refined oil, rise. Additionally, new companies are constantly entering the market, thus increasing the competition even further. These companies may have greater success in the recruitment and retention of qualified employees, as well as in conducting their own refining and re-refining operations, and may have greater access to feedstock, market presence, economies of scale, financial resources and engineering, technical and marketing capabilities, which may give them a competitive advantage. In addition, actual or potential competitors may be strengthened through the acquisition of additional assets and interests. If we are unable to compete effectively or adequately respond to competitive pressures, this may materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition and could also have a negative impact on our ability to obtain additional capital from investors.
Potential competition from our existing executive officers, after they leave their employment with us, and subject to the non-compete terms of their employment agreements, could negatively impact our profitability.
Although our Chief Executive Officer, Benjamin P. Cowart, our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, Chris Carlson, and our Chief Operating Officer, John Strickland, are prohibited from competing with us while they are employed with us and for twelve months thereafter (subject to the terms of, and exceptions set forth in, their employment agreements with the Company), none of such individuals will be prohibited from competing with us after such twelve-month period ends. Accordingly, any of these individuals could be in a position to use industry experience gained while working with us to compete with us. Such competition could increase our costs to obtain feedstock, and increase our costs for contracting use of operating assets and services such as third-party refining capacity, trucking services or terminal access. Furthermore, such competition could distract or confuse customers, reduce the value of our intellectual property and trade secrets, or result in a reduction in the prices we are able to obtain for our finished products. Any of the foregoing could reduce our future revenues, earnings or growth prospects.
Competition due to advances in renewable fuels may lessen the demand for our products and negatively impact our profitability.
Alternatives to petroleum-based products and production methods are continually under development. For example, a number of automotive, industrial and power generation manufacturers are developing alternative clean power systems using fuel cells or clean-burning gaseous fuels that may address increasing worldwide energy costs, the long-term availability of petroleum reserves and environmental concerns, which if successful could lower the demand for our services. If these non-petroleum-based products and oil alternatives continue to expand and gain broad acceptance such that the overall demand for our petroleum-based products is reduced, we may not be able to compete effectively in the marketplace.
We rely on new technology to conduct our business, including TCEP, and our technology could become ineffective or obsolete.
We currently rely on relatively new technology and will be required to continually enhance and update our technology to maintain our efficiency and to avoid obsolescence. Previously, from the third quarter of fiscal 2015, to the fourth quarter of 2019, TCEP was being used to pre-treat our used motor oil feedstock prior to shipping to our facility in Marrero, Louisiana instead of for its originally intended purpose of producing finished cutterstock, due to market conditions. During the fourth quarter of 2019, market conditions improved and we once again began using TCEP for its originally intended purpose of producing finished cutterstock. Starting in the first quarter of 2020, with declining oil prices, such use of TCEP for its originally intended purpose became non-economical and we once again switched to using TCEP to pre-treat our used motor oil feedstock. Additionally, the costs moving forward of enhancing and updating and/or replicating our technology or creating new technology may be substantial and may be higher than the costs that we anticipated for technology maintenance and development. If we are unable to maintain the efficiency of our technology, replicate our technology, or create new technologies, our ability to manage our business and to compete may be impaired. Even if we are able to maintain technical effectiveness, our technology may not be the most efficient means of reaching our objectives, in which case we may incur higher operating costs than we would if our technology was more effective. The impact of these potential future technical shortcomings, including but not limited to the failure of TCEP, the continued non-economic use of TCEP for its originally intended use, and/or the costs associated with enhancing or replicating TCEP, could have a material adverse effect on our prospects, business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our operations would be significantly negatively affected if we are unable to use our facilities in the future.
If we were not able to use any one or more of our facilities moving forward, our ability to generate revenue and compete in the marketplace would be significantly negatively affected. If we are unable to use our facilities for any reason, we will not be able to effectively generate revenue or compete with additional technologies brought to market by our competitors, the volume of our finished products would decline and our finished products could be worth less, and if our competitors are willing to pay more for feedstock than we are, they could drive up prices, which would cause our revenues to decrease, and cause our cost of sales to increase, respectively. Additionally, if we are forced to pay more for feedstock, our cash flows will be negatively impacted and our margins will decrease.
Our business is subject to local, legal, political, and economic factors which are beyond our control.
We believe that the current political environment for refining and re-refining facilities is sufficiently supportive to enable us to continue to operate our facilities and in the future plan and implement the construction of additional facilities; however, there are risks that conditions will change in an adverse manner. These risks include, but are not limited to, environmental issues, land use, air emissions, water use, zoning, workplace safety, restrictions imposed on the re-refining and refining industry such as restrictions on production, substantial changes in product quality standards, restrictions on feedstock supply, price controls and export controls. Any changes in financial incentives, investment regulations, policies or a shift in
political attitudes are beyond our control and may adversely affect our business, plans for future facilities, and future financial results.
Additionally, the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Coast Guard and Homeland Security and various federal, state, local and foreign agencies exercise broad powers over our transportation operations, generally governing such activities as authorization to engage in motor carrier operations, safety and permits to conduct transportation business. We may also become subject to new or more restrictive regulations that the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency or other authorities impose, including regulations relating to engine exhaust emissions, the hours of service that our drivers may provide in any one-time period, security and other matters. Compliance with these regulations could increase our costs and adversely affect our results of operations.
Our business may be harmed by anti-terrorism measures.
Due to ongoing increased concerns regarding future terrorist attacks and illegal immigration, federal, state and municipal authorities, from time to time, implement various security measures, including checkpoints and travel restrictions on large trucks. Although many companies are adversely affected by slowdowns in the availability of freight transportation, the negative impact could affect our business disproportionately. For example, if the security measures disrupt or impede the timing of our deliveries of feedstock, we may not have sufficient feedstock to run our re-refining processes at full capacity, or may incur increased expenses to do so. These measures may significantly increase our costs and reduce our operating margins and income.
Our business is geographically concentrated and is therefore subject to regional economic downturns.
Our operations and customers are concentrated principally in the Gulf Coast, upper Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic. Therefore, our business, financial condition and results of operations are susceptible to regional economic downturns and other regional factors, including state regulations and budget constraints and severe weather conditions. In addition, as we seek to expand in our existing markets, opportunities for growth within this region may become more limited and the geographic concentration of our business may increase.
Our insurance policies do not cover all losses, costs or liabilities that we may experience and if we cannot maintain adequate insurance coverage, we will be unable to continue certain operations.
Our business exposes us to various risks, including claims for causing damage to property and injuries to persons that may involve allegations of negligence or professional errors or omissions in the performance of our services. Such claims could be substantial. We believe that our insurance coverage is presently adequate and similar to, or greater than, the coverage maintained by other similarly situated companies in the industry. If we are unable to obtain adequate or required insurance coverage in the future, or if such insurance is not available at affordable rates, we could be in violation of our permit conditions and other requirements of the environmental laws, rules and regulations under which we operate. Such violations could render us unable to continue certain of our operations. These events could result in an inability to operate certain assets and significantly impair our financial condition.
Notwithstanding the above, our policies do not cover all of our potential losses, costs or liabilities. We could suffer losses for uninsurable or uninsured risks, or in amounts in excess of our existing insurance coverage, which would significantly affect our financial performance. Our insurance policies also have deductibles and self-retention limits that could expose us to significant financial expense. Our ability to obtain and maintain adequate insurance may be affected by conditions in the insurance market over which we have no control. The occurrence of an event that is not fully covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, our business requires that we maintain various types of insurance. If such insurance is not available or not available on economically acceptable terms, our business would be materially and adversely affected.
Claims above our insurance limits, or significant increases in our insurance premiums, may reduce our profitability.
We currently employ approximately 57 full-time drivers. From time to time, some of these employee drivers are involved in automobile accidents. We currently carry liability insurance of $1,000,000 for our drivers, subject to applicable deductibles, and carry umbrella coverage up to $25,000,000. We currently employ over 200 employees. Claims against us may exceed the amounts of available insurance coverage. If we were to experience a material increase in the frequency or severity of accidents, liability claims or workers’ compensation claims or unfavorable resolutions of claims, our operating results could be materially affected.
Litigation related to personal injury from the operation of our business may result in significant liabilities and limit our profitability.
The hazards and risks associated with the transport, storage, and handling, treatment and disposal of used oil and other hydrocarbon products (such as fires, spills, explosions and accidents) may expose us to personal injury claims, property damage claims and/or products liability claims from our employees, customers or third parties. As protection against such claims and operating hazards, we maintain insurance coverage against some, but not all, potential losses. However, we may sustain losses for uninsurable or uninsured risks, or in amounts in excess of existing insurance coverage. Due to the unpredictable nature of personal injury litigation, it is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of any future claims or lawsuits, and we may be held liable for significant personal injury or damage to property or third parties, or other losses, that are not fully covered by our insurance, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The litigation environment in which we operate poses a significant risk to our businesses.
We may be involved from time to time in the ordinary course of business in lawsuits involving employment, commercial, and environmental issues, other claims for injuries and damages, and shareholder and class action litigation, among other matters. We may experience negative outcomes in such lawsuits in the future. Any such negative outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. We evaluate litigation claims and legal proceedings to assess the likelihood of unfavorable outcomes and to estimate, if possible, the amount of potential losses. Based on these assessments and estimates, we establish reserves and disclose the relevant litigation claims or legal proceedings, as appropriate. These assessments and estimates are based on the information available to management at the time and involve a significant amount of judgment. Actual outcomes or losses may differ materially from such assessments and estimates. The settlement or resolution of such claims or proceedings may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, judges and juries in certain jurisdictions in which we conduct business have demonstrated a willingness to grant large verdicts, including punitive damages, to plaintiffs in personal injury, property damage and other tort cases. We use appropriate means to contest litigation threatened or filed against us, but the litigation environment in these areas poses a significant business risk to us and could cause a significant diversion of management resources and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The Company’s information technology systems could suffer interruptions, failures or breaches and our business operations could be disrupted adversely effecting results of operations and the Company’s reputation.
The Company’s information technology systems, some of which are dependent on services provided by third parties, serve an important role in the operation of our business. These systems could be damaged or cease to function properly due to any number of causes, such as catastrophic events, power outages, security breaches, computer viruses or cyber-based attacks.
The Company has been, and likely will continue to be, subject to computer hacking, acts of vandalism or theft, malware, computer viruses or other malicious codes, phishing, employee error or malfeasance, catastrophes, unforeseen events or other cyber-attacks. To date, the Company has seen no material impact on our business or operations from these attacks or events. Any future significant compromise or breach of data security, whether external or internal, or misuse of customer, associate, supplier or Company data, could result in significant costs, lost sales, fines, lawsuits, and damage to the Company's reputation. However, the ever-evolving threats mean the Company and its third-party service providers and vendors must continually evaluate and adapt respective systems and processes and overall security environment, as well as those of any companies acquired. There is no guarantee that these measures will be adequate to safeguard against all data security breaches, system compromises or misuses of data. In addition, as the regulatory environment related to information security, data collection and use, and privacy becomes increasingly rigorous, with new and constantly changing requirements applicable to the Company's business, compliance with those requirements could also result in additional costs.
We operate our business through many locations, and if we are unable to effectively oversee all of these locations, our business reputation and operating results could be materially adversely affected.
Because we operate through various different facilities located throughout the United States, we are subject to risks related to our ability to oversee these locations. If in the future we are unable to effectively oversee our locations, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected, we could fail to comply with environmental regulations, we could lose customers, we could lose control of inventory and other assets, and our business could be materially adversely affected.
Increases in energy costs will affect our operating results and financial condition.
Our production costs will be dependent on the costs of the energy sources used to run our facilities and to procure feedstock. These costs are subject to fluctuations and variations, and we may not be able to predict or control these costs. If these costs exceed our expectations, this may adversely affect our results of operations.
Fluctuations in fuel costs could impact our operating expenses and results.
We operate a fleet of transportation, collection and aggregation trucks to collect and transport used oil and re-refined oil products, among other things. The price and supply of fuel is unpredictable and fluctuates based on events beyond our control, including, among others, geopolitical developments, supply and demand for oil and gas, actions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other oil and gas producers, war and unrest in oil producing countries and regional production patterns. We have experienced increases in the cost of fuel over the past several years. Although in the past, we have been able to pass-through some of these costs to our customers, we may not be able to continue to do so in the future. A significant increase in our fuel or other transportation costs could lower our operating margins and negatively impact our profitability.
Our hedging activities may prevent us from benefiting fully from increases in oil prices and may expose us to other risks, including counterparty risk.
We use derivative instruments to hedge the impact of fluctuations in oil prices on our results of operations and cash flows. To the extent that we continue to engage in hedging activities to protect ourselves against commodity price declines, we may be prevented from fully realizing the benefits of increases in oil prices above the prices established by our hedging contracts. In addition, our hedging activities may expose us to the risk of financial loss in certain circumstances, including instances in which the counterparties to our hedging contracts fail to perform under the contracts. Finally, we are subject to risks associated with the adoption of derivatives legislation and regulations related to derivative contracts which if adopted, could have an adverse impact on our ability to hedge risks associated with our business. If regulations adopted in the future require that we post margin for our hedging activities or require our counterparties to hold margin or maintain capital levels, the cost of which could be passed through to us, or impose other requirements that are more burdensome than current regulations, hedging transactions in the future would become more expensive than we experienced in the past.
Competitors that produce their own supply of feedstocks, have more extensive retail outlets, or have greater financial resources may have a competitive advantage.
The refining and re-refining industries are highly competitive with respect to both feedstock supply and refined/re-refined product markets. We compete with many companies for available supplies of feedstocks and for outlets for our products. We do not produce any of our feedstocks. Some of our competitors, however, obtain a portion of their feedstocks from their own production and some have more extensive retail outlets than we have. Competitors that have their own production or extensive retail outlets (and greater brand-name recognition) are at times able to offset losses from their operations with profits from producing or retailing operations, and may be better positioned to withstand periods of depressed margins or feedstock shortages.
Some of our competitors also have materially greater financial and other resources than we have. Such competitors have a greater ability to bear the economic risks inherent in all phases of our business. In addition, we compete with other industries that provide alternative means to satisfy the energy and fuel requirements of our industrial, commercial and individual customers.
Risks Relating to Accounting and Internal Controls
We incur significant costs as a result of operating as a fully reporting company in connection with Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act, and our management is required to devote substantial time to compliance initiatives.
We incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses in connection with our status as a fully reporting public company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) and rules subsequently implemented by the SEC have imposed various requirements on public companies, including requiring changes in corporate governance practices. As such, our management and other personnel are required to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations increase our legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more time consuming and costly. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal controls for financial reporting and disclosure of controls and procedures. Our testing has revealed deficiencies in our internal
controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses. Our compliance with Section 404 requires that we incur substantial accounting expense and expend significant management efforts. Moreover, if we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner, or if we continue to identify deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses, the market price of our stock could decline, and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which would require additional financial and management resources.
Our ability to use our net operating loss carry-forwards may be subject to limitation.
Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, substantial changes in our ownership may limit the amount of net operating loss carry-forwards that could be utilized annually in the future to offset our taxable income. Specifically, this limitation may arise in the event of a cumulative change in ownership of our company of more than 50% within a three-year period. Any such annual limitation may significantly reduce the utilization of our net operating loss carry-forwards before they expire. At December 31, 2021, the net operating loss carry-forwards are approximately $88.6 million resulting from a 382 study which was completed during 2021. Transactions that may occur in the future may trigger an ownership change pursuant to Section 382, and prior transactions may be deemed to have triggered an ownership change pursuant to Section 382, the result of which could limit the amount of net operating loss carryforwards that we can utilize annually to offset our taxable income, if any. Any such limitation could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our inventory is subject to significant impairment charges in the event the prices of oil and gas fall sharply after such inventory is acquired.
We did not have an inventory impairment charge for the years ended December 31 2021 and 2020. However, in the event, commodity prices fall sharply during any period requiring the Company to take a non-cash charge/adjustment to the value of our products in inventory taking into account the lower net realizable value for the products being held for sale, we may be required to take significant impairment charges, which could negatively affect our balance sheet, result in us not meeting certain debt ratios set forth in our credit and loan agreements, and negatively affect our cash flows. Future significant impairment charges and/or significant decreases in oil prices could have a material adverse effect on our balance sheet, debt covenants (including creating an event of default) and could further cause the value of our securities to decline in value.
We have identified material weaknesses in our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. If not remediated, our failure to establish and maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting could result in material misstatements in our financial statements and a failure to meet our reporting and financial obligations, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and the trading price of our common stock.
Maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and effective disclosure controls and procedures are necessary for us to produce reliable financial statements. As reported under “Part II” - “Item 9. Controls and Procedures”, as of December 31, 2021, our CEO and CFO have determined that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective, and such disclosure controls and procedures have not been deemed effective since approximately September 30, 2018. Separately, management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 and determined that such internal control over financial reporting was not effective as a result of such assessment, and such internal control over financial reporting has not been deemed effective since approximately September 30, 2018.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. A control deficiency exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent or detect misstatements on a timely basis. As of December 31, 2021, the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the fact that management did not maintain appropriately designed entity-level controls impacting the control environment, risk assessment procedures and effective monitoring controls to detect or prevent material misstatements to the financial statements. These deficiencies were attributed to: lack of structure and responsibility, insufficient number of qualified resources and inadequate oversight, inadequate oversight and accountability over the performance of internal control related responsibilities, ineffective assessment and identification of risks impacting internal control, and ineffective evaluation and determination as to whether the components of internal control were present and functioning, and further relate to the fact that the Company did not appropriately design and maintain effective segregation of duties controls to timely detect and independently review instances where individuals with access to post a journal entry may also have edited or created the journal entry, the Company did not design and maintain controls over the documentation of the completeness and accuracy of key
spreadsheets and reports used in financial reporting, the Company did not design and maintain effective controls over certain IT general controls for information systems that are relevant to the preparation of our financial statements, the Company did not design and maintain controls over the documentation of detective controls over Period-end Financial Reporting, specifically controls over the proper review of balance sheet reconciliations, financial statement disclosures, and significant accounting transactions, the Company did not maintain controls over the documentation relating to the accounting for revenue transactions, specifically procedures over the existence, completeness, and accuracy of data used to support accounts related to revenue and accounts receivable, the Company did not design and maintain controls over the documentation relating to the completeness and accuracy of the accounting for inventory transactions, specifically procedures over the existence, completeness, and accuracy of data used to support accounts related to inventory and cost of sales included in the financial statement close process, the Company did not maintain controls over the documentation of treasury transactions, specifically documentation of the review of the application of cash receipts and payments to customer and vendor accounts and review of the online access to bank accounts, and the Company did not maintain adequate design and controls over the documentation and review relating to income tax accounting and disclosures for the significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities.
Maintaining effective disclosure controls and procedures and effective internal control over financial reporting are necessary for us to produce reliable financial statements and the Company is committed to remediating its material weaknesses in such controls as promptly as possible. However, there can be no assurance as to when these material weaknesses will be remediated or that additional material weaknesses will not arise in the future. Any failure to remediate the material weaknesses, or the development of new material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, could result in material misstatements in our financial statements and cause us to fail to meet our reporting and financial obligations, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and the trading price of our common stock, and/or result in litigation against us or our management. In addition, even if we are successful in strengthening our controls and procedures, those controls and procedures may not be adequate to prevent or identify irregularities or facilitate the fair presentation of our financial statements or our periodic reports filed with the SEC.
Risks Relating to Acquisitions
Our strategy includes pursuing acquisitions, partnerships and joint ventures and our potential inability to successfully integrate newly-acquired companies or businesses, or successfully manage our partnerships and joint ventures may adversely affect our financial results.
In the future, we may seek to grow our business by investing in new or existing facilities or technologies, making acquisitions (similar to our pending Mobile Refinery acquisition) or entering into partnerships and joint ventures. Acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures or investments may require significant managerial attention, which may divert management from our other activities and may impair the operation of our existing businesses. Any future acquisitions of businesses or facilities could entail a number of additional risks, including:
•the failure to successfully integrate the acquired businesses or facilities or new technology into our operations;
•incurring significantly higher than anticipated capital expenditures and operating expenses;
•disrupting our ongoing business;
•dissipating our management resources;
•failing to maintain uniform standards, controls and policies;
•the inability to maintain key pre-acquisition business relationships;
•loss of key personnel of the acquired business or facility;
•incurring significant debt;
•significant dilution to existing stockholders in the event that equity is provided as part of the consideration for the transaction(s);
•exposure to unanticipated liabilities; and
•the failure to realize efficiencies, synergies and cost savings.
We may also assume liabilities and environmental liabilities as part of acquisitions. Although we will endeavor to accurately estimate and limit liabilities and environmental liabilities presented by the businesses or facilities to be acquired, some liabilities, including ones that may exist only because of the past operations of an acquired business or facility, may prove to be more difficult or costly to address than we estimate. It is also possible that government officials responsible for enforcing environmental laws may believe an environmental liability is more significant than we then estimate, or that we will fail to identify or fully appreciate an existing liability before we become legally responsible to address it. We may have no recourse, or only limited recourse, to the former owners of such properties in the event such liabilities are present. As a result, if a liability were asserted against us based upon ownership of an acquired property, we might be required to pay significant sums to settle it, which could adversely affect our financial results and cash flow.
The consolidation of our operations with the operations of acquired companies, including the consolidation of systems, procedures, personnel and facilities, the relocation of staff, and the achievement of anticipated cost savings, economies of scale and other business efficiencies, presents significant challenges to our management, particularly if several acquisitions occur at the same time. Fully integrating an acquired company or business into our operations may take a significant amount of time. We may not be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered with acquisitions. To the extent we do not successfully avoid or overcome the risks or problems related to any acquisitions, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. Future acquisitions also could impact our financial position and capital needs, and could cause substantial fluctuations in our quarterly and yearly results of operations. Acquisitions could include significant goodwill and intangible assets, which may result in future impairment charges that would reduce our stated earnings or increase our stated losses.
We may not successfully identify and complete acquisitions on favorable terms or achieve anticipated synergies relating to any acquisitions, and such acquisitions could result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures and require significant management resources.
We regularly review potential acquisitions of complementary businesses, services or products. However, we may be unable to identify suitable acquisition candidates in the future. Even if we identify appropriate acquisition candidates, we may be unable to complete or finance such acquisitions on favorable terms, if at all. In addition, the process of integrating an acquired business, service or product into our existing business and operations may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures. Integration of an acquired company also may require significant management resources that otherwise would be available for ongoing development of our business. Moreover, we may not realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition or strategic alliance and such transactions may not generate anticipated financial results. Future acquisitions could also require us to incur debt, assume contingent liabilities or amortize expenses related to intangible assets, any of which could harm our business.
Our ability to make acquisitions may be adversely impacted by our outstanding indebtedness and by the price of our stock.
Our ability to make future business acquisitions, particularly those that would be financed solely or in part through cash from operations, may be curtailed due to our obligations to make payments of principal and interest on our outstanding indebtedness. We may not have sufficient capital resources, now or in the future, and may be unable to raise sufficient additional capital resources on terms satisfactory to us, if at all, in order to meet our capital requirements for such acquisitions. In addition, the terms of our indebtedness include covenants that directly restrict, or have the effect of restricting, our ability to make certain acquisitions while this indebtedness remains outstanding. To the extent that the amount of our outstanding indebtedness has a negative impact on our stock price, using our common stock as consideration will be less attractive for potential acquisition candidates. The future trading price of our common stock could limit our willingness to use our equity as consideration and the willingness of sellers to accept our shares and as a result could limit the size and scope of our acquisition program. If we are unable to pursue strategic acquisitions that would enhance our business or operations, the potential growth of our business and revenues may be adversely affected.
The Heartland Company Agreement includes redemption rights.
Heartland SPV Class A Unit holders (common and preferred) (currently owned 65% by Tensile-Heartland and 35% by the Company) may force Heartland SPV to redeem the outstanding Class A Units at any time on or after the earlier of (a) January 17, 2025 and (ii) the occurrence of a Heartland Triggering Event. The cash purchase price for such redeemed Class A Unit will be the greater of (y) the fair market value of such units (without discount for illiquidity, minority status or otherwise) as determined by a qualified third party agreed to in writing by a majority of the holders seeking Heartland Redemption and Vertex Operating (provided that Vertex Operating still owns Class B Units on such date) and (z) the Class A preference. The preference is defined as the greater of (A) the aggregate unpaid Class A yield equal to 22.5% per year or (B) an
amount equal to the original per-unit price for such Class A Units plus fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate capital invested by the Class A Unit holders through such Heartland Redemption date.
Distributions of available cash of Heartland SPV pursuant to the Heartland Company Agreement (including pursuant to liquidations of Heartland SPV), subject to certain exceptions set forth therein, are to be made (a) first, to the holders of the Class A Preferred Units, in amount equal to the greater of (A) the aggregate unpaid Class A Yield and (B) an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate capital invested by the Class A Preferred Unit holders (initially Tensile-Heartland)(such aggregate capital invested by the Class A Preferred Unit holders, the “Heartland Invested Capital”, which totaled approximately $21 million as of the Heartland Closing Date, subject to adjustment as provided in the Heartland Share Purchase), less prior distributions (such greater amount of (A) and (B), the “Class A Preferred Priority Distributions”); (b) second, the Class A Preferred Unitholders, together as a separate and distinct class, are entitled to receive an amount equal to the aggregate Heartland Invested Capital; (c) third, the Class B Unitholders (other than Class B Unitholders which received Class B Units upon conversion of Class A Preferred Units), together as a separate and distinct class, are entitled to receive all or a portion of any distribution equal to the sum of all distributions made under sections (a) and (b) above; and (d) fourth, to the holders of Units who are eligible to receive such distributions in proportion to the number of Units held by such holders.
The exercise of the redemption rights may have an adverse effect on the Company, its revenues, and/or prospects, and may cause the value of its securities to decline in value or become worthless.
The MG Company Agreement includes redemption rights.
The MG SPV Class B Unit holders may force MG SPV (currently owned 85% by the Company and 15% by Tensile-MG) to redeem the outstanding Class B Units at any time on or after the earlier of (a) July 26, 2024 and (b) the occurrence of an applicable triggering event. The cash purchase price for such redeemed Class B Units is the greater of (y) the fair market value of such units (without discount for illiquidity, minority status or otherwise) as determined by a qualified third party and (z) the Class B preference. Preference is defined as the greater of (A) the aggregate unpaid Class B yield, which equals 22.5% per annum and (B) an amount equal to original per-unit price for such Class B Units plus fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate capital invested by the Class B Unit holders through such redemption date. MG SPV may not have sufficient funds to redeem such Class B Units on such required redemption date and/or the Company may be forced to advance funds to MG SPV to allow it to complete such redemption, if such redemption is triggered.
Distributions of available cash of MG SPV pursuant to the MG Company Agreement (including pursuant to liquidations of MG SPV), subject to certain exemptions and exemptions set forth therein, are to be made (a) first, to the holders of the Class B Units, in an amount equal to the greater of (A) the aggregate unpaid “Class B Yield” (equal to an annual return of 22.5% per annum) and (B) an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate capital invested by the Class B Unit holders (initially Tensile-MG)(such aggregate capital invested by the Class B Unit holders, the “MG Invested Capital”, which totals $3 million as of the Closing Date), less prior distributions (the greater amount of (A) and (B), the “Class B Priority Distributions”); (b) second, the Class B Unitholders, together as a separate and distinct class, are entitled to receive an amount equal to the aggregate MG Invested Capital; (c) third, the Class A Unitholders (other than Class A Unitholders which received Class A Units upon conversion of Class B Units), together as a separate and distinct class, are entitled to receive all or a portion of any distribution equal to the sum of all distributions made under sections (a) and (b) above; and (d) fourth, to the holders of Units who are eligible to receive such distributions in proportion to the number of Units held by such holders.
The exercise of the redemption rights may have an adverse effect on the Company, its revenues, and/or prospects, and may cause the value of its securities to decline in value or become worthless.
Our acquisitions may expose us to unknown liabilities.
Because we have acquired, and expect generally to acquire in the future, all the outstanding shares of certain of our acquisition targets, our investment in those companies are or will be subject to all of their liabilities other than their respective debts which we paid or will pay at the time of the acquisitions. If there are unknown liabilities or other obligations, our business could be materially affected. We may also experience issues relating to internal controls over financial reporting that could affect our ability to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or that could affect our ability to comply with other applicable laws.
Legal, Environmental, Governmental and Regulatory Risks
Currently pending or future litigation or governmental proceedings could result in material adverse consequences, including judgments or settlements.
From time to time, we are involved in lawsuits, regulatory inquiries and may be involved in governmental and other legal proceedings arising out of the ordinary course of our business. For example, we are currently involved in ongoing lawsuits seeking damages relating to alleged noxious and harmful emissions from our facility located in Marrero, Louisiana and ongoing issues in connection with Penthol LLC’s termination of the June 2016 Sales and Marketing Agreement. Each of these matters are described in greater detail under “Part II” - “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Note 4. Concentrations, Significant Customers, Commitments and Contingencies”, under the heading “Litigation”. Many of these matters raise difficult and complicated factual and legal issues and are subject to uncertainties and complexities. The timing of the final resolutions to these matters (including pending matters) is often uncertain. Additionally, the possible outcomes or resolutions to these matters could include adverse judgments or settlements, either of which could require substantial payments, adversely affecting our results of operations and liquidity.
Climate change may adversely affect our facilities and our ongoing operations.
The potential physical effects of climate change on our operations are highly uncertain and depend upon the unique geographic and environmental factors present. Examples of such effects include rising sea levels at our coastal facilities, changing storm patterns and intensities, and changing temperature levels. As many of our facilities are located near coastal areas, rising sea levels may disrupt our ability to operate those facilities or transport feedstock and products. Extended periods of such disruption could have an adverse effect on our results of operation. We could also incur substantial costs to protect or repair these facilities.
We are subject to numerous environmental and other laws and regulations and, to the extent we are found to be in violation of any such laws and regulations, our business could be materially and adversely affected.
We are subject to extensive federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment which, among other things:
•regulate the collection, transportation, handling, processing and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes;
•impose liability on persons involved in generating, handling, processing, transporting or disposing hazardous materials;
•impose joint and several liability for remediation and clean-up of environmental contamination; and
•require financial assurance that funds will be available for the closure and post-closure care of sites where hazardous wastes are stored, processed or disposed.
The breadth and complexity of all of these laws and regulations impacting us make consistent compliance extremely difficult and often result in increased operating and compliance costs, including requiring the implementation of new programs to promote compliance. Even with these programs, we and other companies in the industry are routinely faced with legal and administrative proceedings which can result in civil and criminal penalties, interruption of business operations, fines or other sanctions and require expenditures.
Our operations involve the risks of fuel spillage or seepage, environmental damage and hazardous waste disposal, among others. If we are involved in a spill or other accident involving hazardous substances, or if we are found to be in violation of applicable environmental laws or regulations, it could significantly increase our cost of doing business.
Additionally, under current law, we may be held liable for damage caused by conditions that existed before we acquired our assets and/or before we took control of our leased properties or if we arranged for the transportation, disposal or treatment of hazardous substances that cause environmental contamination. In the future, we may be subject to monetary fines, civil or criminal penalties, remediation, clean-up or stop orders, injunctions, orders to cease or suspend certain practices or denial of permits required to operate our facilities and conduct our operations. The outcome of any proceeding and associated costs and expenses could have a material adverse impact on our operations and financial condition.
Our trucking operations are subject to a number of federal, state and local rules and regulations generally governing such activities as authorization to engage in motor carrier operations, safety compliance and reporting, contract compliance, insurance requirements, taxation and financial reporting. We could be subject to new or more restrictive regulations, such as regulations relating to engine emissions, drivers’ hours of service, occupational safety and health, ergonomics or cargo security. Compliance with such regulations could substantially reduce equipment productivity, and the costs of compliance could increase our operating expenses.
Environmental laws also govern the presence, maintenance and removal of asbestos-containing building materials, or ACBMs, and may impose fines and penalties for failure to comply with these requirements. Such laws require that owners or operators of buildings containing ACBM (and employers in such buildings) properly manage and maintain the asbestos, adequately notify or train those who may come into contact with asbestos, and undertake special precautions, including removal or other abatement, if asbestos would be disturbed during renovation or demolition of a building or plant. In addition, the presence of ACBM in our properties or plants may expose us to third-party liability (e.g., liability for personal injury associated with exposure to asbestos).
Environmental laws and regulations are subject to change and may become increasingly stringent or relaxed. Interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and regulations, or the adoption of new laws and regulations, may require us to modify or curtail our operations or replace or upgrade our facilities or equipment at substantial costs which we may not be able to pass on to our customers. On the other hand, if new laws and regulations are less stringent, then our customers or competitors may be able to compete with us more effectively, without reliance on our services, which could decrease the need for our services and/or increase competition which could adversely affect our revenues and profitability, if any.
We are required to obtain and maintain permits, licenses and approvals to conduct our operations in compliance with such laws and regulations. If we are unable to maintain our currently held permits, licenses and approvals, we may not be able to continue certain of our operations. If we are unable to obtain any additional permits, licenses and approvals which may be required as we expand our operations, we may be forced to curtail or abandon our current and/or future planned business operations.
In addition, mandatory fuel standards have been adopted in many jurisdictions which can be costly to implement and maintain compliance. For example, the International Maritime Organization required, as of January 1, 2020, that ships must comply with new low sulfur fuel oil requirements (“IMO 2020”). Shipping companies were able to comply with this requirement by either using fuel with low sulfur content, which is more expensive than standard marine fuel, or by upgrading vessels to provide cleaner exhaust emissions, such as by installing “scrubbers” or retrofitting vessels to be powered by liquefied natural gas (“LNG”). The continued cost of compliance with these regulatory changes may be significant for shipping companies and it is uncertain how the availability and price of fuel globally will be affected by the implementation of the IMO 2020 regulations as refineries adjust their capacity to increase production of compliant fuels. These and future changes to applicable standards or other more stringent requirements in the industries we serve could reduce our ability to procure feedstocks, reduce our margins, increase our operational expenses, increase fuel prices, require us to incur additional handling costs and/or require the expenditure of capital. To the extent these expenditures, as with all costs, are not ultimately reflected in the prices of our products or we are unable to adequately source compliant fuels, our business and result of operations would be adversely affected. Furthermore, IMO 2020 and/or other regulations may decrease demand for our products or force us to change the mix of products we offer. With the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020, it has been hard to see the real impact of IMO 2020 on our operations; however, so far, we are seeing strong demand for our finished products.
Environmental risks and regulations may adversely affect our business.
All phases of designing, constructing and operating our refining and re-refining plants present environmental risks and hazards. We are subject to environmental regulation implemented or imposed by a variety of federal, state and municipal laws and regulations as well as international conventions. Among other things, environmental legislation provides for restrictions and prohibitions on spills and discharges, as well as emissions of various substances produced in association with our operations. Legislation also requires that facility sites be operated, maintained, abandoned and reclaimed in such a way that would satisfy applicable regulatory authorities. Compliance with such legislation can require significant expenditures and a breach could result in the imposition of fines and penalties, some of which could be material. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner we expect may result in stricter standards and enforcement, larger fines and liability, as well as potentially increased capital expenditures and operating costs. The presence or discharge of pollutants in or into the air, soil or water may give rise to liabilities to governments and third parties and may require us to incur costs to remedy such presence or discharge.
Environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and permit requirements, and the potential for further expanded laws, regulations and permit requirements may increase our costs or reduce demand for our products and thereby negatively
affect our business. Environmental permits required for our operations are subject to periodic renewal and may be revoked or modified for cause or when new or revised environmental requirements are implemented. Changing and increasingly strict environmental requirements and the potential for further expanded regulation may increase our costs and can affect the manufacturing, handling, processing, distribution and use of our products. If so affected, our business and operations may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, changes in these requirements may cause us to incur substantial costs in upgrading or redesigning our facilities and processes, including our waste treatment, storage, disposal and other waste handling practices and equipment. For these reasons, we may need to make capital expenditures beyond those currently anticipated to comply with existing or future environmental or safety laws. The application of environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and permit requirements to our business may cause us to limit our production, significantly increase the costs of our operations and activities, reduce the market for our products or to otherwise adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations or prospects.
Climate change legislation or regulations restricting emissions of greenhouse gases could result in increased operating and capital costs and reduced demand for our products.
There is a significant number of scientific studies showing that emissions of greenhouse gases, or GHGs, such as carbon dioxide and methane, are linked to climate change. Climate change and the costs that may be associated with its impacts and the regulation of GHGs affect our business in many ways, including negatively impacting the costs of our operations, transportation costs, feedstock costs and demand for our products (due to changes in both costs and weather patterns).
In recent years, the U.S. Congress has from time to time considered adopting new and expanded legislation to reduce emissions of GHGs and several states have already taken legal measures to reduce emissions of GHGs primarily through the planned development of GHG emission inventories and/or regional GHG cap and trade programs. Most of these cap-and-trade programs work by requiring major sources of emissions, such as electric power plants, or major producers of fuels, such as refineries and gas processing plants, to acquire and surrender emission allowances. The number of allowances available for purchase is generally reduced each year in an effort to achieve the overall GHG emission reduction goal.
Depending on the scope of a particular program, we could be required to purchase and surrender allowances for GHG emissions resulting from our operations. Although most of the state-level initiatives have to date been focused on large sources of GHG emissions, such as electric power plants, it is possible that smaller sources such as our operations could become subject to GHG-related regulation. Depending on the particular program, we could be required to control emissions or to purchase and surrender allowances for GHG emissions resulting from our operations. Independent of Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has adopted regulations controlling GHG emissions under its existing Clean Air Act authority. For example, on December 15, 2009, the EPA officially published its findings that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other GHGs present an endangerment to human health and the environment because emissions of such gases are, according to the EPA, contributing to warming of the earth’s atmosphere and other climatic changes. These findings by the EPA allow the agency to proceed with the adoption and implementation of regulations that would restrict emissions of greenhouse gases under existing provisions of the federal Clean Air Act. In 2009, the EPA adopted rules regarding regulation of GHG emissions from motor vehicles. In 2010, EPA also issued a final rule, known as the “Tailoring Rule,” that makes certain large stationary sources and modification projects subject to permitting requirements for greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. In addition, on September 22, 2009, the EPA issued a final rule requiring the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from specified large greenhouse gas emission sources in the U.S. beginning in 2011 for emissions occurring in 2010. None of our facilities currently generate enough greenhouse gasses to be subject to this reporting requirement under this rule, but we could become subject to such reporting requirements in the future.
Although it is not possible at this time to accurately estimate how potential future laws or regulations addressing greenhouse gas emissions would impact our business, any future federal laws or implementation of regulations that may be adopted to address greenhouse gas emissions could require us to incur increased operating costs and could adversely affect demand for our feedstocks and resulting products, and/or increase our transportation costs. The potential increase in the costs of our operations resulting from any legislation or regulation to restrict emissions of greenhouse gases could include new or increased costs to operate and maintain our facilities, install new emission controls on our facilities, acquire allowances to authorize our greenhouse gas emissions, pay any taxes related to our greenhouse gas emissions and administer and manage a greenhouse gas emissions program. While we may be able to include some or all of such increased costs in the rates charged for our products, such recovery of costs is uncertain. Moreover, incentives to conserve energy or use alternative energy sources could reduce demand for our products and/or lower the supply of our feedstocks. We cannot predict with any certainty at this time how these possibilities may affect our operations. Many scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth’s atmosphere may produce climate change that could have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts, and floods and other climatic events; if such effects were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on our operations.
The adoption of regulations implementing recent financial reform legislation could impede our ability to manage business and financial risks by restricting our use of derivative instruments as hedges against fluctuating commodity prices.
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) establishes federal oversight and regulation of over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives and requires the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) to enact further regulations affecting derivatives, including those we use to hedge our commodity exposure. Although the CFTC and the SEC have issued final regulations in certain areas, final rules in other areas and the scope of relevant definitions and/or exemptions still remain to be finalized.
The above regulations and rules could increase the costs to us of entering into derivatives to hedge or mitigate our commodity price exposure. If we voluntarily or involuntarily reduce our use of derivative contracts as a result of the new requirements, we become more exposed to commodity price fluctuations, which could adversely affect our ability to conduct our operations and/or hedge against falling prices, the result of which may mean more extreme swings in our results of operations and ultimately a decline in the value of our securities.
We could be subject to involuntary shutdowns or be required to pay significant monetary damages or remediation costs if we are found to be a responsible party for the improper handling or the release of hazardous substances.
As a company engaged in the sale, handling, transportation, storage, recycling and disposal of materials that are or may be classified as hazardous by federal, state, provincial or other regulatory agencies, we face risks of liability for environmental contamination. The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, or “CERCLA” or Superfund, and similar state laws impose strict liability for clean-up costs on current or former owners and operators of facilities that release hazardous substances into the environment, as well as on the businesses that generate those substances or transport them. As a potentially responsible party, or “PRP,” we may be liable under CERCLA for substantial investigation and cleanup costs even if we operate our business properly and comply with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. Liability under CERCLA may be joint and several, which means that if we were found to be a business with responsibility for a particular CERCLA site, we could be required to pay the entire cost of the investigation and cleanup, even though we were not the party responsible for the release of the hazardous substance and even though other companies might also be liable. Even if we are able to identify who the other responsible parties might be, we may not be able to compel them to contribute to the remediation costs, or they might be insolvent or unable to contribute due to lack of financial resources.
Our facilities, the Mobile Refinery (which we plan to acquire), and the facilities of our clients and third-party contractors may have generated, used, handled and/or disposed of hazardous substances and other regulated wastes. Environmental liabilities could exist, including cleanup obligations at these facilities or at off-site locations, which could result in future expenditures that cannot be currently quantified and which could materially reduce our profits. In addition, new services or products offered by us could expose us to further environmental liabilities for which we have no historical experience and cannot estimate our potential exposure to liabilities.
Risks Related to Our Common Carrier Operations
We face competition from other common carriers and transportation providers.
Crossroads is a common carrier that provides transportation and logistical services for liquid petroleum products, as well as other hazardous materials and waste streams. We face competition from trucking companies, railroads, motor carriers and, to a lesser extent, ships and barges. In addition to price competition, we face competition with respect to transit times and quality and reliability of service. Any future improvements or expenditures materially increasing the quality or reducing the cost of alternative modes of transportation, automating transportation and/or increased competition from competitors, including competitors with more resources than us, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity. Additionally, any future consolidation of the trucking industry could materially affect the competitive environment in which we operate.
Risks Related to Our Securities
Our Chief Executive Officer, Benjamin P. Cowart, has significant voting control over us, and Mr. Cowart, as a significant shareholder, may, take actions that are not in the interests of other stockholders.
Benjamin P. Cowart, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, beneficially owns approximately 15.5% of our common stock and approximately 11.7% of our total voting stock, and as such, Mr. Cowart exercises significant control in
determining the outcome of corporate transactions or other matters, including the election of directors, mergers, consolidations, the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, and also the power to prevent or cause a change in control. The interests of Mr. Cowart may differ from the interests of the other stockholders and thus result in corporate decisions that are adverse to other stockholders. Should conflicts of interest arise, Mr. Cowart may not act in the best interests of our other stockholders and conflicts of interest may not be resolved in a manner favorable to our other stockholders.
We currently have a volatile market for our common stock, and the market for our common stock is and may remain volatile in the future.
We currently have a volatile market for our common stock, which market is anticipated to remain volatile in the future, and will likely be subject to wide fluctuations in response to several factors, including, but not limited to:
•actual or anticipated variations in our results of operations;
•plans for acquisitions, timing of planned projects and availability of funding;
•our ability or inability to generate revenues;
•the number of shares in our public float;
•increased competition; and
•conditions and trends in the market for oil refining and re-refining services, transportation services and oil feedstock.
Our common stock is currently listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market. The 52 week trading range of our common stock has fluctuated between $1.14 per share on March 9, 2021, and $14.32 per share on June 30, 2021. Our stock price may be impacted by factors that are unrelated or disproportionate to our operating performance. These market fluctuations, as well as general economic, political and market conditions, such as recessions, interest rates or international currency fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Stockholders and potential investors in our common stock should exercise caution before making an investment in us, and should not rely solely on the publicly quoted or traded stock prices in determining our common stock value, but should instead determine the value of our common stock based on the information contained in our public reports, industry information, and those business valuation methods commonly used to value private companies.
Additionally, the market price of our common stock historically has fluctuated significantly based on, but not limited to, such factors as general stock market trends, announcements of developments related to our business, actual or anticipated variations in our operating results, our ability or inability to generate new revenues, and conditions and trends in the industries in which our customers are engaged.
In recent years, the stock market in general has experienced extreme price fluctuations that have oftentimes been unrelated to the operating performance of the affected companies. Similarly, the market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly based upon factors unrelated or disproportionate to our operating performance. These market fluctuations, as well as general economic, political and market conditions, such as recessions, interest rates or international currency fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Our outstanding options and convertible securities may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.
As of the date of the filing, we had (i) outstanding stock options to purchase an aggregate of 4,195,168 shares of common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $1.73 per share; (ii) outstanding warrants to purchase 1,500,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.25; and (iii) 381,155 outstanding shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (which convert on a one-for-one basis (subject to adjustments for stock splits and recapitalizations) into common stock). For the life of the options and warrants, the holders have the opportunity to profit from a rise in the market price of our common stock without assuming the risk of ownership. The issuance of shares upon the exercise of outstanding securities will also dilute the ownership interests of our existing stockholders.
The availability of these shares for public resale, as well as any actual resales of these shares, could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock. We cannot predict the size of future issuances of our common stock pursuant to the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or conversion of other securities, or the effect, if any, that future issuances and sales of shares of our common stock may have on the market price of our common stock. Sales or distributions of substantial
amounts of our common stock (including shares issued in connection with an acquisition), or the perception that such sales could occur, may cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
In addition, the common stock issuable upon exercise/conversion of outstanding convertible securities may represent overhang that may also adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Overhang occurs when there is a greater supply of a company’s stock in the market than there is demand for that stock. When this happens the price of our stock will decrease, and any additional shares which stockholders attempt to sell in the market will only further decrease the share price. If the share volume of our common stock cannot absorb shares sold by holders of our outstanding convertible securities, then the value of our common stock will likely decrease.
Risks Relating to our Preferred Stock
We have established preferred stock which can be designated by the Board of Directors without shareholder approval and have established Series A Preferred Stock, which give the holders thereof a liquidation preference.
We have 50 million shares of preferred stock authorized, which includes 5 million shares of designated Series A Preferred Stock of which 381,155 shares are issued and outstanding, 10 million designated shares of Series B Preferred Stock, of which no shares are issued and outstanding, and 17 million designated shares of Series B1 Preferred Stock, of which no shares are issued and outstanding. The Series A Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $1.49 per share. As a result, if we were to dissolve, liquidate or sell our assets, the holders of our Series A Preferred Stock would have the right to receive up to the first approximately $0.6 million in proceeds from any such transaction. The payment of the liquidation preferences could result in common stock stockholders not receiving any consideration if we were to liquidate, dissolve or wind up, either voluntarily or involuntarily. Additionally, the existence of the liquidation preference may reduce the value of our common stock, make it harder for us to sell shares of common stock in offerings in the future, or prevent or delay a change of control. Because our board of directors is entitled to designate the powers and preferences of the preferred stock without a vote of our stockholders, subject to Nasdaq rules and regulations, our stockholders will have no control over what designations and preferences our future preferred stock, if any, will have.
Risks Related to the Planned Acquisition of the Mobile Refinery and Planned Acquisition of 100% of Heartland SPV and MG SPV
Completion of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery is subject to certain conditions, and if these conditions are not satisfied or waived, the acquisition will not be completed.
The obligations of the parties to the Mobile Refinery acquisition agreement to complete such sale and purchase are subject to satisfaction or waiver (if permitted) of a number of conditions. The satisfaction of all of the required conditions could delay the completion of the transaction for a significant period of time or prevent it from occurring. Any delay in completing the acquisition could cause the Company not to realize some or all of the benefits that the Company expects to achieve if the acquisition is successfully completed within its expected time frame. Further, there can be no assurance that the conditions to the closing of the acquisition will be satisfied or waived or that the acquisition will be completed.
Failure to complete the Mobile Refinery acquisition could negatively impact our stock price and future business and financial results.
If the Mobile Refinery acquisition is not completed, our ongoing business may be adversely affected and we would be subject to a number of risks, including the following:
•we will not realize the benefits expected from the Mobile Refinery acquisition, including a potentially enhanced competitive and financial position, expansion of assets and therefore opportunities, and will instead be subject to all the risks we currently face as an independent company;
•we may experience negative reactions from the financial markets and our partners and employees;
•the Mobile Refinery acquisition places certain restrictions on the conduct of our business prior to the completion of the Mobile Refinery acquisition or the termination of the Mobile Refinery acquisition. Such restrictions, the waiver of which is subject to the consent of the counterparties to such agreement, may prevent us from making certain acquisitions, taking certain other specified actions or otherwise pursuing business opportunities during the pendency of the Mobile Refinery acquisition; and
•matters relating to the Mobile Refinery acquisition (including integration planning) may require substantial commitments of time and resources by our management, which would otherwise have been devoted to other opportunities that may have been beneficial to us.
Significant costs are expected to be incurred in connection with the consummation of the Mobile Refinery acquisition and integration of the Company and the Mobile Refinery into a single business, including legal, accounting, financial advisory and other costs.
If the Mobile Refinery acquisition is consummated, the Company is expected to incur significant costs in connection with integrating the Mobile Refinery operations. These costs may include costs for:
• employee redeployment, relocation or severance;
•integration of information systems; and
• reorganization or closures of facilities.
In addition, the Company expects to incur a number of non-recurring costs associated with combining the operations of the Mobile Refinery, which cannot be estimated accurately at this time. The Company will also incur transaction fees and other costs related to the Mobile Refinery acquisition. Additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in the integration of the Mobile Refinery. Upon completion of the Mobile Acquisition, and provided that our fundraising initiatives are successful, we plan to complete the Conversion for an additional cost of approximately $72.0 million. Although we expect that the elimination of duplicative costs, as well as the realization of other efficiencies related to the integration of the businesses, may offset incremental transaction and transaction-related costs over time, this net benefit may not be achieved in the near term, or at all. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in these integration efforts.
Combining the Mobile Refinery and the Company may be more difficult, costly or time-consuming than expected and the Company may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery, including expected financial and operating performance of the Company.
The success of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery will depend, in part, on the Company’s ability to realize anticipated cost savings from combining the businesses of the Company and the Mobile Refinery. To realize the anticipated benefits and cost savings from the Mobile Refinery acquisition, the Company must successfully integrate and combine the business of the Mobile Refinery in a manner that permits those cost savings to be realized. If the Company is not able to successfully achieve this objective, the anticipated benefits of the Mobile Refinery may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected.
The Company and the Mobile Refinery have operated, and until the completion of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery, must continue to operate independently. It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, the disruption of our ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies that adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with customers, suppliers and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits and cost savings. Integration efforts may also divert management attention and resources. These integration matters could have an adverse effect on each of the Company and the Mobile Refinery during this transition period and for an undetermined period after completion of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery.
We will need to raise significant additional capital to complete the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery, a planned capital project, and to pay other expenses associated with the Mobile Refinery.
The initial base purchase price for the Mobile Refinery is $75.0 million, and together with related assets and other costs payable at closing, the total purchase price is expected to be approximately $86.7 million. The funds from the sale of the Convertible Notes will not be sufficient, on their own, to allow us to complete the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery, and we currently estimate that we will need approximately an additional $53.0 million to complete such acquisition (in addition to amounts from the Convertible Note offering currently held in escrow which are anticipated to be used to pay the purchase price for the Mobile Refinery). We plan to raise this funding through the Term Loan, described above under “Item 1. Business—Recent Transactions—Commitment Letter”, which we have received a Commitment Letter in connection with, in the amount of $125 million, which will be a three year, first-lien senior secured term loan facility. In addition, we are also required to pay for the hydrocarbon inventory located at the Mobile Refinery, as valued at closing, and the purchase price is subject to other customary purchase price adjustments and reimbursement for certain capital expenditures. Upon completion of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery and provided that our fundraising initiatives are successful, we plan to follow through with completion
of the Conversion at an additional cost of approximately $72.0 million, for a total cost of the Conversion of approximately $85.0 million. We also anticipate the need for approximately $125.0 million of working capital in connection with the Mobile Refinery. We currently anticipate raising such additional required funding for the Mobile Acquisition and other items described above through the Term Loan and a secured working capital facility in the amount of approximately $125.0 million. However, we have not entered into any definitive agreements regarding such funding to date (other than the Commitment Letter and an escrow agreement relating to the Term Loan, provided that such Term Loan remains subject to various conditions to closing), and such funding may not be available on favorable terms, if at all. If debt financing is available and obtained, our interest expense may increase and we may be subject to the risk of default, depending on the terms of such financing. If equity financing is available and obtained it may result in our stockholders’ experiencing significant dilution. If such financing is unavailable, we may be unable to complete the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery and/or may be unable to complete the planned capital project.
We anticipate financing a portion of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery by way of the secured Term Loan, and financing certain working capital and other amounts by way of a secured working capital facility, both of which are expected to be secured by a priority security interest in substantially all of our assets.
As described above, we currently anticipate raising required funding to complete the Mobile Acquisition, to complete a planned capital project thereon, and for working capital, through the entry into the Term Loan in the amount of $125.0 million and a secured working capital facility in the amount of approximately $125.0 million. While we have entered into a Commitment Letter relating to the Term Loan, we have not entered into any definitive documents relating to the secured working capital facility to date. In the event that such funding is available to us, and we are able to borrow such planned funding, we anticipate our obligations under the debt facilities being secured by a priority security interest in substantially all of our assets, with the Term Loan being secured by a first priority security interest in the Mobile Refinery, assuming we are successful in closing the acquisition of such refinery, and the working capital facility being secured by a first priority security interest in our inventory and receivables. We further expect that substantially all of our subsidiaries would be required to guarantee our obligations under such loan facilities. As such, our creditors will likely have security interests over our assets and/or our subsidiaries which secure the repayment of such obligations, and in the event we default under such facilities, the lenders may be able to take control of our assets and operations, force a sale of our assets, force us to seek bankruptcy protection, or force us to curtail or abandon our current business plans and operations. If that were to happen, any investment in the Company (including, but not limited to any investment in our common stock) could become worthless.
The borrowing of funds under the Term Loan remains subject to various conditions precedent which may not be met on a timely basis, if at all, are subject to a Commitment Letter which may require significant interest payments before funding, and may be subject to various covenants and requirements, and the terms of such funding may materially adversely affect current stockholders.
On February 17, 2022, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Vertex Refining Alabama LLC, entered into the Commitment Letter with a syndicate of lenders in respect of a three-year, $125 million first-lien senior secured term loan facility (the Term Loan). The closing date and the funding of the Term Loan are subject to the closing of the Company’s planned acquisition of the Mobile Refinery, in addition to various conditions precedent, as set forth in more detail in the Commitment Letter. The Term Loan proceeds are expected to be used by the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Mobile Refinery, a portion of a planned renewable diesel conversion project at the Mobile Refinery, liquidity needs, and certain fees and expenses associated with the closing of the Term Loan. The Term Loan is expected to be secured by substantially all of the present and after-acquired assets of the Company and its subsidiaries and to be guaranteed by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries.
The commitments and undertakings of the lenders under the Commitment Letter will automatically terminate on the first to occur of (a) April 1, 2022, (b) consummation of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery without use of the facility or if the lenders become aware of a breach of the exclusivity provisions of the Commitment Letter, (c) the closing date of the Term Loan and the release of the Term Loan proceeds to the Company, (d) the termination of the Refinery Purchase Agreement in accordance with its terms prior to the closing date and (e) the date upon which the Company breaches its obligations under the Commitment Letter or otherwise fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the Commitment Letter (unless such breach or failure is cured within two (2) business days following the Company’s receipt of notice of such breach or failure).
The Term Loan will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the greater of (x) the per annum rate publicly quoted from time to time by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States minus 1.50% as in effect on such day and (y) the Fed Funds rate for such day plus 0.50% (subject to a floor of 1.0%), plus (ii) 8.75%. The facility will also be issued with an original issue discount of 1.5%. Beginning on the first anniversary of the closing date of the facility, the loan will amortize in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 5.0% of the original principal amount of
the facility. The facility will be subject to certain mandatory prepayment obligations and to be further documented in the definitive loan agreements.
Additionally, subject to the terms of the Commitment Letter, we entered into an escrow agreement on March 2, 2022, pursuant to which the Lenders deposited their pro rata amount of the $125 million Term Loan proceeds, less certain expenses. The Company is required to pay a ‘ticking fee’ equal to 10.5% per annum on the gross aggregate amount of escrow account proceeds, beginning on March 2, 2022, which was the date funds were deposited, into the escrow account. Such funds will be released to (i) Vertex Refining if the Credit Agreement with the Lenders is entered into by April 1, 2022, and certain other conditions precedent are satisfied by that date or (ii) the Lenders if (a) the Credit Agreement is not entered into by such date and the other conditions precedent are not satisfied, (b) the Acquisition (as defined below) is consummated without use of the loan amount under the Credit Agreement or if the Lenders become aware of a breach under the exclusivity provision of the Commitment Letter, (c) the termination of the Refinery Purchase Agreement, in accordance with its terms prior to the closing date of the Credit Agreement, or (d) the date upon which Vertex Refining breaches its obligations under the Commitment Letter or otherwise fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the Commitment Letter (unless such breach or failure is cured within two business days following Vertex Refining’s receipt of notice of such breach or failure).
As a closing condition to the facility, the Company will issue warrants (the “Lender Warrants”) to purchase 2.75 million shares of common stock of Vertex to the lenders, on a pro-rata basis based on each lender’s lending commitments. The Lender Warrants will be subject to customary registration and antidilution rights, have a three-year term and a $4.50 per share exercise price. The lenders also received certain exclusivity rights for future fundings of the Company, relating to any transaction that would replace all or any portion of the funding under the facility, as described in greater detail in the Commitment Letter.
The obligation of the lenders party to the Commitment Letter to honor their respective commitments under the Commitment Letter is subject to satisfaction (or waiver) of certain conditions precedent, including, without limitation, the negotiation and receipt of customary closing documents, together with certain collateral documents, execution of a working capital credit agreement by the Company and certain third party lenders, execution of an intercreditor agreement, the issuance of the Lender Warrants, the consummation of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery, substantially simultaneously with the initial borrowings under the facility, completion of applicable “know your customer” requests and delivery of documentation related thereto, no material adverse effect with respect to the Company, the occurrence of no events of default, completion of lender due diligence, payment of required fees, delivery of customary financial reporting information, specified representations and warranties, perfection of certain security interests, and delivery of customary opinions. The Company will pay certain fees and expenses in connection with obtaining the facility. Given the conditional nature of the Commitment Letter and the commitments of the lenders thereunder, the lenders may not be obligated to provide funding under the planned facility, and, as a result, the Company may not be able to consummate such financing or obtain such loan funds, on the terms described in the Commitment Letter, if at all.
In the event the lenders fail to comply with their obligations under the Commitment Letter to fund the Term Loan, the Commitment Letter is terminated, the conditions to funding the Term Loan are not met, or the Company otherwise does not receive the funding from the Term Loan, the Company may be unable to complete the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery, which may have a material adverse effect on its projected results of operations and future business plans. The Company may be required to pay significant interest on amounts escrowed in connection with the Term Loan, which funds will not be available to the Company prior to the closing of the Mobile Refinery acquisition, and may reduce the Company’s cash flow. The Term Loan may be subject to covenants and requirements which may impair the Company’s ability to borrow additional capital and/or may restrict future business activities. The exercise of the Lender Warrants and the anti-dilution rights associated therewith may cause significant dilution to existing stockholders.
Our failure to comply with the covenants in any documents governing future indebtedness could materially adversely affect our financial condition and liquidity.
In connection with our planned credit facilities discussed above (including the planned Term Loan), we anticipate being subject to certain affirmative and negative covenants and to be subject to financial covenants. A breach of any of these covenants, if uncured or unwaived, could lead to an event of default, which in some circumstances could give our creditors the right to demand that we accelerate repayment of amounts due and/or enforce their rights under the debt agreements. This would likely, in turn, trigger cross-acceleration or cross-default rights in other documents governing our indebtedness, including the Convertible Notes. Therefore, in the event of any such breach, we may need to seek covenant waivers or amendments from our creditors or seek alternative or additional sources of financing, and we may not be able to obtain any such waivers or amendments or alternative or additional financing on acceptable terms, if at all. In addition, any covenant breach or event of default could harm our credit rating and our ability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms. The occurrence of any of
these events could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and liquidity and/or cause our lenders to pursue enforcement remedies available to them under their respective debt agreements which could ultimately result in foreclosure, which would have a material adverse effect on our operations and the value of our securities. As a result, we may be unable to pay amounts due under such future planned debt facilities or on the Convertible Notes, including upon maturity, and the value of our common stock may decline in value or become worthless.
Upon the closing of the Mobile Refinery acquisition, we plan to transition the majority of our business operations to those of the Mobile Refinery.
Following the closing of the Mobile Refinery acquisition, we anticipate that the more significant portion of our assets and operations will be related to such Mobile Refinery. Our change in business structure may not be successful. Additionally, our directors and officers may not be able to properly manage our new direction. If our new management fails to properly manage and direct our operations, we may be forced to scale back or abandon our planned operations, which may cause the value of our securities to decline or become worthless.
We will be subject to business uncertainties and contractual restrictions while the Mobile Refinery acquisition is pending.
Uncertainty about the effect of the Mobile Refinery acquisition on employees and partners may have an adverse effect on us. These uncertainties may impair our ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel until the Mobile Refinery acquisition is completed, and could cause partners and others that deal with us to seek to change existing business relationships, cease doing business with us or cause potential new partners to delay doing business with us until the Mobile Refinery acquisition has been successfully completed or terminated. Retention of certain employees may be challenging during the pendency of the Mobile Refinery acquisition, as certain employees may experience uncertainty about their future roles or compensation structure. If key employees depart because of issues relating to the uncertainty and difficulty of integration or a desire not to remain with the business, our business following the Mobile Refinery acquisition could be negatively impacted. In addition, the Mobile Refinery acquisition restricts us from making certain acquisitions and taking other specified actions until the Mobile Refinery acquisition is completed without certain consents and approvals. These restrictions may prevent us from pursuing attractive business opportunities that may arise prior to the completion of the Mobile Refinery acquisition.
The Mobile Refinery acquisition agreement may be terminated in accordance with its terms and the Mobile Refinery acquisition may not be completed.
The Mobile Refinery acquisition agreement is subject to several conditions that must be fulfilled in order to complete the Mobile Refinery acquisition. These conditions to the closing of the Mobile Refinery acquisition may not be fulfilled and, accordingly, the Mobile Refinery acquisition may not be completed. In addition, the parties to the Mobile Refinery acquisition agreement can generally terminate such agreement if the transactions contemplated thereby do not close by May 26, 2022 (subject to certain extension rights), under certain other conditions if the terms of the Mobile Refinery acquisition agreement are breached, and the parties can mutually decide to terminate the Mobile Refinery acquisition agreement at any time.
Litigation could prevent or delay the closing of the Mobile Refinery acquisition or otherwise negatively impact the business and operations of the Company.
The Company may incur costs in connection with the defense or settlement of any stockholder lawsuits filed in connection with the Mobile Refinery acquisition. Such litigation could have an adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and could prevent or delay the consummation of the Mobile Refinery acquisition. Such litigation, affecting the Mobile Refinery and/or the transaction, could delay or prevent the closing of the Mobile Refinery acquisition.
Termination of the Mobile Refinery acquisition agreement could negatively impact the Company.
In the event the Mobile Refinery acquisition agreement is terminated, our business may have been adversely impacted by our failure to pursue other beneficial opportunities due to the focus of management on the Mobile Refinery acquisition, and the market price of our common stock might decline to the extent that the current market price reflects a market assumption that the Mobile Refinery acquisition will be completed. If the Refinery Purchase Agreement is terminated and our Board of Directors seeks another acquisition or business combination, our stockholders cannot be certain that we will be able to find a party willing to offer equivalent or more attractive consideration than the consideration provided for by the Mobile Refinery acquisition. Upon termination of the Mobile Refinery transaction under certain circumstances, we could lose the $10.0 million deposit that we paid pursuant to the terms of the Mobile Refinery acquisition agreement.
We have used a portion of the approximately $33.5 million of funds which we received immediately upon the sale of the Convertible Notes in anticipation of the closing of the Mobile Acquisition and will not be able to recoup such costs in the event such Mobile Acquisition does not close.
The approximately $33.5 million of net funds from the offering of the Convertible Notes which were not placed in the escrow account were available for use by us immediately. A portion of this amount will be used in anticipation of the closing of the Mobile Acquisition, and in the event that the Mobile Acquisition does not close in the future, we do not believe we will be able to recoup such expenses, which we anticipate will likely be written off in their entirety. As such, in the event the Mobile Acquisition does not close, the use of such proceeds in advance of such closing could have a material adverse effect on us, our operating results and our ability to redeem the Convertible Notes from time to time.
The Offtake Agreement with Idemitsu remains subject to various conditions, the obligations of Idemitsu thereunder may not become effective, may be terminated prior to the end of the initial term thereof, and we may face termination fees in connection therewith.
On February 14, 2022, Vertex Refining entered into a Master Offtake Agreement dated February 4, 2022 with Idemitsu. Pursuant to the Offtake Agreement, Vertex Refining agreed to sell Idemitsu renewable diesel which is planned to be produced by the Mobile Refinery, subject to completion of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery and the capital project discussed above. The obligations of the parties under the Offtake Agreement are subject to certain conditions precedent, including (a) the closing of the acquisition of the Mobile Refinery occurring prior to April 30, 2022; (b) the parties having entered into a mutually acceptable storage agreement for the storage of renewable diesel on or before the commencement of commercial operations of the refinery following the completion of the capital project (the “COD”); (c) Idemitsu having delivered to Vertex Refining the Guaranty (discussed below) on or before COD; (d) absence of certain actions or proceedings to set aside, enjoin or prevent the performance by either party of its respective obligations under the agreement; (e) no project assets, related facilities or products having been affected adversely or threatened to be affected adversely by any material loss or damage, subject to certain exceptions; (f) the mutual representations and warranties of each party being true and correct; and (g) COD having occurred within eighteen months of the Company’s acquisition of the Mobile Refinery.
If a party terminates the Offtake Agreement as a result of any of the conditions precedent required under the Offtake Agreement, as summarized above, not being satisfied, neither party has any further obligation under the Offtake Agreement to the other party, except that (i) Vertex Refining is responsible for payment to Idemitsu of a Termination Payment (defined below), in the event the Master Agreement is terminated due to the failure to satisfy or waive the condition that COD occur within eighteen months of the Company’s acquisition of the Mobile Refinery, and (ii) each party shall remain liable to the other party for any and all damages incurred as a result of a breach by a party of its representations, warranties or any other obligations prior to such termination. “Termination Payment” means the actual and documented storage costs incurred by Idemitsu to acquire or lease 300,000 barrels of storage tanks for twelve (12) months. The Termination Payment is payable in monthly installments in an amount equal to the monthly storage costs incurred by Idemitsu.
A performing party may terminate the Offtake Agreement (a) by delivery of a written notice to the other Party within thirty days of any of the conditions precedent required under the Offtake Agreement, as summarized above, not being waived or satisfied by the date required for such condition, or a determination that a condition is not capable of being satisfied by the date indicated for such condition, or (b) if there is an event of default under the agreement.
The initial term of the Offtake Agreement commences on COD and continues for a period of five years thereafter, subject to certain early termination provisions set forth in the agreement, including, but not limited to, the right of either party to request a review of the terms of the agreement prior to the commencement of the 4th and 5th contract years of the agreement, which, if triggered, and if the parties fail to mutually agree in writing to any such requested revisions, will result in the agreement expiring three years or four years after COD, as applicable. The parties may mutually agree to extend the term of the agreement beyond the Initial Term pursuant to the terms of the Offtake Agreement.
The Offtake Agreement may be terminated pursuant to its terms, may be terminated prior to the end of its initial stated term, we may face termination fees in connection with such termination, and any of the above may cause a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and may cause the value of our common stock to decline in value.
We do not anticipate generating significant revenues from the Mobile Refinery until approximately 12 months after the Mobile Acquisition, following the completion of the Conversion, which is subject to delays, cost overruns and other risks.
Assuming the successful completion of the Mobile Acquisition, we (through one or more subsidiaries and affiliates) plan to complete an $85 million capital project designed to modify the Mobile Refinery’s hydrocracking unit to produce
renewable diesel fuel on a standalone basis (the “Conversion”). We do not anticipate generating significant revenues from the Mobile Refinery until completion of the Conversion, which we expect to be completed no sooner than 12 months after the closing of the Mobile Acquisition. As such, during the period immediately following the acquisition, we will need to support our operations and debt repayment obligations with funds from other non-Mobile Refinery operations, which funds may not be available in sufficient amounts. Furthermore, any delay in the completion of the Conversion, or cost overruns associated therewith, or failure of the Conversion to meet the anticipated results expected by the Company, may materially impact our ability to generate future revenues and/or result in the termination of the Offtake Agreement pursuant to its terms, our ability to meet our debt obligations and/or have other material adverse effects on the Company or its securities.
We need to raise significant additional capital to complete the planned acquisition of assets and operations from Tensile-Vertex, and in the event we fail to complete such transactions, our interests in Heartland SPV may be liquidated.
On February 25, 2022, Vertex Splitter entered into (1) a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Tensile-Vertex and Tensile-Heartland; and (2) a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Tensile-Vertex and Tensile-MG. Tensile-Heartland holds 65% of Heartland SPV and Tensile-MG owns 15% of MG SPV, and Tensile-Vertex holds 100% of both Tensile-Heartland and Tensile-MG.
Pursuant to the Heartland Purchase Agreement, the Company, through Vertex Splitter, agreed to acquire 100% of the outstanding securities of Tensile-Heartland and pursuant to the Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreement, the Company, through Vertex Splitter, agreed to acquire 100% of the outstanding securities of Tensile-MG, from Vertex-Tensile, the result of which will be that Vertex Splitter will own 100% of each of Heartland SPV and MG SPV.
Pursuant to the Heartland Purchase Agreement, the purchase price payable by Vertex Splitter to Vertex-Tensile, for 100% of Tensile-Heartland is $35 million (the “Base Amount”), plus an amount accrued and accruing from and after May 31, 2021, on the Base Amount on a daily basis at the rate of 22.5% per annum compounded on the last day of each calendar quarter plus an amount equal to any and all cash and cash equivalents of Tensile-Heartland, as of the closing date, which we currently anticipate will total an aggregate of approximately $44 million. The purchase contemplated by the Heartland Purchase Agreement is required to take place on June 30, 2022, or earlier as mutually agreed by the parties, subject to customary conditions to closing. The Heartland Purchase Agreement includes customary representations of the parties, requires the parties to bear their own fees and expenses, except that each party is required to pay the fees and expenses of the other party upon termination of the agreement in certain situations; includes customary indemnification obligations; and includes mutual releases of the parties, effective upon closing. The Heartland Purchase Agreement may be terminated prior to closing, by the mutual consent of the parties; by Vertex Splitter if Vertex-Tensile has failed to consummate the agreement, or breached a covenant, representation or warranty set forth in the agreement, that prevents such closing, and such breach is not cured, if capable of being cured, within 30 days after notice thereof; by Vertex-Tensile if Vertex Splitter has failed to consummate the agreement, or breached a covenant, representation or warranty set forth in the agreement, that prevents such closing, and such breach is not cured, if capable of being cured, within 30 days after notice thereof; or by either party if there is a final, non-appealable judgment preventing the closing.
Pursuant to the Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreement, the purchase price payable by Vertex Splitter to Vertex-Tensile, for 100% of Tensile-MG is estimated to be approximately $7 million, and will be based on the value of the Class B Unit preference of MG SPV held by Tensile-MG, plus capital invested by Tensile-MG in MG SPV (which has not been returned as of the date of payment), plus cash and cash equivalents held by Tensile-MG as of the closing date. The purchase contemplated by the Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreement is required to take place on March 31, 2022, or earlier as mutually agreed by the parties, subject to customary conditions to closing. The Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreement includes customary representations of the parties, requires that they bear their own fees and expenses, except that each party is required to pay the fees and expenses of the other party upon termination of the agreement in certain situations; includes customary indemnification obligations; and includes mutual releases of the parties, effective upon closing. The Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreement may be terminated prior to closing, by the mutual approval of the parties; by Vertex Splitter if Vertex-Tensile has failed to consummate the agreement, or breached a covenant, representation or warranty set forth in the agreement, that prevents such closing, and such breach is not cured, if capable of being cured, within 30 days after notice thereof; by Vertex-Tensile if Vertex Splitter has failed to consummate the agreement, or breached a covenant, representation or warranty set forth in the agreement that prevents such closing, and such breach is not cured, if capable of being cured, within 30 days after notice thereof; or by either party if there is a final, non-appealable judgment preventing the closing.
Pursuant to a Side Letter, in the event that (i) the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Myrtle Grove Purchase Agreement does not occur on or prior to March 31, 2022, and/or (ii) the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Heartland Purchase Agreement does not occur on or prior to June 30, 2022, then, in addition to any of the rights of Tensile-Vertex under the Purchase Agreements: (a) the Vertex Parties will use their best efforts to cause the closings under the Purchase
Agreements to occur, including without limitation by raising debt financing, selling equity in a private or public transaction, selling assets and/or otherwise doing all things necessary or appropriate to raise the funds necessary to make the payments required to be made by Vertex Splitter under the Purchase Agreements, in each case on commercially reasonable terms and conditions, subject to certain exceptions; (b) upon the written election of Tensile-Vertex, the Vertex Parties will and will cause their affiliates to consent to the distribution or other payment of any and all cash and cash equivalents of Heartland SPV (including any proceeds from the repayment of that certain $7,000,000 promissory note, issued by Vertex Operating to Heartland SPV on July 1, 2021, as amended to date and any direct and indirect subsidiaries to Tensile-Vertex, with such distribution or other payment to be structured as specified by Tensile-Vertex so as to be tax efficient for Tensile-Vertex; and (c) Tensile-Vertex may, with written notice, cause Heartland SPV to initiate a process intended to result in a sale of Heartland SPV, with Tensile-Vertex being entitled, upon the consummation of such sale, of the greater of (i) 65% of the total net equity proceeds of such sale, and (ii) the amount due to Tensile-Vertex under the Heartland Purchase Agreement as of the date of the consummation of such sale.
We will need to raise significant additional capital to close the acquisitions contemplated by the Purchase Agreements, which funding may not be available on favorable terms, if at all. If we raise such funding through the sale of debt, we may be required to pay significant interest or other amounts on such debt, and/or be subject to material covenants. If we raise such funding through the sale of equity, it may create significant dilution to existing shareholders. In the event we fail to close the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreements within the required timelines, Heartland SPV or its assets may be liquidated, which would mean we would not have rights or ownership of such assets, and the sales price of Heartland SPV and/or its assets may be depressed at the time of sale, each of which may have a material adverse effect on our assets, operations or prospects.
Risks Related to the Convertible Notes
Servicing our planned debt will require a significant amount of cash, and we may not have sufficient cash flow from our business to pay our substantial debt.
Our ability to make scheduled payments of the principal of, to pay interest on or to refinance our current and future planned indebtedness, including the Convertible Notes, depends on our future performance, which is subject to economic, financial, competitive and other factors beyond our control. Our business may not continue to generate cash flow from operations in the future sufficient to service our debt and make necessary capital expenditures. If we are unable to generate such cash flow, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as selling assets, restructuring debt or obtaining additional equity capital on terms that may be onerous or highly dilutive. Our ability to refinance our indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. We may not be able to engage in any of these activities or engage in these activities on desirable terms, which could result in a default on our debt obligations.
We owe a significant amount of money under the Convertible Notes which could adversely affect our financial flexibility and our competitive position and our failure to comply with the terms of the Indenture could result in the Convertible Notes being declared in default.
We have a significant amount of outstanding indebtedness. As of the date of this filing, we owed approximately $155.0 million under the Convertible Notes. Despite our current debt levels, we and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional debt in the future, subject to the restrictions contained in our debt instruments, some of which may be secured debt.
The indenture governing our Senior Notes imposes certain restrictions on us and requires us to maintain compliance with specified covenants. Our ability to comply with these covenants may be affected by events beyond our control. A failure to comply with the covenants and other provisions of our outstanding debt could result in events of default under such instruments, which could permit acceleration of all of our debt and borrowings. Any required repayment of our debt as a result of a fundamental change or other acceleration would lower our current cash on hand such that we would not have those funds available for use in our business.
We may need to raise additional funding in the future to repay or refinance the Convertible Notes and as such may need to seek additional debt or equity financing. Such additional financing may not be available on favorable terms, if at all. If debt financing is available and obtained, our interest expense may increase and we may be subject to the risk of default, depending on the terms of such financing. If equity financing is available and obtained it may result in our stockholders experiencing significant dilution. If such financing is unavailable, we may be forced to curtail our operations, which may cause the value of our securities to decline in value and/or become worthless.
We may not have enough available funds or the ability to raise the funds necessary to pay the special mandatory redemption price on the Convertible Notes upon a special mandatory redemption, to repurchase the Convertible Notes for cash upon a fundamental change or to settle conversions of the Convertible Notes in cash, and our future indebtedness may contain limitations on our ability to pay cash upon conversion or repurchase of the Convertible Notes.
If the Mobile Acquisition is not consummated on or prior to April 1, 2022, if we have not certified to the escrow agent of the escrow pursuant to which 75% of the net proceeds from our November 2021 Convertible Note offering (approximately $100 million) are being held, pending all conditions precedent to our obligations to consummate the Mobile Acquisition being satisfied, or if we notify the Trustee and the escrow agent in writing that the Refinery Purchase Agreement has been terminated, the Convertible Notes will be subject to special mandatory redemption at a special mandatory redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate accreted principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the special mandatory redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, and including, the date that is nine months after the special mandatory redemption date.
Further, holders of the Convertible Notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or a portion of their Convertible Notes upon the occurrence of a fundamental change at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the accreted principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.
Additionally, we elect to deliver solely shares of our common stock to settle such conversion (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share), to the extent allowed under the terms of the Convertible Notes, we will be required to make cash payments in respect of the Convertible Notes being converted.
Moreover, we will be required to repay the Convertible Notes in cash at their maturity unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. However, we may not have enough available cash or be able to obtain financing at the time we are required to make repurchases of Convertible Notes surrendered therefor or Convertible Notes are being redeemed or converted. In addition, our ability to repurchase the Convertible Notes or to pay cash upon redemptions of the Convertible Notes may be limited by agreements we enter into governing our future indebtedness, which may limit our ability to repurchase the Convertible Notes or to pay cash upon redemptions or conversions of the Convertible Notes. Finally, our ability to repurchase the Convertible Notes or to pay cash upon redemptions or conversions of the Convertible Notes may be limited by law or by regulatory authority. Our failure to repurchase Convertible Notes at a time when the repurchase is required by the indenture or to pay any cash payable upon redemption or on future conversions of the Convertible Notes, as required by the indenture, would constitute a default under the indenture. A default under the indenture or the occurrence of a fundamental change itself could also lead to a default under agreements governing our future indebtedness. Moreover, the occurrence of a fundamental change under the indenture governing the Convertible Notes could constitute an event of default under any agreements governing our future indebtedness. If the repayment of the related indebtedness were to be accelerated after any applicable notice or grace periods, we may not have sufficient funds to repay the indebtedness and repurchase the Convertible Notes or make cash payments upon conversions thereof.
We may not have sufficient funds available to pay amounts owed on the Convertible Notes, and such funding may not be available on favorable terms, if at all. Our failure to pay the amounts due under the Convertible Notes, when due, would constitute a default under the Convertible Notes and may force us to sell certain assets, curtail our business plan, or seek bankruptcy protection.
The conditional conversion feature of the Convertible Notes, if triggered, may adversely affect our financial condition and liquidity.
In the event the conditional conversion feature of the Convertible Notes is triggered, holders of Convertible Notes will be entitled to convert the Convertible Notes at any time during specified periods at their option.
Specifically, the Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.25% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on April 1, 2022. The Convertible Notes are convertible into common stock at an initial conversion rate of 169.9235 shares of common stock, per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $5.89 per share). Prior to July 1, 2027, the Convertible Notes will be convertible at the option of the holders of the Convertible Notes only upon the satisfaction of certain conditions and during certain periods, and thereafter, at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at its election, provided that until such time as the Company's stockholders have approved the issuance of more than 19.99% of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes in accordance with
the rules of The Nasdaq Capital Market, the Company is required to elect “cash settlement” for all conversions of the Convertible Notes, and such stockholder approval was obtained in January 2022. The Company will also be required to increase the conversion rate for holders who convert their Convertible Notes in connection with a fundamental change and certain other corporate events or convert their Convertible Notes called for optional redemption (or deemed called for optional redemption) following delivery by the Company of a notice of redemption, in either case, in certain circumstances.
If one or more holders elect to convert their Convertible Notes, unless we elect to satisfy our conversion obligation by delivering solely shares of our common stock (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share), we would be required to settle a portion or all of our conversion obligation through the payment of cash, which could adversely affect our liquidity. Further, even if holders do not elect to convert their Convertible Notes, we could be required under applicable accounting rules to reclassify all or a portion of the outstanding principal of the Convertible Notes, as a current rather than long-term liability, which would result in a material reduction of our net working capital.
Additionally, the issuance of common stock upon conversion of the Convertible Notes will result in immediate and substantial dilution to the interests of other stockholders. In addition, the common stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes may represent overhang that may also adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Overhang occurs when there is a greater supply of a company’s stock in the market than there is demand for that stock. When this happens the price of the company’s stock will decrease, and any additional shares which stockholders attempt to sell in the market will only further decrease the share price. The Convertible Notes may in the future be convertible into shares of our common stock at a discount to market, which would provide the holders with the ability to sell their common stock at or below market and still make a profit. If the share volume of our common stock cannot absorb the discounted shares, then the value of our common stock will likely decrease.
The accounting method for reflecting the Convertible Notes on our balance sheet, accruing interest expense for the Convertible Notes and reflecting the underlying shares of our common stock in our reported diluted earnings per share may adversely affect our reported earnings and financial condition.
In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) published an Accounting Standards Update, which we refer to as ASU 2020-06, which simplifies certain of the accounting standards that apply to convertible notes. ASU 2020-06 will be effective for SEC-reporting entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. However, early adoption is permitted in certain circumstances for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Convertible Notes are reflected as a liability on our balance sheets, with the initial carrying amount equal to the principal amount of the Convertible Notes, net of issuance costs. The issuance costs will be treated as a debt discount for accounting purposes, which will be amortized into interest expense over the term of the Convertible Notes. As a result of this amortization, the interest expense that we expect to recognize for the Convertible Notes for accounting purposes will be greater than the cash interest payments we will pay on the Convertible Notes, which will result in lower reported income.
In addition, we expect that the shares underlying the Convertible Notes will be reflected in our diluted earnings per share using the “if converted” method, in accordance with ASU 2020-06. Under that method, if the conversion value of the Convertible Notes exceeds their principal amount for a reporting period, then we will calculate our diluted earnings per share assuming that all of the Convertible Notes were converted at the beginning of the reporting period and that we issued shares of our common stock to settle the excess. However, if reflecting the Convertible Notes in diluted earnings per share in this manner is anti-dilutive, or if the conversion value of the Convertible Notes does not exceed their principal amount for a reporting period, then the shares underlying the Convertible Notes will not be reflected in our diluted earnings per share. The application of the if-converted method may reduce our reported diluted earnings per share, and accounting standards may change in the future in a manner that may adversely affect our diluted earnings per share.
We have not reached a final determination regarding the accounting treatment for the Convertible Notes, and the description above is preliminary. Accordingly, we may account for the Convertible Notes in a manner that is significantly different than described above.
In addition, so long as we are required to settle conversions of Convertible Notes entirely in cash, the conversion option that is part of the Convertible Notes may be accounted for as a derivative pursuant to accounting standards relating to derivative instruments and hedging activities. Under such standards, for each financial statement period after issuance of the Convertible Notes, if “cash settlement” applies, a gain (or loss) would be reported in our consolidated statement of operations to the extent the valuation of the conversion option changes from the previous period, which could result in significant volatility in our results of operations. This could adversely affect our reported or future financial results, the market price of our common
stock and the value of the Convertible Notes. Furthermore, this could also make it harder to compare period to period financial results, as a result of potentially significant non-cash gains or losses relating to such accounting.
The conversion rate for Convertible Notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change or a notice of redemption for an optional redemption may be increased.
If a make-whole fundamental change occurs prior to the maturity date of the Convertible Notes or upon the issuance of a notice of redemption for an optional redemption, we will, in certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its Convertible Notes in connection with such make-whole fundamental change or elects to convert its Convertible Notes called (or deemed called) for optional redemption during the related redemption period, by a number of additional shares of our common stock. The increase in the conversion rate will be determined based on the date on which the specified corporate transaction becomes effective or the date of the notice and the price paid (or deemed to be paid) per share of our common stock in such transaction or the date of the redemption notice. Provided however, in no event will the conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes as a result of this adjustment exceed 233.6449 shares of common stock.
Our obligation to increase the conversion rate for Convertible Notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change or Convertible Notes called for optional redemption that are converted during the related redemption period could be considered a penalty, in which case the enforceability thereof would be subject to general principles of reasonableness and equitable remedies.
The fundamental change repurchase feature of the Convertible Notes could delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial attempt to take over our company, or discourage a potential acquirer of us.
The Convertible Notes include certain repurchase rights of the holders which are triggered upon a fundamental change as discussed herein. A takeover of our company would trigger an option of the holders of the Convertible Notes to require us to repurchase the Convertible Notes. This may have the effect of delaying or preventing a takeover of our company that would otherwise be beneficial to stockholders or discouraging a potential acquirer of us.
Risks Relating to Our Listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market
Our Common Stock may be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market if we cannot satisfy Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements.
Among the conditions required for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market, Nasdaq requires us to maintain at least $2.5 million in stockholders’ equity or $500,000 in net income over the prior two years or two of the prior three years, to have a majority of independent directors, and to maintain a stock price over $1.00 per share. Our stockholders’ equity may not remain above Nasdaq’s $2.5 million minimum, we may not generate over $500,000 of yearly net income moving forward, we may not be able to maintain independent directors, and we may not be able to maintain a stock price over $1.00 per share. For example, beginning on April 22, 2020 we were notified by Nasdaq that we were not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), which requires listed securities to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share. However, effective February 2, 2021, we were notified that we had cured such non-compliance issue. If we fail to timely comply with the applicable Nasdaq continued listing requirements, our stock may be delisted. In addition, even if we demonstrate compliance with the requirements above, we will have to continue to meet other objective and subjective listing requirements to continue to be listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market. Delisting from The Nasdaq Capital Market could make trading our common stock more difficult for investors, potentially leading to declines in our share price and liquidity. Without a Nasdaq Capital Market listing, stockholders may have a difficult time getting a quote for the sale or purchase of our stock, the sale or purchase of our stock would likely be made more difficult and the trading volume and liquidity of our stock could decline. Delisting from The Nasdaq Capital Market could also result in negative publicity and could also make it more difficult for us to raise additional capital. The absence of such a listing may adversely affect the acceptance of our common stock as currency or the value accorded by other parties. Further, if we are delisted, we would also incur additional costs under state blue sky laws in connection with any sales of our securities. These requirements could severely limit the market liquidity of our common stock and the ability of our stockholders to sell our common stock in the secondary market. If our common stock is delisted by Nasdaq, our common stock may be eligible to trade on an over-the-counter quotation system, such as the OTCQB market, where an investor may find it more difficult to sell our stock or obtain accurate quotations as to the market value of our common stock. In the event our common stock is delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market, we may not be able to list our common stock on another national securities exchange or obtain quotation on an over-the counter quotation system.
If we are delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market, our ability to sell our shares of our common stock could also be limited by the penny stock restrictions, which could further limit the marketability of our shares.
If our common stock is delisted, it could come within the definition of “penny stock” as defined in the Exchange Act and would then be covered by Rule 15g-9 of the Exchange Act. That Rule imposes additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell securities to persons other than established customers and accredited investors. For transactions covered by Rule 15g-9, the broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction prior to the sale. Consequently, Rule 15g-9, if it were to become applicable, would affect the ability or willingness of broker-dealers to sell our securities, and accordingly would affect the ability of stockholders to sell their securities in the public market. These additional procedures could also limit our ability to raise additional capital in the future.
Due to the fact that our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, we are subject to financial and other reporting and corporate governance requirements which increase our costs and expenses.
We are currently required to file annual and quarterly information and other reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Additionally, due to the fact that our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, we are also subject to the requirements to maintain independent directors, comply with other corporate governance requirements and are required to pay annual listing and stock issuance fees. These obligations require a commitment of additional resources including, but not limited, to additional expenses, and may result in the diversion of our senior management’s time and attention from our day-to-day operations. These obligations increase our expenses and may make it more complicated or time consuming for us to undertake certain corporate actions due to the fact that Nasdaq may require approval for such transactions and/or Nasdaq rules may require us to obtain shareholder approval for such transactions.
General Risk Factors
There may be future sales and issuances of our common stock, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and dilute stockholders ownership of common stock.
The exercise of any options granted to executive officers, directors and other employees under our equity compensation plans, the exercise of outstanding warrants, the conversion of outstanding convertible securities and other issuances of our common stock in the future could have an adverse effect on the market price of the shares of our common stock. We are not restricted from issuing additional shares of common stock, including any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive shares of common stock, provided that we are subject to the requirements of The Nasdaq Capital Market (which generally require shareholder approval for any transactions which would result in the issuance of more than 20% of our then outstanding shares of common stock or voting rights representing over 20% of our then outstanding shares of stock), subject to certain exceptions. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market or the perception that such sales might occur could materially adversely affect the market price of the shares of our common stock. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering or transaction will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings or issuances. Additionally, the sale of a significant portion of our common stock may cause the value of our common stock to decline in value.
Securities analysts may not cover our common stock and this may have a negative impact on our common stock’s market price.
The trading market for our common stock will depend, in part, on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not have any control over these analysts. We currently have limited research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our common stock, changes their opinion of our shares or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our common stock could decrease and we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause our stock price and trading volume to decline.
We do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future, and therefore only appreciation of the price of our common stock will provide a return to our stockholders.
We currently anticipate that we will retain all future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business. We do not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any payment of cash dividends will depend upon our financial condition, capital requirements, earnings and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors, and will be
subject to the terms of our debt agreements and convertible notes, which we anticipate will prevent us from paying cash dividends on, and/or redeeming, outstanding securities. As a result, only appreciation of the price of our common stock, which may not occur, will provide a return to our stockholders.
We may be subject in the normal course of business to judicial, administrative or other third-party proceedings that could interrupt or limit our operations, require expensive remediation, result in adverse judgments, settlements or fines and create negative publicity.
Governmental agencies may, among other things, impose fines or penalties on us relating to the conduct of our business, attempt to revoke or deny renewal of our operating permits, franchises or licenses for violations or alleged violations of environmental laws or regulations or as a result of third-party challenges, require us to install additional pollution control equipment or require us to remediate potential environmental problems relating to any real property that we or our predecessors ever owned, leased or operated or any waste that we or our predecessors ever collected, transported, disposed of or stored. Individuals, citizens groups, trade associations or environmental activists may also bring actions against us in connection with our operations that could interrupt or limit the scope of our business. Any adverse outcome in such proceedings could harm our operations and financial results and create negative publicity, which could damage our reputation, competitive position and stock price. We may also be required to take corrective actions, including, but not limited to, installing additional equipment, which could require us to make substantial capital expenditures. We could also be required to indemnify our employees in connection with any expenses or liabilities that they may incur individually in connection with regulatory action against us. These could result in a material adverse effect on our prospects, business, financial condition and our results of operations.
We may experience adverse impacts on our reported results of operations as a result of adopting new accounting standards or interpretations.
Our implementation of and compliance with changes in accounting rules, including new accounting rules and interpretations, could adversely affect our reported financial position or operating results or cause unanticipated fluctuations in our reported operating results in future periods.
Our hedging activities may prevent us from benefiting fully from increases in oil prices and may expose us to other risks, including counterparty risk.
The Company utilizes derivative instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in the underlying commodity prices of its inventory. The Company's management sets and implements hedging policies, including volumes, types of instruments and counterparties, to support oil prices at targeted levels and manage its exposure to fluctuating prices. The Company’s derivative instruments consist of swap and futures arrangements for oil. In a commodity swap agreement, if the agreed-upon published third-party index price (“index price”) is lower than the swap fixed price, the Company receives the difference between the index price and the swap fixed price. If the index price is higher than the swap fixed price, the Company pays the difference. For futures arrangements, the Company receives the difference positive or negative between an agreed-upon strike price and the market price.
To the extent that we continue to engage in hedging activities to protect ourselves against commodity price declines, we may be prevented from fully realizing the benefits of increases in oil prices above the prices established by our hedging contracts. In addition, our hedging activities may expose us to the risk of financial loss in certain circumstances, including instances in which the counterparties to our hedging contracts fail to perform under the contracts. Finally, we are subject to risks associated with the adoption of derivatives legislation and regulations related to derivative contracts which if adopted, could have an adverse impact on our ability to hedge risks associated with our business. If regulations adopted in the future require that we post margin for our hedging activities or require our counterparties to hold margin or maintain capital levels, the cost of which could be passed through to us, or impose other requirements that are more burdensome than current regulations, hedging transactions in the future would become more expensive than we experienced in the past.
The threat and impact of terrorist attacks, cyber-attacks or similar hostilities may adversely impact our operations.
We cannot assess the extent of either the threat or the potential impact of future terrorist attacks on the energy industry in general, and on us in particular, either in the short-term or in the long-term. Uncertainty surrounding such hostilities may affect our operations in unpredictable ways, including the possibility that infrastructure facilities, including pipelines and gathering systems, production facilities, processing plants and refineries, could be targets of, or indirect casualties of, an act of terror, a cyber-attack or electronic security breach, or an act of war.
We may fail to meet our publicly announced guidance or other expectations about our business, which could cause our stock price to decline.
We may provide from time to time guidance regarding our expected financial and business performance. Correctly identifying key factors affecting business conditions and predicting future events is inherently an uncertain process, and our guidance may not ultimately be accurate and has in the past been inaccurate in certain respects, such as the timing of acquisitions, revenue projections and project completions. Our guidance is based on certain assumptions such as those relating to anticipated production and sales volumes (which generally are not linear throughout a given period), average sales prices, supplier and commodity costs and planned cost reductions. If our guidance varies from actual results due to our assumptions not being met or the impact on our financial performance that could occur as a result of various risks and uncertainties, the market value of our common stock could decline significantly.
Transactions relating to our convertible senior notes may dilute the ownership interest of existing stockholders, or may otherwise depress the price of our common stock.
The conversion of some or all of the convertible senior notes issued by would dilute the ownership interests of existing stockholders to the extent we deliver shares upon conversion of any of such notes by their holders, and we may be required to deliver a significant number of shares. Any sales in the public market of the common stock issuable upon such conversion could adversely affect their prevailing market prices. In addition, the existence of the convertible senior notes may encourage short selling by market participants because the conversion of such notes could be used to satisfy short positions, or the anticipated conversion of such notes into shares of our common stock could depress the price of our common stock.
Anti-takeover provisions contained in our governing documents, applicable laws and our convertible senior notes could impair a takeover attempt.
Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws afford certain rights and powers to our board of directors that may facilitate the delay or prevention of an acquisition that it deems undesirable. We are also subject to Sections 78.378 to 78.3793 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, which seeks to impede “unfriendly” corporate takeovers by providing in that an “acquiring person” shall only obtain voting rights in the “control shares” purchased by such person to the extent approved by the other stockholders at a meeting, subject to certain exceptions, including requiring that an applicable issuer have 200 or more stockholders of record, at least 100 of whom have had addresses in Nevada at all times during the 90 days immediately preceding such date, which we believe do not currently apply to us. In addition, the terms of our convertible senior notes may require us to repurchase such notes in the event of a fundamental change, including a takeover of our company. Any of the foregoing provisions and terms that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our common stock, and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our common stock.