Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

v3.22.2.2
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
NOTE K – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
Engineering,
Procurement and Construction Contract
 
On April 30, 2020, GCE Acquisitions entered into an Engineering, Procurement and Construction Agreement with a national engineering firm pursuant to which this firm agreed to provide services for the engineering, procurement, construction, (“EPC”) start-up and testing of the Bakersfield Renewable Fuels Refinery. The agreement, which was assigned by GCE Acquisitions to BKRF OCB, LLC, the borrower under the Senior Credit Facility, provides for this engineering firm to be paid on a cost-plus fee basis subject to a guaranteed maximum price of $201.4 million, subject to increase for approved change orders. As of May 17, 2021, the remaining balance of the contract was approximately $151 million. On May 19, 2021 we notified our original EPC firm that we were terminating the EPC Agreement, effective immediately. The cumulative billing on the EPC contract through June 30, 2021 was $63.2 million. The two major subcontracts for the Bakersfield Renewable Fuels Refinery were not terminated and were subsumed in the new replacement EPC agreement (see below). Accordingly, the two major subcontractors have continued to provide their services for the Bakersfield Renewable Fuels Refinery.
 
On May 18, 2021 our BKRF subsidiary and CTCI Americas, Inc., a Texas corporation (“CTCI”), entered into a Turnkey Agreement with a Guaranteed Maximum Price for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction of the Bakersfield Renewable Fuels Project (the “CTCI EPC Agreement”). CTCI Americas is a worldwide leading provider of reliable engineering, procurement and construction services, including for the refinery market. Under the CTCI EPC Agreement, CTCI has agreed to provide services to complete the engineering, procurement, construction, pre-commissioning, commissioning, start-up and testing of our renewable diesel production facility under construction in Bakersfield, California. CTCI’s fees and costs, including direct costs, overhead fees and the contractor’s fee, are guaranteed not to exceed $178 million (which maximum price is subject to adjustment for certain change orders). The obligations of CTCI have been guaranteed by CTCI Corporation, the Taiwanese parent company of CTCI.

Environmental Remediation Liabilities
 
In connection with the acquisition, BKRF OCB, LLC agreed to undertake certain clean-up activities at the refinery and provide a guarantee for liabilities arising from the clean-up. The Company has assumed significant environmental and clean-up liabilities associated with the purchase of the Bakersfield refinery.


The Company recognizes its asset retirement obligation and environmental remediation liabilities and has estimated such liabilities as of its acquisition date. It is the Company’s policy to accrue environmental and clean-up related costs of a non-capital nature when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Environmental remediation liabilities represent the current estimated costs to investigate and remediate contamination at our properties. This estimate is based on internal and third-party assessments of the extent of the contamination, the selected remediation technology and review of applicable environmental regulations, typically considering estimated activities and costs for 20 years, and up to 30 years if a longer period is believed reasonably necessary. Accruals for estimated costs from environmental remediation obligations generally are recognized no later than completion of the remedial feasibility study and include, but are not limited to, costs to perform remedial actions and costs of machinery and equipment that are dedicated to the remedial actions and that do not have an alternative use. Such accruals are adjusted as further information develops or circumstances change. We discount environmental remediation liabilities to their present value if payments are fixed and determinable. However, as the timing and amount of these costs were undeterminable as of June 30, 2022, these costs have not been discounted. Expenditures for equipment necessary for environmental issues relating to ongoing operations are capitalized. Changes in laws and regulations and actual remediation expenses compared to historical experience could significantly impact our results of operations and financial position. We believe the estimates selected, in each instance, represent our best estimate of future outcomes, but the actual outcomes could differ from the estimates selected. At June 30, 2022, accrued environmental remediation liability costs totaled $20.6 million of which $3.8 million have been classified as current liabilities. At June 30, 2021, accrued environmental liabilities totaled $21.1 million of which $1.3 million have been classified as current liabilities.
 
Leases

We recognize a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease liability for each operating and finance lease with a contractual term greater than 12 months at the time of lease inception. We include ROU assets and lease liabilities for leases that exist within other contracts. Leases with an original term of 12 months or less are not recognized on the balance sheet, and the rent expense related to those short-term leases is recognized over the lease term. We do not account for lease and non-lease (e.g. common area maintenance) components of contracts separately for any underlying asset class.
We lease certain manufacturing equipment, warehouses, office space, and vehicles under finance and operating leases. Lease commencement occurs on the date we take possession or control of the property or equipment. Original terms for our real estate-related leases are generally between three and five years. Original terms for equipment-related leases, primarily manufacturing equipment and vehicles, are generally between one and ten years. Some of our leases also include rental escalation clauses. Renewal options are included in the determination of lease payments when management determines the options are reasonably certain of exercise, considering financial performance, strategic importance and/or invested capital.
 
If readily determinable, the rate implicit in the lease is used to discount lease payments to present value; however, substantially all of our leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate. When the implicit rate is not determinable, our estimated incremental borrowing rate is utilized, determined on a collateralized basis, to discount lease payments based on information available at lease commencement.
 
Total lease costs recorded include fixed operating lease costs and variable lease costs. Most of our real estate leases require payment of certain expenses, such as common area maintenance costs, of which the fixed portion is included in operating lease costs. We recognize operating lease costs on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In addition to the above costs, variable lease costs are recognized when probable and are not included in determining the present value of our lease liability.
 
The ROU asset is measured at the initial amount of the lease liability (calculated as the present value of lease payments over the term of the lease) adjusted for lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date and initial direct costs. For operating leases, ROU assets are reduced over the lease term by the recognized straight-line lease expense less the amount of accretion of the lease liability determined using the effective interest method. For finance leases, ROU assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful life of the leased asset or the lease term. Interest expense on each finance lease liability is recognized utilizing the effective interest method. ROU assets are tested for impairment in the same manner as long-lived assets and we determined there have been no triggering events for impairment. Additionally, we monitor for events or changes in circumstances that may require a reassessment of one of our leases and determine if a remeasurement is required.
 
The table below presents the lease-related assets and liabilities recorded on the balance sheet at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:
 
Leases
 
Classification
 
 
As of June 30, 2022
 
 
As of December 31, 2021
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating lease assets
 
Operating lease right-of-use assets
 
 
$
3,897,433
 
 
$
481,027
 
Finance lease assets
 
Buildings, net of depreciation
 
 
 
3,189,395
 
 
 
3,433,005
 
Total lease assets
 
 
 
 
 
$
7,086,828
 
 
$
3,914,032
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating
 
Current portion of operating lease obligations
 
 
$
768,076
 
 
$
198,440
 
Finance
 
Notes payable including current portion of long-term debt
 
 
 
46,257
 
 
 
714,659
 
Non-current
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating
 
Operating lease obligations, net of current portion
 
 
 
3,129,444
 
 
 
283,197
 
Finance
 
Long-term debt, net
 
 
 
3,595,291
 
 
 
2,831,284
 
Total lease liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
$
7,539,068
 
 
$
4,027,580
 
The table below presents the components of lease costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
 
 
 
Three months
ended June 30,
2022
 
 
Three months
ended June 30,
2021
 
 
Six months
ended June 30,
2022
 
 
Six months
ended June 30,
2021
 
Operating lease cost
 
$
65,054
 
 
$
13,400
 
 
$
125,917
 
 
$
26,800
 
Finance lease cost
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of leased assets
 
 
190,229
 
 
 
-
 
 
 
368,007
 
 
 
-
 
Interest on lease liabilities
 
 
47,222
 
 
 
-
 
 
 
93,853
 
 
 
-
 
Total lease costs
 
$
302,505
 
 
$
13,400
 
 
$
587,777
 
 
$
26,800
 
 
The table below presents the weighted average remaining lease terms and weighted average discount rates for the Company's leases as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:
 
 
 
As of June 30,
2022
 
 
As of December 31,
2021
 
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating leases
 
 
2.8
 
 
 
2.2
 
Financing leases
 
 
4.3
 
 
 
4.8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average discount rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating leases
 
 
4.58
%
 
 
1.00
%
Financing leases
 
 
4.25
%
 
 
4.25
%
 
The table below presents the maturity of the lease liabilities as of June 30, 2022:
 
 
 
Operating leases
 
 
Finance Leases
 
2022
 
$
119,176
 
 
$
112,298
 
2023
 
 
1,442,002
 
 
 
230,188
 
2024
 
 
1,378,695
 
 
 
237,094
 
2025
 
 
1,232,556
 
 
 
244,207
 
2026
 
 
-
 
 
 
3,527,965
 
Thereafter
 
 
-
 
 
 
-
 
Total lease payments:
 
 
4,172,429
 
 
 
4,351,752
 
Less: present value discount
 
 
(274,909
)
 
 
(710,204
)
Total lease liabilities
 
$
3,897,520
 
 
$
3,641,548
 
 
Legal
 
BKRF, formerly Alon Bakersfield Property, Inc., is one of the parties to an action pending in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In June 2019, the jury awarded the plaintiffs approximately $6.7 million against Alon Bakersfield Property, Inc. and Paramount Petroleum Corporation (a parent company of Alon Bakersfield Property, Inc. at the time of the award in 2019). Under the agreements pursuant to which we purchased BKRF, Alon Paramount agreed to assume and be liable for (and to indemnify, defend, and hold BKRF harmless from) this litigation. In addition, Paramount Petroleum Corporation has posted a bond to cover this judgment amount. All legal fees in this matter are being paid by Alon Paramount. As Paramount Petroleum Corporation and the Company are jointly and severally liable for the judgment, and Paramount Petroleum Corporation has agreed to absorb all of the liability and has posted a bond to cover the judgment amount, no loss has been accrued by the Company with respect to this matter.
In August 2021, the Ninth Circuit partially remanded the case to the district court to ascertain whether it possesses jurisdiction over the Company.  If the district court determines that it lacks jurisdiction, then the claims against the Company will be dismissed.
 
In August 2020, Wood Warren & Co. Securities, LLC (“Wood Warren”) filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, Alameda County, against GCEH Acquisitions titled
Wood Warren & Co Securities, LLC vs. GCE Holdings Acquisitions, LLC
, Case No. RG 20072242, alleging that GCEH Acquisitions breached a consulting agreement with it. Wood Warren
alleged
damages of $1.2 million plus interest. The Company has agreed to settle the matter and such amount is not material to the financial statements.
 
In the ordinary course of business, the Company may face various claims brought by third parties and the Company may, from time to time, make claims or take legal actions to assert the Company’s rights, including intellectual property rights, contractual disputes and other commercial disputes. Any of these claims could subject the Company to litigation. Management believes the outcomes of currently pending claims will not likely have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.
 
Indemnities and Guarantees
 
In addition to the indemnification provisions contained in the Company’s organization documents, the Company generally enters into separate indemnification agreements with the Company’s directors and officers. These agreements require the Company, among other things, to indemnify the director or officer against specified expenses and liabilities, such as attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlements, paid by the individual in connection with any action, suit or proceeding arising out of the individual’s status or service as the Company’s directors or officers, other than liabilities arising from
willful misconduct
or conduct that is knowingly fraudulent or deliberately dishonest, and to advance expenses incurred by the individual in connection with any proceeding against the individual with respect to which the individual may be entitled to indemnification by the Company. The Company also indemnifies its lessor in connection with its facility lease for certain claims arising from the use of the facility. These guarantees and indemnities do not provide for any limitation of the maximum potential future payments the Company could be obligated to make. Historically, the Company has not been obligated nor incurred any payments for these obligations and, therefore, no liabilities have been recorded for these indemnities and guarantees in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
 
COVID-19
 
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus diseases (“COVID-19”) was first reported in Wuhan, China. Less than four months later, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The extent of COVID-19’s effect on the Company’s operational and financial performance is ongoing, and in 2020, 2021, and 2022 the Company continues to experience delays in certain products and materials, inflationary impacts and particularly labor force related issues. The Company has implemented strict protocols on its on-site workforce and continues to monitor the potential impacts to its business. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations, cash flows, liquidity, and capital resources is highly uncertain, as information is evolving with respect to the duration and severity of the virus and its variants. However, based on its experience with the disease to date, the Company expects that the future impacts due to COVID-19 are not likely to be materially disruptive to its ongoing business.
 
GEO-POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY

The early 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia is creating multiple, and likely significant, supply issues, including the use and transport of energy.  Natural gas, crude oil, and certain raw materials pricing has increased significantly and are quite volatile, in addition to potential severe supply issues. We require certain feedstocks and energy inputs to be able to generate renewable diesel and other renewable products. The extent of the impact of this major geo-political event and its repercussions are unknown and could have a material impact on our operations, cash flows, liquidity and capital resources. However, once the Bakersfield Renewable Diesel Refinery is operational, we expect that most of the costs of our inputs into our products can be passed on to the buyers of our products.