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Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2012

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from:             to:            

Commission file number: 001-33522

 

 

SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   20-2110031
(State of Incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Three Riverway, Suite 300, Houston, Texas   77056
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 579-0600

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report: N/A

 

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

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

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨      Smaller reporting company   x

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

As of November 8, 2012 there were 62,577,157 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

PART 1. Financial Information

  

Item 1. Financial Statements

     1   

Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012 (unaudited)

     1   

Consolidated Statement of Operations for the Three Months Ended September  30, 2012 and 2011 and the period from November 4, 2003 (inception) to September 30, 2012 (unaudited)

     2   

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Three Months Ended September  30, 2012 and 2011 (unaudited)

     3   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended September  30, 2012 and 2011 and the period from November 4, 2003 (inception) to September 30, 2012 (unaudited)

     4   

Consolidated Statements of Equity for the period from November 4, 2003 (inception) to September  30, 2012 (unaudited)

     5   

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

     6   

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     19   

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

     33   

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

     34   

PART II. Other Information

  

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

     34   

Item 1A. Risk Factors

     34   

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     35   

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

     35   

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

     35   

Item 5. Other Information

     35   

Item 6. Exhibits

     36   


Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1. Financial Statements

SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

(A Development Stage Enterprise)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     September 30,
2012
    June 30,
2012
 

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 22,725      $ 18,035   

Accounts receivable

     52        316   

Prepaid expenses and other currents assets

     2,501        2,015   

Inventory

     23        23   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     25,301        20,389   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     33,337        33,942   

Intangible asset, net

     1,080        1,126   

Investment in Yima joint ventures

     33,013        33,340   

Other long-term assets

     3,926        4,050   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 96,657      $ 92,847   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accrued expenses and accounts payable

   $ 9,759      $ 8,080   

Current portion of long-term bank loan

     2,429        2,435   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     12,188        10,515   

Long-term bank loan

     1,151        2,372   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     13,339        12,887   

Commitments and contingencies

    

Equity:

    

Common stock, $0.01 par value: 200,000 shares authorized: 57,800 and 52,022 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     578        520   

Additional paid-in capital

     215,282        207,345   

Deficit accumulated during development stage

     (136,293     (131,808

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     4,682        4,802   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     84,249        80,859   

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

     (931     (899
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

     83,318        79,960   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 96,657      $ 92,847   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

1


Table of Contents

SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

(A Development Stage Enterprise)

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

                 November 4, 2003  
     Three Months Ended     (inception) to  
     September 30,     September 30,  
     2012     2011     2012  

Revenue:

      

Product sales and other — related parties

   $ —        $ 2,102      $ 21,511   

Technology licensing and related services

     71        307        2,904   

Other

     —          86        607   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

     71        2,495        25,022   

Costs and Expenses:

      

Costs of sales and plant operating expenses

     131        3,204        32,482   

General and administrative expenses

     3,080        3,025        89,701   

Asset impairment losses

     —          —          9,075   

Stock-based compensation expense

     164        67        22,037   

Depreciation and amortization

     577        640        12,693   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

     3,952        6,936        165,988   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating loss

     (3,881     (4,441     (140,966

Non-operating (income) expense:

      

Equity in losses of joint ventures

     517        432        2,801   

Foreign currency (gain) loss, net

     38        (414     (2,315

Interest income

     (14     (37     (3,150

Interest expense

     96        184        3,375   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (4,518     (4,606     (141,677

Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

     33        66        5,384   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to stockholders

   $ (4,485   $ (4,540   $ (136,293
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share:

      

Basic and diluted

   $ (0.09   $ (0.09   $ (3.53
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

      

Basic and diluted

     52,334        50,858        38,605   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

(A Development Stage Enterprise)

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

                 November 4, 2003  
     Three Months Ended     (inception) to  
     September 30,     September 30,  
     2012     2011     2012  

Net loss, as reported

   $ (4,518   $ (4,606   $ (141,677

Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment

     (119     768        4,679   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

     (4,637     (3,838     (136,998

Less comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

     32        72        5,386   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company

   $ (4,605   $ (3,766   $ (131,612
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

3


Table of Contents

SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

(A Development Stage Enterprise)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

                 November 4, 2003  
     Three Months Ended     (inception) to  
     September 30,     September 30,  
     2012     2011     2012  

Cash flows from operating activites:

      

Net loss

   $ (4,518   $ (4,606   $ (141,677

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

      

Stock-based compensation expense

     164        67        22,037   

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

     522        585        11,349   

Amortization of intangible and other assets

     55        55        1,344   

Equity in losses of joint ventures

     517        432        2,801   

Foreign currency gains

     38        (414     (2,315

Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment

     1        (12     167   

Asset impairment losses

     —          —          9,075   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Accounts receivable

     264        380        147   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (492     146        (1,785

Inventory

     (2     (107     (564

Other long-term assets

     11        (113     (1,342

Accrued expenses and payables

     802        479        3,627   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (2,638     (3,108     (97,136
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Capital expenditures

     (2     (19     (38,097

Equity investment in joint ventures

     (109     (156     (31,737

Purchase of marketable securities

     —          —          (45,000

Redemption of marketable securities

     —          —          45,000   

GTI license royalty – Yima joint ventures

     —          —          (1,500

ExxonMobil license royalty

     —          —          (1,250

Proceeds from sale of fixed assets

     —          —          7   

Restricted cash – redemptions of certificates of deposit

     —          —          (50

Amendment to GTI license rights

     —          —          (500

Purchase of land use rights

     —          —          (1,896

Receipt of Chinese governmental grant

     —          —          556   

Project prepayments

     —          —          (3,210
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (111     (175     (77,677
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Payments on long-term bank loan

     (1,214     (1,212     (10,521

Proceeds from long-term bank loan

     —          —          12,081   

Advance toward sale of common stock

     —          —          1,000   

Proceeds from exercise of (repurchase of) stock options, net

     —          (14     921   

Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net

     8,658        —          188,627   

Prepaid interest

     —          —          (276

Financing costs

     —          —          (143

Contributions from noncontrolling interest partners

     —          —          4,456   

Loans from shareholders

     —          —          11   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     7,444        (1,226     196,156   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash

     4,695        (4,509     21,343   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     18,035        32,176        —     

Effect of exchange rates on cash

     (5     8        1,382   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 22,725      $ 27,675      $ 22,725   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

(A Development Stage Enterprise)

Consolidated Statement of Equity

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

    Common Stock          

Deficit

Accumulated

During the

   

Accumulated

Other

    Non-        
    Shares     Common
Stock
    Additional
Paid-in  Capital
    Development
Stage
    Comprehensive
Income
    controlling
Interest
    Total  

Balance at November 4, 2003 (inception)

    100,000      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —     

Net loss for the period November 4, 2003 to June 30, 2004

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2004

    100,000        —          —          —          —          —          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares Forfeited in Merger

    (94,000     —          —          —          —          —          —     

Shares Issued in Merger

    21,000        —          —          —          —          —          —     

Net loss

    —          —          —          (358     —          —          (358

Investor contributions

    —          264        236        —          —          —          500   

Conversion of debt to equity

    —          6        5        —          —          —          11   

Net proceeds from private placement offering

    1,030        10        2,474        —          —          —          2,484   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2005

    28,030        280        2,715        (358     —          —          2,637   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    —          —          —          (5,183     —          —          (5,183

Net proceeds from private placement offering

    970        10        2,378        —          —          —          2,388   

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          3,043        —          —          —          3,043   

Adjustment related to return of shares

    (4,353     (44     44        —          —          —          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2006

    24,647        246        8,180        (5,541     —          —          2,885   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    —          —          —          (13,142     —          (37     (13,179

Currency translation adjustment

    —          —          —          —          175        —          175   
             

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

    —          —          —          —          —          —          (13,004

Contributions from noncontrolling interest partners

    —          —          —          —          —          492        492   

Net proceeds from private placement offering

    3,346        34        16,126        —          —          —          16,160   

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          6,608        —          —          —          6,608   

Shares issued for amended GTI license

    191        2        1,374        —          —          —          1,376   

Shares issued upon option exercise by Union Charter Financial

    2,000        20        4,980        —          —          —          5,000   

Stock grants to employees

    4        —          33        —          —          —          33   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2007

    30,188        302        37,301        (18,683     175        455        19,550   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    —          —          —          (27,442     —          (610     (28,052

Currency translation adjustment

    —          —          —          —          1,390        —          1,390   
             

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

    —          —          —          —          —          —          (26,662

Contributions from noncontrolling interest partners

    —          —          —          —          —          3,124        3,124   

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          6,010        —          —          —          6,010   

Exercise of stock options

    92        1        564        —          —          —          565   

Shares issued for GTI reservation use fee

    278        3        2,497        —          —          —          2,500   

Shares issued in public offerings

    17,451        174        148,226        —          —          —          148,400   

Stock grants to employees

    2        —          19        —          —          —          19   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2008

    48,011        480        194,617        (46,125     1,565        2,969        153,506   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    —          —          —          (28,576     —          (703     (29,279

Currency translation adjustment

    —          —          —          —          33        11        44   
             

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

    —          —          —          —          —          —          (29,235

Public offering costs

    —          —          (107     —          —          —          (107

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          1,869        —          —          —          1,869   

Exercise of stock options

    107        1        62        —          —          —          63   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2009

    48,118        481        196,441        (74,701     1,598        2,277        126,096   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    —          —          —          (21,748     —          (3,667     (25,415

Currency translation adjustment

    —          —          —          —          237        1        238   
             

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

    —          —          —          —          —          —          (25,177

Contributions from noncontrolling interest partners

    —          —          —          —          —          839        839   

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          2,179        —          —          —          2,179   

Exercise of stock options

    219        2        100        —          —          —          102   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2010

    48,337        483        198,720        (96,449     1,835        (550     104,039   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    —          —          —          (15,463     —          (157     (15,620

Currency translation adjustment

    —          —          —          —          2,013        (9     2,004   
             

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

    —          —          —          —          —          —          (13,616

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          1,203        —          —          —          1,203   

Exercise of stock options

    291        4        166        —          —          —          170   

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock

    2,222        22        4,966        —          —          —          4,988   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2011

    50,850        509        205,055        (111,912     3,848        (716     96,784   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    —          —          —          (19,896     —          (176     (20,072

Currency translation adjustment

    —          —          —          —          954        (7     947   
             

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

    —          —          —          —          —          —          (19,125

Issuance of common stock

    1,005        10        1,397        —          —          —          1,407   

Stock-based compensation

    147        —          879        —          —          —          879   

Exercise of stock options

    20        1        14        —          —          —          15   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2012

    52,022        520        207,345        (131,808     4,802        (899     79,960   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    —          —          —          (4,485     —          (33     (4,518

Currency translation adjustment

    —          —          —          —          (120     1        (119
             

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

    —          —          —          —          —          —          (4,637

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock

    5,778        58        7,773        —          —          —          7,831   

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          164        —          —          —          164   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2012

    57,800      $ 578      $ 215,282      $ (136,293   $ 4,682      $ (931   $ 83,318   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

(A Development Stage Enterprise)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Note 1 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Organization and description of business

Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. (“SES”), together with its wholly-owned and majority-owned controlled subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) is a development stage enterprise. The Company is a global energy and gasification technology company that provides products and solutions to the energy and chemical industries. The Company builds, owns and operates coal gasification plants that utilize its proprietary U-GAS® fluidized bed gasification technology to convert low rank coal and coal wastes into higher value energy products. The Company provides licenses, equipment components, engineering services and product offerings related to the U-GAS® technology. The Company’s headquarters are located in Houston, Texas.

(b) Basis of presentation and principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements for the periods presented are unaudited and reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items, which management considers necessary for a fair statement. Operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013.

The consolidated financial statements are in U.S. dollars. Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries in the consolidated balance sheets represents minority stockholders’ proportionate share of the equity in such subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made in prior period financial statements to conform to current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net loss. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto reported in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2012. Significant accounting policies that are new or updated from those presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2012 are included below. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial statements and do not include all annual disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

(c) Accounting for Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) and Financial Statement Consolidation Criteria

The joint ventures which the Company enters into may be considered VIEs. The Company consolidates all VIEs where it is the primary beneficiary. This determination is made at the inception of the Company’s involvement with the VIE and is continuously assessed. The Company considers qualitative factors and forms a conclusion that the Company, or another interest holder, has a controlling financial interest in the VIE and, if so, whether it is the primary beneficiary. In order to determine the primary beneficiary, the Company considers who has the power to direct activities of the VIE that most significantly impacts the VIE’s performance and has an obligation to absorb losses from or the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. The Company does not consolidate VIEs where it is not the primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for these unconsolidated VIEs under the equity method of accounting and includes its net investment on its consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s equity interest in the net income or loss from its unconsolidated VIEs is recorded in non-operating (income) expense on a net basis on its consolidated statement of operations.

The Company has determined that the ZZ Joint Venture is a VIE and has determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary. In making the initial determination, the Company considered, among other items, the change in profit distribution between the Company and Shandong Weijiao Group Xuecheng Energy Company Ltd., or Xuecheng Energy (previously Hai Hua), after 20 years. The expected negative variability in the fair value of the ZZ Joint Venture’s net assets was considered to be greater during the first 20 years of the ZZ Joint Venture’s life, which coincided with our original 95% profit/loss allocation, versus the latter 30 years in which the Company’s profit/loss

 

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allocation would be reduced to 10%. As the result of an amendment to the ZZ Joint Venture agreement in 2010, the profit distribution percentages will remain in place after the first 20 years, providing further support to the determination that the Company is the primary beneficiary. In addition, the Company considered whether the terms of the syngas purchase and sale agreement with Xuecheng Energy contained a lease. The factors considered included (i) the Company’s ability to operate and control the plant during the initial 20 years; and (ii) whether it was more than remote that one or more parties other than Xuecheng Energy would purchase more than a minor amount (considered to be 10%) of the plant’s output during the term of the syngas purchase and sale agreement. Because the Company determined that the syngas purchase and sale agreement did not contain a lease, the Company accounts for the revenues from that agreement in accordance with the Company’s revenue recognition policy for product sales.

The following tables provide additional information on the ZZ Joint Venture’s assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012 which are consolidated within the Company’s consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

 

     September 30, 2012  
     Consolidated      ZZ Joint  Venture
(1)
     %(2)  

Current assets

   $ 25,301       $ 106         —     

Long-term assets

     71,356         36,320         51
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 96,657       $ 36,426         38
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Current liabilities

   $ 12,188       $ 4,444         36

Long-term liabilities

     1,151         1,151         100

Equity

     83,318         30,831         37
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 96,657       $ 36,426         38
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     June 30, 2012  
     Consolidated      ZZ Joint Venture
(1)
     % (2)  

Current assets

   $ 20,389       $ 575         3

Long-term assets

     72,458         36,937         50
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 92,847       $ 37,512         40
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Current liabilities

   $ 10,515       $ 3,793         36

Long-term liabilities

     2,372         2,372         100

Equity

     79,960         31,347         39
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 92,847       $ 37,512         40
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Amounts reflect information for ZZ Joint Venture and exclude intercompany items.
(2) ZZ Joint Venture’s percentage of the amount on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The Company has determined that the Yima Joint Ventures are VIEs and that Yima, the joint venture partner, is the primary beneficiary since Yima has a 75% ownership interest in the Yima Joint Ventures and has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly influence the VIE’s performance.

The Company has determined that SES Resource Solutions, Ltd. (“SRS”) that was formed in June 2011 is a VIE and that the Company is not the primary beneficiary since neither the Company nor Midas Resources AG control SRS since each have a 50% ownership interest in SRS and the control, risks and benefits of SRS are shared equally. SRS had no assets or liabilities as of September 30, 2012.

(d) Revenue Recognition

Revenue from sales of products, which includes the capacity fee and energy fee earned by the ZZ Joint Venture, and byproducts are recognized when the following elements are satisfied: (i) there are no uncertainties regarding customer acceptance; (ii) there is persuasive evidence that an agreement exists; (iii) delivery has occurred; (iv) the sales price is fixed or determinable; and (v) collectability is reasonably assured.

 

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Technology licensing revenue is typically received over the course of a project’s development as milestones are met. The Company may receive upfront licensing fee payments when a license agreement is entered into. Typically, the majority of a license fee is due once project financing and equipment installation occur. The Company recognizes license fees as revenue when the license fees become due and payable under the license agreement, subject to the deferral of the amount of the performance guarantee. Fees earned for engineering services, such as services that relate to integrating our technology to a customer’s project, are recognized using the percentage-of-completion method.

(e) Fair value measurements

Accounting standards require that fair value measurements be classified and disclosed in one of the following categories:

 

 

Level 1

   Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
 

Level 2

   Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and
 

Level 3

   Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant for the fair value measurement. The following table summarizes the valuation of the Company’s financial assets by pricing levels, as of September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012 (in thousands):

 

     September 30, 2012  
     Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Assets:

          

Certificates of Deposit

   $ —         $ 50  (1)    $ —         $ 50   

Money Market Funds

     —           13,216  (2)      —           13,216   
     June 30, 2012  
     Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Assets:

          

Certificates of Deposit

   $ —         $ 50  (1)    $ —         $ 50   

Money Market Funds

     —           15,957  (2)      —           15,957   

 

(1) Amount included in current assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
(2) Amount included in cash and cash equivalents on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The carrying values of the certificates of deposit and money market funds approximate fair value, which was estimated using quoted market prices for those or similar investments. The carrying value of the Company’s other financial instruments, including accounts receivable, accounts payable and long-term debt, approximate their fair values.

Note 2 – Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In June 2011, the FASB issued new guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income. The new guidance allows an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The new guidance eliminates the current option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in stockholders equity. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, however the provision of the new guidance which requires reclassifications out of comprehensive income be shown separately in the financial statements has been deferred to allow the FASB to reconsider alternatives. The Company adopted these requirements as of July 1, 2012.

 

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Note 3 – Current Projects

Zao Zhuang Joint Venture

Joint Venture Agreement

On July 6, 2006, the Company entered into a cooperative joint venture contract with Shandong Hai Hua Coal & Chemical Company Ltd. “Hai Hua”, which established Synthesis Energy Systems (Zao Zhuang) New Gas Company Ltd., or the ZZ Joint Venture, a joint venture company that has the primary purposes of (i) developing, constructing and operating a syngas production plant utilizing the U-GAS ® technology in Zao Zhuang City, Shandong Province, China and (ii) producing and selling syngas and the various byproducts of the plant, including ash and elemental sulphur. In August 2012, Hai Hua’s name was changed to Xuecheng Energy, after a change in control transaction. The Company owns 96.9% of the ZZ Joint Venture and Xuecheng Energy owns the remaining 3.1%. The Company consolidates the results of the ZZ Joint Venture in its consolidated financial statements.

Syngas Purchase and Sale Agreement

The ZZ Joint Venture is also party to a purchase and sale agreement with Xuecheng Energy for syngas produced by the plant, whereby Xuecheng Energy will pay the ZZ Joint Venture an energy fee and capacity fee, as described below, based on the syngas production. The syngas to be purchased by Xuecheng Energy is subject to certain quality component requirements set forth in the contract. In late December 2008, the plant declared commercial operations status for purposes of the purchase and sale agreement. The energy fee is a per normal cubic meters, or Ncum, of syngas calculation based on a formula which factors in the monthly averages of the prices of design base coal, coke, coke oven gas, power, steam and water, all of which are components used in the production of syngas. The capacity fee is paid based on the capacity of the plant to produce syngas, factoring in the number of hours (i) of production and (ii) of capability of production as compared to the guaranteed capacity of the plant, which for purposes of the contract is 22,000 Ncum per hour of net syngas. Xuecheng Energy is obligated to pay the capacity fee regardless of whether they use the gasification capacity, subject only to availability of the plant, quality of the syngas and exceptions for certain events of force majeure. Due to worldwide reductions in methanol prices, as well as reliability issues with respect to Xuecheng Energy’s plant, Xuecheng Energy has operated at a reduced rate of syngas consumption. Xuecheng Energy has used approximately 35% to 45% of the syngas guarantee capacity since 2009.

In April 2009, the ZZ Joint Venture entered into a Supplementary Agreement with Xuecheng Energy, amending the terms of the purchase and sale agreement. The Supplementary Agreement was entered into to provide more clarity regarding the required syngas quality and volume to be delivered, recovery of the energy fee during turndown periods and operations coordination during unscheduled outages. Under the Supplementary Agreement, the syngas quality specification was amended to provide more clarity as to the minor constituents allowable in the syngas. For purposes of the Supplemental Agreement, syngas that meets these specifications is deemed “compliant gas” and syngas that does not meet these specifications is deemed “non-compliant gas.” The Supplementary Agreement also added a requirement for Xuecheng Energy to pay the ZZ Joint Venture the capacity fee and 70% of the energy fee for all non-compliant gas which is taken by Xuecheng Energy. However, if more than 50% of the syngas taken by Xuecheng Energy during any operating day is non-compliant gas, all of the syngas for that day is deemed to be non-compliant gas for purposes of calculating the energy fee. In addition, the Supplementary Agreement accommodates periods of turndown operation by Xuecheng Energy by establishing a minimum threshold gas off take volume of 7,500 Ncum per hour of net syngas for the purpose of calculating the energy fee during such periods. The Supplementary Agreement also provides that, to the extent Xuecheng Energy has an unscheduled shutdown, and the plant continues to operate on standby during such period, Xuecheng Energy is still required to pay the energy fee to the ZZ Joint Venture. In the event that the plant has an unscheduled shutdown and does not provide at least three hours prior notice to Xuecheng Energy, the ZZ Joint Venture may be required to provide certain compensation to Xuecheng Energy.

Since April 2011, Xuecheng Energy has not paid the capacity fees owed to the ZZ Joint Venture. The unpaid amount totaled approximately $5.7 million as of September 30, 2012. The plant continued to operate and provide syngas to Xuecheng Energy through September 2011 with the expectation that Xuecheng Energy would pay the capacity fee. Xuecheng Energy has paid other contractual obligations such as the energy fees and by-product sales due under the contract. The Company is continuing to work with Xuecheng Energy on alternatives to resolve this issue. Since April 2011, the Company has not recognized these capacity fee revenues and will not recognize any capacity fees until collection is reasonably assured. In late September 2011, both the Xuecheng Energy methanol plant and the ZZ Joint Venture plant were shut down for scheduled maintenance and the ZZ Joint Venture plant has been kept idle while the ZZ Joint Venture develops its revised commercial arrangement with Xuecheng Energy and Weijiao.

 

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To date, Xuecheng Energy has been unable to off take the volume of syngas originally expected for the original plant design and as a result the plant has incurred operating losses. Because of these circumstances, the ZZ Joint Venture is working on various arrangements to increase the syngas off take volume. Such arrangements involve a combination of technical improvements to Xuecheng Energy’s methanol unit, as well as restructuring the current business arrangement to create an integrated syngas to methanol operation. In December 2011, the Company entered into a framework agreement with Xuecheng Energy pursuant to which the Company and Xuecheng Energy are working collaboratively to complete a definitive agreement that will provide the basis for a fully integrated syngas to methanol operation and to resolve the commercial issues.

As currently planned, the methanol integration project will require approximately $7 million of additional capital. If the definitive agreement is signed and the additional capital is received, the commercial work and physical integration work will begin. This work is expected to take about six months to complete and the Company will continue to keep the plant idle until this work is completed. In March 2012, Xuecheng Energy advanced approximately $1.0 million to the ZZ Joint Venture. In September 2012, Xuecheng Energy advanced an additional approximately $0.8 million to the ZZ Joint Venture.

The Company is also evaluating alternative products and partnership structures for a possible expansion of the ZZ Joint Venture plant. In February 2010, the Company received the necessary government approval for the expansion. This approval, along with the previously received environmental approvals, are the key approvals required to commence execution of the expansion and also describe certain terms of the expansion project, including but not limited to, its use of land, the main additional facilities required and the use of the existing facilities. The scope of the expansion is still under evaluation. The local government has expressed strong support for this expansion project and has executed a letter of intent allowing a new state-owned local coal mine to be used as a debt guarantee. The letter of intent also contemplates providing discounted coal to the project from this local coal mine. The Company is in discussions with several potential partners on this expansion.

Loan Agreement

On March 22, 2007, the ZZ Joint Venture entered into a seven-year loan agreement and received $12.6 million of loan proceeds pursuant to the terms of a Fixed Asset Loan Contract with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (“ICBC”) to complete the project financing for the ZZ Joint Venture. Key terms of the Fixed Asset Loan Contract with ICBC are as follows:

 

   

Term of the loan is seven years from the commencement date (March 22, 2007) of the loan;

 

   

Interest is adjusted annually based upon the standard rate announced each year by the People’s Bank of China, and as of September 30, 2012, the applicable interest rate was 7.05% and is payable monthly;

 

   

Principal payments of RMB 7.7 million (approximately $1.2 million based on current currency exchange rates) are due in March and September of each year beginning on September 22, 2008 and ending on March 31, 2014;

 

   

Xuecheng Energy is the guarantor of the entire loan;

 

   

Assets of the ZZ Joint Venture are pledged as collateral for the loan;

 

   

Covenants include, among other things, prohibiting pre-payment without the consent of ICBC and permitting ICBC to be involved in the review and inspection of the ZZ Joint Venture plant; and

 

   

Subject to customary events of default which, should one or more of them occur and be continuing, would permit ICBC to declare all amounts owing under the contract to be due and payable immediately.

As of September 30, 2012, the ZZ Joint Venture was in compliance with all covenants and obligations under the Fixed Asset Loan Contract.

Impairment Assessment

Due to the economic trends that have significantly affected commodity prices including methanol, Xuecheng Energy’s refusal to pay capacity fees owed to the ZZ Joint Venture and the ZZ Joint Venture plant’s operating losses, the Company believed an impairment assessment of the ZZ Joint Venture plant was warranted as of June 30, 2012. The Company performed an analysis of the ZZ Joint Venture plant and determined that these assets were not impaired based

 

10


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upon management’s estimated cash flow projections for the plant. Such estimated cash flow projections included a case based on the completion of the ongoing negotiations between the Company and Xuecheng Energy to restructure the current business arrangement to create an integrated syngas to methanol operation. This restructuring would include a combination of technical improvements being made to Xuecheng Energy’s methanol unit allowing for increased syngas off-take and other repairs and improvements being made to the plant enabling more efficient joint production of methanol. An alternative case was based on developing an additional downstream facility to produce glycol. This case assumes the additional capital investment is made by a strategic partner and that we retain a minority interest in the combined project. If the Company is not successful in restructuring the joint venture or otherwise improving the ZZ Joint Venture’s profitability, or if management’s estimated cash flow projections for these assets decrease, the ZZ Joint Venture plant could become impaired which could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. As no significant changes occurred during the first quarter, an updated impairment assessment was not necessary as of September 30, 2012.

Yima Joint Ventures

In August 2009, the Company entered into amended joint venture contracts with Yima Coal Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. (“Yima”), replacing the prior joint venture contracts entered into in October 2008 and April 2009. The joint ventures were formed for each of the gasification, methanol/methanol protein production, and utility island components of the plant (collectively, the “Yima Joint Ventures”). The parties obtained government approvals for the project’s feasibility study during the three months ended December 31, 2008 and for the project’s environmental impact assessment during the three months ended March 31, 2009, which were the two key approvals required to proceed with the project. The amended joint venture contracts provide that: (i) the Company and Yima contribute equity of 25% and 75%, respectively, to the Yima Joint Ventures; (ii) Yima will guarantee the repayment of loans from third party lenders for 50% of the project’s cost and, if debt financing is not available, Yima is obligated to provide debt financing via shareholder loans to the project until the project is able to secure third-party debt financing; and (iii) Yima will supply coal to the project from a mine located in close proximity to the project at a preferential price subject to a definitive agreement to be subsequently negotiated. In connection with entering into the amended contracts, the Company and Yima contributed their remaining cash equity contributions of $29.3 million and $90.8 million, respectively, to the Yima Joint Ventures during the three months ended September 30, 2009. The Company will also be responsible for its share of any cost overruns on the project.

In exchange for their capital contributions, the Company owns a 25% interest in each joint venture and Yima owns a 75% interest. Notwithstanding this, in connection with an expansion of the project, the Company has the option to contribute a greater percentage of capital for the expansion, such that as a result, the Company would have up to a 49% ownership interest in the Yima Joint Ventures. The investment in the Yima Joint Ventures is accounted for using the equity method.

The final stages of construction and commissioning for the Yima Joint Venture plant are progressing well. Most sections of the plant are either complete or more than 90% complete. The methanol section of the plant is currently about 70% complete. The engineering on the methanol section was delayed for several months in 2010 while the Yima Joint Ventures considered building glycol production in lieu of methanol. The methanol unit is the top priority of the Yima Joint Venture and the Yima Joint Venture is targeting first methanol production to occur in December. Any delays in the final work on construction and commissioning could mean that initial production is delayed. Once methanol production has begun, the plant is expected to progress toward normal operating capacity over the subsequent three to six months.

Based on the project’s current scope of methanol only, the current estimate of the total required capital of the project is approximately $250 million. The remaining capital for the project is to be provided by project debt to be obtained by the Yima Joint Ventures. Yima has agreed to guarantee the project debt in order to secure debt financing from domestic Chinese banking sources. The Company has agreed to pledge to Yima its ownership interests in the joint ventures as security for its obligations under any project guarantee. In the event that the necessary additional debt financing is not obtained, Yima has agreed to provide a loan to the joint ventures to satisfy the remaining capital needs of the project with terms comparable to current market rates at the time of the loan.

The Yima Joint Ventures are governed by a board of directors consisting of eight directors, two of whom were appointed by the Company and six of whom were appointed by Yima. The joint ventures also have officers that are nominated by the Company, Yima and/or the board of directors pursuant to the terms of the joint venture contracts. The Company and Yima shall share the profits, and bear the risks and losses, of the joint ventures in proportion to our respective ownership interests. The term of the joint venture shall commence upon each joint venture company obtaining its business license and shall end 30 years after commercial operation of the plant.

 

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The Company has included the $1.5 million payment paid to the GTI in June 2009 toward future royalties due to GTI for the Yima Joint Ventures’ project as part of the Company’s investment in the Yima project. An additional future royalty payment of approximately $1.5 million will be due to GTI upon the commissioning of the gasifier equipment for the Yima project which is expected in fiscal 2013.

The Company’s equity in losses of the Yima Joint Ventures for both the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was approximately $0.2 million. The following table presents summarized unconsolidated financial information for the Yima Joint Ventures (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended  
     September 30,  
     2012     2011  

Income statement data:

    

Revenue

   $ —        $ —     

Operating loss

     (993     (993

Net loss

     (985     (839
     September 30,
2012
    June 30,
2012
 

Balance sheet data:

    

Current assets

   $ 84,291      $ 74,154   

Noncurrent assets

     174,696        174,165   

Current liabilities

     41,456        29,247   

Noncurrent liabilities

     91,259        91,491   

SES Resource Solutions

SES Resource Solutions, Ltd., or SRS, is a joint venture owned 50% by us and 50% by Midas Resources AG, or Midas, that was formed in June 2011 to provide additional avenues of commercialization for the Company’s U-GAS ® technology. Key objectives of the joint venture are to identify and procure low cost, low rank coal resources for which the Company’s technology and the SRS’ know-how represent the best route to commercialization; to provide investment opportunities in both gasification facilities and coal resources; and to facilitate the establishment of gasification projects globally based on the Company’s technology. Terms of the SRS joint venture agreement include:

 

   

SRS has the exclusive right to promote our gasification technology for the purpose of securing low-cost coal resources in projects worldwide that have been approved by the board of directors of SRS;

 

   

Midas provides expertise to originate and execute the above projects;

 

   

the Company provides SRS with technology licenses and engineering development support for use in developing the joint integrated coal resource projects;

 

   

SRS being managed by a four person board of directors, two of which are appointed by the Company and two of which are appointed by Midas;

 

   

the Company agreeing to provide up to $2.0 million in funding to SRS, although it has the ability to discontinue funding at any point in time; and

 

   

revenue and profits are equally divided between the joint venture partners.

SRS is also actively engaged in commercial discussions related to securing investment partners for the next tranche of funding necessary for project development. This funding is planned to be used to independently advance the coal resource and integrated project development without further start-up cost to the Company. SRS is now contemplating the proper timing for raising the funds. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had funded approximately $1.4 million to SRS. The remaining $600,000 which the Company has agreed to fund may be reduced, suspended or held back until the financial markets improve such that the additional funds needed for the continued development of SRS may be secured.

 

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The Company’s investment in SRS is accounted for using the equity method. SRS has no assets or liabilities as amounts are funded by the Company as costs are incurred. The following table presents summarized unconsolidated income statement data for SRS (in thousands):

 

     Three Months  Ended
September 30,
 
     2012     2011  

Income statement data:

    

Revenue

   $ —        $ —     

Operating loss

     (541     (449

Net loss

     (541     (449

Note 4 – GTI License Agreement

On November 5, 2009, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated License Agreement (the “New Agreement”) with GTI, replacing the Amended and Restated License Agreement between the Company and GTI dated August 31, 2006, as amended (the “Original Agreement”). Under the New Agreement, the Company maintains its exclusive worldwide right to license the U-GAS ® technology for all types of coals and coal/biomass mixtures with coal content exceeding 60%, as well as the non-exclusive right to license the original U-GAS ® technology for 100% biomass and coal/biomass blends exceeding 40% biomass. The New Agreement differs from the Original Agreement most critically by allowing the Company to sublicense U-GAS ® to third parties for coal, coal and biomass mixtures or 100% biomass projects (subject to the approval of GTI, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), with GTI to share the revenue from such third party licensing fees based on an agreed percentage split (the “Agreed Percentage”). In addition, the prior obligation to fabricate and put into operation at least one U-GAS ® system for each calendar year of the Original Agreement in order to maintain the license has been eliminated in the New Agreement.

In order to sublicense any U-GAS ® system, the Company is required to comply with certain requirements set forth in the New Agreement. In the preliminary stage of developing a potential sublicense, the Company is required to provide notice and certain information regarding the potential sublicense to GTI and GTI is required to provide notice of approval or non-approval within ten business days of the date of the notice from the Company, provided that GTI is required to not unreasonably withhold their approval. If GTI does not respond within that ten business day period, they are deemed to have approved of the sublicense. The Company is required to provide updates on any potential sublicenses once every three months during the term of the New Agreement. The Company is also restricted from offering a competing gasification technology during the term of the New Agreement.

For each U-GAS ® unit which the Company licenses, designs, builds or operates for itself or for a party other than a sublicensee and which uses coal or a coal and biomass mixture or biomass as the feed stock, the Company must pay a royalty based upon a calculation using the MMBtu per hour of dry syngas production of a rated design capacity, payable in installments at the beginning and at the completion of the construction of a project (the “Standard Royalty”). Although it is calculated using a different unit of measurement, the Standard Royalty is effectively the same as the royalty payable to GTI under the Original Agreement. If the Company invests, or has the option to invest, in a specified percentage of the equity of a third party, and the royalty payable by such third party for their sublicense exceeds the Standard Royalty, the Company is required to pay to GTI the Agreed Percentage of such royalty payable by such third party. However, if the royalty payable by such third party for their sublicense is less than the Standard Royalty, the Company is required to pay to GTI, in addition to the Agreed Percentage of such royalty payable by such third party, the Agreed Percentage of its dividends and liquidation proceeds from its equity investment in the third party. In addition, if the Company receives a carried interest in a third party, and the carried interest is less than a specified percentage of the equity of such third party, the Company is required to pay to GTI, in its sole discretion, either (i) the Standard Royalty or (ii) the Agreed Percentage of the royalty payable to such third party for their sublicense, as well as the Agreed Percentage of the carried interest. The Company will be required to pay the Standard Royalty to GTI if the percentage of the equity of a third party that the Company (a) invests in, (b) has an option to invest in, or (c) receives a carried interest in, exceeds the percentage of the third party specified in the preceding sentence.

The Company is required to make an annual payment to GTI for each year of the term beginning December 31, 2010, with such annual payment due by the last day of January of the following year; provided, however, that the Company is entitled to deduct all royalties paid to GTI in a given year under the New Agreement from this amount, and if such royalties exceed the annual payment amount in a given year, the Company is not required to make the annual payment. The Company accrues the annual royalty expense ratably over the calendar year as adjusted for any royalties paid during year. The Company must also provide GTI with a copy of each contract that it enters into relating to a U-GAS ® system and report to GTI with its progress on development of the technology every six months.

 

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For a period of ten years, the Company and GTI are restricted from disclosing any confidential information (as defined in the New Agreement) to any person other than employees of affiliates or contractors who are required to deal with such information, and such persons will be bound by the confidentiality provisions of the New Agreement. The Company has further indemnified GTI and its affiliates from any liability or loss resulting from unauthorized disclosure or use of any confidential information that the Company receives.

The term of the New Agreement is the same as the Original Agreement, expiring on August 31, 2016, but may be extended for two additional ten-year periods at the Company’s option.

Note 5 – Stock-Based Compensation

As of September 30, 2012, the Company had outstanding stock option and restricted stock awards granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2005 Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”). As of September 30, 2012, 336,533 shares were authorized for future issuance pursuant to the Plan. Under the Plan, the Company may grant both incentive and non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards to officers, directors, employees and non-employees. Stock option awards generally vest ratably over a one to four year period and expire ten years after the date of grant.

In March 2012, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the issuance of 146,668 shares of restricted stock to the Company’s independent non-employee directors as consideration for director fees. The restricted stock vests quarterly over calendar year 2012 and the fair value of the restricted stock was based on the market value as of the date of the awards.

The amount of unvested restricted stock outstanding was as follows:

 

     Shares of  
     Restricted Stock  

Nonvested at June 30, 2012

     73,336   

Granted

     —     

Vested

     (36,668
  

 

 

 

Nonvested at September 30, 2012

     36,668   
  

 

 

 

Stock option activity during the three months ended September 30, 2012 was as follows:

 

    

Shares of Common

Stock Underlying

 
     Stock Options  

Outstanding at June 30, 2012

     6,750,201   

Granted

     50,000   

Exercised

     —     

Forfeited

     (50,000
  

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2012

     6,750,201   
  

 

 

 

Exercisable at September 30, 2012

     5,744,477   
  

 

 

 

The fair values for the stock options granted during the three months ended September 30, 2012 were estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes-Morton option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions.

 

Risk-free rate of return

     0.80

Expected life of award

     5.75  years 

Expected dividend yield

     0.00

Expected volatility of stock

     96

Weighted-average grant date fair value

   $ 1.05   

 

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Note 6 – Net Loss Per Share

Historical net loss per share of common stock is computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Basic loss per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Stock options and unvested restricted stock are the only potential dilutive share equivalents the Company has outstanding for the periods presented. For the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 and the period from November 4, 2003 (inception) to September 30, 2012, options to purchase common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share as their effect would have been antidilutive as the Company incurred net losses during those periods.

Note 7 – Risks and Uncertainties

Any future decrease in economic activity in China, India or in other regions of the world, in which the Company may in the future do business, could significantly and adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition in a number of other ways. Any decline in economic conditions may reduce the demand for prices from the products from our plants. In addition, the market for commodities such as methanol has been under significant pressure and the Company is unsure of how much longer this pressure will continue. As a direct result of these trends, the Company’s ability to finance and develop its existing projects, commence any new projects and sell its products could be adversely impacted.

As described under Note 3, Xuecheng Energy has not made the capacity fee payments to the ZZ Joint Venture since April 2011. The unpaid amount totals approximately $5.7 million as of September 30, 2012. Although the Company is continuing to work with Xuecheng Energy on alternatives to resolve the issue, there can be no assurances that the Company will collect these amounts or that the joint venture will be restructured. The Company’s revenue and results of operations have been and would continue to be adversely affected if Xuecheng Energy continues to not pay the capacity fee or if it is unable to retain Xuecheng Energy as a customer or secure new customers. The Company has shut down the ZZ Joint Venture plant since late September 2011 and expects the plant to remain idle until it is able to restructure the joint venture with Xuecheng Energy to jointly produce methanol, as contemplated by the framework agreement executed in December 2011 as described under Note 3, or find an alternative purchaser of its production or a different use for the plant.

The final stages of construction and commissioning for the Yima Joint Venture plant are progressing well. Most sections of the plant are either complete or more than 90% complete. The methanol section of the plant is currently about 70% complete. The engineering on the methanol section was delayed for several months in 2010 while the Yima Joint Ventures considered building glycol production in lieu of methanol. The methanol unit is the top priority of the Yima Joint Venture and the Yima Joint Venture is targeting first methanol production to occur in December. Any delays in the final work on construction and commissioning could mean that initial production is delayed. Once methanol production has begun, the plant is expected to progress toward normal operating capacity over the subsequent three to six months.

The Company will limit the development of any further projects until worldwide capital and debt markets improve and it has assurances that acceptable financing is available to complete such projects. Even if the Company does obtain the necessary capital for its projects, the Company could face other delays in its projects due to additional approval requirements or due to unanticipated issues in the commissioning of such a project. These factors could lead to, among other things, the impairment of the Company’s significant assets, including its assets in the ZZ Joint Venture and its investment in the Yima Joint Ventures, and an inability to develop any further projects.

The Company expects to continue for a period of time to have negative operating cash flows until it can generate sufficient cash flows from SES China (including the ZZ Joint Venture and the Yima Joint Ventures) or its licensing and related service projects, as well as from other projects which are under development, to cover its general and administrative expenses and other operating costs. In addition, the Company may need to aggressively pursue additional partners in China and may need to seek other equity financing or reduce its operating expenses. The Company will also limit the development of any further projects until it has assurances that acceptable financing is available to complete the project. Despite this, the Company will continue to pursue the development of selective projects with strong and credible partners or off-takers where the Company believes equity and debt can be raised from third parties or where the Company believes it can attract a financial partner to participate in the project.

 

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The Company can make no assurances that its business operations will develop and provide it with significant cash to continue operations. The Company may need to raise additional capital through equity and debt financing for any new projects that are developed, to support its existing projects and possible expansions thereof and for its corporate general and administrative expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that any financing will be available to the Company in the future on acceptable terms or at all. Any such financing could be dilutive to the Company’s existing stockholders. If the Company cannot raise required funds on acceptable terms, it may not be able to, among other things, (i) maintain its general and administrative expenses at current levels; (ii) negotiate and enter into new gasification plant development contracts; (iii) expand its operations; (iv) hire and train new employees; or (v) respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated capital requirements.

Note 8 – Share Purchase Agreements

Share Purchase Agreements with Hongye and Zhongmo

On June 18, 2012, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Hongye Agreement”) with Hongye International Investment Group Co., Ltd. (“Hongye”), pursuant to which Hongye will acquire 6,175,093 shares (the “Hongye Shares”) of the Company’s common stock for $1.50 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $9,262,639, and entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Zhongmo Agreement”) with Shanghai Zhongmo Investment Management Co., Ltd. (“Zhongmo”), pursuant to which Zhongmo will acquire 4,177,335 shares (the “Zhongmo Shares,” and together with the Hongye Shares, the “Shares”) of common stock for $1.50 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $6,266,002. In June 2012, the Company received a $1.0 million advance from Hongye towards the Share Purchase Agreement (which was repaid to Hongye in connection with the funding described below).

On September 21, 2012, the Company received gross proceeds of approximately $8.7 million from Hongye and issued 5,777,700 of the Hongye Shares to Hongye. On October 10, 2012, the Company received gross proceeds of approximately $6.3 million from Zhongmo and issued the Zhongmo Shares to Zhongmo. Also, on October 16, 2012, the Company received gross proceeds of approximately $596,000 from Hongye and issued the remaining 397,393 of the Hongye Shares to Hongye.

The Hongye Agreement and the Zhongmo Agreement include several post-closing covenants and agreements:

 

   

Neither Hongye nor Zhongmo shall sell, assign or transfer any Shares until the twelve month anniversary of the closing date.

 

   

For so long as either Hongye or Zhongmo owns at least 5% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock at any meeting of stockholders of the Company or at any adjournment thereof or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval (including by written consent) is sought, they shall, including by executing a written consent if requested by the Company, vote (or cause to be voted) the Shares in favor of each director nominated by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”).

 

   

Until the third anniversary of the closing date, neither Hongye, Zhongmo nor any of their affiliates, shall, without the prior written consent of the Board, directly or indirectly, (i) effect or seek, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect, or cause or participate in or in any way assist any other person to effect or seek, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect or participate in, (A) any acquisition of any securities or rights to acquire any securities (or any other beneficial ownership thereof) or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any acquisition of securities under the terms hereof); (B) any merger or other business combination or tender or exchange offer involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (C) any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of the SEC) or consents to vote with respect to any voting securities of the Company, or any communication exempted from the definition of “solicitation” by Rule 14a-1(l)(2)(iv) under the Exchange Act); (ii) form, join or in any way participate in a “group” (as defined under the Exchange Act) with respect to the Company; (iii) have any discussions or enter into any arrangements, understandings or agreements (oral or written) with, or advise, finance, assist or actively encourage, any third party with respect to any of the matters set forth above, or make any investment in any other person that engages, or offers or proposes to engage, in any of such matters; (iv) take any action which might cause or require the Company, Hongye and/or their affiliates to make a public announcement regarding any of the types of matters set forth above; or (v) disclose any intention, plan or arrangement relating to any of the foregoing.

 

   

The net proceeds received by the Company shall be fully applied to its operations and projects in China and shall be deposited into a bank account in China or Hong Kong controlled by the Company’s China-centric business platform, SES China.

 

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In addition, under the Hongye Agreement, the Company has agreed to certain additional post-closing covenants and agreements:

 

   

After the closing date, the Company will increase the size of the Board by two (2) and the Board agrees to appoint two (2) individuals identified by Hongye for service as directors on the Board (one of which will be appointed Vice Chairman of the Board) and to annually nominate such individuals for continued service on the Board; provided, however, that if Hongye owns less than 9%, but more than 5%, of the total issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock at any point after the closing date, the Board agrees to appoint one (1) individual identified by Hongye for service as director on the Board and to annually nominate such individual for continued service on the Board, while if Hongye owns less than 5% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock at any point after the closing date, the Board shall have no further obligation to appoint or nominate any individual identified by Hongye for service as a director. Any person appointed or elected to the Board must meet minimum criteria for service on the Board under applicable Company guidelines, U.S. securities laws and the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ, as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board, and shall follow all applicable policies and procedures of the Company. In September 2012, Mr. Gao Feng was appointed to the Board as a designee of Hongye and, in October 2012, Mr. Yang Guang was appointed to the Board as a designee of Hongye.

 

   

After the closing date, and as long as Hongye owns more than 9% of the total issued and outstanding shares of common stock, Hongye shall have the right to appoint one Vice President and a Deputy Financial Director in the Company’s China business. Such Vice President and Deputy Financial Director shall report to the Company’s China Managing Director and China Financial Director, respectively. The qualification and employment terms and conditions of such positions will be subject to the approval of the China Managing Director and the appointees to such positions shall agree to follow all applicable policies and procedures of the Company.

Share Purchase Agreements with ZJX

On March 31, 2011, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with China Energy Industry Holdings Group Co, Ltd. (“China Energy”) and Zhongjixuan Investment Management Company Ltd. (“ZJX”). The terms and conditions of the Agreement are summarized below.

Issuance of Shares

On the closing date for the Agreement, the Company will issue 37,254,475 shares of Common Stock (the “Closing Shares”) in exchange for the Consideration. Within 20 business days after the accomplishment of the Milestone (as defined below), the Company will issue to China Energy additional shares of Common Stock (the “Milestone Shares”) which, when combined with the Closing Shares, equals 60.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock on a fully-diluted basis, including shares reserved for future issuance pursuant to the Plan, as of the date that the Milestone is achieved.

For the purpose of the Agreement, the “Milestone” will be deemed to be achieved if the average closing price of the Common Stock for 20 consecutive trading days equals or exceeds $8.00 per share (the “Threshold Price”), provided that the 20 consecutive trading day period will begin upon the occurrence of both (i) ZJX/China Energy undertaking best endeavours to secure certain projects described in the Agreement; and (ii) the expiration of six months after the Closing Date.

In the event that the Milestone is not achieved within a five year period commencing on the Closing Date (such five years plus any extensions granted under the Agreement is referred to as the “Deadline”), and no Target Projects (as defined below) are secured by ZJX for the Company by the Deadline, the Company shall then have the sole discretion to extend or not extend the Deadline. If ZJX has secured Target Projects for the Company prior to the Deadline, but the Milestone has not been achieved by the Deadline, the Company shall agree to extend the period to achieve the Milestone by one year for each Target Project secured by ZJX for the Company, provided that the Deadline will not be extended beyond 10 years from the Closing Date. If the Deadline is not extended, ZJX/China Energy’s rights to the Milestone Shares shall be relinquished.

 

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For the purpose of the above, a “Target Project” shall mean either (i) the execution of a joint venture agreement, and other ancillary and necessary documents, related to the formation of a project joint venture, or (ii) securing for the Company a coal resource project that is already in operation, a new coal chemical project or any other project that is approved by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), each with a total investment of at least RMB1.5 billion (approximately $240 million based on the exchange rate as of September 30, 2012).

In the event that the Milestone is achieved but, pursuant to restriction or non-approval by any U.S. governmental agency or regulatory authority, (i) the issuance of the Milestone Shares to China Energy is prevented from occurring or (ii) the ownership of the Milestone Shares by China Energy is required to be divested, the Company shall be required to seek qualified third parties to purchase the right of China Energy to the Milestone Shares. If this does not occur within twelve (12) months of the date of the action of such U.S. governmental agency or competent regulatory authority, the Company shall compensate ZJX/China Energy for the Milestone Shares by making a payment in an amount equal to $2.00 per share for each Milestone Share, representing full satisfaction of any obligation of the Company to ZJX with respect to the Milestone Shares. Such payment may be made by the Company to China Energy in the form of cash or an equivalent amount of the Company’s assets in China.

The estimated fair value resulting from China Energy’s contingent right to receive the Milestone Shares would be reported as a liability on its consolidated balance sheet at closing of the transaction. This liability would be adjusted prospectively to reflect the change in the estimated fair value of the contingent right. Changes in the liability will be recorded in earnings of the respective period. The financial statement reporting of this liability would be expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and potentially have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations depending on the outcome of future valuations of the contingent right.

In the event that the Milestone Shares are issued, all of the Company’s non-vested stock-based awards would become fully vested and immediately exercisable under the change of control terms of the Plan.

Use of Proceeds

Subject to the discretion and approval of the Board, the Consideration, net of costs and expenses, is required to be applied to the following: (i) incorporation of a Company headquarters in China to consolidate the ownership of the Company’s investment projects in China and enhance the Company’s presence in China; (ii) investing in the expansion of the ZZ Joint Venture; (iii) investing in Phase I of the Company’s Yima Joint Ventures; (iv) acquiring an ownership interest in a coal mine that will provide coal to the Yima Joint Ventures; (v) investing in the GC Joint Venture; (vi) other Chinese projects that may be recommended to the Board from time to time; and (vii) other expenses of the operation and business of the Company in China.

ZJX will use reasonable endeavours to assist the Company to obtain third party funding (third party direct equity investment in projects or debt financing to the projects) to (a) cover funding needs of the above projects; (b) provide funding for the Company to invest in future phases of the Yima joint venture project; (c) invest in strategic coal resources in China connected to the Company’s projects; and (d) provide funding for the Company to invest in other projects in China not listed above and assist the Company to obtain third party investment in any of the Company’s other projects.

Other

Closing of the transaction with China Energy and ZJX is subject to approval by our stockholders and other customary closing conditions. Although the Agreement was not extended at March 31, 2012, the Company agreed with ZJX to keep the Agreement in effect as long as the parties are making good progress toward meeting the objective of completing the Agreement. Although the Company believes that ZJX remains active in securing the funding for China Energy with various investor groups, the Company cannot predict the likelihood of ZJX’s success with this effort or the amount of time it could take to close the transaction.

Note 9 – Segment Information

The Company’s reportable operating segments have been determined in accordance with the Company’s internal management reporting structure. The segment reporting has been revised during fiscal 2013 to include SES China, Technology Licensing and Related Services, and Corporate. The SES China reporting segment includes all of the assets and operations and related administrative costs for China including the investment in the Yima Joint Ventures. The Technology Licensing and Related Services reporting segment includes all of the Company’s current operating activities outside of China. The Corporate reporting segment includes the executive and administrative expenses of the corporate office in Houston. The Company evaluates performance based upon several factors, of which a primary financial measure is segment operating income or loss. Reclassifications have been made in the prior period financial statements to conform to the current period presentation.

 

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The following table presents the revenue, operating loss and total assets by segment (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended  
     September 30,  
     2012     2011  

Revenue:

    

SES China

   $ 5      $ 2,188   

Technology licensing and related services

     66        307   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

   $ 71      $ 2,495   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating loss:

    

SES China

   $ (2,435   $ (2,465

Technology licensing and related services

     (485     (433

Corporate & other

     (961     (1,543
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating loss

   $ (3,881   $ (4,441
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     September 30,
2012
    June 30,
2012
 

Assets:

    

SES China

   $ 71,006      $ 72,352   

Technology licensing and related services

     1,043        1,089   

Corporate & other

     24,608        19,406   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 96,657      $ 92,847   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this quarterly report. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this quarterly report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business and related financing, include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. You should review the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.

Business Overview

We are a global energy and gasification technology company that provides products and solutions to the energy and chemical industries. Our strategy is to create value by providing technology and equipment in regions where low rank coals and biomass feedstocks can be profitably converted into high value products through our proprietary fluidized bed gasification technology, which technology is based on the U-GAS ® process developed by the Gas Technology Institute, but is augmented and differentiated by our own intellectual property gained by owning and operating one commercial plant and partnering in a second that is currently in commissioning. We do this through providing a proprietary technology package whereby we license technology rights to third parties, deliver an engineered technology package and provide proprietary equipment components to customers who have contracted to own and operate projects. In addition, we may (i) integrate our technology package with downstream technologies to provide a fully integrated offering where we may invest in projects either directly or through an investment partner, (ii) partner with engineering, equipment and technology companies to provide our technology package into an integrated modular product offering, (iii) provide technology to enable coal resources to be integrated together with our technology where the coal resources may be of little value without our conversion technology, or (iv) acquire or partner with owners of these coal resources to create more value and opportunity for us through the integration of our technology with the coal resources.

 

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We believe that we have several advantages over commercially available competing gasification technologies, such as entrained flow, fixed and moving bed gasification technologies, including our ability to use all ranks of coals (including low rank, high ash and high moisture coals, which are significantly cheaper than higher grade coals), many coal waste products and biomass feed stocks. In addition, our technology’s advanced fluidized bed design is tolerant to changes in feedstock. These factors enable us to be a lower cost producer of synthesis gas, or syngas, a mixture of primarily hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which can then be used to produce other products. Depending on local market need and fuel sources, syngas can be used as a fuel gas in industrial applications or can be used to produce many products including power, synthetic natural gas, or SNG, methanol, dimethyl ether, or DME, glycol, ammonia, direct reduction iron, or DRI, gasoline and other transportation fuels, steam, and other byproducts (e.g., sulphur, carbon dioxide or ash).

Our principal operating activities are currently in China. However, we are developing opportunities in other countries including India, the U.S. and Australia, as well as other parts of Asia, southern Africa and Europe. Our ZZ Joint Venture project is our first commercial scale coal gasification plant and is located in Shandong Province, China. It started up in February 2008 and was in commercial operation from December 2008 until late September 2011 when it was shut down as described below under “Business –Current Operations and Projects – Zao Zhuang Joint Venture.” Our Yima project in Henan Province, China is currently in its final stages of construction and plant commissioning.

The key elements of our business strategy include:

 

  Develop China business platform. We have recently developed a new, China-centric business platform, or SES China, which is intended to be a stand-alone, self-funding business platform that will encompass all of our current and future business activities and initiatives in China, including our Yima Joint Venture. We have also engaged Crystal Vision Energy Limited to provide management support functions to SES China. We believe that the creation of SES China will better enable us to raise capital in China, work effectively with our existing partners to advance our current projects, make strategic investments in assets together with strategic partners, as well as efficiently develop large business verticals, such as the ammonia retro-fit business opportunity with Beijing Zhonghuan Engineering & Project Management Co., Ltd. Other business verticals that we can address through SES China include clean coal-to-chemicals projects, clean renewable fuels and power businesses, DRI for the steel industry, and for longer term value creation, larger scale SNG projects utilizing our low rank coal resources and biomass.

 

  Executing on existing projects. We are continuing to implement operational measures to improve the financial performance of our ZZ Joint Venture plant in the near term, while also continuing to evaluate alternatives to better position the project to be commercially and financially successful in the future including the possible expansion of the plant to produce other products for other customers. We also intend to continue to leverage our technological success to date at the ZZ Joint Venture in our ongoing business development efforts. Additionally, the Yima Joint Ventures are nearing completion of the plant’s construction which will provide demonstration of our technology on a much larger scale.

 

  Leveraging our proprietary technology through licensing, equipment sales and related services to increase revenues and position us for future growth. We provide a proprietary technology package whereby we license our technology rights to third parties, deliver an engineered technology package and provide proprietary equipment components to customers who have contracted to own and operate projects. We intend to focus on developing opportunities for our proprietary technology package whereby we may (i) integrate our gasification process technology package with downstream technologies to provide a fully integrated offering where we may invest in projects either directly or through an investment partner or (ii) may partner with engineering, equipment and technology companies to provide our gasification process technology package into an integrated modular product offering, which may include coal or biomass feedstocks for units producing power and fuels such as ammonia, SNG, methanol to gasoline, or MTG, diesel and ethanol as well as methanol for gasoline blending. We anticipate that we can increase revenues through collecting technology licensing fees and royalties, engineering and technical service fees, as well as equipment product sales sold to customers who have contracted to own and operate projects and desire to incorporate our proprietary technology. We also believe that our licensing activities will provide additional insight into project development activities, which may allow us to make selective equity investments in such projects in the future, develop integrated, modular product offerings, or take options in projects for which we provide a license.

 

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Expanding our relationships with strong strategic partners. Our efforts have been initially focused on facilities producing syngas, methanol and DME in China. We are expanding our relationships with our current partners and developing new relationships, including through our potential transaction with ZJX and China Energy, through our engagement of Crystal Vision Energy and through strategic joint venture initiatives in specific markets that will enable us to expand our business. Such strategic relationships may include an investment in projects either directly by us or through an investment partner where our gasification technology plants may supply syngas to strategic customers via long-term off take agreements. For example, through our joint venture SES Resource Solutions, we are working with Midas Resource Partners AG, a coal resource consulting and project development firm, to collaborate on project origination and project development activities for integrated coal resource-gasification projects to incentivize third party investors to commit to providing financing for such projects. We are exploring new markets for entry such as India, Australia, and other parts of Asia and Europe.

 

   

Developing value where we have a competitive advantage and have access of rights to feedstock resources. We believe that we have the greatest competitive advantage using our gasification technology in situations where there is a ready source of low cost coal, coal waste or biomass to utilize as a feedstock. We are focusing our efforts in countries with large low rank coal resources such as China, India, Australia and South Africa. We are working to develop transactions that include securing options to these feedstock resources. For example, we are currently in discussions regarding development opportunities in Inner Mongolia, China where provincial authorities are willing to make available coal resources to the project owners, which adds protection from future coal cost increases, and can potentially lead to increased project revenue. In these cases, we may provide technology to add value to coal resources which may be of little value without our gasification conversion technology, or may acquire or partner with owners of these resources to create more value and opportunity for us through the integration of our technology with the resources. Additionally, where strategic relationships and capital and/or financing is available, we may acquire an interest in such resources, including existing facilities or coal mines, where we could create value with our gasification technology by securing direct access to feedstock. We are also actively pursuing business verticals in the segments of transportation fuels, steel and fertilizers where our technology is specifically well suited and developing new downstream coal-to-chemicals and coal-to-energy projects which may expand our initial focus to include facilities producing SNG, MTG, glycol, and power and reducing gas for the steel industry.

 

   

Continue to develop and improve U-GAS® technology. We are continually seeking to improve overall plant availability, plant efficiency rates and fuel handling capabilities of our gasification technology. We are continuing to work with our prospective customers to determine the suitability of their low rank coals for our technology through proprietary coal characterization testing and bench scale gasification tests. Additionally, we are growing our technology base through continued development of know-how with our engineering and technical staff, growing and protecting our trade secrets as a result of patenting improvements tested at our ZZ Joint Venture plant, and improvements resulting from integration of our technology with downstream processes. One example includes the development of our Fines Management System, or FMS, which we believe can maximize the utilization of low rank coal in our gasifiers, resulting in improved cost advantages. We have filed several patent applications relating to our improvements to the technology.

 

   

Grow earnings through increased revenues, joint venture projects and control of expenses. We remain intently focused on control of our expenses while we grow revenues from our technology business and develop our projects. We believe our strategy will allow us to grow near term revenues to position us for sustainable long term growth. We intend to minimize project development expense until we have assurances that acceptable financing is available to complete our projects. Until we have such assurances, our strategy will be to operate using our current capital resources and to leverage the resources of strategic relationships or financing partners.

Results of Operations

We are in our development stage and therefore have had limited operations. We have sustained net losses of approximately $141.7 million from November 4, 2003, the date of our inception, to September 30, 2012.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011

Revenue. Total revenue decreased to $71,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $2.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011.

 

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There was no product sales revenues for the three months ended September 2012 due primarily to no capacity fee revenue being received during the three months ended September 30, 2012 and the suspension of syngas production at the ZZ Joint Venture plant in late September 2011. Product sales were $2.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and were derived from the sale of syngas and byproducts produced at the ZZ Joint Venture plant to Xuecheng Energy before the suspension of syngas production at the ZZ Joint Venture.

In May 2011, Shangdong Xuecheng Energy Group Xuecheng Energy Company Ltd., or Xuecheng Energy (previously Hai Hua), notified the ZZ Joint Venture plant that it will not continue payment of capacity fees beyond April 2011. The unpaid amount totaled approximately $5.7 million cumulatively as of September 30, 2012. The plant continued to operate and provide syngas to Xuecheng Energy until operations were suspended in late September 2011, and Xuecheng Energy has paid other contractual obligations such as the energy fees and by-product sales due under the contract. We are continuing to work with Xuecheng Energy on alternatives to resolve this issue and recover these fees including restructuring the current business arrangement to create an integrated syngas to methanol operation. We did not recognize these capacity fee revenues during fiscal 2012 and the three months ended September 30, 2012 and we will not recognize any capacity fees until collection is reasonably assured.

Technology licensing and related services revenues were $71,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and resulted primarily from coal testing services for customers who are actively developing projects and may license and build plants using our technology.

Costs of sales and plant operating expenses. Costs of sales and plant operating expenses decreased by $3.2 million to $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $3.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease was due primarily to the suspension of syngas production at the ZZ Joint Venture plant in late September 2011.

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $0.1 million to $3.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $3.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase was due primarily to non-recurring fees of approximately $0.2 million associated with collecting an advance of approximately $0.8 million from Xuecheng Energy. Recurring general and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation, professional and consulting fees, travel, and other costs of our corporate, development and administrative functions in Houston and Shanghai, and project and technical development expenses.

Stock-based compensation expense. Stock-based compensation expense increased by $97,000 to $164,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $67,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and related to the expensing of the estimated fair values of awarded stock options and restricted stock. The lower stock based compensation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was due to forfeitures of certain stock option awards in September 2011.

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense was $0.6 million for both of the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 and was primarily related to depreciation of our ZZ Joint Venture plant’s assets.

Equity in losses of joint ventures. The equity in losses of joint ventures increased by $0.1 million to $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and relates to our 25% share of the start-up losses incurred by the Yima Joint Ventures and our 50% share of the start-up losses incurred by SES Resource Solutions, Ltd., or SRS. The losses of the Yima Joint Ventures related to non-capitalizable costs incurred during the design, construction and start-up phases. The losses of SRS related to development costs including the value of Midas’ contributed services, consulting and travel expenses.

Foreign currency gain. There was a foreign currency loss of $38,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $0.4 million foreign currency gain for the three months ended September 30, 2011. These amounts result from the depreciation or appreciation of the Renminbi Yuan relative to the U.S. dollar and are generated on U.S. dollar denominated shareholder loans payable by our Chinese operations.

Interest expense. Interest expense was $96,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $184,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Our interest expense relates primarily to the ZZ Joint Venture’s outstanding principal balance on its loan with ICBC.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

We are in our development stage and have financed our operations to date through private placements of our common stock in 2005 and 2006 and two public offerings, one in November 2007 and one in June 2008. We have used the proceeds of these offerings primarily for the development of and investments in our joint ventures in China, including our investments in the ZZ Joint Venture and the Yima Joint Ventures, and to pay other development and general and administrative expenses. In addition, we have entered into a loan agreement with ICBC to fund certain of the costs of the ZZ Joint Venture.

As of September 30, 2012, we had $22.7 million in cash and cash equivalents and $13.1 million of working capital available to us. During the three months ended September 30, 2012, we used $2.6 million in operating activities compared to $3.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. During the three months ended September 30, 2012, we used $0.1 million in investing activities compared to $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 due primarily to fund the start-up and development of SRS. For both the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, we used $1.2 million in financing activities for the scheduled semi-annual principal payments on the ZZ Joint Venture’s loan with ICBC. On September 21, 2012, we received gross proceeds of approximately $8.7 million from Hongye International Investment Group Co., Ltd., or Hongye, and issued 5,777,700 of the Hongye Shares to Hongye. On October 10, 2012, we received gross proceeds of approximately $6.3 million from Shanghai Zhongmo Investment Management Co., Ltd., or Zhongmo, and issued the Zhongmo Shares to Zhongmo. Also, on October 16, 2012, we received gross proceeds of approximately $596,000 from Hongye and issued the remaining 397,393 of the Hongye Shares to Hongye. The net proceeds received by us from Hongye and Zhongmo are to be fully applied to our operations and projects in China and are to be deposited into a bank account in China or Hong Kong controlled by the SES China, our China-centric business platform.

Share Purchase Agreements

Share Purchase Agreements with Hongye and Zhongmo

On June 18, 2012, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Hongye pursuant to which Hongye will acquire 6,175,093 shares of our common stock for $1.50 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $9.3 million, and entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with Zhongmo pursuant to which Zhongmo will acquire 4,177,335 shares of the Common Stock for $1.50 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $6.3 million. The net proceeds received by us are to be fully applied to our operations and projects in China and are to be deposited into a bank account in China or Hong Kong controlled by our China-centric business platform, SES China. The terms and conditions of the Agreement are summarized in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements included herein.

On September 21, 2012, we received gross proceeds of approximately $8.7 million from Hongye and issued 5,777,700 of the Hongye Shares to Hongye. On October 10, 2012, we received gross proceeds of approximately $6.3 million from Zhongmo and issued the Zhongmo Shares to Zhongmo. Also, on October 16, 2012, we received gross proceeds of approximately $596,000 from Hongye and issued the remaining 397,393 of the Hongye Shares to Hongye.

Share Purchase Agreement with ZJX

On March 31, 2011, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement, or the Agreement, with China Energy Industry Holdings Group Co, Ltd., or China Energy, and Zhongjixuan Investment Management Company Ltd., or ZJX, pursuant to which we will issue on the closing date to China Energy 37,254,475 shares of our common stock, in exchange for approximately $83.8 million, or the Consideration. Within 20 business days after the accomplishment of the Milestone, as defined, we shall further issue directly to China Energy an amount of shares of common stock which, when combined with the shares issued on the closing date, equals 60.0% of the outstanding common stock on a fully-diluted basis. The terms and conditions of the Agreement are summarized in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements included herein.

Closing of the transaction with China Energy and ZJX is subject to approval by our stockholders and other customary closing conditions. Although the Agreement was not extended at March 31, 2012, we agreed with ZJX to keep the Agreement in effect as long as the parties are making good progress toward meeting the objective of completing the Agreement. Although we believe that ZJX remains active in securing the funding for China Energy with various investor groups, we cannot predict the likelihood of ZJX’s success with this effort or the amount of time it could take to close the transaction.

 

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Use of Proceeds

Subject to the discretion and approval of the Board, the Consideration, net of costs and expenses, is required to be applied to the following: (i) incorporation of a Company headquarters in China to consolidate the ownership of our investment projects in China and enhance our presence in China; (ii) investing in the expansion of our ZZ Joint Venture; (iii) investing in Phase I of our Yima Joint Ventures; (iv) acquiring an ownership interest in a coal mine that will provide coal to the Yima Joint Venture project; (v) investing in our Golden Concord Joint Venture; (vi) other Chinese projects that may be recommended to the Board from time to time; and (vii) other expenses of the operation and business of us in China.

ZJX will use reasonable endeavours to assist us to obtain third party funding (third party direct equity investment in projects or debt financing to the projects) to (a) cover funding needs of the above projects; (b) provide funding for us to invest in future phases of the Yima Joint Venture project; (c) invest in strategic coal resources in China connected to our projects; and (d) provide funding for us to invest in other projects in China not listed above and assist us to obtain third party investment in any of our other projects.

Project Development

ZJX is required to use reasonable endeavours to create at least four project joint ventures, or the MJVs, in the areas of synthetic natural gas, methanol to gasoline; fertilizer; and electric power. Funding for each MJV is expected to be approximately RMB20 billion (approximately $3.2 billion based on the exchange rate as of December 31, 2011). Each MJV is expected to be funded with equity from a strategic investor plus project debt. We are anticipated to be part owner of each MJV through a targeted 35% carry provided by the strategic investor as part of our development of and provision of technology for the particular projects. ZJX will help us work with the strategic investors to obtain long term purchase commitments for each of the MJVs prior to the start of construction of each such project.

Zao Zhuang Joint Venture

Joint Venture Agreement

On July 6, 2006, we entered into a cooperative joint venture contract with Shandong Hai Hua Coal & Chemical Company Ltd., or Hai Hua, which established Synthesis Energy Systems (Zao Zhuang) New Gas Company Ltd., or the ZZ Joint Venture, a joint venture company that has the primary purposes of (i) developing, constructing and operating a syngas production plant utilizing the U-GAS ® technology in Zao Zhuang City, Shandong Province, China and (ii) producing and selling syngas and the various byproducts of the plant, including ash and elemental sulphur. In August 2012, Hai Hua’s name was changed to Shandong Weijiao Group Xuecheng Energy Company Ltd., or Xuecheng Energy, after a change in control transaction. We own 96.9% of the ZZ Joint Venture and Xuecheng Energy owns the remaining 3.1%. We consolidate the results of the ZZ Joint Venture in our consolidated financial statements.

Syngas Purchase and Sale Agreement

The ZZ Joint Venture is also party to a purchase and sale agreement with Xuecheng Energy for syngas produced by the plant, whereby Xuecheng Energy will pay the ZZ Joint Venture an energy fee and capacity fee, as described below, based on the syngas production. The syngas to be purchased by Xuecheng Energy is subject to certain quality component requirements set forth in the contract. In late December 2008, the plant declared commercial operations status for purposes of the purchase and sale agreement. The energy fee is a per normal cubic meters, or Ncum, of syngas calculation based on a formula which factors in the monthly averages of the prices of design base coal, coke, coke oven gas, power, steam and water, all of which are components used in the production of syngas. The capacity fee is paid based on the capacity of the plant to produce syngas, factoring in the number of hours (i) of production and (ii) of capability of production as compared to the guaranteed capacity of the plant, which for purposes of the contract is 22,000 Ncum per hour of net syngas. Xuecheng Energy is obligated to pay the capacity fee regardless of whether they use the gasification capacity, subject only to availability of the plant, quality of the syngas and exceptions for certain events of force majeure. Due to worldwide reductions in methanol prices, as well as reliability issues with respect to Xuecheng Energy’s plant, Xuecheng Energy has operated at a reduced rate of syngas consumption. Xuecheng Energy used approximately 35% to 45% of the syngas guarantee capacity from 2009 until September 2011 when the plant was shut down.

 

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In April 2009, the ZZ Joint Venture entered into a Supplementary Agreement with Xuecheng Energy, amending the terms of the purchase and sale agreement. The Supplementary Agreement was entered into to provide more clarity regarding the required syngas quality and volume to be delivered, recovery of the energy fee during turndown periods and operations coordination during unscheduled outages. Under the Supplementary Agreement, the syngas quality specification was amended to provide more clarity as to the minor constituents allowable in the syngas. For purposes of the Supplemental Agreement, syngas that meets these specifications is deemed “compliant gas” and syngas that does not meet these specifications is deemed “non-compliant gas.” The Supplementary Agreement also added a requirement for Xuecheng Energy to pay the ZZ Joint Venture the capacity fee and 70% of the energy fee for all non-compliant gas which is taken by Xuecheng Energy. However, if more than 50% of the syngas taken by Xuecheng Energy during any operating day is non-compliant gas, all of the syngas for that day is deemed to be non-compliant gas for purposes of calculating the energy fee. In addition, the Supplementary Agreement accommodates periods of turndown operation by Xuecheng Energy by establishing a minimum threshold gas off take volume of 7,500 Ncum per hour of net syngas for the purpose of calculating the energy fee during such periods. The Supplementary Agreement also provides that, to the extent Xuecheng Energy has an unscheduled shutdown, and the plant continues to operate on standby during such period, Xuecheng Energy is still required to pay the energy fee to the ZZ Joint Venture. In the event that the plant has an unscheduled shutdown and does not provide at least three hours prior notice to Xuecheng Energy, the ZZ Joint Venture may be required to provide certain compensation to Xuecheng Energy.

Since May 2011, Xuecheng Energy has not paid the capacity fees owed to the ZZ Joint Venture. The unpaid amount totaled approximately $5.7 million as of September 30, 2012. The plant continued to operate and provide syngas to Xuecheng Energy through September 2011 with the expectation that Xuecheng Energy would pay the capacity fee. Xuecheng Energy has paid other contractual obligations such as the energy fees and by-product sales due under the contract. We are continuing to work with Xuecheng Energy on alternatives to resolve this issue. We did not recognize these capacity fee revenues and will not recognize any capacity fees until collection is reasonably assured. In late September 2011, both the Xuecheng Energy methanol plant and the ZZ Joint Venture plant were shut down for scheduled maintenance and the ZZ Joint Venture plant has been kept idle while the ZZ Joint Venture develops its revised commercial arrangement with Xuecheng Energy.

To date, Xuecheng Energy has been unable to off take the volume of syngas originally expected for the original plant design and as a result the plant has incurred operating losses. Because of these circumstances, the ZZ Joint Venture is working on various arrangements to increase the syngas off take volume. Such arrangements involve a combination of technical improvements to Xuecheng Energy’s methanol unit, as well as restructuring the current business arrangement to create an integrated syngas to methanol operation. In December 2011, we entered into a framework agreement with Xuecheng Energy pursuant to which we and Xuecheng Energy are working collaboratively to complete a definitive agreement that will provide the basis for a fully integrated syngas to methanol operation and to resolve the commercial issues.

As currently planned, the methanol integration project will require approximately $7 million of additional capital. If the definitive agreement is signed and the additional capital is received, the commercial work and physical integration work will begin. This work is expected to take about six months to complete and we will continue to keep the plant idle until this work is completed. In March 2012, Xuecheng Energy advanced approximately $1.0 million to the ZZ Joint Venture. In September 2012, Xuecheng Energy advanced an additional $0.8 million to the ZZ Joint Venture.

We are also evaluating alternative products and partnership structures for a possible expansion of the ZZ Joint Venture plant. In February 2010, we received the necessary government approval for the expansion. This approval, along with the previously received environmental approvals, are the key approvals required to commence execution of the expansion and also describe certain terms of the expansion project, including but not limited to, its use of land, the main additional facilities required and the use of the existing facilities. The scope of the expansion is still under evaluation. The local government has expressed strong support for this expansion project and has executed a letter of intent allowing a new state-owned local coal mine to be used as a debt guarantee. The letter of intent also contemplates providing discounted coal to the project from this local coal mine. We are in discussions with several potential partners on this expansion.

 

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Yima Joint Ventures

In August 2009, we entered into amended joint venture contracts with Yima Coal Industry (Group) Co., Ltd., or Yima, replacing the prior joint venture contracts entered into in October 2008 and April 2009. The joint ventures were formed for each of the gasification, methanol/methanol protein production, and utility island components of the plant, or collectively, the Yima Joint Ventures. The parties obtained government approvals for the project’s feasibility study during the three months ended December 31, 2008 and for the project’s environmental impact assessment during the three months ended March 31, 2009, which were the two key approvals required to proceed with the project. The amended joint venture contracts provide that: (i) we and Yima contribute equity of 25% and 75%, respectively, to the Yima Joint Ventures; (ii) Yima will guarantee the repayment of loans from third party lenders for 50% of the project’s cost and, if debt financing is not available, Yima is obligated to provide debt financing via shareholder loans to the project until the project is able to secure third-party debt financing; and (iii) Yima will supply coal to the project from a mine located in close proximity to the project at a preferential price subject to a definitive agreement to be subsequently negotiated. In connection with entering into the amended contracts, we and Yima contributed their remaining cash equity contributions of $29.3 million and $90.8 million, respectively, to the Yima Joint Ventures during the three months ended September 30, 2009. We will also be responsible for its share of any cost overruns on the project.

In exchange for their capital contributions, we own a 25% interest in each joint venture and Yima owns a 75% interest. Notwithstanding this, in connection with an expansion of the project, we have the option to contribute a greater percentage of capital for the expansion, such that as a result, we would have up to a 49% ownership interest in the Yima Joint Ventures. The investment in the Yima Joint Ventures is accounted for using the equity method.

The final stages of construction and commissioning for the Yima Joint Venture plant are progressing well. Most sections of the plant are either complete or more than 90% complete. The methanol section of the plant is currently about 70% complete. The engineering on the methanol section was delayed for several months in 2010 while the Yima Joint Ventures considered building glycol production in lieu of methanol. The methanol unit is the top priority of the Yima Joint Venture and the Yima Joint Venture is targeting first methanol production to occur in December. Any delays in the final work on construction and commissioning could mean that initial production is delayed. Once methanol production has begun, the plant is expected to progress toward normal operating capacity over the subsequent three to six months.

Based on the project’s current scope of methanol production, the current estimate of the total required capital of the project is approximately $250 million. The remaining capital for the project is to be provided by project debt to be obtained by the Yima Joint Ventures. Yima has agreed to guarantee the project debt in order to secure debt financing from domestic Chinese banking sources. We have agreed to pledge to Yima its ownership interests in the joint ventures as security for its obligations under any project guarantee. In the event that the necessary additional debt financing is not obtained, Yima has agreed to provide a loan to the joint ventures to satisfy the remaining capital needs of the project with terms comparable to current market rates at the time of the loan.

The Yima Joint Ventures are governed by a board of directors consisting of eight directors, two of whom were appointed by us and six of whom were appointed by Yima. The joint ventures also have officers that are nominated by us, Yima and/or the board of directors pursuant to the terms of the joint venture contracts. We and Yima shall share the profits, and bear the risks and losses, of the joint ventures in proportion to our respective ownership interests. The term of the joint venture shall commence upon each joint venture company obtaining its business license and shall end 30 years after commercial operation of the plant.

We have included the $1.5 million payment paid to GTI in June 2009 (when the amended joint venture contracts were signed) toward future royalties due to GTI for the Yima Joint Ventures’ project as part of our investment in the Yima project. An additional future royalty payment of approximately $1.5 million will be due to GTI upon the commissioning of the gasifier equipment for the Yima project which is expected in fiscal 2013.

SES Resource Solutions

SES Resource Solutions, Ltd., or SRS, is a joint venture owned 50% by us and 50% by Midas Resources AG, or Midas, that was formed in June 2011 to provide additional avenues of commercialization for our U-GAS ® technology. Key objectives of the joint venture are to identify and procure low cost, low rank coal resources for which our technology and the SRS’ know-how represent the best route to commercialization; to provide investment opportunities in both gasification facilities and coal resources; and to facilitate the establishment of gasification projects globally based on our technology.

 

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Terms of the SRS joint venture agreement include:

 

   

SRS has the exclusive right to promote our gasification technology for the purpose of securing low-cost coal resources in projects worldwide that have been approved by the board of directors of SRS;

 

   

Midas provides expertise to originate and execute the above projects;

 

   

we provide SRS with technology licenses and engineering development support for use in developing the joint integrated coal resource projects;

 

   

SRS being managed by a four person board of directors, two of which are appointed by us and two of which are appointed by Midas;

 

   

our agreement to provide up to $2.0 million in funding to SRS, although it has the ability to discontinue funding at any point in time; and

 

   

revenue and profits are equally divided between the joint venture partners.

SRS is also actively engaged in commercial discussions related to securing investment partners for the next tranche of funding necessary for project development. This funding is planned to be used to independently advance the coal resource and integrated project development without further start-up cost to us. SRS is now contemplating the proper timing for raising the funds. As of September 30, 2012, we had funded approximately $1.4 million to SRS. The remaining $600,000 which we have agreed to fund may be reduced, suspended or held back until the financial markets improve such that the additional funds needed for the continued development of SRS may be secured.

GTI Agreement

On November 5, 2009, we entered into an Amended and Restated License Agreement, or the New Agreement, with GTI, replacing the Amended and Restated License Agreement between us and GTI dated August 31, 2006, as amended, or the Original Agreement. Under the New Agreement, we maintain our exclusive worldwide right to license the U-GAS ® technology for all types of coals and coal/biomass mixtures with coal content exceeding 60%, as well as the non-exclusive right to license the U-GAS ® technology for 100% biomass and coal/biomass blends exceeding 40% biomass. The New Agreement differs from the Original Agreement most critically by allowing us to sublicense U-GAS ® to third parties for coal, coal and biomass mixtures or 100% biomass projects (subject to the approval of GTI, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), with GTI to share the revenue from such third party licensing fees based on an agreed percentage split, or the Agreed Percentage. In addition, the prior obligation to fabricate and put into operation at least one U-GAS ® system for each calendar year of the Original Agreement in order to maintain the license has been eliminated in the New Agreement.

In order to sublicense any U-GAS ® system, we are required to comply with certain requirements set forth in the New Agreement. In the preliminary stage of developing a potential sublicense, we are required to provide notice and certain information regarding the potential sublicense to GTI and GTI is required to provide notice of approval or non-approval within ten business days of the date of the notice from us, provided that GTI is required to not unreasonably withhold their approval. If GTI does not respond within that ten business day period, they are deemed to have approved of the sublicense. We are required to provide updates on any potential sublicenses once every three months during the term of the New Agreement. We are also restricted from offering a competing gasification technology during the term of the New Agreement.

For each U-GAS ® unit which we license, design, build or operate for ourselves or for a party other than a sublicensee and which uses coal or a coal and biomass mixture or biomass as the feed stock, we must pay a royalty based upon a calculation using the MMBtu per hour of dry syngas production of a rated design capacity, payable in installments at the beginning and at the completion of the construction of a project, or the Standard Royalty. Although it is calculated using a different unit of measurement, the Standard Royalty is effectively the same as the royalty payable to GTI under the Original Agreement. If we invest, or have the option to invest, in a specified percentage of the equity of a third party, and the royalty payable by such third party for their sublicense exceeds the Standard Royalty, we are required to pay to GTI the Agreed Percentage of such royalty payable by such third party. However, if the royalty payable by such third party for their sublicense is less than the Standard Royalty, we are required to pay to GTI, in addition to the Agreed Percentage of such royalty payable by such third party, the Agreed Percentage of our dividends and liquidation proceeds from our equity investment in the third party. In addition, if we receive a carried interest in a third party, and the carried interest is less than a specified percentage of the equity of such third party, we are required to pay to GTI, in our sole discretion, either (i) the Standard Royalty or (ii) the Agreed Percentage of the royalty payable to such third party for their sublicense, as well as the Agreed Percentage of the carried interest. We will be required to pay the Standard Royalty to GTI if the percentage of the equity of a third party that we (a) invest in, (b) have an option to invest in, or (c) receive a carried interest in, exceeds the percentage of the third party specified in the preceding sentence.

 

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We are required to make an annual payment to GTI for each year of the term, with such annual payment due by the last day of January of the following year; provided, however, that we are entitled to deduct all royalties paid to GTI in a given year under the New Agreement from this amount, and if such royalties exceed the annual payment amount in a given year, we are not required to make the annual payment. We must also provide GTI with a copy of each contract that we enter into relating to a U-GAS ® system and report to GTI with our progress on development of the technology every six months.

For a period of ten years, we and GTI are restricted from disclosing any confidential information (as defined in the New Agreement) to any person other than employees of affiliates or contractors who are required to deal with such information, and such persons will be bound by the confidentiality provisions of the New Agreement. We have further indemnified GTI and its affiliates from any liability or loss resulting from unauthorized disclosure or use of any confidential information that we receive.

The term of the New Agreement is the same as the Original Agreement, expiring on August 31, 2016, but may be extended for two additional ten-year periods at our option.

Outlook

Our strategy is to create value by providing technology and equipment in regions where low rank coals and biomass feedstocks can be profitably converted into high value products through our proprietary fluidized bed gasification technology, which is technology is based on the U-GAS ® process developed by GTI, but is augmented and differentiated by our own intellectual property gained by owning and operating one commercial plant and partnering in a second that is currently in commissioning. We do this by providing a proprietary technology package whereby we license our technology rights to third parties, deliver an engineered technology package and provide proprietary equipment components to customers who have contracted to own and operate projects. We anticipate that we can generate revenues through engineering and technical service fees, as well as licensing fees and royalties on products sold by our licensees that incorporate our proprietary technology without incurring the significant capital costs required to develop a plant. We also believe that our licensing activities will help advance our project development activities, which may allow us to make selective equity investments in such projects in the future and afford opportunities to develop integrated, modular product offerings. Additionally, we are continuing to improve our technology in ways we believe will enhance our ability to further develop our licensing activities.

We currently plan to use our available cash for (i) general and administrative expenses, including relating to the SES China business platform; (ii) debt service related to the ZZ Joint Venture; (iii) working capital; (iv) project, third party licensing and technical development expenses; (v) operating expenses of SRS; and (vi) general corporate purposes. The actual allocation and timing of these expenditures will be dependent on various factors, including changes in our strategic relationships, commodity prices and industry conditions, and other factors that we cannot currently predict. In particular, any future decrease in economic activity in China or in other regions of the world in which we may in the future do business could significantly and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Although demand for methanol is increasing is some regions, markets for commodities such as methanol have been under significant pressure and we are unsure of how much longer methanol prices may remain depressed. Accordingly, our ability to finance and develop our existing projects, commence any new projects and sell products from our current operations could be adversely impacted.

We are pursuing possible technology licensing opportunities with third parties allowing us to build on our experience at the ZZ Joint Venture and our overall technological and engineering capabilities. We are placing increased focus on development of licensing opportunities for our proprietary gasification technology on a global basis with a focus on India, China, Eastern Europe, the U.S., Australia and Vietnam, as well as other parts of Asia and southern Africa, due to their large low rank coal resources. Our prospects are growing globally in numbers and quality. In particular, in India, we believe the market for coal gasification plants is now developing due to large infrastructure growth demands and an increasing need for a variety of basic chemical and energy products. Notably, we are in advanced discussions with a large Indian industrial company and we are hopeful that we will soon close on our first licensing transaction. We have also been evaluated in two separate and thorough technology comparisons for prospective Indian customers where our technology was evaluated for their projects which would operate on high ash Indian coal. Having access to resources in these regions may lead to new commercial opportunities and greater cost and operating efficiencies in existing or planned projects.

 

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We may (i) integrate our technology package with downstream technologies to provide a fully integrated offering where we may invest in projects either directly or through an investment partner, (ii) partner with engineering, equipment and technology companies to provide our technology package into an integrated modular product offering, (iii) provide technology to enable coal resources to be integrated together with our technology where the coal resources may be of little commercial value without our conversion technology, or (iv) acquire or partner with owners of these coal resources to create more value and opportunity for us through the integration of our technology with the coal resource. We understand the need to partner in certain markets, and plan to do so with companies that we believe can help us accelerate our business. Our partnering approach in some cases is country specific and in some cases is industry or segment specific. Additionally, where strategic relationships and capital and/or financing is available, we may acquire an interest in such resources, including existing facilities or coal mines, where we could create value with our gasification technology by securing direct access to feedstock. We are also actively pursuing business verticals in the segments of transportation fuels, steel and fertilizers where our technology is specifically well suited and developing new downstream coal-to-chemicals and coal-to-energy projects which may expand our initial focus to include facilities producing SNG, MTG, glycol, and power and reducing gas for the steel industry

Our China-centric business platform (“SES China”) is intended to be a stand-alone, self-funding business platform that will encompass all current and future SES business activities and initiatives in China, including our Yima Joint Venture. We have also engaged Crystal Vision Energy Limited to provide management support functions to SES China. Colin S. Tam, Executive Chairman of Crystal Vision, has assumed leadership of SES China as Managing Director. We believe the formation of SES China will enable us to attract financially strong and highly skilled Chinese partners which desire to invest into the growth of China’s clean energy space and who recognize the opportunity afforded by our technology capability and business model, such as our ammonia retro-fit business opportunity with Beijing Zhonghuan Engineering & Project Management Co., Ltd. (“ZEP”). Together with ZEP, we see an immediate business opportunity to replace the approximately 3,500 inefficient gasifiers that require expensive coal with our clean, lower cost gasifiers, which use low cost coal. Our gasifier will typically replace five of these old generation gasifiers which yields a total available market of about 700 gasifiers in China. Other business verticals that we can address through SES China include clean coal-to-chemicals projects, clean renewable fuels and power businesses, direct reduced iron for the steel industry, and for longer term value creation, larger scale SNG projects utilizing our low rank coal resources and biomass.

We are also actively pursuing new project partners to invest in our ongoing development efforts and may possibly be expanding both the size and scope of our ZZ Joint Venture plant. Our Yima Joint Venture plant is now in the commissioning and early start-up stage with expected methanol production and first sales by the end of this year. In addition to generating important financial results for us, the Yima Joint Venture plant is being closely watched by our potential customers and partners in China and globally, and we expect the Yima project to be a major catalyst for securing much of the new business we have been developing over the past two years. The final stages of construction and commissioning for the Yima Joint Venture plant are progressing well. Most sections of the plant are either complete or more than 90% complete. The methanol section of the plant is currently about 70% complete. The engineering on the methanol section was delayed for several months in 2010 while the Yima Joint Ventures considered building glycol production in lieu of methanol. The methanol unit is the top priority of the Yima Joint Venture and the Yima Joint Venture is targeting first methanol production to occur in December. Any delays in the final work on construction and commissioning could mean that initial production is delayed. Once methanol production has begun, the plant is expected to progress toward normal operating capacity over the subsequent three to six months.

We believe that the ZZ Joint Venture plant has achieved significant success demonstrating U-GAS ® technology as well as our technical and operating capabilities. We are of the view that by improving financial performance and reducing operating costs at the ZZ Joint Venture plant our overall financial performance can be improved. To date, Xuecheng Energy has been unable to off take the volume of syngas originally expected for the original plant design and as a result the plant has incurred operating losses. We do not foresee this situation changing significantly in the near term. Because of this, the ZZ Joint Venture is working on various arrangements to increase the syngas off take volume. Such arrangements involve a combination of technical improvement to Xuecheng Energy’s methanol unit, as well as restructuring the current business arrangement to create an integrated syngas to methanol operation. In December 2011, we entered into a framework agreement with Xuecheng Energy pursuant to which we and Xuecheng Energy are working collaboratively to complete a definitive agreement that will provide the basis for a fully integrated syngas to methanol operation and to resolve the commercial issues. As currently planned, the methanol integration project will require approximately $7 million of additional capital. If the definitive agreement is signed and the additional capital is received, the commercial work and physical integration work will begin. This work is expected to take about six months to complete and we will continue to keep the plant idle until this commercial work is completed.

 

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We are also evaluating alternative products and partnership structures for a possible expansion of the ZZ Joint Venture plant. The scope of the expansion is still under evaluation. We are in discussions with several potential partners on this expansion. Despite our work with Xuecheng Energy on improving financial performance and reducing costs, Xuecheng Energy has not made the capacity fee payments to the ZZ Joint Venture since April 2011 as described under “—Results of Operation.” The unpaid amount totals approximately $5.7 million as of September 30, 2012. Although we are continuing to work with Xuecheng Energy on alternatives to resolve the issue, there can be no assurances that we will collect these amounts. In late September 2011, both the Xuecheng Energy methanol plant and the ZZ Joint Venture plant were shut down for scheduled maintenance and, as noted above, the ZZ Joint Venture plant has been kept idle while we develop a revised commercial arrangement with Xuecheng Energy. In March 2012, Xuecheng Energy advanced approximately $1.0 million towards future costs of the revised commercial arrangement. In September 2012, Xuecheng Energy advanced an additional $0.8 million to the ZZ Joint Venture.

We believe that there is currently a shift in the coal gasification business toward the use of low quality, and therefore low cost, coals for coal-to-energy and chemicals projects and we believe that China is a good example of this new direction in coal gasification. According to the 2011 International Energy Outlook from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, China’s natural gas consumption is estimated to reach 6.8 trillion cubic feet in 2020 but domestic production of natural gas in China is estimated to be 3.7 trillion cubic feet in 2020. Today, coal to SNG projects are beginning to progress and the Chinese government supports these types of coal to energy projects. Due to this estimated shortfall in natural gas, combined with the current encouragement from the Chinese government for these projects, we believe there is potential in China for several of these SNG projects which are anticipated to be very large scale as compared to previous coal-to-chemical projects that have been built in China. In addition, we believe many of these projects will be located in regions such as Inner Mongolia where very low cost lignite coals can be made available and are necessary to reduce the production cost of SNG. Our technology is well suited for this location due to its ability to process these low quality coals and to meet local requirements for clean production of syngas, without tars and oils produced by other technologies, and very low water usage for the overall process. In addition, Inner Mongolia government regulations permit higher quality coals to be made available to those companies that can cleanly gasify the low quality lignite coals. This creates the potential to sell the high quality coals directly to the market while operating the project on low cost lignite, further enhancing the overall financial performance and value created by the project.

In addition, we have been continuing to work with Midas in identifying other sources of low quality coals around the world, primarily in Asia, to develop additional projects for SRS utilizing our technology. Our primary focus for SRS is to acquire ownership positions in low quality coal resources that can then be used as fuel feedstock for high value products such as SNG, in projects using our technology, and to facilitate the development of these projects with industry partners in regions where gas prices are based on expensive LNG. For example, as noted above, SRS entered into an agreement with Ncondezi Coal Company Limited for a three month study to determine the feasibility of mining and exporting to the Asia Pacific region up to 15 million tons per year of low volatile coal, in addition to Ncondezi’s export thermal grade coal resources, from Mozambique. In all of these types of projects, we believe that we have the opportunity to create more value from the U-GAS ® technology than licensing alone could bring us. SRS is also actively engaged in commercial discussions related to securing investment partners for the next tranche of funding necessary for project development. This funding is planned to be used to independently advance the coal resource and integrated project development without further start-up cost to us. SRS is now contemplating the proper timing for raising the funds. As of September 30, 2012, we had funded approximately $1.4 million to SRS. The remaining $600,000 which we have agreed to fund may be reduced, suspended or held back until the financial markets improve such that the additional funds needed for the continued development of SRS may be secured.

Although the agreement with ZJX and China Energy was not extended at March 31, 2012, we agreed with ZJX to keep the agreement in effect as long as the parties are making good progress toward meeting the objective of completing the agreement in a reasonable amount of time. ZJX remains active in structuring the funding of China Energy with various investor groups; however, we are unable to assess the likelihood of ZJX’s success with this effort or the amount of time it could take to complete the Agreement.

We expect to continue for a period of time to have negative operating cash flows until we can generate sufficient cash flows from SES China (including the ZZ Joint Venture and the Yima Joint Ventures) or our licensing and related service projects, as well as from other projects which are under development, to cover our general and administrative expenses and other operating costs. In addition, if we are not able to complete the ZJX/China Energy transaction, we will need to aggressively pursue additional partners in China and may need to seek other equity financing or reduce our operating expenses. We will also limit the development of any further projects until we have assurances that acceptable financing is available to complete the project. Despite this, we will continue to pursue the development of selective projects with strong and credible partners or off-takers where we believe equity and debt can be raised or where we believe we can attract a financial partner to participate in the project.

 

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We can make no assurances that our business operations will develop and provide us with sufficient cash flows to continue our operations. We may need to raise additional capital through equity and debt financing for any new projects that are developed, to support our existing projects and possible expansions, and to meet corporate general and administrative expenses. We cannot provide any assurance that any financing will be available to us in the future on acceptable terms or at all. Any such financing could be dilutive to our existing stockholders. If we cannot raise required funds on acceptable terms, we may not be able to, among other things, (i) maintain our general and administrative expenses at current levels; (ii) successfully develop our licensing and related service businesses; (iii) negotiate and enter into new gasification plant development contracts and licensing agreements; (iv) expand our operations; (v) hire and train new employees; or (vi) respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated capital requirements.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires our management to make certain estimates and assumptions which are inherently imprecise and may differ significantly from actual results achieved. We believe the following are our critical accounting policies due to the significance, subjectivity and judgment involved in determining our estimates used in preparing our consolidated financial statements. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions used in preparing our consolidated financial statements on an ongoing basis utilizing historic experience, anticipated future events or trends and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The resulting effects of changes in our estimates are recorded in our consolidated financial statements in the period in which the facts and circumstances that give rise to the change in estimate become known.

We believe the following describes significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements:

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from sales of products, which includes the capacity fee and energy fee earned at the ZZ Joint Venture plant, and byproducts are recognized when the following elements are satisfied: (i) there are no uncertainties regarding customer acceptance; (ii) there is persuasive evidence that an agreement exists; (iii) delivery has occurred; (iv) the sales price is fixed or determinable; and (v) collectability is reasonably assured.

Technology licensing revenue is typically received over the course of a project’s development as milestones are met. We may receive upfront licensing fee payments when a license agreement is entered into. Typically, the majority of a license fee is due once project financing and equipment installation occur. We recognize license fees as revenue when the license fees become due and payable under the license agreement, subject to the deferral of the amount of the performance guarantee. Fees earned for engineering services, such as services that relate to integrating our technology to a customer’s project, are recognized using the percentage-of-completion method.

Impairment Evaluation of Long-Lived Assets

We evaluate our long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment, construction-in-progress, equity method investments and specifically identified intangibles, when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. When we believe an impairment condition may have occurred, we are required to estimate the undiscounted future cash flows associated with a long-lived asset or group of long-lived assets at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities for long-lived assets that are expected to be held and used. We evaluate our operating plants as a whole. Production equipment at each plant is not evaluated for impairment separately, as it is integral to the assumed future operations of the plant. All construction and development projects are reviewed for impairment whenever there is an indication of potential reduction in fair value. If it is determined that it is no longer probable that the projects will be completed and all capitalized costs recovered through future operations, the carrying values of the projects would be written down to the recoverable value. If we determine that the undiscounted cash flows from an asset to be held and used are less than the carrying amount of the asset, or if we have classified an asset as held for sale, we estimate fair value to determine the amount of any impairment charge.

 

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The following summarizes some of the most significant estimates and assumptions used in evaluating if we have an impairment charge.

Undiscounted Expected Future Cash Flows. In order to estimate future cash flows, we consider historical cash flows and changes in the market environment and other factors that may affect future cash flows. To the extent applicable, the assumptions we use are consistent with forecasts that we are otherwise required to make (for example, in preparing our other earnings forecasts). The use of this method involves inherent uncertainty. We use our best estimates in making these evaluations and consider various factors, including forward price curves for energy, fuel costs, and operating costs. However, actual future market prices and project costs could vary from the assumptions used in our estimates, and the impact of such variations could be material.

Fair Value. Generally, fair value will be determined using valuation techniques such as the present value of expected future cash flows. We will also discount the estimated future cash flows associated with the asset using a single interest rate representative of the risk involved with such an investment. We may also consider prices of similar assets, consult with brokers, or employ other valuation techniques. We use our best estimates in making these evaluations; however, actual future market prices and project costs could vary from the assumptions used in our estimates, and the impact of such variations could be material.

The evaluation and measurement of impairments for equity method investments such as our equity investment in the Yima Joint Ventures involve the same uncertainties as described for long-lived assets that we own directly. Similarly, our estimates that we make with respect to our equity and cost-method investments are subjective, and the impact of variations in these estimates could be material.

ZZ Joint Venture Plant Impairment Analysis

Due to the economic trends that have significantly affected commodity prices including methanol, Xuecheng Energy’s refusal to pay capacity fees owed to the ZZ Joint Venture and the ZZ Joint Venture plant’s operating losses to-date, we believed an impairment assessment of the ZZ Joint Venture plant was warranted as of June 30, 2012. We performed an analysis of the ZZ Joint Venture plant and determined that these assets were not impaired based upon management’s estimated cash flow projections for the plant. Such estimated cash flow projections included a case based on the completion of the ongoing negotiations between us and Xuecheng Energy to restructure the current business arrangement to create an integrated syngas to methanol operation. This restructuring would include a combination of technical improvements being made to Xuecheng Energy’s methanol unit allowing for increased syngas off-take and other repairs and improvements being made to the plant enabling more efficient joint production of methanol. An alternative case was based on developing an additional downstream facility to produce glycol. This case assumes the additional capital investment is made by a strategic partner and that we retain a minority interest in the combined project. If we are not successful in restructuring the joint venture or otherwise improving the ZZ Joint Venture’s profitability, or if management’s estimated cash flow projections for these assets decrease, the ZZ Joint Venture plant could become impaired which could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. As no significant changes occurred during the first quarter, an updated impairment assessment was not necessary as of September 30, 2012.

Accounting for Variable Interest Entities and Financial Statement Consolidation Criteria

The joint ventures which we enter into may be considered variable interest entities, or VIEs. We consolidate all VIEs where we are the primary beneficiary. This determination is made at the inception of our involvement with the VIE. We consider both qualitative and quantitative factors and form a conclusion that we, or another interest holder, absorb a majority of the entity’s risk for expected losses, receive a majority of the entity’s potential for expected residual returns, or both. We do not consolidate VIEs where we are not the primary beneficiary. We account for these unconsolidated VIEs under the equity method of accounting and include our net investment in investments on our consolidated balance sheets. Our equity interest in the net income or loss from our unconsolidated VIEs is recorded in non-operating (income) expense on a net basis on our consolidated statement of operations.

 

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We have determined that the ZZ Joint Venture is a VIE and that we are the primary beneficiary. In addition, we considered whether the terms of the syngas purchase and sale agreement with Xuecheng Energy contained a lease. The factors considered included (i) our ability to operate and control the plant during the initial 20 years; and (ii) whether it was more than remote that one or more parties other than Xuecheng Energy would purchase more than a minor amount (considered to be 10%) of the plant’s output during the term of the syngas purchase and sale agreement. Because we determined that the syngas purchase and sale agreement did not contain a lease, we account for the revenues from this agreement in accordance with our revenue recognition policy for product sales.

We have determined that the Yima Joint Ventures are VIEs and that Yima is the primary beneficiary since Yima has a 75% ownership interest in the Yima Joint Ventures.

We have determined that SRS is a VIE and that we are not the primary beneficiary since we and Midas each have a 50% ownership interest in SRS and the control, risks and benefits of SRS are shared equally.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In June 2011, the FASB issued new guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income. The new guidance allows an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The new guidance eliminates the current option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in stockholders equity. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, however the provision of the new guidance which requires reclassifications out of comprehensive income be shown separately in the financial statements was deferred to allow the FASB to reconsider alternatives. The Company adopted these requirements as of July 1, 2012.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

Qualitative disclosure about market risk.

We are exposed to certain qualitative market risks as part of our ongoing business operations, including risks from changes in foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices that could impact our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. We manage our exposure to these risks through regular operating and financing activities, and may, in the future, use derivative financial instruments to manage this risk. We have not entered into any derivative financial instruments to date.

Foreign currency risk

We conduct operations in China and our functional currency in China is the Renminbi Yuan. Our financial statements are expressed in U.S. dollars and will be negatively affected if foreign currencies, such as the Renminbi Yuan, depreciate relative to the U.S. dollar. In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by exchange control regulations in China or other countries that restrict our ability to convert into U.S. dollars. The People’s Bank of China, the monetary authority in China, sets the spot rate of the Renminbi Yuan, and may also use a variety of techniques, such as intervention by its central bank or imposition of regulatory controls or taxes, to affect the exchange rate relative to the U.S. dollar. In the future, the Chinese government may also issue a new currency to replace its existing currency or alter the exchange rate or relative exchange characteristics by devaluation or revaluation of the Renminbi Yuan in ways that may be adverse to our interests.

Commodity price risk

Our business plan is to purchase coal and other consumables from suppliers and to sell commodities, such as syngas, methanol and other products. Coal is the largest component of our costs of product sales and in order to mitigate coal price fluctuation risk for future projects, we expect to enter into long-term contracts for coal supply or to acquire coal assets. For the sale of commodities from our projects, fixed price contracts will not be available to us in certain markets, such as China, which will require us to purchase some portion of our coal and other consumable needs, or sell some portion of our production, into spot commodity markets or under short term supply agreements. Hedging transactions may be available to reduce our exposure to these commodity price risks, but availability may be limited and we may not be able to successfully hedge this exposure at all. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions.

 

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Interest rate risk

We are exposed to interest rate risk through our loan with ICBC. Interest under this loan is adjusted annually based upon the standard rate announced each year by the People’s Bank of China. As of September 30, 2012, the applicable interest rate was 7.05%. We could also be exposed to the risk of rising interest rates through our future borrowing activities. This is an inherent risk as borrowings mature and are renewed at then current market rates. The extent of this risk as to our ICBC loan, or any future borrowings, is not quantifiable or predictable because of the variability of future interest rates.

Customer credit risk

When our projects other than the ZZ Joint Venture plant progress to commercial production, we will be exposed to the risk of financial non-performance by customers. To manage customer credit risk, we intend to monitor credit ratings of customers and seek to minimize exposure to any one customer where other customers are readily available. As of September 30, 2012, Xuecheng Energy, a related party, is our only customer for syngas sales and as such, we are exposed to significant customer credit risk due to this concentration. In addition, as described under “–Results of Operation,” Hai Hua has not made the capacity fee payments to the ZZ Joint Venture since April 2011. The unpaid amount totals approximately $5.7 million as of September 30, 2012. Although we are continuing to work with Xuecheng Energy on alternatives to resolve the issue, there can be no assurances that we will collect these amounts. Our revenue and results of operations would be adversely affected if Xuecheng Energy continues to not pay the capacity fee or if we are otherwise unable to retain Xuecheng Energy as a customer and secure new customers and we may need to shut down the ZZ Joint Venture plant for a period of time until we are able to either find an alternative purchaser of our production or a different use for the plant.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our annual and periodic reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. In addition, we designed these disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that this information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Our management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Accounting Officer, assessed the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as of September 30, 2012. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2012.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2012 that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

None.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

None.

 

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

On June 18, 2012, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement, or the Hongye Agreement with Hongye International Investment Group Co., Ltd., or Hongye, pursuant to which Hongye would acquire 6,175,093 shares, or the Hongye Shares, of our common stock for $1.50 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $9,262,639, and entered into a Share Purchase Agreement, or the Zhongmo Agreement, and together with the Hongye Agreement, the Agreements, with Shanghai Zhongmo Investment Management Co., Ltd., or Zhongmo, pursuant to which Zhongmo would acquire 4,177,335 shares, or the Zhongmo Shares, and together with the Hongye Shares, the Shares of our common stock for $1.50 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $6,266,002. On September 21, 2012, we received gross proceeds of approximately $8.7 million from Hongye and issued 5,777,700 of the Hongye Shares to Hongye. On October 10, 2012, we received gross proceeds of approximately $6.3 million from Zhongmo and issued the Zhongmo Shares to Zhongmo. Also, on October 16, 2012, we received gross proceeds of approximately $596,000 from Hongye and issued the remaining 397,393 of the Hongye Shares to Hongye.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not Applicable.

 

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those risks, trends and uncertainties are our early stage of development, our estimate of the sufficiency of existing capital sources, our ability to successfully develop our licensing business, our ability to raise additional capital to fund cash requirements for future investments and operations, our ability to reduce operating costs, the limited history and viability of our technology, the effect of the current international financial crisis on our business, commodity prices and the availability and terms of financing opportunities, our results of operations in foreign countries and our ability to diversify, our ability to maintain production from our first plant in the ZZ joint venture, our ability to complete the expansion of the ZZ project, our ability to obtain the necessary approvals and permits for our Yima project and other future projects, the estimated timetables for achieving mechanical completion and commencing commercial operations for the Yima project, our ability to negotiate the terms of the conversion of the Yima project from methanol to glycol, our ability to close the transaction with China Energy and ZJX based on our ongoing discussions with ZJX, the sufficiency of internal controls and procedures and our ability to grow our business as a result of the Hongye and ZJX transactions as well as our joint venture with Midas Resource Partners. Although we believe that in making such forward-looking statements our expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions, such statements may be influenced by factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected. We cannot assure you that the assumptions upon which these statements are based will prove to have been correct.

When used in this Form 10-Q, the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements for a number of important reasons, including those discussed under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2012, as well as in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

You should read these statements carefully because they discuss our expectations about our future performance, contain projections of our future operating results or our future financial condition, or state other “forward-looking” information. You should be aware that the occurrence of certain of the events described in this Form 10-Q could substantially harm our business, results of operations and financial condition and that upon the occurrence of any of these events, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

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We cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q after the date hereof.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Number

  

Description of Exhibits

10.1    Employment Letter between the Company and Kevin Kelly dated effective October 10, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2012).
31.1*    Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.2*    Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.1*    Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
32.2*    Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
101.INS    XBRL Instance Document.**
101.SCH    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.**
101.CAL    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.**
101.DEF    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.**
101.LAB    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.**
101.PRE    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.**

 

* Filed herewith.
** In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the XBRL information in Exhibit 101 to this quarterly report on Form 10-Q shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

      SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
Date: November 13, 2012     By:   /s/ Robert Rigdon
      Robert Rigdon
      President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: November 13, 2012     By:   /s/ Kevin Kelly
      Kevin Kelly
      Chief Accounting Officer,
      Controller and Secretary

 

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