XML 26 R15.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.20.2
COMMON STOCK
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Equity [Abstract]  
COMMON STOCK COMMON STOCK
The total number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock is 750,000,000 shares, $0.001 par value per share. As of September 30, 2020, there were 45,554,841 common shares issued and outstanding.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company issued 2,159,278 shares of common stock in connection with the conversion of Series B1 Convertible Preferred Stock into common stock of the Company, pursuant to the terms of such securities.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company issued 1,596,160 shares of common stock in connection with the July 2019 Tensile Capital Partners Master Fund LP, an investment fund based in San Francisco, California (“Tensile”), Share Purchase and Subscription Agreement and conversions of Series B1 Convertible Preferred Stock into common stock of the Company, pursuant to the terms of such securities. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company issued 78,425 shares of common stock in connection with the exercise of options.

Stock Option Agreements

On June 19, 2020, the Board of Directors approved the grant to three employees and one officer/director (Benjamin P. Cowart, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer) of options to purchase an aggregate of 416,885 and 269,153 shares of common stock, respectively, at an exercise price of $0.78 and $0.86 per share, respectively, with a ten year and five year term, respectively (subject to continued employment/directorship), vesting at the rate of 1/4th of such options per year on the first four anniversaries of the grant, under our 2019 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, in consideration for services rendered and to be rendered to the Company. The grant date fair value is $355,404 which amount is being amortized at the rate of $7,404 per month starting in July 2020.
PREFERRED STOCK AND DETACHABLE WARRANTS
The total number of authorized shares of the Company’s preferred stock is 50,000,000 shares, $0.001 par value per share. The total number of designated shares of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is 5,000,000 (“Series A Preferred”). The total number of designated shares of the Company’s Series B Convertible Preferred Stock is 10,000,000. The total number of designated shares of the Company’s Series B1 Convertible Preferred Stock is 17,000,000. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, there were 419,859 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, there were 4,002,619 and 3,826,055 shares of Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, respectively. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, there were 7,219,164 and 9,028,085 shares of Series B1 Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, respectively.
Series B Preferred Stock and Temporary Equity
The following table represents the activity related to the Series B Preferred Stock, classified as Temporary Equity on the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheet, during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
20202019
Balance at beginning of period$11,006,406 $8,900,208 
Plus: discount accretion854,364 1,031,483 
Plus: dividends in kind547,349 510,502 
Balance at end of period$12,408,119 $10,442,193 

The Series B Warrants and Series B1 Warrants were revalued at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 using the Dynamic Black Scholes model that computes the impact of a possible change in control transaction upon the exercise of the warrant shares at approximately $124,847 and $1,969,216, respectively. At September 30, 2020, the Series B Warrants and Series B1 Warrants were valued at approximately $0 and $124,847, respectively. The Dynamic Black Scholes Merton inputs used were: expected dividend rate of 0%, expected volatility of 66%-100%, risk free interest rate of 0.11% (Series B Warrants) and 0.13% (Series B1 Warrants), and expected term of 0.25 years (Series B Warrants) and 1.25 years (Series B1 Warrants).
At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, a total of $310,220 and $177,921 of dividends were accrued on our outstanding Series B Preferred Stock, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, we paid dividends in-kind in additional shares of Series B Preferred Stock of $188,837 and $175,305, respectively. Because such preferred stock was not redeemed on June 24, 2020, the preferred stock accrues a 10% per annum dividend (payable in-kind at the option of the Company), until such preferred stock is redeemed or converted into common stock.
Series B1 Preferred Stock and Temporary Equity

The following table represents the activity related to the Series B1 Preferred Stock, classified as Temporary Equity on the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheet, for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
20202019
Balance at beginning of period$12,743,047 $13,279,755 
Less: conversions of shares to common(3,368,474)(119,768)
Plus: discount accretion646,031 582,649 
Plus: dividends in kind546,557 712,185 
Balance at end of period$10,567,161 $14,454,821 

As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, a total of $281,557 and $211,269 of dividends were accrued on our outstanding Series B1 Preferred Stock. During the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, we paid dividends in-kind in additional shares of Series B1 Preferred Stock of $171,380 and $240,185, respectively.
The following is an analysis of changes in the derivative liability for the nine months ended June 30:
Level Three Roll-Forward
20202019
Balance at beginning of period$1,969,216 $1,481,692 
Change in valuation of warrants(1,844,369)(331,715)
Balance at end of period$124,847 $1,149,977 
SHARE PURCHASE AND SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENTS
Myrtle Grove Share Purchase and Subscription Agreement
Amounts received by MG SPV from its direct sale of Class B Units to Tensile-MG may only be used for additional investments in the MG refinery or for day to day operations at the MG refinery. At September 30, 2020, $2.0 million reported as cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet is restricted to MG refinery investments or operating expenses.
The Class B Unit holders may force MG SPV to redeem the outstanding Class B Units at any time on or after the earlier of (a) the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date and (ii) the occurrence of a Triggering Event (defined below)(an “MG Redemption”). The cash purchase price for such redeemed Class B Units is the greater of (y) the fair market value of such units (without discount for illiquidity, minority status or otherwise) as determined by a qualified third party agreed to in writing by a majority of the holders seeking an MG Redemption and Vertex Operating (provided that Vertex Operating still owns Class A Units on such date) and (z) the original per-unit price for such Class B Units plus any unpaid Class B preference. The preference is defined as the greater of (A) the aggregate unpaid “Class B Yield” (equal to an annual return of 22.5% per annum) and (B) an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate capital invested by the Class B Unit holders. The Company did not pay the preferential yield during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. “Triggering Events” mean (a) any dissolution, winding up or liquidation of the Company, Vertex Operating or any significant subsidiary of Vertex Operating, (b) any sale, lease, license or disposition of any material assets of the Company, Vertex Operating or any significant subsidiary of Vertex Operating, (c) any transaction or series of related transactions (whether by merger, exchange, contribution, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization, combination or otherwise) involving the Company, Vertex Operating or any significant subsidiary of Vertex Operating, the result of which is that the holders of the voting securities of the relevant entity as of the Closing Date are no longer the beneficial owners, in the aggregate, after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the entity, subject to certain other requirements set forth in the MG Company Agreement, (d) the failure to consummate the
Heartland Closing (defined below) by June 30, 2020 (a “Failure to Close”), provided that such Heartland Closing was consummated by June 30, 2020, (e) the failure of Vertex Operating to operate MG SPV in good faith with appropriate resources, or (f) the material failure of the Company and its affiliates to comply with the terms of the contribution agreement, whereby the Company contributed assets and operations to MG SPV. No triggering events occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
Myrtle Grove Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

As a result of the MG Share Purchase, Tensile, through Tensile-Myrtle Grove Acquisition Corporation, acquired an approximate 15.58% ownership interest in Vertex Refining Myrtle Grove LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which entity was formed as a special purpose vehicle in connection with the transactions. This is considered a redeemable noncontrolling equity interest, as it is redeemable in the future and not solely within our control.

The initial carrying amount that is recognized in temporary equity for redeemable noncontrolling interests is the initial carrying amount determined in accordance with the accounting requirements for noncontrolling interests in ASC 810-10. In accordance with ASC 810-10-45-23, changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary are accounted for as equity transactions. Therefore, the Company recognized no gain or loss in consolidated net income and the carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest was adjusted to reflect the change in our ownership interest of the subsidiary. The difference of $970,809 between the fair value of the consideration received of $3,150,000 and the carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest determined in accordance with ASC 810-10 of $2,179,191, was recognized in additional paid in capital.

After initial recognition, in accordance with ASC 480-10-S99-3A, the Company applied a two-step approach to measure noncontrolling interests associated with MG SPV at the balance sheet date. First, the Company applied the measurement guidance in ASC 810-10 by attributing a portion of the subsidiary's net loss of $120,031 to the noncontrolling interest. Second, the Company applied the subsequent measurement guidance in ASC 480-10-S99-3A, which indicates that the noncontrolling interest’s carrying amount is the higher of (1) the cumulative amount that would result from applying the measurement guidance in ASC 810-10 in the first step or (2) the redemption value. Pursuant to ASC 480-10-S99-3A, for a security that is probable of becoming redeemable in the future, the Company adjusted the carrying amount of the redeemable noncontrolling interests to what would be the redemption value assuming the security was redeemable at the balance sheet date. This adjustment of $833,354 increased the carrying amount of redeemable noncontrolling interests to the redemption value as of September 30, 2020 of $5,181,388. Adjustments to the carrying amount of redeemable noncontrolling interests to redemption value are reflected in retained earnings.
The table below presents the reconciliation of changes in redeemable noncontrolling interest relating to MG SPV as of September 30, 2020.
September 30, 2020
Beginning balance$4,396,894 
Net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest(120,031)
Change in ownership71,171 
Accretion of non-controlling interest to redemption value833,354 
Ending balance$5,181,388 

Heartland Share Purchase and Subscription Agreement

On January 17, 2020 (the “Heartland Closing Date”), Vertex Operating, Tensile-Heartland, and solely for the purposes of the Heartland Guaranty (defined below), the Company, and HPRM LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which entity was formed as a special purpose vehicle in connection with the transactions, described in greater detail below (“Heartland SPV”), entered into a Share Purchase and Subscription Agreement (the “Heartland Share Purchase”).

Prior to entering into the Heartland Share Purchase, the Company transferred 100% of the ownership of Vertex Refining OH, LLC, its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary (“Vertex OH”) to Heartland SPV in consideration for 13,500 Class A Units, 13,500 Class A-1 Preferred Units and 11,300 Class B Units of Heartland SPV and immediately thereafter contributed 248 Class B
Units to the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Vertex Splitter Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Vertex Splitter”), as a contribution to capital.

Vertex OH owned the Company’s Columbus, Ohio, Heartland facility, which produces a base oil product that is sold to lubricant packagers and distributors.

Pursuant to the Heartland Share Purchase, Vertex Operating sold Tensile-Heartland the 13,500 Class A Units and 13,500 Class A-1 Preferred Units of Heartland SPV in consideration for $13.5 million. Also, on the Heartland Closing Date, Tensile-Heartland purchased 7,500 Class A Units and 7,500 Class A-1 Units in consideration for $7.5 million (less the expenses of Tensile-Heartland in connection with the transaction) directly from Heartland SPV.

The approximate $7.5 million purchase amount and future free cash flows from the operation of Heartland SPV are planned to be available for investments at the Heartland facility to increase self-collections, maximize the throughput of the refinery, enhance the quality of the output and complete other projects.

Concurrently with the closing of the transactions described above, and pursuant to the terms of the Heartland Share Purchase, the Company, through Vertex Operating, purchased 1,000 newly issued Class A Units from MG SPV at a cost of $1,000 per unit ($1 million in aggregate). As a result of this transaction, MG SPV is owned 85.00% by Vertex Operating and 15.00% by Tensile-MG.

The Heartland Share Purchase provides Tensile-Heartland an option, exercisable at its election, at any time, subject to the terms of the Heartland Share Purchase, to purchase up to an additional 7,000 Class A-2 Preferred Units at a cost of $1,000 per Class A-2 Preferred Unit from Heartland SPV.

The Heartland SPV is currently owned 35% by Vertex Operating and 65% by Tensile-Heartland. Heartland SPV is managed by a five-member Board of Managers, of which three members are appointed by Tensile-Heartland and two are appointed by the Company. The Class A Units held by Tensile-Heartland are convertible into Class B Units as provided in the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Heartland SPV (the “Heartland Company Agreement”), based on a conversion price (initially one-for-one) which may be reduced from time to time if new Units of Heartland SPV are issued and will automatically convert into Series B Units upon certain events described in the Heartland Company Agreement.

The Class A-1 and A-2 Preferred Units (“Class A Preferred Units”), which are 100% owned by Tensile-Heartland, accrue a 22.5% per annum preferred return subject to terms of the Heartland Company Agreement (the “Class A Yield”).

Additionally, the Class A Unit holders (common and preferred) may force Heartland SPV to redeem the outstanding Class A Units at any time on or after the earlier of (a) the fifth anniversary of the Heartland Closing Date and (ii) the occurrence of a Heartland Triggering Event (defined below)(a “Heartland Redemption”). The cash purchase price for such redeemed Class A Unit will be the greater of (y) the fair market value of such units (without discount for illiquidity, minority status or otherwise) as determined by a qualified third party agreed to in writing by a majority of the holders seeking Heartland Redemption and Vertex Operating (provided that Vertex Operating still owns Class B Units on such date) and (z) the original per-unit price for such Class A Units plus fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate capital invested by the Class A Unit holders through such Heartland Redemption date. “Heartland Triggering Events” include (a) any termination of an Administrative Services Agreement entered into with Tensile, pursuant to its terms and/or any material breach by us of the environmental remediation and indemnity agreement entered into with Tensile, (b) any dissolution, winding up or liquidation of the Company, Vertex Operating or any significant subsidiary of Vertex Operating, (c) any sale, lease, license or disposition of any material assets of the Company, Vertex Operating or any significant subsidiary of Vertex Operating, or (d) any transaction or series of related transactions (whether by merger, exchange, contribution, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization, combination or otherwise) involving the Company, Vertex Operating or any significant subsidiary of Vertex Operating, the result of which is that the holders of the voting securities of the relevant entity as of the Heartland Closing Date are no longer the beneficial owners, in the aggregate, after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the entity, subject to certain other requirements set forth in the Heartland Company Agreement.

In the event that Heartland SPV fails to redeem such Class A Units within 180 days after a redemption is triggered, the Class A Yield is increased to 25% until such time as such redemption is completed (with such increase being effective back to the original date of a notice of redemption). In addition, in such event, the Class A Unit holders may cause Heartland SPV to initiate a process intended to result in a sale of Heartland SPV.
Distributions of available cash of Heartland SPV pursuant to the Heartland Company Agreement (including pursuant to liquidations of Heartland SPV), subject to certain exceptions set forth therein, are to be made (a) first, to the holders of the Class A Preferred Units, in amount equal to the greater of (A) the aggregate unpaid Class A Yield and (B) an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate capital invested by the Class A Preferred Unit holders (initially Tensile-Heartland)(such aggregate capital invested by the Class A Preferred Unit holders, the “Heartland Invested Capital”, which totaled approximately $21 million as of the Heartland Closing Date, subject to adjustment as provided in the Heartland Share Purchase), less prior distributions (such greater amount of (A) and (B), the “Class A Preferred Priority Distributions”); (b) second, the Class A Preferred Unit holders, together as a separate and distinct class, are entitled to receive an amount equal to the aggregate Heartland Invested Capital; (c) third, the Class B Unitholders (other than Class B Unitholders which received Class B Units upon conversion of Class A Preferred Units), together as a separate and distinct class, are entitled to receive all or a portion of any distribution equal to the sum of all distributions made under sections (a) and (b) above; and (d) fourth, to the holders of Units who are eligible to receive such distributions in proportion to the number of Units held by such holders.

Heartland Variable interest entity

The Company has assessed the Heartland SPV under the variable interest guidance in ASC 810. The Company determined that the Class A Units are not at risk due to a 22.5% preferred return and a redemption provision that, if elected, would require Heartland SPV to repurchase the Class A Units at their original cost plus the preferred return. The Company further determined that as a minority shareholder, holding only 35% of the voting rights, the Company does not have the ability to direct the activities of Heartland SPV that most significantly impact the entity’s performance. Based on this assessment, the Company concluded that Heartland SPV is a variable interest entity.

In assessing if the Company is the primary beneficiary of Heartland SPV, the Company determined that certain provisions of the Heartland Company Agreement prohibiting the transfer of its Class B Units result in the Class A Unit holders being related parties under the de facto agents criteria in ASC 810. The Company and the Class A Unit holders, as a group, have the power to direct the significant activities of Heartland SPV and the obligations to absorb the losses and the right to receive the benefits that could potentially be significant to Heartland SPV. The Company concluded that substantially all of the activities of Heartland SPV are conducted on its behalf, and not on behalf of the Class A Unit holders, the decision maker, thus the Company is the primary beneficiary and required to consolidate Heartland SPV in accordance with ASC 810.

The Company's consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities and results of operations of Heartland SPV for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The other equity holders’ interests are reflected in net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest in the consolidated statements of income and noncontrolling interests in the consolidated balance sheets.
The following table summarizes the carrying amounts of Heartland SPV's assets and liabilities included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2020:
September 30, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents$8,072,347 
Accounts receivable, net2,879,431 
Inventory310,596 
Prepaid expense and other current assets1,968,335 
   Total current assets13,230,709 
Fixed assets, net5,619,248 
Finance lease right-of-use assets1,106,671 
Operating lease right-of-use assets369,333 
Intangible assets, net1,127,352 
Other assets108,643 
Total assets$21,561,956 
Accounts payable $1,413,378 
Accrued expenses335,267 
Finance lease liability-current340,193 
Operating lease liability-current268,437 
   Total current liabilities2,357,275 
Finance lease liability-long term732,174 
Operating lease liability-long term100,896 
Total liabilities$3,190,345 

The assets of Heartland SPV may only be used to settle the obligations of Heartland SPV, and may not be used for other consolidated entities. The liabilities of Heartland SPV are non-recourse to the general credit of the Company’s other consolidated entities.

Heartland Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

As a result of the Heartland Share Purchase (as defined and discussed above), Tensile Capital Partners Master Fund LP, an investment fund based in San Francisco, California (“Tensile”), through Tensile-Heartland, acquired an approximate 65.00% ownership interest in Heartland SPV, a Delaware limited liability company, which entity was formed as a special purpose vehicle in connection with the transactions. This is considered a redeemable noncontrolling equity interest, as it is redeemable in the future and not solely within our control.

The initial carrying amount that is recognized in temporary equity for redeemable noncontrolling interests is the initial carrying amount determined in accordance with the accounting requirements for noncontrolling interests in ASC 810-10. In accordance with ASC 810-10-45-23, changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary are accounted for as equity transactions. Therefore, the Company recognized no gain or loss in consolidated net income and the carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest was adjusted to reflect the change in our ownership interest of the subsidiary. The difference of $9,091,068 between the fair value of the consideration received of $21,000,000 and the carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest determined in accordance with ASC 810-10 of $11,908,932, was recognized in additional paid in capital.

After initial recognition, in accordance with ASC 480-10-S99-3A, the Company applied a two-step approach to measure noncontrolling interests associated with Heartland SPV at the balance sheet date. First, the Company applied the measurement guidance in ASC 810-10 by attributing a portion of the subsidiary's net gain of $35,449 to the noncontrolling interest. Second, the Company applied the subsequent measurement guidance in ASC 480-10-S99-3A, which indicates that the noncontrolling interest’s carrying amount is the higher of (1) the cumulative amount that would result from applying the measurement guidance in ASC 810-10 in the first step or (2) the redemption value. Pursuant to ASC 480-10-S99-3A, for a security that is probable of becoming redeemable in the future, the Company adjusted the carrying amount of the redeemable noncontrolling interests to what would be the redemption value assuming the security was redeemable at the balance sheet date. This adjustment of $12,802,442 increased the carrying amount of redeemable noncontrolling interests to the redemption value as of
September 30, 2020 of $24,746,823. Adjustments to the carrying amount of redeemable noncontrolling interests to redemption value are reflected in retained earnings.
The table below presents the reconciliation of changes in redeemable noncontrolling interest relating to Heartland SPV as of September 30, 2020.
September 30, 2020
Beginning balance$— 
Initial adjustment of carrying amount of non-controlling interest11,908,932 
Net gain attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest35,449 
Accretion of non-controlling interest to redemption value12,802,442 
Ending balance$24,746,823 
The amounts of accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value of $1,287,559 and $13,635,797 presented as an adjustment to net loss attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc., to arrive at net loss available to common shareholders on the consolidated statements of operations represent the MG SPV and Heartland SPV accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value combined for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.