ITEM 1.DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS
Overview
The primary business of Earth Gen-Biofuel Inc. (“Earth Gen”) is the cultivation of non-food agricultural products for use in manufacturing processes, renewable energy and transportation fuel. Earth Gen’s current focus is the cultivation of castor beans with the goal to become a major producer of castor beans with operations in Southeast Asia, South America, the United States and other growing areas that are well suited for castor bean cultivation.
Management believes that castor beans are an agricultural crop already in short supply and in high demand for processing manufactured products in many countries. Moreover, castor bean cultivation has attracted attention as a “renewable energy crop” with high value due to its high oil content in comparison to other oil seed crops. Earth Gen’s business model is to meet this growing demand without competing against potentially more valuable crops by cultivating land for growing castor beans in areas of poor soil conditions where such cultivation does not replace the production of food crops.
Earth Gen plans to expand its business by building additional farm operations for growing castor beans to satisfy current demands for chemical processes that use castor oil required by chemical conversion facilities in China and by other major importers of castor beans such as Japan, Taiwan, Europe and the United States. As the world supply of castor beans grows along with Earth Gen’s production, the Company will benefit from a “tipping point” created when there is enough surplus castor bean supply to allow for its use as biodiesel. Based on current commercial demand for castor bean oil and the long term demand for clean fuel, management believes that, subject to obtaining the necessary capital, Earth Gen is positioned for rapid near term and long term growth due to the favorable industry conditions that persist in China, the United States and Europe.
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Earth Gen presently has approximately 700 acres under cultivation in Northern Laos. Earth Gen’s operations began in 2010 when Earth Gen’s present management started establishing relationships with farmers, government officials and related agencies in Laos to obtain the necessary local knowledge and expertise with the goal of starting large-scale castor bean cultivation in Southeast Asia.
As a result of approximately two years of these exploratory activities, Earth Gen was incorporated in the state of Nevada on August 28, 2012. Operations began by organizing farmers in Laos and Vietnam to allocate land for growing castor beans. The farmers, under the supervision of Earth Gen’s management team and local experts, planted their first test crop of castor beans with seeds provided by Earth Gen. Earth Gen supervised the planting of these test sites with the goal of evaluating planting methods, local farming culture and farming conditions.
In May 2013, Earth Gen started testing its planting programs in Laos and Vietnam. The purpose of these tests was to evaluate various growing methods and hybrid castor bean types to refine our planting protocol. In the fall of 2013, we were able to evaluate the results of the test-planting project and decided on which seeds to use and where the farming operations would be best located.
Earth Gen formed Earth Gen-Biofuel Lao Sole Co Ltd. in March of 2014 under the laws of Laos to meet Laos’ regulatory and legal requirements to do business in Laos. This company is 100% controlled by Earth Gen. Earth Gen-Biofuel Laos has its own in country bank accounts and pays all local operating expenses of the business activities of Earth Gen in Laos.
In March 2014, Earth Gen started its first large-scale castor bean cultivation operation near the city of Xieng Khouang in the northeastern part of Laos. Between April and July 2014, the Company has prepared and planted approximately 700 acres. This first planting was designed to develop operating methods and evaluate cultivation protocols. This completion of this process yielded a small test harvest that was collected and moved to Earth Gen’s Lao storage facility for evaluation. Early results are showing an estimated one-ton per hectare yield for the areas already harvested, which is less than our long term yield expectation. We believe the initial harvest had reduced production because the planting took place just prior to monsoon season which reduced the growing season for the initial planting but provides cloud cover and constant rain allowing the young plants to mature and produce higher production levels during subsequent harvests. Additionally, a combination of improved soil conditions with second rounds of fertilization and soil along with more mature plants and better weather are expected to increase harvest yields. A more accurate crop yield result will be determined by additional harvest cycles in 2016.
Shortly after incorporating, Earth Gen began the process of obtaining capital to support its operations. Funding was used to create the infrastructure in Laos and Vietnam and to provide supervision by hiring subcontractors and consultants with an understanding of local culture. Funds were raised for seeds, fertilizer, labor, transportation and economic assistance to the farmers who were part of the test-planting program.
Based on these start-up operations, Earth Gen formulated its short-term and long term operating plan and identified the need for additional capital. The Board of Directors of Earth Gen decided to identify a public company merger candidate that would facilitate Earth Gen’s ability to attract additional capital. Earth Gen identified a public company, EarthBlock Technologies Inc., that had been operating in the international market for low cost housing in several developing nations as well as in the U.S. It appeared to Earth Gen’s management that EarthBlock would be a suitable merger partner because of EarthBlock’s knowledge of operations in developing nations. At the time of the agreement to complete the merger, EarthBlock was quoted on the “OTC Link” market operated by the OTC Markets Group Inc. and its Common Stock was registered with the SEC under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. While EarthBlock was then delinquent in its required filings with the SEC, Earth Gen’s management’s plan was to immediately take all steps to bring EarthBlock’s filings current.
Reverse Merger
On September 25, 2012, EarthBlock and the shareholders of Earth Gen entered into an Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) pursuant to which EarthBlock agreed to issue to the shareholders of Earth Gen a total of 63,666,400 shares of common stock of EarthBlock in exchange for all of Earth Gen’s outstanding capital stock (the “Exchange”). EarthBlock shares were exchanged on the basis of four shares of EarthBlock common stock for each one share of Earth Gen common stock. The Exchange was completed on October 22, 2012 with EarthBlock becoming the owner of 100% of the then issued and outstanding common shares of Earth Gen. At the completion of the Exchange, Earth Gen retained its separate corporate status and operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthBlock.
Rescission of Reverse Merger
At the time of the Exchange, Earth Gen’s management became the officers and directors of EarthBlock on November 19, 2012. On November 19, 2012, EarthBlock filed a current report on Form 8-K pertaining to the Exchange. On November 27, 2012, EarthBlock filed a Form 8-K with respect to the dismissal of Pollard-Kelley Auditing Services, Inc. as EarthBlock independent registered public accounting firm and the retention of Sam Kan & Company, LLP CPA as its independent auditing firm. On November 29 and November 30, 2012, Schedule 13Ds were filed. These filings were made as the first step of bringing current all of EarthBlock’s filings.
On November 14, 2012, the SEC sent a notice to the prior management of EarthBlock notifying them that a hearing was scheduled to revoke EarthBlock’s status as a registered company and to suspend trading in EarthBlock’s stock because of EarthBlock’s failure to file periodic reports. EarthBlock’s new management did not receive this notice until November 26, 2012 and asked for a change in the scheduled hearing so as to request an extension of time to bring all of EarthBlock’s filings current. However, it became apparent to new management that, given the state of EarthBlock’s records, it was unlikely that EarthBlock would be in a position to comply with any extension. Accordingly, EarthBlock consented to a deregistration order, the registration of its common stock was revoked and trading in EarthBlock’s common stock was halted.
Additionally, the management and shareholders of Earth Gen had not been made aware of the full extent of a material liability of EarthBlock that resulted from the operations of EarthBlock’s subsidiary, EarthBlock Texas Homes, Inc. Accordingly, EarthBlock’s previously disclosed consolidated financial condition was inaccurate and not in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Due to these issues and after discussions and consultation with the advisors for both Earth Gen and EarthBlock, on September 25, 2013, the Board of Directors of EarthBlock and of Earth Gen voted to rescind the acquisition of Earth Gen by EarthBlock and authorized the officers of the Corporation to take the steps required to complete the rescission of the Exchange.
On August 30, 2013, Earth Gen amended its Articles of incorporation to increase its authorized shares from 400,000,000 shares of which 390,000,000 shares were common stock and 10,000,000 shares were preferred stock. The authorized number of shares of stock was increased to 3,000,000,000 shares of which 2,990,000,000 shares are common stock and 10,000,000 shares are preferred stock. The Board of Directors is authorized to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions by resolution and fix the number of shares constituting any series.
There were two distinctive groups of shareholders affected by the rescission of the Exchange: (i) the pre-Exchange shareholders whose original Earth Gen common stock shares were exchanged for EarthBlock common stock shares constituting a total of 63,666,400 post-split shares of common stock of EarthBlock (the “Exchange Shares”); and (ii) the post-Exchange shareholders who invested directly in Earth Gen after the closing of the Exchange for a total of 7,030,400 post stock split Earth Gen common stock shares (the “Additional Shares”).
A rescission agreement dated October 28, 2013 (the “Rescission Agreement”) was entered into among EarthBlock, Earth Gen and the holders of the Exchange Shares and the Additional Shares all of whom received a disclosure document as to the reasons for the rescission and who had represented that they were accredited investors. The Rescission Agreement set forth the terms and provisions pursuant to which the parties agreed to take all steps necessary to unwind the Exchange including the surrender of the Exchange Shares for cancellation and Earth Gen to issue to each Exchange Shareholder their respective original equity interests in Earth Gen, except that the Additional Shares will remain outstanding and ratably dilute the Exchange Shareholders’ original equity ownership in Earth Gen.
The Rescission Agreement offer terminated on October 10, 2014. Pursuant to the terms of the Rescission Agreement, Earth Gen issued a total of 50,645,600 Earth Gen common stock shares to participating holders of Exchange Shares commensurate with the holders’ respective original equity interests in Earth Gen. Earth Gen also issued a total of 7,030,400 Additional Shares to post-Exchange shareholders who invested directly in Earth Gen after the closing of the Exchange. One Shareholder owning 7,560,000 Exchange Shares did not become a party to the Rescission Agreement and will retain his EarthBlock common stock shares with no equity interest in Earth Gen. Additionally, 5,458,800 Exchange Shares could not participate in the Rescission offer because the shares were canceled, sold or exchanged in lieu of the rescission. No additional Earth Gen common stock shares will be issued as a result of the rescission of the Exchange.
Recapitalization of Common Stock by a Reverse Split and Reduction of Authorized Shares of Stock
A stock dividend of three shares of common stock for each one share owned by shareholders of record on October 14, 2013 was declared and approved by the Board of Directors on October 15, 2013. The Company’s shareholders approved a recapitalization of the capital stock in the form of reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock in a ratio of 1-for-25 on March 25, 2014. The Shareholders also approved an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation on March 25, 2014 and filed the Amended Articles on May 16, 2014 with the Nevada Secretary of State to reduce the number of authorized shares of stock to 700,000,000 from 3,000,000,000. Of the 700,000,000 authorized shares, there are 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock and 690,000,000 shares of Common Stock. The reverse split and decrease in authorized shares, were effective on May 16, 2014. All references to share amounts referred to herein are based on post reverse split shares and giving effect to the stock dividend.
THE SEED OIL INDUSTRY
Worldwide cultivation of castor beans for the production of castor oil is still a relatively small industry in comparison to other agricultural segments for the production of seed oil. According to figures included in a United Nations Food and Agricultural report published in February 2012, the annual worldwide harvest of castor bean seeds is estimated to be valued at $2.2 Billion. However, Earth Gen believes there is room for substantial growth to meet current and future demand from the expanding biodiesel industry. Moreover, Earth Gen believes that if the availability of castor oil increases, then the utilization of castor bean oil in manufacturing processes and clean transportation fuels would also increase driven by its use to blend clean transportation fuels.
The U.S. is presently using food quality oil from soybean and canola to produce vegetable oil for use in biodiesel manufacturing. Reports from the American Soybean Association indicate that biodiesel blenders are presently using approximately $1.9 billion worth of food seed oil to blend biodiesel. The resulting biodiesel, as reported by the U.N. Food and Agricultural Agency, is only about 1.8% of the diesel fuel utilized in the U.S. The seed oil used in making this small amount of U.S. biodiesel is almost as much as the total production of castor beans worldwide. Currently the use of biodiesel is still very limited but management believes that it is a market segment that has significant growth potential. The driving forces for the growth of biodiesel is the rising cost of fuel, environmental concerns causing the use of cleaner fuels and the fact that newly manufactured trucks and farm equipment in the U.S. do not require modification of their engines in order to utilize Clean Fuel B20 (20% vegetable oil and 80% petroleum diesel) and are able to use 100% vegetable oil.
In addition to the potential biodiesel uses, castor beans are already in high demand for producing products that are important to many manufacturing processes and commercial products. The demand for castor beans is derived from castor bean seeds having a high level of vegetable oil content (44% to 60%) and the low cost of processing the castor beans. Processed castor seed oil is a key ingredient in the manufacture of over 700 commercial products including nylon, fiber optics, plastics, paints, tires, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, and it is used as an additive in approximately 3,000 commercial manufacturing processes. At this time, almost all castor seed oil derived from current bean production is being used in processing commercial products.
Management believes that Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) is considered to be one of the most promising non-edible oil crops due to its high potential for annual seed production and its tolerance to diverse environmental conditions. In addition, castor beans can be grown on marginal lands, which are usually unsuitable for food crops. The establishment of bioenergy crops in marginal or degraded lands may offer additional environmental benefits, such as protection from soil erosion and nutrient leaching, and improvement of soil properties.
Findings in a study published by the periodical “Water” found that the use of bioenergy crops is very useful as a vegetative filter to purify wastewater effluents applied to the soil. This practice is also known as land treatment systems (LTS) or slow rate systems (SRS) and meets both environmental and renewable bioenergy goals. Effluents can supply bioenergy crops with considerable amounts of water and nutrients, which stimulate plant growth and yield. In addition, effluent application can reduce the competition between bioenergy crops and traditional crops with respect to the use of fresh water, and it can also decrease production cost due to substitution of water for fertilizers.
The Comprehensive Castor Oil Report on castor oil and castor oil derivatives, updated in November 2010 by Castoroil India, a division of Energy Alternatives, a comprehensive resource for castor industry information and castor products, reported that based on seed oil yield comparisons, castor bean production is an attractive crop for producing seed oil. It has been estimated that farmers will be able to harvest approximately 1,600 pounds of canola seeds per acre; this translates into approximately 111 plus gallons of vegetable oil per acre. Castor beans have an oil yield of approximately 50% and a relatively high crop yield of 1,695 pounds per acre; this means that castor beans can supply up to 141 gallons of castor oil per acre for each harvest cycle. This allows for a potentially positive comparison to the 111 gallons per acre for canola oil and an even better comparison when compared to soybean oil, which yields 50 gallons to 60 gallons per acre.
The most recent available statistics indicate that in 2012, global castor seed production was approximately two million metric tons per year. Leading areas of production are India (with over half of the global yield), China and Brazil, and is widely grown as a crop in Ethiopia. According to the United Nations report published in 2012, China is the second largest grower of castor beans and is also the largest importer.
*The castor bean production numbers listed are based on estimates and reported figures as provided by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations Statistic Division.
Castor oil has a wide range of applications, with uses such as cosmetics to the areas of national security involving engineering plastics, jet engine lubricants and polymers. The chemical structure of castor oil affords a wide range of reactions to the oleochemical industry and the unique chemicals that can be derived from it. Some of these derivatives are on par with petrochemical products for use in several industrial applications. In fact, they may be considered superior since they are from renewable sources, biodegradable and eco-friendly.
Castor oil and its derivatives are also used in soaps (bind ingredients in cosmetic and soap formulas, humectant for soap products), lubricants (jet engine lubricants), grease, hydraulic brake fluids, paints (varnishes), polymers (basic ingredient in the production of nylon 11, nylon 6-10, polyurethanes), perfumery products, surfactants, surface coatings and inks, telecom & engineering plastics (polyamide 11), pharmaceuticals, rubber chemicals, polishes, flypapers, in addition to other chemical derivatives and medicinal, pharmaceutical and cosmetic derivatives.
WORLD CASTOR BEAN PRODUCTION
The business of growing castor beans follows operational models similar to most other agricultural crops. However, castor beans are not a food crop and are cultivated in soils not usually suitable to growing most food crops. The two largest growers, India and China, utilize land that presents challenges to cultivating castor beans, such as areas with cold weather and poor soil conditions These countries have little flexibility as to locations because of the need to grow food for domestic consumption.
Most of the castor beans currently imported by China are being processed by large chemical conversion facilities with the castor oil being used for production of some of the approximately 3,000 commercial products using refined and processed castor oil. Management believes that China based processors are expected to prefer to import from Earth Gen in Laos and Vietnam to take advantage of the trade agreements that include China, Vietnam and Laos as part of the ASEAN +1 trade zone. China and the ASEAN trade group countries have maintained a long-term relationship and history of cooperation. The relationship between ASEAN and China was further elevated with the signing of the Joint Declaration of the Heads of State/Government on Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in October 2003 and with the adoption of the ASEAN-China Plan Of Action (2005-2010). The execution of Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation in November 2002 to establish the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) eliminated certain tariffs and improved of transportation and regulation on imports and export. Such actions have allowed trade and economic ties between ASEAN and China to grow rapidly over the past several years. China has been ASEAN’s largest trading partner since 2009, while ASEAN continues to be China’s third largest trading partner since 2010. Under the aforementioned plans and agreements, China has reduced import tariffs on ASEAN country agriculture imports, and such tariffs are expected to be reduced or totally eliminated in the coming years. As a result of the elimination of the ASEAN tariffs in the case of castor bean exports to China from Laos, Vietnam and other ASEAN countries, there will be a 10 to 15% reduction in the cost of castor beans purchased from ASEAN countries as compared to castor bean purchases from India.
India, the world’s largest castor bean producer, is not an ASEAN member and does not participate in the benefits of ASEAN trade agreements. Moreover, shipping costs are generally less from Laos and Vietnam than India due to shorter distances to Chinese ports. This gives castor beans from Vietnam and Laos purchased by China a price advantage based on waiver of import tariffs and lower transportation costs making castor beans imported from Vietnam and Laos competitive in the China market. Our ability to sell to China or other ASEAN countries would be negatively impacted if Laos or Vietnam were no longer parties to the ASEAN and China free trade agreement.
Although Earth Gen operations receive economic advantages from the ASEAN agreements and our management believes that working in developing countries offers opportunities for future growth, our operating costs in Vietnam and Laos will be subject to increases as the local economies mature and available land becomes more limited. Earth Gen may also be subject to upward pressure on wages and goods due to inflation. The local governments may begin to regulate the use of farm land for production of non-food crops which may result in increased land use costs they may also establish import duties on farm equipment or other equipment needed for processing our crops. In addition, the cost of general crop maintenance may vary as the availability of and the cost of fertilizer, pesticides and soil amendment may have an adverse effect on costs.
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Earth Gen’s business plan is to cultivate and sell castor beans as a feedstock for chemical processors in China and other countries with the long-term goal of increasing castor bean production to a level where manufacturing demand for castor bean oil and its derivatives will be satisfied and castor bean oil will be available to be used as a biofuel feedstock. Since the Company’s incorporation in August 2012, Earth Gen started developing agricultural projects in Vietnam and Laos to work with farmers to grow castor beans. At this time the company has focused its resources on operations in Northern Laos. Commencing in October 2012, Earth Gen entered into a series of castor bean farm agreements with smaller local farmers who are organized and managed by Earth Gen supervisors and subcontractors. In addition, in February 2014, Earth Gen started leasing land from landowners for the purpose of growing castor beans. Earth Gen also plans to negotiate with larger farmers for farming agreements to grow castor beans exclusively for Earth Gen and also to encourage neighboring farms to join the Earth Gen farming group. Parties to the farming agreements will share resources and be supervised by Earth Gen staff and subcontractors engaged by Earth Gen to support the farming and harvesting process. Currently, we have entered into three lease agreements in XingKhuang Province Laos with local landowners for an aggregate of 273 hectare of farming land. Details of the agreements are set forth below under the heading “Earth Gen-Biofuel’s Southeast Asia Operations.”
Castor beans are not a crop that is familiar to farmers in Southeast Asian or Latin American countries where Earth Gen is targeting farm locations. Therefore, our operating plan starts from the ground up. Our first step is evaluate the potential farm location by using a detailed check list to study all aspects of the property and the variables that might impact farm operations and coordinating the farmers and the unique nature of the each farm site.
When working with small farmers Earth Gen follows a development and training protocol. Once a site is selected, Earth Gen staff will organize training classes to teach local farmers the process of preparing the land for planting, the planting process and the maintenance required during the 4-month growing cycle. During the planting and growing cycle, Earth Gen staff will visit the farms on a regular basis to be sure the cultivation process is being applied according to Earth Gen’s operational methods and to provide additional education and supervision as required.
Earth Gen staff will work with farmers and local village chiefs and mayors, to be sure that enough labor is available for planting and harvesting operations. Within 11 to 15 weeks the castor beans plants grow to between five to six feet tall and are ready for harvest, most of the large leaves die off and the plant retains long stalks with the capsules containing the castor seeds. These stalks are harvested and the castor plant is then trimmed back to about two feet tall. The trimming process starts the growing cycle over as the castor bean plant grows again to provide a new harvest in 11 to 15 weeks. The ability of the castor bean plant to regenerate 2 to 3 times a year for a period of 5 to 7 years is one of the keys to the economic success that can be achieved cultivating castor beans in tropical growing areas.
Once the harvest occurs, the stalks will be moved to a central storage facility. The pods are dried to facilitate the process of removing the castor bean seeds from the capsules. The bean pods are mechanically processed and the stalks and pods are separated from the castor seeds. The stalks and capsule shells are ground up to make a soil amendment for the castor bean fields. The castor seeds will then be stored in 75 to 100 pound poly-lined bags for shipment to the end users.
Earth Gen will buy the castor bean crop in two ways. When Earth Gen accepts delivery of the capsules they are weighed. Earth Gen then discounts the weight by 25% to account for the weight of the capsule and the extra moisture associated with the product prior to the drying process. The farmer has a choice to wait and be paid based on the weight of the dried and processed capsules, which means Earth Gen is paying for clean and dried castor bean seeds ready for bagging and shipment. Earth Gen leaves it up to the farmer to make a choice.
Harvested castor seeds will then be prepared for export to the end user. The castor beans will be transported to the closest port for shipment or to end users in Southeast Asia. All sales will be made in US dollars and the terms are FOB port or if delivered to a regional buyer COD. The end users will then process the castor beans to extract the oil and then further refine the castor bean oil as required for the various manufacturing process and various derivative products.
Earth Gen’s preliminary operations began in Laos and Vietnam. To focus the company’s resources and management, at this time all operations are now in Northern Laos. However, Earth Gen has also been developing relationships in other Southeast Asia countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia as possible areas of expansion in the region when and if additional working capital and management capabilities are available. Early in 2013, Earth Gen management also started to investigate opportunities to develop land for expansion into Latin America. Based on obtaining sufficient working capital to expand operations to Latin America, Earth Gen is planning to develop farming opportunities in Peru. . The start of operations in Latin America will depend on completing the first phase of planting in Southeast Asia and monitoring the ability of the company to allocate capital and management ability to meet the first goal of having 3,000 to 5,000 hectares under cultivation in Southeast Asia. The achievement of Earth Gen’s planting goals will be dependent on having the working capital to sustain operations at the proper level, along with the ability to make agreements with enough farmers willing to convert their farmland to grow castor beans or obtain land that is not currently under cultivation on a basis that meets the Company’s operating goals.
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL’s SOUTHEAST ASIA OPERATIONS
Earth Gen provides certain start-up costs and training for farmers who have agreed to work with Earth Gen based on their specific type of agreement. In addition to management oversight and product sales, Earth Gen may provide basic startup assistance such as seeds for planting, agricultural expertise, small planting tools and small harvesting equipment. Earth Gen may also provide start up assistance in the form of access to tractors and land preparation equipment, seedpod processing equipment and transportation. Farmers needing this startup assistance will agree to repay any advances made by Earth Gen from the proceeds of selling their harvest to Earth Gen. Earth Gen has retained certain subcontractors to provide assistance to some of these farmer operations. Additionally, to meet our projected operating requirements in Laos, the number of Earth Gen U.S. staff supervisors on-site has been increased to four people. In addition we have full-time employees in Laos to oversee operations.
Earth Gen has three basic operating relationships with castor bean farmers:
· The first type of arrangement is with a smaller farmer who typically supply land, equipment, maintenance and labor. Under the terms of this type of arrangement, Earth Gen will provide the seeds, technical know-how, operational monitoring and personnel from Earth Gen and its subcontractors to monitor and evaluate the growing process. These small farms are typically 5 to 10 hectares in size. Earth Gen will be willing to advance costs of $500 to $750 per hectare. Earth Gen has exclusive rights to all crops grown under each agreement, and advances are recouped on a mutually agreeable rate with the farmers dependent on the harvest amount. Earth Gen is obligated to purchase all harvests of castor beans for at least 12 years at a price fixed in advance of each 12 month growing cycle. Earth Gen does not require farmers to have crop insurance and the farmer bears normal farming risks of having no or a reduced harvest. We do not intend to purchase or require crop insurance in the future. The castor plants do re-grow once planted and have the ability to produce a harvest 2 or more times each year for five to seven years. No replanting is required while plants are producing. If initial harvests are poor or if there is no harvest, then start-up capital expended by Earth Gen as an advance will not be repaid until there is a good harvest, if ever. Upon a successful harvest, Earth Gen is obligated to pay $300 per ton of dried castor seeds delivered at the farm site by the farmers who are operating under this type of agreement for a period of one year. The price paid is adjusted on a bi-annual basis based on variations in the world price for castor beans. The price is set one year in advance for a one-year period and will not go down year to year by more than ten percent and never lower than $300 per metric ton. Farmers have no obligation as to the amount of castor beans they must produce; they are only obligated to deliver their entire harvest. Accordingly, it is possible that, due to poor castor bean farming methods, bad weather, or other events, a farmer may not be successful at growing castor beans in respect of one or more harvests. The results may be that a farmer will have no castor beans to deliver to Earth Gen for particular harvests, or, because of a very low yield, it proves uneconomical for the farmer to continue farming castor beans. Consequently, it may take a long time, if ever, as to a particular farmer or group of farmers for Earth Gen to recoup the expenses incurred for advancing seeds, technical know-how, operational monitoring and personnel.
· The second type of arrangement is with a farm or group of farms where a village or individual farmer controls the land. Under the terms of this type of agreement, Earth Gen agrees to provide the seeds, technical know-how, operational monitoring and personnel to monitor and evaluate the growing process. Earth Gen will also advance start-up capital for farm property evaluation such as soil tests, fertilizer, pesticides and equipment. Each arrangement is generally 20 to 50 hectares in size. Earth Gen will be willing to advance costs of $500 to $750 per hectare. These advances are to be paid back over a period of time from the proceeds from selling the harvest. Earth Gen is obligated to purchase all harvests of castor beans for at least 12 years at a price fixed in advance of each 12 month growing cycle. Earth Gen does not require farmers to have crop insurance and the farmer bears normal farming risks of having no or a reduced harvest. We do not intend to purchase or require farmers have crop insurance in the future. If initial harvests are poor or if there is no harvest, then start-up capital expended by Earth Gen as an advance will not be repaid until there is sufficiently large harvest, if ever. Upon a successful harvest, Earth Gen is obligated to pay $300 per ton of dried castor seeds delivered at the farm site by the farmers who are operating under this type of agreement for a period of one year. The price paid is adjusted on a bi-annual basis based on variations in the world price for castor beans. The price is set one year in advance for a one year period and will not go down year to year by more than ten percent and never lower than $300 per metric ton.
· The third type of arrangement is designed to work with larger landowners who are not actively farming. Earth Gen will agree to provide all required items to farm the land on a revenue sharing basis. Earth Gen will provide all evaluation costs, preparation costs, planting, maintenance, harvest and labor costs. If initial harvests are poor or if there is no harvest, then start-up capital expended by Earth Gen as an advance will not be repaid until there is a sufficiently large harvest, if ever.
All active operations are currently limited to the third type of agreement referenced above where Earth Gen is providing all required items to farm the land on a revenue sharing basis. Earth Gen is providing all evaluation costs, preparation costs, planting, maintenance, harvest and labor costs. Earth Gen has agreed to purchase all harvest of castor beans at prices ranging from $25.00 to $50.00 per metric ton of dried castor seeds. Based on this third type of arrangement with larger landowners who are not actively farming, costs to fully develop a farm site including land preparation, planting and maintenance through harvest is estimated to be $1500 to $2000 per hectare. Once the plants are producing and the first harvest occurs, the expenses are mostly maintenance, which includes fertilizing during the growing season, application of pesticides, weed control and pruning of plants. These costs are estimated to be $400 to $500 per hectare per growing cycle, which could be two to three times per year. The working capital for planting is anticipated to be provided by Earth Gen through additional investment in the form of debt and equity. Funds will also be provided from the sale of crops harvested from Earth Gen’s farms already in operation. It is estimated that once a farm is in full operation that one-hectare of castor beans will produce between two to four tons of dried castor seed per hectare with a gross crop value of $500 to $800 per ton or an estimated revenue of $1000 to $4000 per hectare per harvest. It is possible that the yield for each growing season could vary widely. However the castor plants are expected to produce harvest 2 to 3 times a year for 5 to 7 years. Therefore, one bad growing season may be followed by a good season as the plants remain productive through good and bad seasons. There can be no assurance that the estimated revenue from farm operations will be the actual revenue, which will vary from harvest to harvest based on unpredictable farming conditions and could be subject to a wide range of results.
We have entered into three lease agreements in XingKhuang Province Laos with local landowners for an aggregate of 273 hectares of farming land. We currently do not have any lease agreements in Vietnam. The individual Laotian lease agreement terms are as follows:
Leasee
Region
Leased
Area Size
Initial Lease
Term*
Expiration
Bounthong Dalavong
Phonengan Neua Village
30 hectare
12 years
March 18, 2026
Chong Cher Vang
Phonemixay Village
60 hectare
12 years
March 18, 2026
Nongpa Chang
Ban Nyuan Village
183 hectare
12 years
February 14, 2026
At this time, all of Earth Gen’s farms are operations where the landowner only provides the land and Earth Gen provides all other operating requirements and capital. Earth Gen plans to concentrate on working with landowners who own land but are not currently farming or who are farming crops with very low profit and are willing to turn their land over to Earth Gen to grow castor beans to produce a higher return.
Warehouse facilities that provide space for castor bean processing, bagging and storage have been established on the property surrounding Earth Gen Laos’s office at Phonsavan Sai Street, Xieng Khouang, Bpek District, Laos. This facility is able to hold 100 tons at a time. It is planned that harvests will come to the warehouse in lots of 5 to 10 tons and thereafter the bean pods will be processed in batches and then bagged for shipping. Once 10 to 20 tons are processed, they are moved out of the warehouse to the port for shipping or to a regional chemical processor. As the harvest size increases and Earth Gen has the working capital, it will expand its warehousing and processing facilities.
Earth Gen plans to add additional local subcontractors and farming agents to work with farmers and farm groups in Laos and possibly other Southeast Asia countries. In addition to farming supervisors, Earth Gen has agreements with independent agents who are responsible for recruiting farmers and growers that have legal rights to farm land and who will agree to grow castor beans as supervised by the staff of Earth Gen.
When Earth Gen started operations in Southeast Asia, the Company focused on operations in Laos and Vietnam. As described, operations began with test sites. A number of test sites were located in the Vietnam. Initially we entered into a joint venture to plant and grow castor beans in Vietnam under the direction and protocol set up by Earth Gen, with labor and cultivation provided by our Vietnamese partners utilizing local farmers, supervisors and labor. However, during the operations first cultivation cycle our Vietnamese partners failed to follow Earth Gen protocols and In November 2013, Earth Gen determined the quality and quantity of castor beans on these farms had minimal economic value. As a result, we have suspended our farming operations in Vietnam and we are now seeking to develop other farming relationships at a later time in Vietnam based on the Company’s operating model in Laos.
In March 2014, Earth Gen-Biofuel Lao Sole Co Ltd. (“Earth Gen Laos”) was formed under the laws of Laos to meet Laos regulatory and legal requirements to do business in Laos. This company is 100% controlled by Earth Gen. Earth Gen Laos has its own in country bank accounts and pays all local operating expenses of the business activities of Earth Gen in Laos.
Earth Gen’s operations in Laos are managed by Earth Gen supervisors along with local agricultural experts. The Company intends to follow a similar protocol in Vietnam when and if operations are reestablished. In addition to using our U.S.-based agricultural specialists and our in-country staff and outside experts, Earth Gen plans to access the services of top academic institutions specializing in the region’s agriculture with dedicated departments focused on castor bean cultivation.
To supplement our in-house staff, we will be providing agricultural engineers trained in castor bean cultivation to assist Earth Gen’s staff to train local people in the best planting and operating method. The end result of this training will be to create a local well trained and experienced staff to oversee each growing area and provide oversight for the continuing process of refining Earth Gen’s agricultural operations and planting and harvesting protocols to achieve the highest possible yields.
In addition to the trained Earth Gen staff working directly on the cultivation process, the Company’s staff is expected to handle logistics. These functions include overseeing the harvest process and the separation of the castor seeds from the seedpod. This process employs light processing equipment. The castor beans will then be bagged and stored in local warehouse facilities and aggregated from several farm sites and prepared for export. The Company intends to employ light equipment operators, baggers, warehouse guards, loaders and truck drivers.
Availability of Castor Bean Seeds and Equipment
Zibo is our principal supplier of castor seeds. Zibo has a wide variety of castor seeds each designed for different growing environments. Zibo seeds are being used in many countries around the world. We have no formal agreement with Zibo for the purchase of seeds. We place orders with Zibo on an as needed basis and do not have any obligation to purchase only Zibo seeds.
There are other suppliers of hybrid seeds; however these companies are newer to the industry. Principal competitors of Zibo are: AGF Hybrid Castor Seed Company in India, SLC Agricola in Brazil and Evogene Ltd. in Israel. In addition to purchasing seed stock from suppliers, service providers using certain growing techniques can help Earth Gen produce its own hybrid seeds by cross pollinating its own castor bean fields.
All other equipment and products needed for the cultivation of castor seeds are readily available from many suppliers in Southeast Asia.
Competition
Castor beans are presently being grown in many countries with the biggest producers being India, China and Brazil. In addition there are 25 countries growing at least 77 or more metric tons of castor beans per year. Laos and Vietnam were reported to have produced 6,000 metric tons in 2011. India produced over 1,000,000 metric tons and China produced 180,000 metric tons. Most other producing countries have been growing castor beans for many years and have substantial infrastructure dedicated to the cultivation of castor beans. Earth Gen is a new enterprise and has only grown castor beans for one season on a very limited basis in countries that are very small producers of castor bean and have not yet developed the infrastructure to support the cultivation of the castor bean crop.
Our competitors range from small-scale operators to fully integrated multinational enterprises with significant financial, technical, sales, marketing and other resources. In addition to castor oil producers, our competitors also include producers of alternative vegetable oils such as soybean, rapeseed, cottonseed, peanut, sunflower seed and corn oils.
Market fundamentals that affect supply and demand of our products include land shortages, water constraints, climate change, global warming, low operating margin, inadequate quality control and quality assurance mechanisms leading to adulteration, violation of food laws and poor implementation. Non-fundamental factors include world economics, general commodities prices, politics, inflation, investor interest, government policies and liquidity.
Multinational corporations are able to take advantage of economies of scale that allow them to command high quality with lower costs, access cheaper credit, minimize losses and decrease input costs. Multinational corporations also tend to have a greater ability to absorb volatility in production and pricing and respond to uncertainty.
In addition, the other more established growers have longer relationships with the companies that buy and process castor beans. Earth Gen has developed relationships with only a few buyers of castor beans in China and has little history in doing business with these companies.
Government Regulation
United States
The United States is a grower and importer of castor beans. The importation of castor beans and transportation may be subject to regulation based on the laws and regulations regarding all agricultural products and those that may specifically pertain to castor beans. In the U.S., the transporting of castor beans may be subject to special requirements. In certain states and in certain agricultural areas the cultivation of castor beans is banned. It is anticipated that all imports of Earth Gen’s castor beans will be controlled by the chemical processing facilities that are the buyers and will not be the direct responsibility of Earth Gen.
International Regulation
Operating in Laos and Vietnam subjects Earth Gen to a changing legal environment in regards to using land, producing crops and exporting its castor beans. Earth Gen’s current business model focuses on the growing and export of castor beans in Laos and Vietnam. As a result Earth Gen is subject to certain domestic export and agricultural regulations in those countries as described below. Moreover, our crop exports will normally be required to obtain a Certificate of Origin by the authorities in the importing country.
Earth Gen’s management and its advisors work very closely with all local government authorities to be sure all rules and regulations are strictly followed. The Company is or may become subject to various laws and regulations regarding agricultural practices, as well as environmental laws and regulations governing, among other things, the importation of seed stock for planting, processing of the seed pods after harvest and the disposal of any agricultural waste. In addition the use of various fertilizers and pesticides is subject to regulation.
In Laos, Earth Gen Laos, our wholly foreign-owned enterprise, must be registered with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Enterprise Registration. The rights and activities of foreign investors in Laos are governed under the Law on the Promotion and Management of Foreign Investment in the Lao PDR. To our understanding our domestic growing activity does not require any specific registration with the local government. However prior to export, Earth Gen must obtain a valid export license for the shipment of castor beans. Under current regulations, castor bean shipments qualify for automatic licensing and do not incur export duties.
Similarly if the company begins operations once again in Vietnam or any other country, Earth Gen will be subject to foreign investment and export regulations. For example the Vietnamese government requires that the foreign investors must be able to finance their project in Vietnam. Depending on the Company's business, the Vietnamese government will impose a required annual investment over two years. Any future foreign joint venture or wholly owned subsidiaries owned by Earth Gen will be subject to significant start-up capital investment.
Vietnam’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural development is responsible for regulating crops and livestock in Vietnam. To our knowledge, currently there are no specific regulations relating to the growing or cultivation of castor beans in Vietnam. Vietnam does require that all exports be declared at customs under the Minister of Finance prior to export but there are currently no export duties on castor beans.
Employees
During the formation stage of the Company, Earth Gen had no full time employees. In 2013 and 2014, and 2015 George Shen served as President, Chief Executive Officer and acting Chief Financial Officer. Throughout 2013 and 2014, and 2015 Company operations have been supported by outside consultants including operational subcontractors in Laos and Vietnam, farming oversight, bookkeeping, other advisors and a part-time accountant.
In January 2014, George Shen became an employee of Earth Gen working substantially full-time on Company business. Mr. Shen, our President and Chief Executive Officer is also serving as our Chief Financial Officer. The balance of our US-based staff is currently part-time or work as consultants or advisors to the Company. The Company also employs two full time employees who live in Laos who supervise our farming operations. The company plans to hire a Chief Financial Officer on a part-time basis and expand the position to full-time when company resources will allow. The Company plans to add other full-time employees as soon as practical after obtaining a level of capitalization to provide sufficient funding to retain full time management. In addition, we expect to hire additional staff and to engage consultants in regulatory, compliance, investor and public relations, and general administration as necessary. We also expect to engage experts in farming and processing of castor beans to advise us in various capacities.
Intellectual Property
The Company does not own any proprietary intellectual property.
Item 1A.
Item 1A.Risk Factors
Our business, financial condition and results of operations are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described below and elsewhere in this Registration Statement. This section discusses factors that, individually or in the aggregate, we think could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. It is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, the following are not to be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties applicable to our business.
Limited operating history with net losses
Earth Gen was formed in August 2012. As a result the Company has a limited operating history upon which an evaluation of the Earth Gen’s performance can be made. There have been no revenues generated from the Company’s business operations for four months in 2012 and for the full year of 2013, 2014 and 2015. Income in 2015 was limited to “Other Income” of $49,975 The Company expects to have limited revenues and it is likely that until harvest revenues increase that the Company will incur further losses into the foreseeable future due to significant costs associated with its business development, including costs for planting additional acres of land and providing technical services to local farmers. There can be no assurance that the Company’s operations will ever generate sufficient revenues to fund its continuing operations, or that the Company will ever generate positive cash flow from its operations, or that the Company will attain or thereafter sustain profitability in any future period.
The likelihood of the Earth Gen’s success must be considered in light of the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications and delays frequently encountered in connection with the start and growth of a business, the implementation of the Company’s business plan, and the world agricultural environment in which the Company operates, including but not limited to:
·our results of operations may fluctuate significantly, which may adversely affect the value of an investment in our common stock;
·we may be unable to build-out our farming operations in a timely manner that will meet the objectives we have established for our business strategy or grow our business profitably or at all; and
·we have only completed a limited series of planting and harvest cycles of land located in Laos and have no harvest in Vietnam. We have not yet completed a full cycle of a growing season in a large-scale operation and because of our limited operating history, it may be difficult to accurately predict our long-term castor bean production and yields and other important performance metrics.
If we do not obtain additional financing, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.
The Company anticipates that it will require substantial working capital for the Company to pursue continued maintenance of its castor bean plantings and development of future planting operations in Laos and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. The timing and amount of such capital requirements cannot be accurately predicted. Additional financing may not be available to the Company when needed or, if available, it may not be obtained on commercially reasonable terms. If the Company is not able to obtain the necessary additional financing on a timely basis, the Company will be forced to delay or scale down some or all of its development activities or perhaps even cease the operation of its business.
The Company has no commitments for any additional financing, and there can be no assurance that any such commitments can be obtained on favorable terms, if at all. Any additional equity financing will be dilutive to the Company’s stockholders, and debt financing, if available, may involve restrictive covenants with respect to dividends, raising future capital and other financial and operational matters. If the Company is unable to obtain additional financing as needed, the Company may be required to reduce the scope of its operations or its anticipated expansion, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Uncertainty as to management’s ability to control costs and expenses.
With respect to the implementation of the Company’s business plan, management cannot accurately project or give any assurance with respect to its ability to control operating costs and/or expenses. Consequently, if management is not able to adequately control costs and expenses, such operations may not generate any profit or may result in operating losses.
We may apply working capital and future funding to uses that ultimately do not improve our operating results or increase the value of your investment.
The Company will retain virtually complete discretion over the application of its working capital and new investment capital. Because of the number and variety of factors that could determine the Company’s use of funds, there can be no assurances that such uses will not vary substantially from the Company’s current operating plan.
We intend to use existing working capital and future funding to support the expansion of the number of acres being planted and/or the support of operations to educate and supervise the farmers working with the company. We will also use capital for market and network expansion, acquisitions and general working capital purposes. However, we do not have more specific plans for our capital and our management will have broad discretion in how we use available capital reserves. Our capital could be applied in ways that do not improve our operating results or otherwise increase the value of a shareholder’s investment.
We do not have a traditional credit facility with a financial institution.
This absence may adversely impact our operations. We do not have a traditional credit facility with a financial institution, such as a working line of credit. The absence of a facility could adversely impact our operations, as it may constrain our ability to have the working capital for equipment purchases or other operational requirements. If adequate funds are not otherwise available, we may be required to delay, scale back or eliminate portions of our business development efforts. Without credit facilities, the Company could be forced to cease operations and investors in our securities could lose their entire investment.
Dependence upon management; possible conflict of interest.
The Company is dependent upon the efforts of its current management. At this time, our President and Chief Executive Officer is also serving as our Chief Financial Officer. The balance of our US-based staff is currently part-time or work as consultants or advisors to the Company. The Company also employs two full time employees who live in Laos who supervise our farming operations. Our one officer and director has duties and affiliations with other companies. Even though these companies are not competitors or involved in agriculture, involvement of our officer and director may still present a conflict of interest regarding decisions they make for Earth Gen or with respect to the amount of time available for Earth Gen. The loss of any officer or director of the Company and in particular, Mr. Shen, could have a material adverse effect upon our business and future prospects.
The Company does not presently have key-man life insurance upon the life of Mr. Shen and has no plans at this time for such insurance on any of its future officers or directors. Our officer and director has not been involved in farming prior to joining the Company and, as such, he did not have any technical experience in planting or harvesting of crops prior to joining the Company. Upon adequate funding, management intends to hire qualified and experienced personnel, including additional officers and directors, and specialists, professionals and consulting firms to advise management as needed; however, there can be no assurance that management will be successful in raising the necessary funds in respect of recruiting, hiring and retaining such qualified individuals and firms.
Aggressive growth strategy.
For the foreseeable future, the Company intends to pursue an aggressive growth strategy for the expansion of its operations through agricultural programs. The Company’s ability to rapidly expand its operations will depend upon many factors, including the Company’s ability to work in an international environment, establish and maintain strategic alliances with local authorities, and obtain adequate capital resources on acceptable terms. Any restrictions on the Company’s ability to expand may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition. Accordingly, there are no assurances that the Company will be able to achieve its targets for sales growth, or that the Company’s operations will be successful or achieve anticipated operating results.
Timing of planting and harvest are subject to many uncontrollable factors.
The Company has developed programs for planting and harvesting based on local farmer knowledge and experience in each region of the countries where the Company is planting or plans to plant. Each farm location is evaluated for suitability as a castor bean farm based on soil conditions, location, accessibility, water supply and other growing conditions. Even with careful evaluation, there are risks associated with timing of rainfall, insect infestations, root rot and other diseases, all of which will affect the growth and harvest of the castor bean crops. Even as the Company endeavors to decrease these risks through good farming practices, constant monitoring and the combined experience of our staff and our farmers, the Company may still face difficulties. Some problems or occurrences may always remain beyond our control.
Operating castor bean farms in developing countries presents special risks.
Strong central and regional governments control Laos, and Vietnam. Also, those farmers who control the land and their workers have their own way of working based on long-held tradition and government oversight. The Company plans to work closely with the regional and local government officials in an effort to build trust and appreciation for the Company with the farmers, labor and local authorities by providing active support for local economic needs. However, there can be no assurance that building these relationships will be successful.
The lack of on-site warehousing and geographical limitation preventing local crop aggregation may increase our reliance on local shipping companies and increase our transportation costs.
The Company’s farms are presently operating in Laos are spread out geographically over hundreds of miles preventing crop aggregation and processing at the farms. As a result, Earth Gen intends to establish centrally located warehouse or processing facilities convenient to each farm group. Such a storage system will require that crops first be transported to the warehouses for processing and aggregation, and then later be transported to port destinations for export. Such logistical restrictions will require frequent deliveries from farms to warehousing facilities as well as additional deliveries to port destinations, thereby significantly increasing the frequency of truck deliveries and associated transportation costs.
Significant changes in the cost and availability of transportation could adversely affect our results of operations.
Transportation costs associated with the delivery of our products, in most cases by truck, constitute a significant portion of our costs. Increases in the cost of fuel or energy can result in increases in the cost of transportation, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations. Also, shortages in trucking capacity, and inadequate local roads and infrastructure could limit our ability to deliver our products to ports and therefore adversely affect our results of operations.
Some properties of the castor bean are highly toxic and the beans must be handled carefully.
Ricin a highly toxic, naturally occurring protein is produced in the seeds of the castor oil plant. The Company has set out protocols and informs its workers of the toxicity of castor beans. Ricin is refined from the processed seeds. Earth Gen does not process seeds derived from the castor beans. All seeds resulting from our production of castor beans are shipped to third party processors in other countries at which time the seeds and the processing residue no longer are owned by or under the control of Earth Gen.
We are subject to risks associated with doing business globally including compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations, economic downturns, political instability and other risks that could adversely affect our operating results.
We plan to conduct our business globally and to have assets located in several countries and geographic areas. We currently have oilseed operations in Laos and plan to begin operations in Vietnam. We are required to comply with numerous and broad reaching laws and regulations administered by governmental authorities. We must also comply with other general business regulations such as those directed toward accounting and income taxes, anti-corruption, anti-bribery, global trade, handling of regulated substances, and other commercial activities, conducted by our employees and third party representatives globally. Any failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations could subject us to administrative penalties and injunctive relief, and civil remedies including fines, injunctions, and recalls of our products. In addition, changes to regulations or implementation of additional regulations may require us to modify existing processing facilities and/or processes, which could significantly increase operating costs and negatively impact operating results.
We will operate in both developed and emerging markets which are subject to impacts of economic downturns, including decreased demand for our products, reduced availability of credit, or declining credit quality of our suppliers, customers, and other counterparties. We anticipate that emerging market areas could be subject to more volatile economic, political and market conditions. Economic downturns and volatile conditions may have a negative impact on our operating results and ability to execute our business strategies.
Our operating results may be affected by changes in trade, monetary, fiscal and environmental policies, laws and regulations, and other activities of governments, agencies, and similar organizations. These conditions include but are not limited to changes in a country’s or region’s economic or political conditions, trade regulations affecting production, pricing and marketing of products, local labor conditions and regulations, reduced protection of intellectual property rights, changes in the regulatory or legal environment, restrictions on currency exchange activities, currency exchange fluctuations, burdensome taxes and tariffs, enforceability of legal agreements and judgments, other trade barriers, and regulation or taxation of greenhouse gases. International risks and uncertainties, including changing social and economic conditions as well as terrorism, political hostilities, and war, may limit our ability to transact business in these markets and may adversely affect our revenues and operating results.
We are subject to extensive regulation.
Our operations are subject to regulation by the U.S. government and the governments of a number of other countries including China, Vietnam, Laos and the other countries where the Company plans to operate. In addition as the company expands operations it will become subject to the regulations of additional countries as well. Additional regulations, which may include, but not be limited to, environmental regulations, transportation of agricultural products, shipping restrictions, and import and export restriction may all be factors in the operation of the Company.
Government policies and regulations, in general, and specifically affecting the agricultural sector and related industries, could adversely affect our operating results.
Agricultural production and trade flows are subject to government policies and regulations. Governmental policies affecting the agricultural industry, such as taxes, tariffs, duties, subsidies, incentives, and import and export restrictions on agricultural commodities and commodity products, including policies related to renewable fuel, and low carbon fuel mandates, can influence the planting of certain crops, the location and size of crop production, whether unprocessed or processed commodity products are traded, the volume and types of imports and exports, the viability and volume of production of certain of our products, and industry profitability. In addition, international trade disputes can adversely affect agricultural commodity trade flows by limiting or disrupting trade between countries or regions. Future government policies may adversely affect the supply of, demand for, and prices of our products, restrict our ability to do business in its existing and target markets, and could negatively impact our revenues and operating results.
Uncertainties with respect to the Laotian, Vietnamese and other countries’ legal system could adversely affect us.
Our castor bean operations are currently located in Laos and Vietnam and are subject to Laotian and Vietnamese laws and regulations. Laos and Vietnam have not developed a fully integrated legal system and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in those countries. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. In addition, any litigation in Laos or Vietnam may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. It is expected that this will also be the situation in many of the other countries where the situation is the same.
In particular, among other uncertainties regarding Laotian and Vietnamese laws and regulations that could affect us, the following uncertainties may have a significant adverse impact on our business and operations: the uncertainties related to contract law and relevant regulations may impede our ability to enforce contracts we have entered into with our business partners, farmers, customers and suppliers and result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources and management attention. We also cannot predict the effect of future developments in the Laotian and Vietnamese legal systems, including the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, or the preemption of local regulations by national laws. These uncertainties could limit the legal protections available to us and to our foreign investors.
We rely on third-party contracts.
We depend on others to provide products and services to the Company. We do not control these people or companies and even though we will be non-exclusive with these product and service providers and we will be able to change suppliers, a change may be difficult to implement.
We currently only have one supplier of castor seeds.
At this time, Earth Gen relies solely on Zibo Academy for its supply of hybrid castor seeds the Company uses for planting. Although, there are other suppliers of hybrid castor seeds, the Company has not yet conducted tests on those seeds in the areas where Earth Gen is now actively planting or where it plans to plant in the future. If Zibo goes out of business or refuses to supply the Company, it could adversely affect the Company’s operations.
Many of our competitors are better established and have resources significantly greater than we have, which may make it difficult to fend off competition for land workers and other resources.
The Company will compete with other agricultural operations in Vietnam and Laos and elsewhere in the world. These operations have substantially greater financial and government backed resources, longer operating histories, greater name recognition and more established relationships in the industry. In addition, a number of these competitors may combine or form strategic partnerships. As a result, our competitors may be able to control a more favorable basis in regard to pricing or other factors. Our failure to compete successfully with any of these companies would have a material adverse effect on our business and the trading price of our common stock.
The market for castor beans is a world market price and subject to fluctuation based on many factors, and we will compete with other companies within this market:
·World traded commodities markets;
·Mills and processing factories around the world;
·Local government supported markets.
Moreover, we expect other existing and prospective competitors, particularly if our development of large-scale production begins to develop as scheduled, that others will adopt technologies or business plans similar to ours, or seek other means to develop operations competitive with ours. Many of our competitors are well established and have larger and better-developed networks and systems, longer-standing relationships with customers and suppliers, greater name recognition and greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we have.
We may have difficulty in attracting and retaining management and outside independent members to our board of directors as a result of their concerns relating to their increased personal exposure to lawsuits and stockholder claims by virtue of holding these positions in a publicly quoted company.
The directors and management of publicly quoted corporations are increasingly concerned with the extent of their personal exposure to lawsuits and stockholder claims, as well as governmental and creditor claims which may be made against them, particularly in view of recent changes in securities laws imposing additional duties, obligations and liabilities on management and directors. Due to these perceived risks, directors and management are also becoming increasingly concerned with the availability of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance to pay on a timely basis the costs incurred in defending such claims. We currently do not carry limited directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance has recently become much more expensive and difficult to obtain. If we are unable to continue or provide directors’ and officers’ liability insurance at affordable rates or at all, it may become increasingly more difficult to attract and retain qualified outside directors to serve on our board of directors.
We may lose potential independent board members and management candidates to other companies that have directors’ and officers’ liability insurance to insure them from liability or to companies that have revenues or have received greater funding to date which can offer more lucrative compensation packages. The fees of directors are also rising in response to their increased duties, obligations and liabilities as well as increased exposure to such risks. As a company with limited operating history and resources, we will have a more difficult time attracting and retaining management and outside independent directors than a more established company due to these enhanced duties, obligations and liabilities.
We will continue to incur increased costs as a result of becoming a reporting company, and given our limited capital resources, such additional costs may have an adverse impact on our profitability.
As a result of filing a Form 10, we are now an SEC reporting company. The Company currently has limited revenue. However, the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act require a public company to provide periodic reports with interactive data files which will require the Company to engage legal, accounting and auditing services, and XBRL and EDGAR service providers. The engagement of such services can be costly and the Company is likely to incur losses, which may adversely affect the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as a variety of related rules implemented by the SEC, have required changes in corporate governance practices and generally increased the disclosure requirements of public companies. For example, as a result of becoming a reporting company, we will be required to file periodic and current reports and other information with the SEC and we must adopt policies regarding disclosure controls and procedures and regularly evaluate those controls and procedures. Based on our management’s estimates, we anticipate that our cost of being a public company, including legal, audit costs, printing, filing fees and other costs to be as much as $125,000 per year.
The additional costs we will incur in connection with becoming a reporting company will serve to further stretch our limited capital resources. In other words, due to our limited resources, we may have to allocate resources away from other productive uses in order to pay any expenses we incur in order to comply with our obligations as an SEC reporting company. Further, there is no guarantee that we will have sufficient resources to meet our reporting and filing obligations with the SEC as they come due.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
We will be subject to the “penny stock” rules which will adversely affect the liquidity of our common stock.
The Company’s stock is defined as a “penny stock” under Rule 3a51-1 of the Exchange Act. In general, a “penny stock” includes securities of companies which are not listed on the principal stock exchanges or NASDAQ and have a bid price in the market of less than $5.00; and companies with net tangible assets of less than $2,000,000 ($5,000,000 if the issuer has been in continuous operation for less than three years), or which has recorded revenues of less than $6,000,000 in the last three years. “Penny stocks” are subject to rule 15g-9, which imposes additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers that sell such securities to persons other than established customers and “accredited investors” (generally, individuals with net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or annual incomes exceeding $200,000, or $300,000 together with their spouses, or individuals who are officers or directors of the issuer of the securities). For transactions covered by Rule 15g-9, a broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and have received the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to sale. Consequently, this rule may adversely affect the ability of broker-dealers to sell the Company’s stock, and therefore, may adversely affect the ability of the Company’s stockholders to sell stock in the public market.
The sale of shares by our directors and officers may adversely affect the market price for our shares.
Sales of significant amounts of shares held by our officers and directors, or the prospect of these sales, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Management’s stock ownership may discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, which in turn could reduce our stock price or prevent our stockholders from realizing a premium over our stock price.
A significant number of our shares will be eligible for sale and their sale or potential sale may depress the market price of our common stock.
Sales of a significant number of shares of our common stock in the public market could harm the market price of our common stock. As additional shares of our common stock become available for resale in the public market, the supply of our common stock will increase, which could decrease its price. In addition some or all of the shares of common stock may be offered from time to time in the open market pursuant to Rule 144, and these sales may have a depressive effect on the market for our shares of common stock. Subject to certain restrictions, a person who has held restricted shares for a period of six months may sell common stock into the market.
The elimination of monetary liability against the Company’s directors, officers and employees under Nevada law and the existence of indemnification rights to the Company’s directors, officers and employees may result in substantial expenditures by the Company and may discourage lawsuits against the Company’s directors, officers and employees.
The Company’s articles of incorporation contain a specific provision that eliminates the liability of directors for monetary damages to the Company and the Company’s stockholders; further, the Company is prepared to give such indemnification to its directors and officers to the extent provided by Nevada law. The Company may also have contractual indemnification obligations under its employment agreements with its executive officers. The foregoing indemnification obligations could result in the Company incurring substantial expenditures to cover the cost of settlement or damage awards against directors and officers, which the Company may be unable to recoup. These provisions and resultant costs may also discourage the Company from bringing a lawsuit against directors and officers for breaches of their fiduciary duties and may similarly discourage the filing of derivative litigation by the Company’s stockholders against the Company’s directors and officers even though such actions, if successful, might otherwise benefit the Company and its stockholders.
Even though our shares have been approved for quotation by FINRA, the shares thinly quoted, so you may be unable to sell at or near bid prices or at all if you need to sell your shares to raise money or otherwise desire to liquidate your shares.
Our shares are quoted on OTC-Markets market under the trading symbol of “EGBB”. Since the shares have been quoated the trading has been sporadic and is the shares are “thinly-quoted,” meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our common stock at or near ask prices at any given time may be relatively small or nonexistent. This situation will be attributable to a number of factors, including the fact that we are a small company which will be relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such persons, they tend to be risk-averse and would be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares until such time as we became more seasoned and viable.
As a consequence, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a mature issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. It is possible that a broader or more active public trading market for our common stock will not develop or be sustained, or that trading levels will not continue.
Our stock is traded on the OTCQB. The OTCQB is an electronic quotation system operated by OTC Markets Group that displays quotes from broker-dealers for many over-the-counter securities. These securities tend to be inactively quoted stocks, including penny stocks and those with a narrow geographic interest. Market makers and other brokers can use OTC Markets to publish their bid and ask quotation prices. The OTC Markets is not a stock exchange. To be quoted in the OTC Markets, companies do not need to fulfill any financial requirements. The companies quoted in the OTC Markets tend to be closely held, extremely small, thinly quoted, or bankrupt. Most do not meet the minimum U.S. listing requirements for trading on a stock exchange such as the New York Stock Exchange.
Our stock also may be traded on the OTCBB. The OTCBB is a quotation service for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) market makers, and not an issuer listing service or securities market. There is no minimum bid price requirement. OTCBB companies are not considered to be “listed.” There are, however, certain requirements an issuer must meet in order for its securities to be eligible for a market maker to enter a quotation on the OTCBB. In order for a security to be eligible for quotation by a market maker on the OTCBB, the security must be registered with the SEC and the issuer must be current in its required filings.
We have never paid or declared any dividends on our common stock.
We have never paid or declared any dividends on our common stock. Likewise, we do not anticipate paying, in the near future, dividends or distributions on our common stock. Any future dividends will be declared at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend, among other things, on our earnings, our financial requirements for future operations and growth, and other facts as we may then deem appropriate.
Our directors have the right to authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock and additional shares of our common stock.
Our directors, within the limitations and restrictions contained in our articles of incorporation and without further action by our stockholders, have the authority to issue shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series and to fix the number of shares and the relative rights, conversion rights, voting rights, and terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and any other preferences, special rights and qualifications of any such series. Any issuance of shares of preferred stock could adversely affect the rights of holders of our common stock. Should we issue additional shares of our common stock at a later time, each investor’s ownership interest in our stock would be proportionally reduced. No investor will have any preemptive right to acquire additional shares of our common stock, or any of our other securities.
Now that our shares are quoted on the OTCQB or the OTCBB, if we fail to remain current in our reporting requirements, we could be removed from the OTCBB or OTCQB, which would limit the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and the ability of stockholders to sell their securities in the secondary market.
Companies whose shares are quoted for sale on the OTCBB and the OTCQB must be reporting issuers under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and must be current in their reports under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, in order to maintain price quotation privileges on the OTCQB and OTCBB. If we fail to remain current in our reporting requirements, we could be removed from the OTCBB or OTCQB. As a result, the market liquidity for our securities could be adversely affected by limiting the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and the ability of stockholders to sell their securities in the secondary market.
Even though our shares are publicly quoted, the market price for our common stock will most likely be particularly volatile given our status as a relatively unknown company with a small and thinly quoted public float, limited operating history and lack of net revenues which could lead to wide fluctuations in our share price. The price at which you purchase our common stock may not be indicative of the price that will prevail in the trading market.
Even with our shares being publicly quoted, the market for our common stock will most likely be characterized by significant price volatility when compared to seasoned issuers, and we expect that our share price will be more volatile than a seasoned issuer for the indefinite future. The volatility in our share price would be attributable to a number of factors. First, as noted above, the shares of our common stock will likely be sporadically and/or thinly quoted. As a consequence of this lack of liquidity, the trading of relatively small quantities of shares by our stockholders may disproportionately influence the price of those shares in either direction. The price for our shares could, for example, decline precipitously in the event that a large number of shares of our common stock are sold on the market without commensurate demand, as compared to a seasoned issuer which could better absorb those sales without adverse impact on its share price.
Anti-takeover provisions may impede the acquisition of Earth Gen.
Certain provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes have anti-takeover effects and may inhibit a non-negotiated merger or other business combination. These provisions are intended to encourage any person interested in acquiring Earth Gen to negotiate with, and to obtain the approval of, our directors, in connection with such a transaction. As a result, certain of these provisions may discourage a future acquisition of Earth Gen, including an acquisition in which the stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. Additionally, Earth Gen currently has 10,000,000 authorized preferred shares, which allows our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval and with rights and privileges determined solely by the board of directors. Issuance of such preferred stock could impede or delay a hostile takeover.
If we fail to establish and maintain an effective system of internal control, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately or to prevent fraud. Any inability to report and file our financial results accurately and timely could harm our business and adversely impact the trading price of our common stock.
Effective internal control is necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, we may not be able to manage our business as effectively as we would if an effective control environment existed, and our business, brand and reputation with investors may be harmed.
In addition, reporting a material weakness may negatively impact investors’ perception of us. We have allocated, and will continue to allocate, significant additional resources to remedy any deficiencies in our internal control. There can be no assurances that our remedial measures will be successful in curing the any material weakness or that other significant deficiencies or material weaknesses will not arise in the future.
Our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is also our largest stockholder, and as a result he can exert control over us and has actual or potential interests that may diverge from yours.
Mr. Shen may have interests that diverge from those of other holders of our common stock. As a result, Mr. Shen may vote the shares he owns or controls or otherwise cause us to take actions that may conflict with your best interests as a stockholder, which could adversely affect our results of operations and the trading price of our common stock.
Through this control, Mr. Shen can control our management, affairs and all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the approval of significant corporate transactions, a sale of our company, decisions about our capital structure and the composition of our Board of Directors.
Our stock price might be volatile.
Even if an active a market develops for our stock, the price of our stock may be highly volatile and could be subject to fluctuations in price in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. These factors include:
·quarterly variations in our results of operations or those of our competitors;
·announcements by us or our competitors of acquisitions, new products, significant contracts, commercial relationships or capital commitments;
·disruption to our operations or those of other sources critical to our operations;
·the emergence of new competitors;
·our ability to develop and market new and enhanced products on a timely basis;
·seasonal or other variations;
·commencement of, or our involvement in, litigation;
·dilutive issuances of our stock or the stock of our subsidiaries, or the incurrence of additional debt;
·changes in our board or management;
·adoption of new or different accounting standards;
·changes in governmental regulations or in the status of our regulatory approvals;
·changes in earnings estimates or recommendations by securities analysts;
·general economic conditions and slow or negative growth of related markets.
In addition, the stock market in general, and the market for shares of agricultural companies in particular, have experienced price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. We expect the value of our Common stock will be subject to such fluctuations.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B.UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2.PROPERTIES
Description of Property
We do not own any real property. The Company leases space for its U.S. office at 17870 Castleton Street, # 205 City of Industry, California 91748, from its CEO and shareholder, George Shen under a month to month lease agreement. George Shen now leases the space to be used by the Company on a month to month basis The annual base lease obligation is $40,320 for year one, $41,940 in the second year. The Company’s headquarters in Laos has been moved to a new facility in Xieng Khouang, Bpek District. The lease is for 12 months at $312 per month and the one-year rental of $3,750 was paid in full at the start of the lease. The Company paid $3,750. for the full year in advance. Related utilities are paid monthly. The lease may be terminated on four weeks’ notice with a refund of unused rent. The property is completely fenced in by brick walls topped by chained link fencing and barbed wire. Inside the compound and attached to the building is a large covered area that is used for processing of crops and storage. This is a secured area with sliding gate at the entrance and is enclosed with a covered fence built by the company. Earth Gen terminated its lease for office space in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On February 14, 2014, Earth Gen entered into a lease agreement with one landowner for land totaling 183 hectares in Laos. The term of the lease is for twelve years with an option for Earth Gen to renew for an additional twelve years. Earth Gen is obligated to pay taxes on the land of up to $1,000 per year with any taxes in excess of that amount are the obligation of the landowner. In addition, Earth Gen is obligated to provide all elements required to grow castor beans on the land and start using the land for castor bean farming operations before the end of 2014. The compensation to the landowner is based on the size of the harvest produced on the land. The payment is a fixed fee per metric ton for all castor beans harvested on the land.
In March 2014 Earth Gen entered into agreements with two landowners for leases to create castor bean farms in close proximity to the Company’s other operations. These additional parcels total 90 hectares. The Company’s other agreements with landowners, is substantially the same as the first lease agreement from March 2014. These lease agreements are designed to work with larger landowners who are not actively farming. Based on the terms of the agreements, Earth Gen provides all required items to farm the land and pays for use of the land on a revenue sharing basis with no requirement to make lease payments until there is a harvest. Earth Gen provides all evaluation costs, preparation costs, planting, maintenance, harvest and labor costs and upon harvest, Earth Gen is obligated to pay $50.00 per metric ton of dried weight of castor seeds harvested from the farmers land.
We believe our current and future facilities are adequate for our current and near-term needs. Additional space may be required as we expand our activities. We do not currently foresee any significant difficulties in obtaining any required additional facilities.
We have entered into three lease agreements in XingKhuang Province Laos with local landowners for an aggregate of 273 hectares of farming land. We currently do not have any lease agreements in Vietnam. The individual Laotian lease agreement terms are as follows:
Leasee
Region
Leased Area
Size
Initial Lease
Term
Expiration
Bounthong Dalavong
Phonengan Neua Village
30 hectare
12 years
March 18, 2026
Chong Cher Vang
Phonemixay Village
60 hectare
12 years
March 18, 2026
Nongpa Chang
Ban Nyuan Village
183 hectare
12 years
February 14, 2026
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are not currently a party to any proceedings. In the ordinary course of business, we may become a party to lawsuits involving various matters. The impact and outcome of litigation, if any, is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm our business.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II.
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5.MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS COMMON EQUITY RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASERS OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Common Stock Information
Our common stock became eligible for trading on the OTCQB quotation system on September 22, 2015 when it was approved for quotation by FINRA. There was no quoting for the stock until after Deposit Trust Corporation approved the Company’s stock for electronic clearing on December 30, 2015. In January of 2016 the first quotes were posted.
The transfer agent for our common stock is Corporate Stock Transfer located at 3200 Cherry Creek Drive South, #430, Denver CO 80209.
All references to numbers of shares are based on a post reverse split of one for twenty-five basis approved by shareholders on March 25, 2014, and filed with the Nevada Secretary of State on May 15, 2014 with an effective date of July 24, 2014.
As of December 31, 2015, there were 562 holders of record of our Common stock with 81,256,574 shares outstanding. As of December 31, 2015 there were no shares in street name and on March 31, 2016 there were 4,648,800 shares are held in street name.
Dividends
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends. We currently intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to support operations and to finance expansion and therefore we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
A stock dividend of 3 shares of common stock for each one share owned by shareholders of record was declared and approved by the Board of Directors on October 15, 2013.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Private Placements of Common Stock 2015
From January 1 to March 31, 2015, Earth Gen issued to investors 713,334 shares of its common for an aggregate amount of $105,500. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, the Company received $28,000 for subscriptions payable to issue 253,167 shares of common stock, which were issued on June 29, 2015.
From April 1, 2015 to June 30, 2015, Earth Gen received $101,100 for issuing 1,430,000 shares at a price of $0.07 per share. Additional equity issued during this period also included 36,400 shares of common stock to various parties for services rendered valued at $2,548. 1,100,000 shares of common stock were issued in conversion of $70,700 in accrued compensation due Company officer George Shen and for $7,000 in cash advances from George Shen.
From July 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015, Earth Gen issued to investors 71,428 shares of restricted common stock for proceeds of $5,000 Additional equity issued during this period also included 1,500,000 shares of common stock for services rendered valued at $105,000.
From October 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 the Company issued 571,428 shares of restricted common stock for cash proceeds of $40,000. The Company issued 500,000 shares of restricted common stock for services provided for services provided in conjunction with operations in Laos valued at $35,000.
The securities described above were issued to investors in reliance upon the exemption from registration requirements of the Securities Act, as set forth in Section 4(2) under the Securities Act and Regulation D promulgated thereunder relating to transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. No commissions were paid and no agreements to register shares were offered in the private placements.
All Purchasers of shares described above represented to us in connection with their purchase that they were accredited investors and were acquiring the shares for their own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof. The purchasers received written disclosures that the securities had not been registered under the Securities Act and that any resale must be made pursuant to a registration statement or an available exemption from such registration.
All information on Company securities are based on post March 26, 2014 approved reverse split of one share for every twenty-five shares. Our authorized capital stock consists of 700,000,000 shares of capital stock of which 690,000,000 shares are common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares are “blank check” preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. We are registering our common stock under this Form 10 pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.
As of December 31, 2015, there were 81,256,574 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of legally available assets at such times and in such amounts as our Board of Directors may from time to time determine. There are no Preferred shares issued at the time of this filing. Each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Cumulative voting for the election of directors is not authorized.
Our common stock is not subject to conversion or redemption and holders of common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the remaining assets legally available for distribution to stockholders, after payment of claims of creditors and payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on outstanding preferred stock, are distributable ratably among the holders of common stock and any participating preferred stock outstanding at that time. Each outstanding share of common stock is fully paid and non-assessable. Our Board of Directors has the authority to issue authorized but unissued shares of common stock without any action by our stockholders.
A rescission agreement dated October 28, 2013 (the “Rescission Agreement”) was entered into among EarthBlock, Earth Gen and the holders of the Exchange Shares and the Additional Shares all of whom received a disclosure document (together with the Rescission Agreement, the “Rescission Documents”) as to the reasons for the rescission and who had represented that they were accredited investors. The Rescission Agreement set forth the terms and provisions pursuant to which the parties agreed to take all steps necessary to unwind the Exchange including the surrender of the Exchange Shares for cancellation and Earth Gen to issue to each former Earth Gen shareholder their respective original equity interests in Earth Gen, except that the Additional Shares will remain outstanding and ratably dilute the Exchange Shareholders’ original equity ownership in Earth Gen.
The Rescission Agreement offer was terminated on October 10, 2014. Pursuant to the terms of the Rescission Agreement, Earth Gen issued a total of 50,645,600 Earth Gen common stock shares (the “Exchange Shares”) to participating Exchange Shareholders commensurate with their respective original equity interests in Earth Gen. Earth Gen also issued a total of 7,030,400 Additional Shares to post-Exchange shareholders who invested directly in Earth Gen after the closing of the Exchange. One Shareholder owning 7,560,000 Exchange Shares did not become a party to the Rescission Agreement and will retain his EarthBlock shares with no equity interest in Earth Gen. Additionally, 5,458,800 Exchange Shares could not participate in the Rescission offer because the shares were canceled, sold or exchanged in lieu of the rescission. No additional Earth Gen common stock shares will be issued as a result of the rescission of the Exchange.
The securities described above were issued to investors in reliance upon the exemption from registration requirements of the Securities Act, as set forth in Section 4(2) under the Securities Act and Regulation D promulgated thereunder relating to transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. No commissions were paid and no agreements to register shares were offered in the private placements. All Purchasers of shares described above represented to us in connection with their purchase that they were accredited investors and were acquiring the shares for their own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof. The purchasers received written disclosures that the securities had not been registered under the Securities Act and that any resale must be made pursuant to a registration statement or an available exemption from such registration.
All information on Company securities are based on post March 26, 2014 approved reverse split of one share for every twenty five shares and amended Articles of Incorporation filed with the Nevada Secretary of State on May 16, 2014. Our authorized capital stock consists of 700,000,000 shares of capital stock of which 690,000,000 shares are common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares are “blank check” preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. We are registering our common stock under this Form 10 pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6.SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
Not applicable.
ITEM 7MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Discussions of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this Form 10K. Readers are also urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us which attempt to advise interested parties of the factors which affect our business, including without limitation the disclosures made in Item1A of this Registration Statement under the caption “Risk Factors.”
Except as otherwise noted, all share and per share amounts set forth in this Registration Statement have been adjusted to reflect the 1-for-25 reverse stock split of our common stock that was effected on July 24, 2014.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the views of our management with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “if,” “shall,” “may,” “might,” “will likely result,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “goal,” “objective,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements, which are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events that we believe to be reasonable. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the historical or future results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, those discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in this report. We undertake no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of filing of this report to conform such forward-looking statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as otherwise required by law.
Overview
Our primary business is the cultivation of non-food agricultural products for use in manufacturing processes, renewable energy and transportation fuel. Currently, our focus is on the cultivation of castor beans, an agricultural crop currently in high demand and short supply. Castor beans are an integral component in processing manufactured products for many countries and have attracted attention as a “renewable energy crop” with great value due to its high oil content in comparison to other oil seed crops.
Our goal is to become a major producer of castor beans in Southeast Asia and other tropical growing areas. Our business model is to supply the growing demand for castor beans by cultivating and growing in areas not suitable for food crops. Our plan to use areas of relatively poor soil conditions allows us to produce castor beans without competing with potentially more valuable products.
We plan to build our business by providing castor beans to chemical conversion facilities, which utilize chemical processes that require the use castor oil, in China and other countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Europe and the United States. Furthermore, as the world supply of castor beans grows along with our own production, we will benefit from a “tipping point” created when there is enough surplus castor bean supply to allow for its use as biodiesel. Based on current commercial demand for castor bean oil, long term need for clean fuel, and favorable industry conditions in China, the United States and Europe, we believe that, subject to obtaining the necessary capital, we are positioned for rapid near and long term growth.
Results of Operations
Our consolidated financial statements are stated in United States Dollars and are prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). The discussion of the results of our operations compares the year ended December 31, 2015 with the year ended December 31, 2014, and is not necessarily indicative of the results which may be expected for any subsequent periods. Our prospects should be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties encountered by companies in similar positions. We may not be successful in addressing these risks and difficulties.
Comparison of FiscalYears Ended December 31 , 2015 and 2014
To date, we have incurred significant losses from operations, and at December 31, 2015, had an accumulated deficit of $2,761,057. At December 31, 2015, we had $1,379 of cash and cash equivalents. Since inception we raised an aggregate of approximately $2,901,588 in equity financing to fund our operations. Until such time when we generate sufficient revenues from operations, we will continue to be dependent on raising substantial amounts of additional capital through any one of a combination of debt or equity offerings. There is no assurance that we will be able to raise additional capital when necessary or how much revenue will be obtained from our farming operations.
The financial data for the year ended December 31, 2015 when compared with the operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 reflect a different stage of the Company’s development. In December 31, 2014, the Company started to finalize infrastructure and relationships with national and local government officials and farmers in Laos to start large scale planting operations. There were limited operations consisting of test planting in Laos and Vietnam in year ended December 31, 2014. Also the Company was beginning to create the infrastructure and identify the staff and consultants needed for farming operations in Southeast Asia. In the year ended December 31, 2014, there were very limited planting operations in Laos. In the year ended December 31, 2015 operations consisted of farm maintenance operations as all planting was completed in 2014.
Operating Expenses
In year 2015, General and Administrative (“G&A”) expense decreased by $685,651 versus the same period in 2014. The decrease was due to a general decrease in corporate activity associated with planting and cultivation operations in Laos and the reduced requirement for support staff in the U.S. In Laos, staff and consultants were reduced as training and need for less personnel during the maintenance phase of farm development versus the planting phase reduced. As a result, in year 2015, consulting fees decreased by $196,485 and travel expense decreased by $68,459. Legal and professional expenses decreased by $58,139 compared to the same period last year mainly because the preparation of the registration statement on Form 10 was completed in 2014. The lower stock based compensation as payments for services also contributed to the decrease in G&A expenses by $272,242.
The change in operations from planting crops to maintaining farm operations and the filing of documents required for the Company’s Form 10 and other filings as required by the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 had a big impact on reducing operating expenses in 2015 versus 2014.
By early 2015 Earth Gen had completed test planting and most planting operations were already completed. Based on the experience of limited planting operations in 2015 management prepared budgets and operating procedures that would provide operating plans and protocols operations in 2015 that reduced expenses.
The Company recorded an inventory reserve of $115,963 for the year ended December 31, 2015 due to the low harvest. For the year ended December 31, 2014 the Company just started to assess inventory reserve in third quarter of 2014.
.
The Company recorded a reserve of $58,058 on the loan receivable from Earthblock due to the uncertainty in collectability.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our working capital for the periods presented is summarized as follows:
The following table shows cash flows for the periods presented:
Operating Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2015, net cash used in operating activities was $291,313. This was primarily due to a net loss of $701,577 adjusted by non-cash related expenses including depreciation of $3,849, amortization of beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”) debt discount of $51,639, inventory reserve of $115,963, related party loan reserve of $58,058 and stock-based compensation of $142,548, then increased by favorable changes in working capital of $38,207. The favorable changes in working capital mainly resulted from an increase in related party payables of $37,999 and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expense of $18,360, offset by an increase in inventory of $18,000 in capitalized costs of growing crops.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, net cash used in operating activities was $1,263,497. This was primarily due to a net loss of $1,283,338, adjusted by non-cash related expenses including depreciation of $1,933, amortization of BCF debt discount of $11,361, inventory reserve of $64,320 and stock-based compensation of $414,790, then decreased by unfavorable changes in working capital of $472,563. The unfavorable changes in working capital mainly resulted from an increase in inventory of $551,314 in capitalized costs of growing crops and an increase in prepaid expenses and other receivable of $1,514, offset by an increase in accounts payable and accrued expense of $65,059.
Investing activities:
For the year ended December 31, 2014, net cash used in investing activities included equipment acquisition of $15,119 and a non-interest bearing 24-month loan of $1,100 to a non-profit institute, which, in turn, makes micro loans to farmers.
Financing activities
For the year ended December 31, 2015, net cash provided by financing activities mainly resulted from common stock issued in private placements of $278,600. In addition a net of $12,000 was provided by the net of proceeds from new notes less the repayment of existing notes.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, net cash provided by financing activities mainly resulted from common stock issued in private placements of $1,039,630, which includes $31,250 form the exercise of 1,000,000 warrants. In addition $83,000 and $5,000 in capital were obtained from the issuance of convertible notes and promissory notes.
Equity Financings Since August 28, 2012
Since inception, Earth Gen’s funding has been provided by the sale of its common stock for cash. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company had proceeds from common stock issuances of $278,600. The Company had total paid in capital of $2,946,743 from inception to December 31, 2015.
Cash Requirements
Our primary objectives for the year 2015 period were to develop and pursue the commercialization of our planned farming operations. We continuously search for industry experts to expand our management team and better position our company. In addition, we expect to raise sufficient capital to fund our operations and to develop additional farmland for cultivation of castor beans and provide support in the form of equipment and personnel to expand operations and provide required working capital.
We estimate our operating expenses and working capital requirements for the next 12 months to be approximately as follows:
Historically our funding has been a mixture of private offerings and debt. As of December, 2015, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $1,379 and total current assets of $396,470. Of this $396,470 in current assets, we have no specific time at which the Company will receive cash for these current assets.
The Company does not have a commitment for capital. The Company believes that its current cash and expected net cash from operations will provide insufficient capital to cover expenses and debt obligations for the next twelve-month period. The Company intends to use a combination of new equity investment, loans and cash flow from operations to meet its operational needs. At this time the Company has 238 hectares of castor bean farms in production with two harvests expected over the next twelve months period. We estimate an annual yield from our operational farmland of approximately $600,000 based on having two and one half tons of castor beans harvested from each hectare per harvest and selling those beans at $500 per ton on average during 2016 based on historical trend for demand and the futures price quoted on the National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange of India (“NCDEX” Trading System).
Based on projected availability of cash, the Company believes that it has or will have sufficient funds and working capital to cover operating expenses through at least through June, 2016. The Company is expecting to start deliveries of crops in late June 2016 and in November of 2016. The terms for those sales are cash on delivery. Crop deliveries are expected to add to working capital based on the amount of castor beans being harvested and accepted for payment. However, it is difficult to estimate the size of the harvest and the exact delivery dates so capital requirements beyond June 30, 2016 are difficult to predict.
If working capital is not available in sufficient amounts, the Company will be required to reduce the amount expended on new planting and new farm development to save working capital for operations and to use expected future harvest cash flow for growth. The ability to obtain additional working capital from investors or from future farm operations may not develop or be available when needed, which will interfere with planned operations and cause results to vary based on these uncertainties.
If we obtain additional financing by issuing equity securities, our existing stockholders’ ownership will be diluted. Obtaining commercial loans, assuming those loans would be available, will increase our liabilities and future cash commitments. We may be unable to maintain operations at a level sufficient for investors to obtain a return on their investments in our common stock. Further, we may continue to be unprofitable.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no significant off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to stockholders.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported assets, liabilities, sales and expenses in the accompanying financial statements. Critical accounting policies are those that require the most subjective and complex judgments, often employing the use of estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. However, we do not believe that there are any alternative methods of accounting for our operations that would have a material effect on our financial statements.
Inventory
Expenditures on growing crops are valued at the lower of cost or market and are deferred and charged to cost of sales when the related crops are harvested and sold. In assessing the ultimate realization of inventories, the management makes judgments as to future demand requirements compared to current or committed inventory levels. The Company’s reserve requirements generally increase or decrease with its projected demand requirements and market conditions. The Company estimates the demand requirements based on market conditions, forecasts prepared by its customers, sales contracts and orders in hand. In addition, the Company estimates net realizable value based on intended use, current market value and inventory ageing analyses. The Company writes down the inventories for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventories and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions.
Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Judgment is required to determine the estimated useful lives of assets. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect our financial position and results of operations.
Accounting for Long-Lived Assets / Intangible Assets
We assess the impairment of long-lived assets, consisting of property and equipment, and finite-lived intangible assets, whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carry value may not be recoverable. Examples of such circumstances include: (1) loss of legal ownership or title to an asset; (2) significant changes in our strategic business objectives and utilization of the assets; and (3) the impact of significant negative industry or economic trends.
Recoverability of assets to be held and used in operations is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the future net cash flows expected to be generated by the assets. The factors used to evaluate the future net cash flows, while reasonable, require a high degree of judgment and the results could vary if the actual results are materially different than the forecasts. In addition, we base useful lives and amortization or depreciation expense on our subjective estimate of the period that the assets will generate revenue or otherwise be used by us. If such assets are considered impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less selling costs.
We also periodically review the lives assigned to our intangible assets to ensure that our initial estimates do not exceed any revised estimated periods from which we expect to realize cash flows from the technologies. If a change were to occur in any of the above-mentioned factors or estimates, the likelihood of a material change in our reported results would increase.
Derivative Liabilities
Warrants
In connection with the 2013 private placements, the Company issued warrants for 6,400,000 shares of Earth Gen Common Stock on August 1, 2013 and 1,600,000 warrants on September 12, 2013. Each of these warrants entitled the holder to purchase one (1) share of Earth Gen common stock at $0.03 per share starting on January 1, 2014 and ending on December 15, 2016. As of December 31, 2014, 1,000,000 warrants have been exercised in exchange for total cash proceeds of $31,250 or $0.03 per share.
In connection with the January 2014 private placement, the Company issued warrants to purchase 202,000 shares of Earth Gen common stock on March 20, 2014. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share of Earth Gen common stock at $0.50 per share starting on July 15, 2014 and ending on September 30, 2016.
In connection with the April 2015 private placement, the Company issued warrants to purchase 3,000,000 shares of Earth Gen common stock on April 26, 2015. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share of Earth Gen common stock at $0.07 per share starting on May 1, 2015 and ending on December 15, 2015.
In connection with the April 2015 private placement, the Company issued warrants to purchase 6,000,000 shares of Earth Gen common stock on April 26, 2015. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share of Earth Gen common stock at $0.07 per share starting on May 1, 2015 and ending on March 31, 2016.
In connection with the April 2015 private placement, the Company issued warrants to purchase 3,000,000 shares of Earth Gen common stock on April 26, 2015, these warrants expired and are no longer able to exercised as of December 15, 2015.
In connection with a consulting agreement, the Company issued warrants to purchase 300,000 shares of Earth Gen common stock on December 12, 2015 as compensation to the consultant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share of Earth Gen common stock at $0.07 per share starting on April 30, 2016 and ending on December 15, 2017. The fair value of warrants granted was calculated using the Black-Scholes model and amortized over the vesting period.
These warrants have standard anti-dilution language to allow for recapitalizations and distributions. The warrants are equity classified and amounts attributable to the warrants are classified within additional paid-in capital. All reference to numbers of shares issued for warrants and per share price is based on a post-stock-dividend and post-reverse-split amount.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7.AQUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As a “smaller reporting company,” we are not required to provide the information required by this item.
ITEM 8FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements and notes thereto and related report of our independent registered public accounting firm are attached to this Report beginning on Page.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9.CHANGES AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), the Company carried out an evaluation, with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) (the Company’s principal financial and accounting officer), of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s CEO and CFO concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are not effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Our internal control system was designed to, in general, provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and board regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements, but because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015. The framework used by management in making that assessment was the criteria set forth in the document entitled “ Internal Control - Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on that assessment, our CEO and CFO have determined and concluded that, as of December 31, 2015, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective.
As defined by Auditing Standard No. 5, “An Audit of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting that is Integrated with an Audit of Financial Statements and Related Independence Rule and Conforming Amendments,” established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB"), a material weakness is a deficiency or combination of deficiencies that result in a more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. In connection with the assessment described above, management identified the following control deficiencies that represent material weaknesses as of December 31, 2015:
(1) Lack of an independent audit committee or audit committee financial expert. Although our board of directors serves as the audit committee it has no independent directors These factors are counter to corporate governance practices as defined by the various stock exchanges and may lead to less supervision over management.
(2) We do not have sufficient experience from our accounting personnel with the requisite U.S. GAAP public company reporting experience that is necessary for adequate controls and procedures.
(3) Need for greater integration, oversight, communication and financial reporting of the books and records of our satellite offices.
Our management determined that these deficiencies constituted material weaknesses.
Due to our small size, we were not able to immediately take any action to remediate these material weaknesses. In the second quarter of 2015, we have invested in inventory management and general ledger software that should improve our internal controls. The implementation is scheduled for 2016. We plan to address additional control deficiencies in the near future. Notwithstanding the assessment that our Internal Controls over Financial Reporting was not effective and that there were material weaknesses identified herein, we believe that our consolidated financial statements contained in this Annual Report fairly present our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the years covered thereby in all material respects.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management's report was not subject to attestation by the Company's registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management's report in this annual report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
No change in our system of internal control over financial reporting occurred during the period covered by this report, fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B.OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10.DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AMD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Set forth below is certain information regarding our directors and executive officers as of December 31, 2015:
Name
Position
Age
Director/Officer
Since
George Shen
President, Chairman, Officer and Director
August 28,2012
Business Experience
The following is a brief account of the education and business experience of our sole director and executive officer during at least the past five years, indicating their principal occupation during the period, and the name and principal business of the organization by which he was employed.
George Shen, Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Shen is the Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and acting Chief Financial Officer of Earth Gen and brings extensive international business experience to his executive and director positions. Mr. Shen has held senior management positions for companies operating in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Columbia, Nicaragua, and Peru. Mr. Shen has worked for, and or represented Bank of America, Dean Witter Reynolds (now Morgan Stanley), Clarion Communication (now part of Qwest) in Asia as the President of Asian Operations, and Realforce Energy Group, as well as served as a senior advisor for business development for Davis Petroleum in China and in Latin America. Mr. Shen is also a former member of the US Department of Commerce Advisory Committee on Environment and Energy. and served on the Board of Director of Justiceville. Mr. Shen served in the US Marine Corps from 1979 to 1983 and volunteered to go back to the California National Guard post the events of 9/11. Mr. Shen received a JD degree from Northwestern California School of Law and received his BS degree in Business Economics from Chapman University. He later earned an MBA degree from Central China Normal University with a special thesis on Chinese Banking Reform.
Term of Office
Our directors are elected at each annual meeting of stockholders and serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Nevada State Law
We may in the future become subject to Nevada’s control share law. A corporation is subject to Nevada’s control share law if it has more than 200 stockholders, at least 100 of who are stockholders of record and residents of Nevada, and it does business in Nevada or through an affiliated corporation.
The law focuses on the acquisition of a “controlling interest” which means the ownership of outstanding voting shares sufficient, but for the control share law, to enable the acquiring person to exercise the following proportions of the voting power of the corporation in the election of directors: (i) one-fifth or more but less than one-third, (ii) one-third or more but less than a majority, or (iii) a majority or more. The ability to exercise such voting power may be direct or indirect, as well as individual or in association with others.
The effect of the control share law is that the acquiring person, and those acting in association with it, obtains only such voting rights in the control shares as are conferred by a resolution of the stockholders of the corporation, approved at a special or annual meeting of stockholders. The control share law contemplates that voting rights will be considered only once by the other stockholders. Thus, there is no authority to strip voting rights from the control shares of an acquiring person once those rights have been approved. If the stockholders do not grant voting rights to the control shares acquired by an acquiring person, those shares do not become permanent non-voting shares. The acquiring person is free to sell its shares to others. If the buyers of those shares themselves do not acquire a controlling interest, the control share law does not govern their shares.
If control shares are accorded full voting rights and the acquiring person has acquired control shares with a majority or more of the voting power, any stockholder of record, other than an acquiring person, who has not voted in favor of approval of voting rights, is entitled to demand fair value for such stockholder’s shares.
Nevada’s control share law may have the effect of discouraging takeovers of the corporation. In addition to the control share law, Nevada has a business combination law, which prohibits certain business combinations between Nevada corporations, and “interested stockholders” for three years after the “interested stockholder” first becomes an “interested stockholder” unless the corporation’s board of directors approves the combination in advance. For purposes of Nevada law, an “interested stockholder” is any person who is (i) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of ten percent or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation, or (ii) an affiliate or associate of the corporation and at any time within the three previous years was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of ten percent or more of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of the corporation. The definition of the term “business combination” is sufficiently broad to cover virtually any kind of transaction that would allow a potential acquirer to use the corporation’s assets to finance the acquisition or otherwise to benefit its own interests rather than the interests of the corporation and its other stockholders.
The effect of Nevada’s business combination law is to discourage parties interested in taking control of the company from doing so if it cannot obtain the approval of our board of directors.
The Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended, provides that, to the fullest extent that limitations on the liability of directors and officers are permitted by the Nevada Revised Statutes, no director or officer of the Company shall have any liability to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages. The Nevada Revised Statutes provide that a corporation’s charter may include a provision which restricts or limits the liability of its directors or officers to the corporation or its stockholders for money damages except: (1) to the extent that it is provided that the person actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services, for the amount of the benefit or profit in money, property or services actually received, or (2) to the extent that a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the person is entered in a proceeding based on a finding in the proceeding that the person’s action, or failure to act, was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding.
The Company’s Bylaws, as amended, include an indemnification provision under which the Company shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except an action by or in the right of the Company, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
The Company’s Bylaws further provide that the Company shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Additionally, the Company’s Bylaws provide that expenses incurred by an officer or director in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized under the Bylaws.
The Nevada Revised Statutes also permits a corporation, and our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws therefore permit the Company to purchase and maintain liability insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or our agent, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent, of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against them and incurred by them in any such capacity, or arising out of their status as such, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify them against such liability under our Bylaws.
However, nothing in our charter or Bylaws protects or indemnifies a director, officer, employee or agent against any liability to which he would otherwise be subject because of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office. To the extent that a director has been successful in defense of any proceeding, the Nevada Revised Statutes provide that he shall be indemnified against reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith.
INSOFAR AS INDEMNIFICATION FOR LIABILITIES ARISING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, MAY BE PERMITTED TO DIRECTORS, OFFICERS OR PERSONS CONTROLLING THE COMPANY PURSUANT TO THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS, IT IS THE OPINION OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION THAT SUCH INDEMNIFICATION IS AGAINST PUBLIC POLICY AS EXPRESSED IN THE ACT AND IS THEREFORE UNENFORCEABLE.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11.EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table summarizes all compensation recorded by us in each of Fiscal 2015 and Fiscal 2014 for our named executive officer.
Summary Compensation Table
(1) Mr. Shen was appointed our President, Chief Executive Officer and acting Chief Financial Officer on August 28, 2012.
Employment Agreements
Earth Gen entered into any employment agreement with Tyler Garner, Senior Managing Director of Farming Operations. The term of the agreement is from October 10, 2015 to December 31, 2017. He is to be paid $3500 per month with a $1000 per month per deim reimbursement. After December 31, 2017 his employment is month-to-month “at will”. It is anticipated that in future that if Company operations reach a sustainable level and that the Company’s working capital has reach proper levels that the Board of Directors will consider providing certain other key employees with employment and bonus agreements.
Compensation of Directors
Mr. Shen, the sole director of the Company, received no compensation for his services as a director.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by George Shen, the only officer and director and other beneficial owners who own more than 5% of our common stock as of March 31, 2016. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to the following table, the address of each person named in the table is: c/o Earth Gen-Biofuel Inc. at 7870 Castleton Street, # 205, City of Industry, California 91748. All amounts are based on post reverse split shares as filed with the Nevada Secretary of State on May 16, 2014 and was effective as July 24, 2014.
(1) Based on 84,093,431 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2016.
(2) George Shen owns 8,600,000 shares in his personal name. George’s Family Trust DTD 2007 owns 12,500,000. George’s Family Trust is an irrevocable trust and Mr. Shen claims no ownership or control over these shares. The total of shares owned by Mr. Shen and George’s Family Tuust is 21,100,000 shares which is 25.12 % of the issued and outstanding shares.
(3) Lucia Kao owns 2,708,800 shares in her own name and controls 1,658,352 shares held in the name of China US Yan Ying Investment Holdings. The combined number of shares is 4,367,152 which is 5.2% of the total issued and outstanding shares.
(4) Elias Chavando has voting control of Conexus Telecom Inc. which owns 3,072,000 shares. Mr. Chavando owns 2,560,000 shares in his own name for total voting control 5,632,000 shares.
Except as otherwise indicated, we believe that the beneficial owner of the common stock listed above, based on information furnished by such owners, have sole investment and voting power with respect to such shares, subject to community property laws where applicable. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Transactions with Related Persons
The Company subleases space for its U.S. office at 17870 Castleton Street, # 205 City of Industry, CA. 91748 from its CEO and shareholder, George Shen under a month-to-month lease agreement. Prior to June 30, 2013, the Company was provided office space at no charge by George Shen. Starting July 1, 2013, the Company has been paying office rent at $3,395 directly to the independent third-party lessor under a month-to-month lease agreement between Mr. Shen and the lessor.
Director Independence
We are not currently listed on any national securities exchange that has a requirement that the majority of our Board of Directors be independent. George Shen is currently our only director and he is also the largest shareholder and would not be considered independent because he is also our President, Chief Executive Officer and acting Chief Financial Officer.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available for review in print, without charge, to any stockholder who requests a copy by writing to us at Earth Gen-Biofuel Inc., 7870 Castleton Street, # 205, City of Industry, California 91748, Attention: Investor Relations. Each of our directors, employees and officers are required to comply with the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. There have not been any amendments or waivers from the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics relating to any of our executive officers or directors in the past year.
We are not currently a party to any proceedings. In the ordinary course of business, we may become a party to lawsuits involving various matters. The impact and outcome of litigation, if any, is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm our business.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended:
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company’s directors and executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities to file various reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning their holdings of, and transactions in, securities of the Company. Copies of these filings must be furnished to the Company.
To the Company’s knowledge based solely on its review of the copies of the Section 16(a) reports furnished to the Company and written representations to the Company that no other reports were required, the Company believes that all individual filing requirements applicable to the Company’s directors and executive officers were complied with under Section 16(a) during 2014.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The firm of SadlerGibb & Associates LLP acts as our independent registered public accounting firm. The aggregate fees billed for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2015 and 2014 for professional services rendered by the firm for the audit of our annual financial statements and review of the financial statements in our financial statements on Form-10 and Form 10-Q were as follows:
Our Board of Directors preapproved all services provided by the auditors and the Board of Directors reviewed all fees and all of the above services.
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15.EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(1) Financial Statements:
Reference is made to the Index to Financial Statements on Page where these documents are attached.
(2) Schedules:
The schedules have been omitted.
(3) A list of Exhibits required to be filed as part of this Report is set forth on the Index to Exhibits which is presented elsewhere in this document and is incorporated by references.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d)of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
In accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Annual Report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacity and on the dates indicated:
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ GEORGE SHEN
Chief Executive Officer,
April 14,
George Shen
Chief Financial Officer,
Principal Accounting Officer and
Director
INDEX TO EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Exhibit
No.
Description
2.1
Agreement of Share Exchange and Plan of Reorganization dated September 25, 2012 by and between EarthBlock Technologies Inc. and Earth Gen-Biofuel Inc.*
3.1
Bylaws of Earth Gen-Biofuel Inc.*
3.2
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Earth Gen-Biofuel Inc.*
4.1
Form of Warrant 2013*
4.2
Form of Warrant 2014*
4.3
Form of Warrant 2015
10.1
Form of Master Castor Bean Farming Agent Agreement*
10.2
Rescission Agreement by and among EarthBlock Technology, Inc., Earth Gen-Biofuel Inc. and certain shareholders of EarthBlock Technology, Inc. dated October 21, 2013*
10.3
Agreement of Exchange by and between EarthBlock Technology, Inc., Earth Gen-Biofuel Inc. dated September 25, 2012*
10.4
Output Purchase Contract between the Company and Zibo Broadbond International Trade Co Ltd dated January 25, 2014*
14.1
Code of Conduct*
21.1
Subsidiaries of Registrant*
Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
*Previously filed.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Earth Gen-Biofuel, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Earth Gen-Biofuel, Inc. as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two year period ended December 31, 2015. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. The company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Earth Gen-Biofuel, Inc. as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two year period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has accumulated deficit since inception through December 31, 2015 which raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans concerning these matters are also described in Note 2. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/ Sadler, Gibb & Associates, LLC
Salt Lake City, UT
April 14, 2016
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL INC.
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1-Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation
Earth Gen-Biofuel, Inc. (the “Company” or “Earth Gen”) was incorporated in the state of Nevada on August 28, 2012 to pursue the business of becoming an international agricultural company focused on growing plants that are the basis for providing renewable sources for manufacturing processes and energy.
On September 25, 2012, Earth Gen entered into an Agreement of Share Exchange and Plan of Reorganization (the “Exchange Agreement”) with EarthBlock Technologies, Inc. (“EarthBlock”), a Nevada publicly traded corporation, pursuant to which EarthBlock acquired 100% of the ownership of the Company in exchange for 63,666,400 shares of EarthBlock’s common stock (the “Exchange”) on the basis of four shares of EarthBlock for one share of Earth Gen outstanding as of October 14, 2012.
Upon the completion of the Exchange, Earth Gen operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthBlock and focused its efforts to begin its international agricultural operations. In October of 2012, Earth Gen began to organize farmers and government related agencies in Laos and Vietnam to control land for growing castor beans. Prior to Earth Gen becoming a subsidiary of EarthBlock, Earth Gen’s management had spent over two years creating the relationships and working with local farmers to build an organization and obtain the knowledge and expertise to become a major grower of castor beans in these countries.
The common stock of EarthBlock was registered with the SEC under the Exchange Act and was quoted on OTCQB operated by the OTC Markets Group Inc. EarthBlock failed to comply with Exchange Act Section 13(a) because it had not filed any periodic reports with the SEC since the period ended December 31, 2007. EarthBlock consented to a deregistration order of the SEC, and pursuant to Section 12(j) of the Exchange Act, registration of EarthBlock’s common stock was revoked and trading in EarthBlock’s common stock was suspended.
Additionally, the shareholders of Earth Gen were not made aware of the full extent of a material liability of EarthBlock that resulted from the operations of EarthBlock’s non-operational subsidiary EarthBlock Texas Homes, Inc. As a result of the liability not being included in proper detail and information regarding its effect on EarthBlock’s financial statements, EarthBlock’s previously disclosed financial condition was inaccurate.
On September 25, 2013, the Board of Directors of EarthBlock and of Earth Gen voted to rescind the acquisition of Earth Gen by EarthBlock and authorized the officers of the Corporation to take the steps required to complete the rescission of the Exchange.
A rescission agreement dated October 28, 2013 (the “Rescission Agreement”) was entered into by and among EarthBlock, Earth Gen and the shareholders. A majority of Earth Gen shareholders approved the Rescission Agreement on October 28, 2013. The Rescission Agreement sets forth the terms and provisions where the parties agreed to take all steps necessary and proper to unwind the Exchange including the surrender of the Exchange Shares for cancellation and Earth Gen to issue to each Exchange Share shareholder his respective original equity interests in Earth Gen. The Additional Shares will remain outstanding and will ratably dilute the Exchange Share shareholders pre-Exchange, original equity ownership in Earth Gen as a result.
The Rescission Agreement offer terminated on October 10, 2014. Pursuant to the terms of the Rescission Agreement, Earth Gen issued a total of 50,645,600 Earth Gen common stock shares to participating holders of Exchange Shares commensurate with the holders’ respective original equity interests in Earth Gen. Earth Gen also issued a total of 7,030,400 Additional Shares. No additional Earth Gen common stock shares will be issued as a result of the rescission of the Reverse Merger. One Shareholder owning 7,560,000 Exchange Shares did not become a party to the Rescission Agreement and will retain his EarthBlock common stock shares and with no equity interest in Earth Gen.
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
In March 2014, Earth Gen-Biofuel Lao Sole Co Ltd (“Earth Gen Laos”) was formed under the laws of Laos to meet Laos’s regulatory and legal requirements to do business in Laos. This company is 100% controlled by Earth Gen. Earth Gen Laos has its own in-country bank accounts denominated in US dollars through which it pays all local operating expenses of the business activities of Earth Gen in Laos.
Note 2-Going Concern
These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which implies that the Company will continue to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. As of December 31, 2015, the Company has an accumulated deficit since inception. The continuation of the Company as a going concern is dependent upon the continued financial support from its management, and its ability to identify future investment opportunities and obtain the necessary debt or equity financing, and generating profitable operations from the Company’s future operations. These factors raise substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. These financial statements do not include any adjustments to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Note 3-Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiary. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Fair Value Measurements
The carrying amounts reported in the accompanying financial statements for current assets and current liabilities approximate the fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturities of the financial instruments.
Fair value is defined as the exit price, or the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. The guidance also establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the factors market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability. The guidance establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1 - Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;
Level 2 - Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Company reviews the fair value hierarchy classification on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observability of valuation inputs may result in a reclassification of levels for certain securities within the fair value hierarchy.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company's cash are considered Level 1 instruments. The Company does not have any Level 2 or 3 instruments.
Basic and Diluted Loss per Common Share
Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the Company’s net loss applicable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares during the period. Diluted loss per share is calculated by dividing the Company’s net loss available to common shareholders by the diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. The diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding is the basic weighted number of shares adjusted for any potentially dilutive debt or equity. Diluted loss per share excludes all dilutive potential shares if their effect is anti-dilutive.
The Company has issued common stock purchase warrants and entered into convertible note; however, they are anti-dilutive given the net loss incurred for the periods presented. As a result, 4,889,286 potentially dilutive common stock equivalents (presented post-dividend and post-split) were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per common share as of December 31, 2015. Therefore, dilutive and basic losses per common share are equal.
Comprehensive Income
The Company has no items that represent other comprehensive income (loss). Net loss and comprehensive loss are identical.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
All highly-liquid investments with a maturity of three (3) months or less are considered to be cash equivalents.
Inventory
Inventory consists of raw materials consisting of castor bean seeds. Inventories are recorded at the lower of cost or market, using the first-in, first-out method. Cost is determined at the actual cost for raw materials.
Expenditures on growing crops are valued at the lower of cost or market and are deferred and charged to cost of sales when the related crops are harvested and sold. The deferred growing costs included in inventories in the balance sheets consist primarily of land rental cost and service costs.
In assessing the ultimate realization of inventories, management makes judgments as to future demand requirements compared to current or committed inventory levels. The Company’s reserve requirements generally increase or decrease with its projected demand requirements and market conditions. The Company estimates the demand requirements based on market conditions, forecasts prepared by its customers, sales contracts and orders in hand.
In addition, the Company estimates net realizable value based on intended use, current market value and inventory ageing analyses. The Company writes down the inventories for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventories and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions.
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Based on the above assessment, the Company recorded an inventory reserve of $115,963 and $64,320 as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. The Company’s fixed assets are depreciated using the straight-line method over the assets' estimated useful lives. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Significant renewals and betterments are capitalized. At the time of retirement or other disposition of property and equipment, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations.
Depreciation is computed for financial statement purposes on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of the related assets. The estimated useful lives of depreciable assets are:
Impairment of Long-lived Assets
Long-lived assets are tested for impairment in accordance with ASC 360-10-45 “Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”. The Company periodically evaluates potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. The Company recognizes impairment of long-lived assets in the event that the net book values of such assets exceed the future undiscounted cash flows attributable to such assets. During the reporting periods, the Company has not identified any indicators that would require testing for impairment.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue from sales of the Company’s products is recognized upon customer acceptance, which occurs at the time of delivery to the customer, provided persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, such as signed sales contract, the significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer at the time when the products are delivered to its customers with no significant post-delivery obligation on our part, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably assured. The Company does not provide its customers with contractual rights of return and post-delivery discount for any of its products. When there is any significant post-delivery performance obligations exists, revenue is recognized only after such obligations are fulfilled. The Company evaluates the terms of sales agreement with its customers in order to determine whether any significant post-delivery performance obligations exist.
Income Taxes
The Company follows ASC 740, Income Taxes for recording the provision for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are computed based upon the difference between the financial statement and income tax basis of assets and liabilities using the enacted marginal tax rate applicable when the related asset or liability is expected to be realized or settled. Deferred income tax expenses or benefits are based on the changes in the asset or liability each period. If available evidence suggests that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is required to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. Future changes in such valuation allowance are included in the provision for deferred income taxes in the period of change.
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Deferred income taxes may arise from temporary differences resulting from income and expense items reported for financial accounting and tax purposes in different periods. Deferred taxes are classified as current or non-current, depending on the classification of assets and liabilities to which they relate. Deferred taxes arising from temporary differences that are not related to an asset or liability are classified as current or non-current depending on the periods in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse.
In addition, the calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. We recognize liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. While the Company believes it has appropriate support for the positions taken on its tax returns, the Company regularly assesses the potential outcomes of examinations by tax authorities in determining the adequacy of its provision for income taxes. The Company continually assesses the likelihood and amount of potential adjustments and adjusts the income tax provision, income taxes payable and deferred taxes in the period in which the facts that give rise to a revision become known.
Stock-based Compensation
The Company will account for stock options issued to employees under ASC 718 “Compensation-Stock Compensation”. Under ASC 718, share-based compensation cost to employees is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the employee's requisite vesting period.
The Company measures compensation expense for its non-employee stock-based compensation under ASC 505 “Equity”. The fair value of the option issued or committed to be issued is used to measure the transaction, as this is more reliable than the fair value of the services received. The fair value is measured at the value of the Company's common stock on the date that the commitment for performance by the counterparty has been reached or the counterparty's performance is complete. The fair value of the equity instrument is charged directly to stock-based compensation expense and credited to additional paid-in capital.
Note 4-Inventory
Inventory consists of:
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 5- Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consist of:
For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 depreciation expenses were $3,849 and $1,933, respectively.
Note 6- Due from Related Parties
The Company and EarthBlock advance each other monies in the normal course of business. During the period ended December 31, 2015, net funds provided to EarthBlock were $58,058. There have been no new advances for the year ending December 31, 2015. The advances do not have written note, do not accrued interest and are due on demand.
As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company owed $19,444 and $55,641 to George Shen, CEO and shareholder of the Company for accrued service fees and monies advanced to and repaid from the Company in the normal course of business. On June 29, 2015, the Company paid accrued service fees of $70,700 to Mr. Shen and money advanced by Mr. Shen of $7,000 with the issuance of 1,100,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock.
Prior to September 30, 2013, the Company was provided office space at no charge by George Shen Starting July 1, 2013, the Company has been paying office rent at $3,360 under a month-to-month lease agreement and is now paying $3,495 per month.
The Company obtained short-term loans from a company in which George Shen is also an officer and from certain shareholders for working capital purposes.
Promissory note from related parties consists of:
For the over-due promissory notes, there has been no demand for repayment.
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 7- Notes Payable
The Company obtained short-term loans from an unrelated parties for working capital purposes.
Note payable consists of:
Note 8- Convertible Note
On December 15, 2014, the Company issued a $7,000 convertible note. The convertible note bears interest at 2% per annum, due July 30, 2015, convertible into common stock of the Company anytime after June 20, 2015 at a conversion price of $0.07 per share. If the outstanding balance of the convertible note is not paid when due, the default interest is 5% per annum above the rate that would otherwise be in effect with the default interest accruing, from and including such due date, on a cumulative, compounding basis. Note is in default, there has been no demand for repayment.
On October 29, 2014, the Company issued a $36,000 convertible note. The convertible note bears interest at 5% per annum, due December 15, 2015, convertible into common stock of the Company anytime after May 15, 2015 at a conversion price of $0.07 per share. If the outstanding balance of the convertible note is not paid when due, the default interest is 2% per annum above the rate that would otherwise be in effect with the default interest accruing, from and including such due date, on a cumulative, compounding basis. Note is in default, there has been no demand for repayment.
On September 30, 2014, the Company issued a $40,000 convertible note. The convertible note bears interest at 5% per annum, due September 15, 2015, convertible into common stock of the Company anytime after January 30, 2015 at a conversion price of $0.10 per share. If the outstanding balance of the convertible note is not paid when due, the default interest is 2% per annum above the rate that would otherwise be in effect with the default interest accruing, from and including such due date, on a cumulative, compounding basis. Note is in default, there has been no demand for repayment.
The Company calculated $63,000 for the intrinsic value of the beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”) of the convertible notes (based on the last sale price of $0.15 per share) and recorded the $63,000 BCF as a debt discount and as an addition to additional paid-in capital on effective date of the notes. The debt discount is being amortized to interest expense over the term of the note. As of December 31, 2015, the BCF has been fully amortized. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, $51,639 and $11,361 of BCF debt discount was amortized to interest expense.
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 9-Stockholders’ Equity
At December 31, 2015, the Company is authorized to issue 690,000,000 shares of $0.0001 par value common stock and 10,000,000 of $0.0001 par value preferred stock.
In anticipation of the rescission of the exchange agreement with EarthBlock and to prevent dilution to existing shareholders of the Company, on October 15, 2013, the board of directors of the Company approved a stock dividend of three shares for each outstanding share. The stock dividend is being treated as a stock split due to its high volume. All share and per share information has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the stock split.
On March 27, 2014, the Company’s shareholders approved a recapitalization of the capital stock in the form of reverse stock split of its common stock in a ratio of 1-for-25. The shareholders also approved an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to reduce the number of authorized shares of stock to 700,000,000 from 3,000,000,000. Of the 700,000,000 authorized shares, there are 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock and 690,000,000 shares of common stock.
As of December 31, 2015, 81,256,574 shares were issued and outstanding. As a result of above stock split and reverse split, at December 31, 2014, 75,080,817 shares were issued and outstanding after adjusted for the stock split and reverse split.
Private Placements of Common Stock
From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, Earth Gen issued to investors 3,039,357 shares of its common stock at the offering price of $0.07 to $0.15 per share for an aggregate amount of $278,600. No commissions were paid. There was no agreement to register shares offered in this private placement.
The securities described above were issued to investors in reliance upon the exemption from registration requirements of the Securities Act, as set forth in Section 4(2) under the Securities Act and Regulation D promulgated thereunder relating to transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. No commissions were paid and no agreements to register shares were offered in the private placements. All Purchasers of shares described above represented to us in connection with their purchase that they were accredited investors and were acquiring the shares for their own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof. The purchasers received written disclosures that the securities had not been registered under the Securities Act and that any resale must be made pursuant to a registration statement or an available exemption from such registration.
Restricted Stock Awards (“RSA”) Issued for Services
All reference to numbers of shares issued for warrants and per share price is based on a post-stock-dividend and post-reverse-split amount. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company granted 2,036,400 and 3,299,267 RSAs to various consultants for their services provided to the Company.
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, all RSAs are vested and there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to RSAs.
For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, stock-based compensation expense was $142,548 and $ 414,790, respectively. The value of the shares issued was based on the fair value of the stock issued, which was based on the most recent sale of common stock for cash.
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Warrants
In connection with the 2013 private placements, the Company issued warrants for 6,400,000 shares of Earth Gen Common Stock on August 1, 2013 and 1,600,000 warrants on September 12, 2013. Each of these warrants entitled the holder to purchase one (1) share of Earth Gen common stock at $0.03 per share starting on January 1, 2014 and ending on December 15, 2016. As of December 31, 2014, 1,000,000 warrants have been exercised in exchange for total cash proceeds of $31,250 or $0.03 per share.
In connection with the January 2014 private placement, the Company issued warrants to purchase 202,000 shares of Earth Gen common stock on March 20, 2014. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share of Earth Gen common stock at $0.50 per share starting on July 15, 2014 and ending on September 30, 2016.
In connection with the April 2015 private placement, the Company issued warrants to purchase 3,000,000 shares of Earth Gen common stock on April 26, 2015. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share of Earth Gen common stock at $0.07 per share starting on May 1, 2015 and ending on December 15, 2015.
In connection with the April 2015 private placement, the Company issued warrants to purchase 6,000,000 shares of Earth Gen common stock on April 26, 2015. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share of Earth Gen common stock at $0.07 per share starting on May 1, 2015 and ending on March 31, 2016.
In connection with a consulting agreement, the Company issued warrants to purchase 300,000 shares of Earth Gen common stock on December 12, 2015 as compensation to the consultant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share of Earth Gen common stock at $0.07 per share starting on April 30, 2016 and ending on December 15, 2017. The fair value of warrants granted was calculated using the Black-Scholes model and amortized over the vesting period. At December 31, 2015, unrecognized stock-based consulting expense was $18,518.
These warrants have standard anti-dilution language to allow for recapitalizations and distributions. The warrants are equity classified and amounts attributable to the warrants are classified within additional paid-in capital. All reference to numbers of shares issued for warrants and per share price is based on a post-stock-dividend and post-reverse-split amount.
A summary of the status of the Company’s warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2015 is presented below:
The following table summarizes information about warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2015:
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 9-Income Taxes
The Company is subject to taxation in the United States. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had Federal net tax operating loss carry forwards of approximately $2,638,679 available to offset future taxable income. The carry forwards expire in varying amounts through 2034.
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 are listed below:
A valuation allowance of $238,536 and $436,335 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, was recognized to offset the net deferred tax assets, as realization of such assets is uncertain.
A reconciliation of incomes taxes using the statutory income tax rate, compared to the effective rate, is as follows:
Uncertain Tax Positions
Interest associated with unrecognized tax benefits are classified as income tax and penalties are classified in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
EARTH GEN-BIOFUEL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits and related interest and penalties expenses. Currently, the Company is not subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions.
Note 10-Commitments and Contingencies
Farm Lease Agreements
On March 10, 2014, Earth Gen entered into a lease agreement for 136 hectares of farm land located at Phoengam Neua Village, Pek Districk, Xiengkhuang Province in the People’s Republic of Lao. The term of the lease is for twelve years with an option for Earth Gen to renew for an additional twelve years. Earth Gen is obligated to pay taxes on the land of up to $1,000 per year any taxes in excess of that amount are the obligation of the landowner. In addition, Earth Gen is obligated to provide all elements required to grow castor beans on the land and start using the land in partial or in full for castor bean farming operations before the end of 2014. The compensation to the landowner under the agreement is $50.00 per metric ton of castor beans harvested and is due ninety days after the harvest.
In addition to this agreement, Earth Gen has entered into two additional agreements, under the terms substantially equivalent to the original agreement described above, for 103 additional hectares in Xiengkhuang Province in close proximity to the Phoengram Neua Village farm.
Note 11 - Subsequent Events
From January 1, 2016 through March 31, 2016, the Company obtained cash proceeds of $15,000 from January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016 for the purchase of 150,000 shares of restricted common stock at a price of $0.10 per share. Of the shares purchase 50,000 shares were issued and 100,000 shares were pending issue as of March 31, 2016.
During the period January 1, 2016 through March 31, 2016 the Company granted 186,857 RSAs to various consultants for their services provided to the Company and valued at $18,686. As of March 31, 2016, all RSAs are vested. The value of the shares issued was based on the fair value of the stock at the time of it was issued or agreed upon value of services rendered.
On March 16, 2016 Earth Gen formed a Nevada corporation, Earth-Eco Agriculture Inc. a company formed to complete the purchase of farming rights in Laos. On March 16, 2016, Earth-Eco Agriculture Inc. purchase the rights to all products derived from a Laos farm whose owner is a US citizen. The farm covers nearly twenty-seven acres and has approximately 9,000 Aguilaria trees, which are cultivated to produce Agarwood. The purchase agreement called for Earth Gen to issue 2,500,000 shares of restricted common stock in exchange for owing 100% of Earth-Eco Agriculture. Earth Eco Agriculture will in turn issue those shares to Seller for of the rights for 70% of all agarwood production from the farm for a period of 40 year from the date of the agreement. The seller will also receive a deferred payment of $100,000 due at the time Earth-Eco obtains $300,000 in equity financing or $100,000 from the profits of operations. If the $100,000 is not available from these two sources then starting in January of 2017 Earth Eco will be obligated to pay the Seller $5,000 per month. At this time it is not anticipated that sales of any products will be made in 2016, however it is anticipated that funding will be provided to Earth Eco direct investments in Earth-Eco to support operations.
On March 22, 2016 the Company entered into a promissory Note for a loan of $22,985 with an affiliate of the Company. The note bears no interest and is due November 30, 2016 with a one hundred day extension.