Aemetis Announces Acquisition of Cilion, Inc., and California Ethanol Plant
Company Will Leverage Plant Infrastructure To Develop Next-Generation Biorefinery
CUPERTINO, Calif. – July 10, 2012 – Aemetis, Inc. (OTCPK: AMTX), an advanced fuels and renewable chemicals company, announced today that the company has acquired Cilion, Inc., including a 55 million gallon per year (mgy) ethanol production plant located in Keyes, CA.
In 2010, Aemetis entered into a multi-year project and lease agreement with Cilion to upgrade, restart, and operate the Cilion biofuels plant. Aemetis successfully retrofitted and then restarted the plant in April 2011, and has achieved continuous operations for more than one year.
The acquisition of Cilion advances Aemetis’ plans to utilize the existing ethanol plant’s infrastructure to create a next-generation biorefinery producing advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals in addition to ethanol and animal feed products.
In addition to the Keyes, California ethanol plant, Cilion's other assets include spare parts and equipment that will be used at the plant.
In 2011, Aemetis acquired Zymetis, Inc., a biotechnology company with a patented organism that enables the production of renewable advanced biofuels and biochemicals.
“The acquisition of the Keyes plant accelerates our plan to expand this world-class ethanol production facility into a next-generation biorefinery capable of producing advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals,” said Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis.
In conjunction with the acquisition, Third Eye Capital, Aemetis’ existing senior lender, provided a $15 million term loan and an $18 million working capital financing facility to assist Aemetis in the acquisition and to provide ongoing working capital.
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