Note 1 – History and Basis of Presentation

History

The company was originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Utah on November 20, 1991.  On July 19, 2010, the reincorporation of the company from a Utah corporation to a Delaware corporation was completed, as approved by shareholders. In the reincorporation, each outstanding share of the company’s common stock was automatically converted into one share of common stock of the surviving Delaware corporation. In addition, the par value of the Company’s capital stock changed from no par per share to $0.001 per share. The effects of the change in par value were reflected retroactively in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for all periods presented. The effect of retroactively applying the par value of $0.001 per share resulted in reclassification of $17,409,660 of common stock and $1,290,722 of preferred stock to additional paid-in capital. The reincorporation did not result in any change in the company’s name, ticker symbol, CUSIP number, business, assets or operations. The management and Board of Directors of the company remained the same.

Global Clean Energy Holdings, Inc. is a U.S.-based, multi-national, energy agri-business focused on the development of non-food based bio-feedstocks. 

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Global Clean Energy Holdings, Inc., its subsidiaries, and the variable interest entities of GCE Mexico 1, LLC, and its Mexican subsidiaries (Asideros, Asideros 2 and Asideros 3). All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Generally accepted accounting principles require that if an entity is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (VIE), the entity should consolidate the assets, liabilities and results of operations of the VIE in its consolidated financial statements.  Global Clean Energy Holdings, Inc. considers itself to be the primary beneficiary of GCE Mexico, and it’s Mexican subsidiaries, and accordingly, has consolidated these entities since their formation beginning in April 2008, with the equity interests of the unaffiliated investors in GCE Mexico presented as Noncontrolling Interests in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. 

Accounting for Agricultural Operations

All costs incurred until the actual planting of the Jatropha Curcas plant are capitalized as plantation development costs, and are included in “Property and Equipment” on the balance sheet. Plantation development costs are being accumulated in the balance sheet during the development period and will be accounted for in accordance with accounting standards for Agricultural Producers and Agricultural Cooperatives. The direct costs associated with each farm and the production of the Jatropha revenue streams have been deferred and accumulated as a noncurrent asset, “Deferred Growing Costs”, on the balance sheet. Other general costs without expected future benefits are expensed when incurred.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Inventory

The company uses the LIFO valuation method for its inventories.   The company records no inventories above their acquisition costs.   There was $130,038 in losses related to the valuation of inventory during the year ended December 31, 2012 and no losses in 2011.

Concentration of Credit Risk

At December 31, 2012, the Company had no cash and cash equivalents in the United States in excess of federally-insured limits and at December 31, 2011 had $5,000 in excess.  The Company has $362,825 excess balances for bank deposits in Mexico at December 31, 2012 and no excess balances at December 31, 2011. The Company has maintained its cash balances at what management considers to be high credit-quality financial institutions.

Property and Equipment

Substantially all property and equipment relate to plantation costs and related equipment to cultivate the Jatropha Curcas plant. Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of office equipment is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of 3 to 5 years. Plantation equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of 5 to 15 years. Depreciation of plantation equipment has been capitalized as part of plantation development costs through the date that the plantation becomes commercially productive. Plantation development costs have been accumulated in the balance sheet during the development period and are being accounted for in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for agricultural producers and agricultural cooperatives. The initial plantations were deemed to be commercially productive on October 1, 2009, at which date the Company commenced the depreciation of plantation development costs over estimated useful lives of 10 to 35 years, depending on the nature of the development. Developments and other improvements with indefinite lives are capitalized and not depreciated. Other developments that have a limited life and intermediate-life plants that have growth and production cycles of more than one year are depreciated over their respective lives once they are placed in service. Land, plantation development costs, and plantation equipment are located in Mexico and in Belize and Dominican Republic

Except for costs incurred during the development period of the plantation, normal maintenance and repair items are charged to costs and expensed as incurred. During the development period, maintenance, repairs, and depreciation of plantation equipment have been capitalized as part of the plantation development costs. The cost and accumulated depreciation of property and equipment sold or otherwise retired are removed from the accounts and gain or loss on disposition is reflected in results of operations.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets - Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount that the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. At December 31, 2012, the Company reviewed its long-lived assets and determined a portion of the Deferred Growing Cost and Plantation Development Costs were impaired. See Note 11 for details.

Income Taxes

The Company utilizes the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and the carryforward of operating losses and tax credits, and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance against deferred tax assets is recorded when it is more likely than not that such tax benefits will not be realized. Assets and liabilities are established for uncertain tax positions taken or positions expected to be taken in income tax returns when such positions are judged to not meet the “more-likely-than-not” threshold based on the technical merits of the positions. Estimated interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are included as a component of general and administrative expense.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when all of the following criteria are met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; the seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; collectability is reasonably assured; and title and the risks and rewards of ownership have transferred to the buyer. Value added taxes collected on revenue transactions are excluded from revenue and are included in accounts payable until remittance to the taxation authority.

Jatropha oil revenue - The Company’s primary source of revenue will be crude Jatropha oil.  Revenue will be recognized net of sales or value added taxes and upon transfer of significant risks and rewards of ownership to the buyer. Revenue is not recognized when there are significant uncertainties regarding recovery of the consideration due, associated costs or the possible return of goods.

Advisory services revenue -  The Company provides development and management services to other companies regarding their bio-fuels and/or feedstock-Jatropha development operations, on a fee for services basis.  The advisory services revenue is recognized upon completion of the work in accordance with the separate contract.

Agricultural subsidies revenue - the Company receives agricultural subsidies from the Mexican government.  Due to the uncertainty of these payments, the revenue is recognized when the payments are received.

Foreign Currency

During 2012, the Company had operations located in the United States, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Belize. For these foreign operations, the functional currency is the local country’s currency. Consequently, revenues and expenses of operations outside the United States of America are translated into U.S. dollars using weighted average exchange rates, while assets and liabilities of operations outside the United States of America are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates at the balance sheet date. The effects of foreign currency translation adjustments are included in equity (deficit) as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Foreign currency transaction adjustments are included in other income (expense) in the Company’s results of operations.

Certain foreign currency transactions related to the discontinued bio-pharmaceutical business are primarily undertaken in Euros. Gains and losses arising on translation or settlement of foreign currency denominated transactions or balances are included in the determination of income or loss. Consequently, certain foreign currency gains and losses have been included in income from discontinued operations.

The Company has not entered into derivative instruments to offset the impact of foreign currency fluctuations.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for accounts receivable and payable approximate fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The carrying amounts reported for the various notes payable and the mortgage note payable approximate fair value because the underlying instruments are at interest rates which approximate current market rates.  See Note 11 for additional information regarding assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

Estimates

Management uses estimates and assumptions in preparing financial statements. Those estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and reported revenues and expenses. Significant estimates used in preparing these financial statements include a) those assumed in determining the valuation of common stock, warrants, and stock options, b) estimated useful lives of plantation equipment and plantation development costs, and c) undiscounted future cash flows for purpose of evaluating possible impairment of long-term assets. It is at least reasonably possible that the significant estimates used will change within the next year.

Income/Loss per Common Share

Income/Loss per share amounts are computed by dividing income or loss applicable to the common shareholders of the Company by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted income or loss per share amounts are computed assuming the issuance of common stock for potentially dilutive common stock equivalents.  The number of dilutive warrants and options is computed using the treasury stock method, whereby the dilutive effect is reduced by the number of treasury shares the Company could purchase with the proceeds from exercises of warrants and options.

The following instruments are currently antidilutive and have been excluded from the calculations of diluted income or loss per share at December 31, 2012 and 2011, as follows: 

Stock Based Compensation

The Company recognizes compensation expense for stock-based awards expected to vest on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award based on their grant date fair value. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using a Black-Scholes option pricing model which requires management to make estimates for certain assumptions regarding risk-free interest rate, expected life of options, expected volatility of stock and expected dividend yield of stock.

New Accounting Guidelines

In June 2011, the FASB issued authoritative guidance requiring entities to report components of other comprehensive income in either a single continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive statements of net income and other comprehensive income. The company has included a consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.