HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURAED-2010-04-13Approved 6-8-10 Ithaca
Urban
Renewal
Agency
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
(607) 274-6559
(607) 274-6558 (fax)
MINUTES
IURA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
3:30 PM, Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Present: Doug Dylla, Martha Armstrong, Jennifer Tegan
Staff: Nels Bohn, Alice Vargo
Guest: Tom Schryver, Chief Financial Officer, e2e Materials, Inc.
I. Call to order
The meeting was called to order at 3:35 P.M. by Chairperson Dylla.
II. Additions to or deletions from the agenda
Tegan requested an update on new committee members.
III. Public comment (3 minute maximum per person) - None
IV. Review of meeting notes of February 24, 2010 meeting
February’s notes were not included in agenda packet.
V. Community Development Revolving Loan Fund
A. Request for loan assistance by e2e Materials, Inc. for development of prototype facility –
resolution
Bohn gave a brief overview of the e2e company and the loan request. He stated that this would be
a high risk loan and that the IURA does not have experience or possess a well-developed
framework for underwriting a pre-revenue, high-tech, venture-backed start-up company. He noted
that positive aspects of the loan application include the significant amount of venture capital that
e2e has been able to attract to date, including a recent $1.1 million equity round closed in 2010
and that they have proof of concept agreements with several potentially large customers to
demonstrate the applicability of their product.
He noted that IURA loan funds will be used to acquire specialized equipment and machinery that
will provide collateral value equal to approximately 50% of the requested loan amount.
He offered the committee a draft resolution with two options. Option “A” declines the loan due to
the uncertainty of permanent job creation as no executed agreements are in place to create
revenue and recommends that the IURA develop a framework for underwriting loans for high-tech
businesses. Option “B” approves the loan based on the potential exceptional public benefits, and
IURA EDC Minutes
April 13, 2010
Page 2 of 6
quality job opportunities, the e2e business could produce and recognizes that Cornell University
based technology spin offs are critical to grow and diversify the local economy.
Tegan disclosed that she is employee of Cayuga Venture Funds II, who is an investor in e2e. She
indicated she would abstain from this item as she has a conflict of interest.
Members asked questions of Tom Schryver and discussed the business plan, the e2e technology
and prospects for commercialization, e2e’s relationship with specific customers and their exit
strategy. Several members viewed high-tech, start-up firms as a critical engine of growth for the
local economy and thought that e2e was at an appropriate stage to seek out IURA debt financing.
Armstrong moved, seconded by Dylla
CD-RLF – Loan Assistance to e2e Materials, Inc.
Whereas, on March 24, 2010, e2e Materials, Inc. (e2e) applied for $100,000 of loan assistance for
a $444,202 project to develop a pilot production facility at 239 Cherry Street, Ithaca, NY, and
Whereas, e2e is a venture-backed corporation based in Ithaca, NY commercializing biocomposite
technology developed at Cornell University as a substitute for traditional wood composites (e.g.,
particle board) and for other applications in markets including furniture, cabinetry, green building
and transportation, and
Whereas, e2e holds patents and an exclusive licensing agreement for production of moldable,
high-strength, naturally fire-retardant, non-toxic biocomposites, and
Whereas, the primary objectives of the Community Development Revolving Loan Program (CD-
RLF) is provision of direct financing for economic development activities to create employment
opportunities, facilitate the expansion of business activity within the City of Ithaca and expansion of
the City’s commercial and industrial tax base, and
Whereas, CD-RLF financing policy establishes maximum loan amount of $40,000 for a retail
business and $75,000 for a non-retail business except where the IURA determines that the project
will result in an extraordinary degree of public benefit, and
Whereas, the project is projected to create five (5) full-time equivalent (FTE) employment positions
(projected to earn at least $12 per hour), of which at least 51% are projected to be filled by low-
and moderate-income persons, and
Whereas, the proposed use of project funds is:
$360,552 machinery & equipment
$ 34,400 renovation and installation
$ 49,250 labor & transportation
$444,202 Total, and
IURA EDC Minutes
April 13, 2010
Page 3 of 6
Whereas, the proposed sources of project funds is:
$125,000 Tompkins County Area Development
$219,202 equity
$100,000 IURA
$444,202 Total
Whereas, e2e had an initial close on Series A equity round on January 12, 2010 that has raised
$1,100,000 to date with an additional $250,000 that may be raised prior to the closing date in May,
and
Whereas, e2e identifies five stages of development for commercializing their technology are:
1. Proof of concept
2. Prototyping
3. Product development
4. Pilot production
5. Full volume production, and
Whereas, e2e is in the proof of concept stage/prototype stage where they are demonstrating their
ability to net shape components for special markets and produce small runs, and
Whereas, the project will build prototype capacity in the form of two compression presses which
can produce molded product and flat sheets as large as 4’ x 8’ in size, and
Whereas, e2e has engaged three customers on proof of concept/prototype projects for potential
use of e2e’s products, and
Whereas, the TCAD Loan Committee has reapproved a loan to e2e as follows:
Amount: $125,000
Loan term: 5 years at 9% interest, interest-only payments for 2 years; amortized over
following 3 years
Disbursement: Lump sum at loan closing
Collateral: Shared 1st security interest with IURA in equipment to be purchased
Warrants: Warrant coverage equal to 5% of loan amount to purchase preferred stock at
the current Series A share price ($3.14);
Job Creation: Creation of 5 jobs, of which at least 50% will be made available to LMI
persons
Lease: Submission of a signed, minimum one-year lease at 239 Cherry Street, and
Whereas, the project machinery and equipment purchased is estimated by IURA staff to have a net
collateral value of $90,000 – $150,000 in event of a loan default, and
Whereas, the proposed CD-RLF loan will leverage $219,202 in private sector investment, and
Whereas, the balance of available funds for new economic development loans is $600,587 as of
March 31, 2010, and
IURA EDC Minutes
April 13, 2010
Page 4 of 6
Whereas, at their April 13, 2010 meeting, the IURA Economic Development Committee reviewed
credit analysis report on the loan application prepared by Robert Deemer, Jr. of H. Sicherman &
Co., and considered applicable provisions of the IURA Economic Development Policy Guidelines
and Operating Plan, and recommended the following, now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby waives the maximum loan amount from the CD-RLF for this
application in recognition of the exceptional public benefits resulting from project, including:
Creation of skilled production employment positions, with the potential for significant
additional growth of skilled employment positions;
Support the growth of a Cornell University based technology spin-off firm to diversity
the economic base of the community and expand the manufacturing sector;
Development of a home-grown “green” company making products that are safe,
sustainable products to replace materials that currently use toxins (formaldehyde) and
petroleum, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby approves an IURA loan from the Community Development
Revolving Loan Fund in accordance with the loan application, and the following terms:
Borrower: E2e Materials, Inc., a Delaware C-Corporation.
Loan Amount: $100,000
Project: Prototype facility at 239 Cherry Street, Ithaca, NY
Projected Use of
Funds:
Machinery & equipment
Term: 5 years (60 months)
Interest Rate:
9%
Repayment: Monthly interest-only payments ($900/month) for 2 years, then
level monthly principal and interest payments (approximately
$3,178/ month) to fully amortize the loan over 3 years.
Warrants: Warrant coverage equal to 5% of the loan amount ($5,000) to
purchase the company’s existing preferred stock; number of
shares covered by warrant to be calculated by dividing $5,000
by the current Series A share price ($3.14 as of March 2010);
the strike price per share to be the current Series A share price;
exercisable for a period of 10 years (with provisions that provide
for termination, if not exercised, upon a change of control of the
company).
IURA EDC Minutes
April 13, 2010
Page 5 of 6
Collateral: 1st security interest in machinery and equipment purchased to
be shared on a pro rata basis (44.4%) with Tompkins County
Area Development on machinery and equipment purchased.
Guarantor(s): None
Conditions: Creation of at least five (5) full-time equivalent employment
positions of which at least 51% must be held by low- and
moderate-income persons.
Loan shall become due and payable in event the prototype
facility or jobs created as a result of this loan are relocated
outside of the City of Ithaca.
Quarterly job reporting to document job creation.
Annual submission of independent accountant-prepared balance
sheet & profit & loss statement
Submission of a minimum one-year term lease at 239 Cherry
Street, or other location within the City of Ithaca.
RESOLVED, that the Director of Community Development for the IURA is authorized to issue a
loan commitment in accordance with this resolution, and be it further
RESOLVED, that IURA Chair, upon the advise of the Executive Director and IURA Attorney, is
hereby authorized to execute all necessary and appropriate documents to implement this
resolution, including, but not limited to, executing loan agreement documents, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Economic Development Committee is hereby directed to develop a
recommended framework and underwriting guidelines for use of CDBG loan funds to assist pre-
revenue, high-tech, venture-backed businesses.
Recommended for approval 2-0-1
Dylla - Yes
Armstrong - Yes
Tegan - Abstain
VI. Staff Report
Loan Repayment/Staff Report
Bohn reported that all loan repayments are up-to-date except for Diane’s State Street Auto
and the State Theatre. State Theatre said they didn’t realize they missed a payment back in
November 2009; they will look into this and correct it. Bohn thinks Diane’s Auto may benefit
from a loan restructuring to extend the term and reduce monthly repayments. He is arranging
to meet with her to review her financials and discuss a restructuring.
IURA EDC Minutes
April 13, 2010
Page 6 of 6
Trends of Ithaca, LLC – Bohn state that the Trends home furnishing retail business failed
several years ago, but the owner has honored his repayments on the $50,000 loan. The
owners thought the loan would be paid in full after the July 2010 payment, but according to
M&T Bank, our loan servicing agent, there is a remaining principal balance of $116. Bohn
indicated this is unusual as loan payment schedule is structured to have level monthly
payments that fully retire the debt by the end of the loan term. M&T Bank has not been able to
fully explain the remaining principal balance. The owners of Trends have requested that the
$116 balance as stated by the M&T Bank be waived and have the loan considered to be paid
in full.
Armstrong moved, seconded by Dylla, to recognize the Trends of Ithaca LLC loan as
paid in full.
Unanimously approved 3-0
Bohn also reported that PB Associates have refinanced their loan on the Castaways property
on Inlet Island through CFCU and have repaid their IURA loan, which had an approximately
$54,000 outstanding balance. He also noted that he met with Buffalo Street Books and they
are reporting slightly increased profits in 2009, although the owner expresses concern that
profitability is still very modest and cash flow is problematic each summer. An assistant
manager has been hired to exploit revenue increasing initiatives and relieve the owner of
some responsibilities.
All are current except for Diane’s Auto and State Theatre. State Theatre did not realize they
missed a payment, they will look into it. Bohn will set up a meeting with Diane, he believes she
may need to restructure her payments; she will bring in her financials to this meeting.
VII. Old and Other Business
A. Suggestions for possible new Committee Members
The Committee suggested several names for possible new members; Bohn will contact them to
see if they are interested in becoming a member of this committee.
VIII. Next meeting date: May 11, 2010
IX. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 5:09 PM by consensus.
END
Minutes prepared by A. Vargo, edited by N. Bohn