KiOR gets $50 million from Khosla to double production

In Texas, KiOR announced that it is pursuing plans to double production capacity at its Columbus, Mississippi, cellulosic fuels facility through construction of a second facility incorporating KiOR’s commercially proven technology. KiOR estimates that the project – Columbus II – will cost approximately $225 million, will break ground within 90 days of the Company raising sufficient equity and debt capital to commence the project, and will take approximately 18 months to construct and start up.

Once completed with its latest technology improvements, KiOR expects that the Columbus II project will allow each Columbus facility to achieve greater yields, production capacity and feedstock flexibility than the original design basis for the existing Columbus facility, enabling KiOR to more quickly make progress towards its long-term goal of 92 gallons per bone dry ton of biomass.

KiOR also announced that it has received commitments, subject only to negotiation and execution of final documentation, from Khosla Ventures and Vinod Khosla for an aggregate commitment of up to $50 million as the cornerstone investor for the Columbus II project and to meet the Company’s ongoing liquidity needs. Khosla Ventures and Mr. Khosla have advised that they are prepared to fund these commitments either as part of a broader debt and/or equity financing structure, in connection with a note that would convert at a premium to the current price of the Company’s Common Stock or on alternative terms if requested by the Company, and mutually agreed by the parties, as in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders.