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Results for the Third Quarter of 2022:
OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2022. Net loss attributable to the company was $73.5 million, or $(1.27) per basic and diluted share compared to net loss attributable to the company of $59.6 million or $(1.18) per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2021. Revenues were $955.0 million compared with $746.8 million for the same period last year. EBITDA was $(35.6) million compared to $(16.6) million for the same period in the prior year.
“Our third quarter financial performance was largely driven by record high corn basis levels across our platform, resulting in a weak ethanol margin environment,” said Todd Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The consolidated crush margin of $(0.09) per gallon also included accelerated seasonal maintenance at 10 of our 11 plants, which added repairs and maintenance costs and reduced utilization to 91%, as well as an LCM inventory adjustment, without which would have resulted in a near breakeven crush margin. Our early seasonal maintenance has now positioned our plants to operate at higher utilization rates in the fourth quarter. While still elevated, we have seen corn basis break from recent highs as harvest is nearing completion and based on our current outlook, we anticipate an improved and positive fourth quarter margin environment. Finally, our balance sheet remains strong and our path to 2024 remains fully intact.”
The commissioning of the MSC™ system at the company’s biorefinery in Central City, Nebraska, contributed to the record renewable corn oil yield during the quarter. Commissioning of the MSC system in Mount Vernon, Indiana, began in October and the system in Obion, Tennessee, will start commissioning in the next few weeks.
“We remain on track to have MSC technology operating at over 50% of our platform by the end of 2022, and will have capacity to produce over 330,000 tons of protein next year,” added Becker. “We continue to see growing acceptance, expect higher volumes in all sectors and have begun to contract sales for next year. We recently renewed and increased our annual sales volume for pet food applications for 2023. During the fourth quarter we are shipping to aqua, pet, poultry, swine, and dairy customers in North America, South America and Asia Pacific. The uniqueness and scale of our platform allow us to provide higher volume and redundancy, tailored product solutions around protein levels and nutritional characteristics, and world class quality control across our product suite.”
The company expects to have over 400 million pounds of renewable corn oil capacity by the end of 2024, backed by Fluid Quip Technologies’ industry leading IP portfolio including DCO Technology™ and MSC technology.
“Our strong position in renewable corn oil in a growing demand environment has set us up to benefit from higher yields as we start up additional MSC systems,” continued Becker. “At current market values, we believe our renewable corn oil platform provides a significant value driver for our shareholders and we anticipate that this low-carbon feedstock market will remain tight for years to come, strengthening our confidence in our forward outlook. We continue to grow and monetize our position as a leader in low- carbon feedstocks.”
The company has broken ground on its first commercial clean sugar facility in Shenandoah, Iowa, where it is deploying Fluid Quip Technologies’ CST™ process supported by strong IP protections.
“Construction on our first commercial clean sugar facility to produce low-carbon dextrose is underway at our Shenandoah, Iowa, biorefinery, and discussions are progressing with interested parties to co-locate at our rapidly expanding bio-campus, as well as with customers that want to use the product at their sites,” said Becker. “When completed, the first phase will have the capability to produce in excess of 200 million pounds of refined and unrefined 43, 63 and 95 dextrose products for use in food, chemical, synthetic biology and industrial production processes.”
“Lastly, the economic outlook for carbon capture and sequestration has significantly improved as details on the Inflation Reduction Act have become clearer, which enhances our ability to deliver future financial contributions from carbon reduction initiatives,” concluded Becker. “We remain confident of the fundamentals in protein, oil, sugar and carbon to deliver on our transformation plan. We intend to capitalize on these unique opportunities to allow us to move away from ethanol margin volatility and toward strategies and initiatives that are aligned with macro tailwinds to feed and fuel a growing world in need of low-carbon solutions.”
Highlights and Recent Developments
Results of Operations
Green Plains ethanol production segment sold 219.2 million gallons of ethanol during the third quarter of 2022, compared with 181.2 million gallons for the same period in 2021. The consolidated ethanol crush margin was $(20.5) million, or $(0.09) per gallon, for the third quarter of 2022, compared with $1.1 million, or $0.01 per gallon, for the same period in 2021. The consolidated ethanol crush margin is the ethanol production segment’s operating income before depreciation and amortization, which includes corn oil and Ultra-High Protein, plus intercompany storage, transportation, nonrecurring decommissioning costs and other fees, net of related expenses.
Consolidated revenues increased $208.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared with the same period in 2021, primarily due to higher prices and higher volumes sold for ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil.
Net loss increased $13.5 million and EBITDA decreased $18.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to lower ethanol crush margins. Interest expense increased $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared with the same period in 2021. Income tax benefit was $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared with income tax expense of $7 thousand for the same period in 2021, primarily due to a decrease in the valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets included in AOCI for the three months ended September 30, 2022.
Segment Information
The company reports the financial and operating performance for the following three operating segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production of ethanol, including industrial-grade alcohol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein and corn oil, (2) agribusiness and energy services, which includes grain handling and storage, commodity marketing and merchant trading for company-produced and third-party ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil, natural gas and other commodities and (3) partnership, which includes fuel storage and transportation services. Intercompany fees charged to the ethanol production segment for storage and logistics services, grain procurement and product sales are included in the partnership and agribusiness and energy services segments and eliminated upon consolidation. Third-party costs of grain consumed and revenues from product sales are reported directly in the ethanol production segment.
GREEN PLAINS INC.
SEGMENT OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands) Three Months Ended
September 30, Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2022 2021 % Var. 2022 2021 % Var.Revenues: Ethanol production$ 811,015 $ 588,349 37.8% $ 2,309,734 $ 1,567,344 47.4%Agribusiness and energy services 149,762 162,774 (8.0) 456,033 470,205 (3.0)Partnership 20,066 19,251 4.2 58,820 59,358 (0.9)Intersegment eliminations (25,866) (23,583) 9.7 (75,781) (72,058) 5.2 $ 954,977 $ 746,791 27.9% $ 2,748,806 $ 2,024,849 35.8% Gross margin: Ethanol production$ (32,828) $ (9,505) 245.4% $ (490) $ 60,309 (100.8)%Agribusiness and energy services 9,840 8,347 17.9 38,016 29,523 28.8Partnership 20,066 19,251 4.2 58,820 59,358 (0.9)Intersegment eliminations 1,042 (1,481) 170.4 1,780 (3,161) 156.3 $ (1,880) $ 16,612 (111.3)% $ 98,126 $ 146,029 (32.8)% Depreciation and amortization: Ethanol production$ 21,555 $ 25,644 (15.9 %) $ 59,101 $ 62,655 (5.7 %)Agribusiness and energy services 1,280 870 47.1 2,214 2,072 6.9Partnership 1,194 1,089 9.6 2,915 2,771 5.2Corporate activities 618 677 (8.7) 1,783 1,995 (10.6) $ 24,647 $ 28,280 (12.8 %) $ 66,013 $ 69,493 (5.0 %) Operating income (loss): Ethanol production (1)$ (64,121) $ (44,192) 45.1% $ (87,773) $ (30,969) 183.4%Agribusiness and energy services 5,205 3,225 61.4 25,894 15,720 64.7Partnership 11,993 12,417 (3.4) 35,906 37,204 (3.5)Intersegment eliminations 1,042 (1,481) 170.4 1,780 (3,161) 156.3Corporate activities (2) (15,999) (14,644) 9.3 (51,748) (1,089) * $ (61,880) $ (44,675) 38.5% $ (75,941) $ 17,705 * Adjusted EBITDA: Ethanol production (1)$ (42,471) $ (18,524) 129.3% $ (517) $ 31,739 (101.6)%Agribusiness and energy services 6,536 3,818 71.2 28,009 17,515 59.9Partnership 13,270 13,679 (3.0) 39,275 40,492 (3.0)Intersegment eliminations 1,042 (1,480) 170.4 1,780 (3,160) 156.3Corporate activities (2) (13,945) (14,129) (1.3) (47,553) (55) *EBITDA (35,568) (16,636) 113.8 20,994 86,531 (75.7)Other income (3) — — * (27,712) — *Loss (gain) on sale of assets, net — 1,823 * — (31,245) *Proportional share of EBITDA adjustments to equity method investees 45 45 — 135 139 (2.9) $ (35,523) $ (14,768) 140.5% $ (6,583) $ 55,425 (111.9)%
(1) Operating loss for ethanol production includes an inventory lower of cost or net realizable value adjustment of $11.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.
(2) Includes corporate expenses, offset by a loss on sale of assets of $1.8 million and a $31.2 million gain on sale of assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively.
(3) Other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, includes a grant received from the USDA related to the Biofuel Producer Program of $27.7 million.
* Percentage variances not considered meaningful
GREEN PLAINS INC.
SELECTED OPERATING DATA
(unaudited, in thousands) Three Months Ended
September 30, Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2022 2021 % Var. 2022 2021 % Var. Ethanol production Ethanol sold (gallons) 219,166 181,214 20.9% 646,927 550,127 17.6%Distillers grains sold (equivalent dried tons) 586 492 19.1 1,695 1,459 16.2Corn oil sold (pounds) 72,975 55,397 31.7 204,502 156,835 30.4Corn consumed (bushels) 75,308 62,524 20.4 223,830 189,544 18.1 Agribusiness and energy services (1) Domestic ethanol sold (gallons) 276,866 213,348 29.8 689,684 620,442 11.2Export ethanol sold (gallons) 13,076 23,721 (44.9) 122,049 112,146 8.8 289,942 237,069 22.3 811,733 732,588 10.8 Partnership Storage and throughput (gallons) 219,719 182,240 20.6% 649,417 553,058 17.4%
(1) Includes gallons from the ethanol production segment
GREEN PLAINS INC.
CONSOLIDATED CRUSH MARGIN
(unaudited, in thousands except per gallon amounts) Three Months Ended
September 30, Three Months Ended
September 30, 2022 2021 2022 2021 ($ per gallon produced) Ethanol production operating loss (1)$ (64,121) $ (44,192) $ (0.29) $ (0.24)Depreciation and amortization 21,555 25,644 0.10 0.14Total adjusted ethanol production (42,566) (18,548) (0.19) (0.10) Intercompany fees, net: Storage and logistics (partnership) 12,589 12,775 0.06 0.07Marketing and agribusiness fees (2) (agribusiness and energy services) 9,514 6,846 0.04 0.04Consolidated ethanol crush margin$ (20,463) $ 1,073 $ (0.09) $ 0.01
(1) Operating loss for ethanol production includes an inventory lower of cost or net realizable value adjustment of $11.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.
(2) For the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, includes $3.8 million and $2.5 million, respectively, for certain nonrecurring decommissioning and nonethanol operation costs.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2022, Green Plains had $512.4 million in total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities, and $155.0 million available under a committed revolving credit facility, which is subject to restrictions and other lending conditions. Total debt outstanding at September 30, 2022 was $703.2 million, including $206.1 million outstanding debt under working capital revolvers and other short-term borrowing arrangements and $58.5 million of non-recourse debt related to Green Plains Partners, net of debt issuance costs.
Conference Call Information
On November 3, 2022 Green Plains Inc. and Green Plains Partners LP will host a joint conference call at 9 a.m. Eastern time (8 a.m. Central time) to discuss third quarter 2022 operating results for each company. To participate in the live call, please pre-register here. All registrants will receive dial-in information and a unique PIN. Alternatively, the conference call and presentation will be accessible on Green Plains’ website at https://investor.gpreinc.com/events-presentations.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management uses EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, segment EBITDA and consolidated ethanol crush margins to measure the company’s financial performance and to internally manage its businesses. EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization excluding the change in right-of-use assets. Adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments related to our proportional share of EBITDA adjustments of our equity method investees, gains and losses related to the sale of assets, and other income associated with the USDA COVID-19 relief grant. Management believes these measures provide useful information to investors for comparison with peer and other companies. These measures should not be considered alternatives to net income or segment operating income, which are determined in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP calculations may vary from company to company. Accordingly, the company’s computation of adjusted EBITDA, segment EBITDA and consolidated ethanol crush margins may not be comparable with similarly titled measures of another company.
About Green Plains Inc.
Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is a leading biorefining company focused on the development and utilization of fermentation, agricultural and biological technologies in the processing of annually renewable crops into sustainable value-added ingredients. This includes the production of cleaner low-carbon biofuels, renewable feedstocks for advanced biofuels and high purity alcohols for use in cleaners and disinfectants. Green Plains is an innovative producer of Ultra-High Protein and novel ingredients for animal and aquaculture diets to help satisfy a growing global appetite for sustainable protein. The Company also owns a 48.8% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest in Green Plains Partners LP. For more information, visit www.gpreinc.com.
About Green Plains Partners LP
Green Plains Partners LP (NASDAQ:GPP) is a fee-based Delaware limited partnership formed by Green Plains Inc. to provide fuel storage and transportation services by owning, operating, developing and acquiring ethanol and fuel storage terminals, transportation assets and other related assets and businesses. For more information about Green Plains Partners, visit www.greenplainspartners.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views, which are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, anticipated financial and operating results, plans and objectives that are not historical in nature. These statements may be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar expressions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include: disruption caused by health epidemics, such as the coronavirus outbreak, competition in the industries in which Green Plains operates; commodity market risks, financial market risks; counterparty risks; risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, including changes to tax laws; risks related to closing and achieving anticipated results from acquisitions and disposals. Other factors can include risks associated with Green Plains’ ability to realize higher margins anticipated from the company’s high protein feed initiative or to achieve anticipated benefits from its plant upgrade and modernization program and other risks discussed in Green Plains’ reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Green Plains assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
GREEN PLAINS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands) September 30,
2022 December 31,
2021 (unaudited) ASSETSCurrent assets Cash and cash equivalents$ 420,838 $ 426,220Restricted cash 66,610 134,739Marketable securities 24,989 124,859Accounts receivable, net 118,362 119,961Income taxes receivable 1,072 911Inventories 258,852 267,838Other current assets 44,890 43,221Total current assets 935,613 1,117,749Property and equipment, net 1,016,349 893,517Operating lease right-of-use assets 63,464 64,042Other assets 86,114 84,447Total assets$ 2,101,540 $ 2,159,755 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITYCurrent liabilities Accounts payable$ 123,035 $ 146,063Accrued and other liabilities 45,947 56,980Derivative financial instruments 25,883 43,244Operating lease current liabilities 17,800 16,814Short-term notes payable and other borrowings 206,102 173,418Current maturities of long-term debt 1,835 35,285Total current liabilities 420,602 471,804Long-term debt 495,269 514,006Operating lease long-term liabilities 48,934 49,795Other liabilities 23,501 22,131Total liabilities 988,306 1,057,736 Stockholders' equity Total Green Plains stockholders' equity 962,042 950,500Noncontrolling interests 151,192 151,519Total stockholders' equity 1,113,234 1,102,019Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$ 2,101,540 $ 2,159,755
GREEN PLAINS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands except per share amounts) Three Months Ended
September 30, Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2022 2021 % Var. 2022 2021 % Var.Revenues Product revenues$ 946,852 $ 745,240 27.1% $ 2,733,477 $ 2,019,006 35.4%Service revenues 8,125 1,551 423.9 15,329 5,843 162.3Total revenues 954,977 746,791 27.9 2,748,806 2,024,849 35.8 Costs and expenses Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation and amortization expenses reflected below) 956,857 730,179 31.0 2,650,680 1,878,820 41.1Operations and maintenance expenses 6,287 5,162 21.8 18,012 17,153 5.0Selling, general and administrative expenses 29,066 26,022 11.7 90,042 72,923 23.5Loss (gain) on sale of assets, net — 1,823 * — (31,245) *Depreciation and amortization expenses 24,647 28,280 (12.8) 66,013 69,493 (5.0)Total costs and expenses 1,016,857 791,466 28.5 2,824,747 2,007,144 40.7Operating income (loss) (61,880) (44,675) 38.5 (75,941) 17,705 * Other income (expense) Interest income 1,763 25 * 2,640 496 *Interest expense (9,576) (9,488) 0.9 (26,182) (60,225) (56.5)Other, net (182) (440) (58.6) 28,394 (1,680) *Total other income (expense) (7,995) (9,903) (19.3) 4,852 (61,409) (107.9)Loss before income taxes and income (loss) from equity method investees (69,875) (54,578) 28.0 (71,089) (43,704) 62.7Income tax benefit (expense) 1,888 (7) * 146 2,914 (95.0)Income (loss) from equity method investees 84 174 (51.7) (112) 517 (121.7)Net loss (67,903) (54,411) 24.8 (71,055) (40,273) 76.4Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 5,623 5,211 7.9 17,547 16,151 8.6Net loss attributable to Green Plains$ (73,526) $ (59,622) 23.3% $ (88,602) $ (56,424) 57.0% Earnings per share: Net loss attributable to Green Plains - basic and diluted$ (1.27) $ (1.18) $ (1.62) $ (1.27) Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic and diluted 57,677 50,482 54,550 44,581
* Percentage variances not considered meaningful
GREEN PLAINS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited, in thousands) Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2022 2021Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss$ (71,055) $ (40,273)Noncash operating adjustments: Depreciation and amortization 66,013 69,493Gain on sale of assets, net — (31,245)Inventory lower of cost or net realizable value adjustment 11,177 —Loss on extinguishment of debt 419 32,645Other 10,707 8,611Net change in working capital (51,727) (67,103)Net cash used in operating activities (34,466) (27,872) Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment, net (183,225) (123,687)Proceeds from the sale of assets — 87,217Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities 99,917 —Other investing activities (6,976) (7,000)Net cash used in investing activities (90,284) (43,470) Cash flows from financing activities: Net proceeds - long term debt 43,653 178,995Net proceeds - short-term borrowings 33,602 17,863Proceeds from issuance of common stock — 356,011Other (26,016) (35,442)Net cash provided by financing activities 51,239 517,427 Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (73,511) 446,085Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period 560,959 274,810Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period$ 487,448 $ 720,895 Reconciliation of total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash: Cash and cash equivalents$ 420,838 $ 589,822Restricted cash 66,610 131,073Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash$ 487,448 $ 720,895
GREEN PLAINS INC.
RECONCILIATIONS TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(unaudited, in thousands) Three Months Ended
September 30, Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2022 2021 2022 2021Net loss$ (67,903) $ (54,411) $ (71,055) $ (40,273)Interest expense (1) 9,576 9,488 26,182 60,225Income tax expense (benefit) (1,888) 7 (146) (2,914)Depreciation and amortization (2) 24,647 28,280 66,013 69,493EBITDA (35,568) (16,636) 20,994 86,531Other income (3) — — (27,712) —Loss (gain) on sale of assets, net — 1,823 — (31,245)Proportional share of EBITDA adjustments to equity method investees 45 45 135 139Adjusted EBITDA$ (35,523) $ (14,768) $ (6,583) $ 55,425
(1) Interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, includes a loss on settlement of convertible notes of $419 thousand, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 includes a loss upon extinguishment of convertible notes of $22.1 million and a loss on settlement of convertible notes of $9.5 million.
(2) Excludes amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets and amortization of debt issuance costs.
(3) Other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, includes a grant received from the USDA related to the Biofuel Producer Program of $27.7 million.
Green Plains Inc. ContactsInvestors: Phil Boggs | Executive Vice President, Investor Relations | 402.884.8700 | phil.boggs@gpreinc.com Media: Lisa Gibson | Communications Manager | 402.952.4971 | lisa.gibson@gpreinc.com