Item 1. Financial Statements.
GREEN PLAINS INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share amounts)
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| March 31,
2024 | | December 31,
2023 |
| (unaudited) | | |
| ASSETS |
| Current assets | | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 237,302 | | | $ | 349,574 | |
| Restricted cash | 40,080 | | | 29,188 | |
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $80 and $85, respectively | 87,556 | | | 94,446 | |
| Income taxes receivable | 716 | | | 822 | |
| Inventories | 191,149 | | | 215,810 | |
| Prepaid expenses and other | 23,745 | | | 23,118 | |
| Derivative financial instruments | 7,893 | | | 19,772 | |
| Total current assets | 588,441 | | | 732,730 | |
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $705,382 and $686,077, respectively | 1,022,041 | | | 1,021,928 | |
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 75,236 | | | 73,993 | |
| Other assets | 113,717 | | | 110,671 | |
| Total assets | $ | 1,799,435 | | | $ | 1,939,322 | |
| | | |
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
| Current liabilities | | | |
| Accounts payable | $ | 123,573 | | | $ | 186,643 | |
| Accrued and other liabilities | 50,346 | | | 57,029 | |
| Derivative financial instruments | 6,687 | | | 10,577 | |
| Operating lease current liabilities | 23,930 | | | 22,908 | |
| Short-term notes payable and other borrowings | 130,038 | | | 105,973 | |
| Current maturities of long-term debt | 1,828 | | | 1,832 | |
| Total current liabilities | 336,402 | | | 384,962 | |
| Long-term debt | 490,295 | | | 491,918 | |
| Operating lease long-term liabilities | 54,121 | | | 53,879 | |
| Other liabilities | 18,149 | | | 18,507 | |
| Total liabilities | 898,967 | | | 949,266 | |
| | | |
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 13) | | | |
| | | |
| Stockholders' equity | | | |
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 67,421,931 and 62,326,622 shares issued, and 64,616,872 and 59,521,563 shares outstanding, respectively | 67 | | | 62 | |
| Additional paid-in capital | 1,209,672 | | | 1,113,806 | |
| Retained deficit | (287,213) | | | (235,801) | |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (3,898) | | | (3,160) | |
Treasury stock, 2,805,059 shares | (31,174) | | | (31,174) | |
| Total Green Plains stockholders' equity | 887,454 | | | 843,733 | |
| Noncontrolling interests | 13,014 | | | 146,323 | |
| Total stockholders' equity | 900,468 | | | 990,056 | |
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 1,799,435 | | | $ | 1,939,322 | |
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
GREEN PLAINS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| | | | |
| Revenues | $ | 597,214 | | | $ | 832,949 | |
| | | |
| Costs and expenses | | | |
| Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation and amortization expenses reflected below) | 588,847 | | | 832,258 | |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 31,769 | | | 31,845 | |
| Depreciation and amortization expenses | 21,487 | | | 25,386 | |
| Total costs and expenses | 642,103 | | | 889,489 | |
| Operating loss | (44,889) | | | (56,540) | |
| | | |
| Other income (expense) | | | |
| Interest income | 2,510 | | | 3,165 | |
| Interest expense | (7,786) | | | (9,738) | |
| Other, net | 449 | | | 189 | |
| Total other expense | (4,827) | | | (6,384) | |
| Loss before income taxes and income (loss) from equity method investees | (49,716) | | | (62,924) | |
| Income tax expense | (329) | | | (3,429) | |
| Income (loss) from equity method investees | (1,077) | | | 104 | |
| Net loss | (51,122) | | | (66,249) | |
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 290 | | | 4,075 | |
| Net loss attributable to Green Plains | $ | (51,412) | | | $ | (70,324) | |
| | | |
| Earnings per share | | | |
| Net loss attributable to Green Plains - basic and diluted | $ | (0.81) | | | $ | (1.20) | |
| | | |
| Weighted average shares outstanding | | | |
| Basic and diluted | 63,341 | | | 58,549 | |
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
GREEN PLAINS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(unaudited and in thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Net loss | $ | (51,122) | | | $ | (66,249) | |
| Other comprehensive loss, net of tax | | | |
Unrealized losses on derivatives arising during the period, net of tax benefit of $1,916 and $4,023, respectively | (6,043) | | | (12,788) | |
Reclassification of realized losses on derivatives, net of tax benefit of ($1,682) and ($535), respectively | 5,305 | | | 1,701 | |
| Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax | (738) | | | (11,087) | |
| Comprehensive loss | (51,860) | | | (77,336) | |
| Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 290 | | | 4,075 | |
| Comprehensive loss attributable to Green Plains | $ | (52,150) | | | $ | (81,411) | |
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
GREEN PLAINS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited and in thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Cash flows from operating activities | | | |
| Net loss | $ | (51,122) | | | $ | (66,249) | |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 21,487 | | | 25,386 | |
| Amortization of debt issuance costs and non-cash interest expense | 609 | | | 717 | |
| Inventory lower of average cost or net realizable value adjustment | 4,202 | | | — | |
| Deferred income tax expense | 233 | | | 3,491 | |
| Stock-based compensation | 3,053 | | | 2,828 | |
| Loss (income) from equity method investees | 1,077 | | | (104) | |
| Other | 858 | | | 1,625 | |
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities | | | |
| Accounts receivable | 6,890 | | | 2,064 | |
| Inventories | 20,459 | | | (757) | |
| Derivative financial instruments | 7,010 | | | 10,287 | |
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | (627) | | | (3,215) | |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (65,787) | | | (94,131) | |
| Current income taxes | 446 | | | 452 | |
| Other | 613 | | | 638 | |
| Net cash used in operating activities | (50,599) | | | (116,968) | |
| | | |
| Cash flows from investing activities | | | |
| Purchases of property and equipment, net | (21,795) | | | (32,591) | |
| Investment in equity method investees, net | (8,408) | | | (2,829) | |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (30,203) | | | (35,420) | |
| | | |
| Cash flows from financing activities | | | |
| Payments of principal on long-term debt | (2,009) | | | (515) | |
| Proceeds from short-term borrowings | 181,430 | | | 359,908 | |
| Payments on short-term borrowings | (157,570) | | | (285,231) | |
| Payments on extinguishment of non-controlling interest | (29,196) | | | — | |
| Payments of transaction costs | (5,951) | | | — | |
| Payments of dividends and distributions | — | | | (5,305) | |
| Payments related to tax withholdings for stock-based compensation | (4,222) | | | (8,402) | |
| Other financing activities | (3,060) | | | — | |
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (20,578) | | | 60,455 | |
| | | |
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash | (101,380) | | | (91,933) | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period | 378,762 | | | 500,276 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period | $ | 277,382 | | | $ | 408,343 | |
Continued on the following page
GREEN PLAINS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited and in thousands)
Continued from the previous page
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Reconciliation of total cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash | | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 237,302 | | | $ | 354,204 | |
| Restricted cash | 40,080 | | | 54,139 | |
| Total cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash | $ | 277,382 | | | $ | 408,343 | |
| | | |
| Supplemental disclosures of cash flow | | | |
| Cash refunded for income taxes, net | $ | (9) | | | $ | (189) | |
| Cash paid for interest | $ | 8,888 | | | $ | 10,093 | |
| Capital expenditures in accounts payable | $ | 5,413 | | | $ | 5,481 | |
| Issuance of common stock as a result of the Merger | $ | 5 | | | $ | — | |
| Non-cash extinguishment of non-controlling interest within additional paid-in capital | $ | 133,765 | | | $ | — | |
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
GREEN PLAINS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION, DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
References to the Company
References to “Green Plains” or the “company” in the consolidated financial statements and in these notes to the consolidated financial statements refer to Green Plains Inc., an Iowa corporation, and its subsidiaries.
Consolidated Financial Statements
The consolidated financial statements include the company’s accounts and all significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated. Unconsolidated entities are included in the financial statements on an equity basis.
On January 9, 2024, the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement were completed and the company acquired all of the publicly held common units of the partnership not already owned by the company and its affiliates. Refer to Note 3 - Acquisition included herein for more information.
The company also owns a majority interest in FQT, with their results being consolidated in our consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Because they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements, the consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024.
The financial information reflects adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods presented. The adjustments are normal and recurring in nature, unless otherwise noted. Interim period results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications did not affect total revenues, costs and expenses or net income, but increased cost of goods sold and decreased gross margin, within the ethanol production segment. Costs historically reported as operations and maintenance expenses in the consolidated statements of operations are now being reported within cost of goods sold.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The company bases its estimates on historical experience and assumptions it believes are proper and reasonable under the circumstances and regularly evaluates the appropriateness of its estimates and assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain accounting policies, including but not limited to those relating to derivative financial instruments and accounting for income taxes, are impacted significantly by judgments, assumptions and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.
Description of Business
The company operates within two operating segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production, storage and transportation of ethanol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein and renewable corn oil and (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, renewable corn oil, natural gas and other commodities.
As a result of the Merger, the partnership's operations are included in the ethanol production operating segment.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents includes bank deposits as well as short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
Restricted Cash
The company has restricted cash, which can only be used for funding letters of credit and for payment towards a credit agreement. Restricted cash also includes cash margins and securities pledged to commodity exchange clearinghouses. To the degree these segregated balances are cash and cash equivalents, they are considered restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheets.
Revenue Recognition
The company recognizes revenue when obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied. Generally this occurs with the transfer of control of products or services. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration expected to be received in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. Sales, value add, and other taxes the company collects concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue.
Sales of ethanol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein, renewable corn oil, natural gas and other commodities by the company’s marketing business are recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied. Generally, this occurs with the transfer of control of products or services. Revenues related to marketing for third parties are presented on a gross basis as the company controls the product prior to the sale to the end customer, takes title of the product and has inventory risk. Unearned revenue is recorded for goods in transit when the company has received payment but control has not yet been transferred to the customer. Revenues for receiving, storing, transferring and transporting ethanol and other fuels are recognized when the product is delivered to the customer.
The company routinely enters into physical-delivery energy commodity purchase and sale agreements. At times, the company settles these transactions by transferring its obligations to other counterparties rather than delivering the physical commodity. Revenues include net gains or losses from derivatives related to products sold while cost of goods sold includes net gains or losses from derivatives related to commodities purchased. Revenues also include realized gains and losses on related derivative financial instruments and reclassifications of realized gains and losses on cash flow hedges from accumulated other comprehensive income or loss.
Sales of products are recognized when control of the product is transferred to the customer, which depends on the agreed upon shipment or delivery terms.
Shipping and Handling Costs
The company accounts for shipping and handling activities related to contracts with customers as costs to fulfill its promise to transfer the associated products. Accordingly, the company records customer payments associated with shipping and handling costs as a component of revenue, and classifies such costs as a component of cost of goods sold.
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold includes materials, direct labor, shipping, plant overhead and transportation costs. Materials include the cost of corn feedstock, denaturant, and process chemicals. Corn feedstock costs include gains and losses on related derivative financial instruments not designated as cash flow hedges, inbound freight charges, inspection costs and transfer costs, as well as reclassifications of gains and losses on cash flow hedges from accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Direct labor includes all compensation and related benefits of non-management personnel involved in production. Shipping costs incurred by the company, including railcar costs, are also reflected in cost of goods sold. Plant overhead consists primarily of plant utilities, repairs and maintenance and outbound freight charges. Transportation costs include railcar leases, freight and shipping of the company's products, as well as storage costs incurred at destination terminals.
The company uses exchange-traded futures and options contracts and forward purchase and sale contracts to attempt to minimize the effect of price changes on ethanol, renewable corn oil, grain and natural gas. Exchange-traded futures and options contracts are valued at quoted market prices and settled predominantly in cash. The company is exposed to loss when counterparties default on forward purchase and sale contracts. Grain inventories held for sale and forward purchase
and sale contracts are valued at market prices when available or other market quotes adjusted for basis differences, primarily in transportation, between the exchange-traded market and local market where the terms of the contract is based. Changes in forward purchase contracts and exchange-traded futures and options contracts are recognized as a component of cost of goods sold.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The company uses various derivative financial instruments, including exchange-traded futures and exchange-traded and over-the-counter options contracts, to attempt to minimize risk and the effect of commodity price changes including but not limited to, corn, ethanol, natural gas and other agricultural and energy products. The company monitors and manages this exposure as part of its overall risk management policy to reduce the adverse effect market volatility may have on its operating results. The company may hedge these commodities as one way to mitigate risk; however, there may be situations when these hedging activities themselves result in losses.
By using derivatives to hedge exposures to changes in commodity prices, the company is exposed to credit and market risk. The company’s exposure to credit risk includes the counterparty’s failure to fulfill its performance obligations under the terms of the derivative contract. The company minimizes its credit risk by entering into transactions with high quality counterparties, limiting the amount of financial exposure it has with each counterparty and monitoring their financial condition. Market risk is the risk that the value of the financial instrument might be adversely affected by a change in commodity prices or interest rates. The company manages market risk by incorporating parameters to monitor exposure within its risk management strategy, which limits the types of derivative instruments and strategies the company can use and the degree of market risk it can take using derivative instruments.
Forward contracts are recorded at fair value unless the contracts qualify for, and the company elects, normal purchase or sale exceptions. Changes in fair value are recorded in operating income unless the contracts qualify for, and the company elects, cash flow hedge accounting treatment.
Certain qualifying derivatives related to ethanol production and agribusiness and energy services are designated as cash flow hedges. The company evaluates the derivative instrument to ascertain its effectiveness prior to entering into cash flow hedges. Unrealized gains and losses are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss until the gain or loss from the underlying hedged transaction is realized and the physical transaction is completed. When it becomes probable a forecasted transaction will not occur, the cash flow hedge treatment is discontinued, which affects earnings. These derivative financial instruments are recognized in current assets or current liabilities at fair value.
At times, the company hedges its exposure to changes in inventory values and designates qualifying derivatives as fair value hedges. The carrying amount of the hedged inventory is adjusted in the current period for changes in fair value. Estimated fair values carried at market are based on exchange-quoted prices, adjusted as appropriate for regional location basis values which represent differences in local markets including transportation as well as quality or grade differences. Basis values are generally determined using inputs from broker quotations or other market transactions. However, a portion of the value may be derived using unobservable inputs. Ineffectiveness of the hedges is recognized in the current period to the extent the change in fair value of the inventory is not offset by the change in fair value of the derivative.
Investments in Equity Method Investees
The company's equity method investments, which consist primarily of the company's 50% investment in Tharaldson, totaled $48.5 million and $41.7 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and are reflected in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. Interest capitalized related to our equity method investments for the three months ended March 31, 2024 totaled $0.5 million.
2. REVENUE
Revenue by Source
The following tables disaggregate revenue by major source (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 |
| Ethanol Production | | Agribusiness & Energy
Services | | Eliminations | | Total |
| Revenues | | | | | | | |
| Revenues from contracts with customers under ASC 606 | | | | | | | |
| Ethanol | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
| Distillers grains | 24,800 | | | — | | | — | | | 24,800 | |
| Renewable corn oil | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
| Other | 14,347 | | | 2,412 | | | — | | | 16,759 | |
| Intersegment revenues | 1,213 | | | 89 | | | (1,302) | | | — | |
| Total revenues from contracts with customers | 40,360 | | | 2,501 | | | (1,302) | | | 41,559 | |
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC 815 (1) | | | | | | | |
| Ethanol | 350,112 | | | 73,375 | | | — | | | 423,487 | |
| Distillers grains | 77,923 | | | 9,690 | | | — | | | 87,613 | |
| Renewable corn oil | 34,160 | | | — | | | — | | | 34,160 | |
| Other | 3,104 | | | 7,291 | | | — | | | 10,395 | |
| Intersegment revenues | — | | | 6,139 | | | (6,139) | | | — | |
| Total revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives | 465,299 | | | 96,495 | | | (6,139) | | | 555,655 | |
| Total Revenues | $ | 505,659 | | | $ | 98,996 | | | $ | (7,441) | | | $ | 597,214 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 |
| Ethanol Production | | Agribusiness & Energy
Services | | Eliminations | | Total |
| Revenues | | | | | | | |
| Revenues from contracts with customers under ASC 606 | | | | | | | |
| Ethanol | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
| Distillers grains | 25,010 | | | — | | | — | | | 25,010 | |
| Renewable corn oil | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
| Other | 9,587 | | | 8,450 | | | — | | | 18,037 | |
| Intersegment revenues | 1,105 | | | 52 | | | (1,157) | | | — | |
| Total revenues from contracts with customers | 35,702 | | | 8,502 | | | (1,157) | | | 43,047 | |
Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives under ASC 815 (1) | | | | | | | |
| Ethanol | 498,186 | | | 88,639 | | | — | | | 586,825 | |
| Distillers grains | 111,925 | | | 11,363 | | | — | | | 123,288 | |
| Renewable corn oil | 44,296 | | | 716 | | | — | | | 45,012 | |
| Other | 7,609 | | | 27,168 | | | — | | | 34,777 | |
| Intersegment revenues | — | | | 5,998 | | | (5,998) | | | — | |
| Total revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives | 662,016 | | | 133,884 | | | (5,998) | | | 789,902 | |
| Total Revenues | $ | 697,718 | | | $ | 142,386 | | | $ | (7,155) | | | $ | 832,949 | |
(1)Revenues from contracts accounted for as derivatives represent physically settled derivative sales that are outside the scope of ASC 606.
Major Customer
Revenues from Customer A represented approximately 15% and 14% of total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, recorded within the ethanol production segment.
3. ACQUISITION
Green Plains Partners Merger
On January 9, 2024, the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement were completed and the company issued approximately 4.7 million shares of common stock to acquire all of the publicly held common units of the partnership not already owned by the company prior to the Merger at a fixed exchange ratio of 0.405 shares of the company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share, along with $2.50 of cash consideration for each partnership common unit. The total consideration as a result of the Merger was $143.1 million, which was comprised of $29.2 million in cash and $113.9 million of common stock exchanged. As a result of the Merger, the partnership's common units are no longer publicly traded.
The interests in the partnership owned by the company and its subsidiaries remain outstanding as limited partner interests in the surviving entity. The General Partner of the partnership will continue to own the non-economic general partner interest in the surviving entity.
Since the company controlled the partnership prior to the Merger and continues to control the partnership after the Merger, the company accounted for the change in its ownership interest in the partnership as an equity transaction during the three months ended March 31, 2024, which is reflected as a reduction of non-controlling interest with a corresponding increase to common stock and additional paid-in capital. No gain or loss was recognized in the consolidated statements of operations as a result of the Merger.
Prior to the effective time of the Merger on January 9, 2024, public unitholders owned a 49.2% limited partner interest, the company owned a 48.8% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest in the partnership. The earnings of the partnership that were attributed to its common units held by the public for the year ended December 31, 2023 are reflected in net income attributable to non-controlling interest in the consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the non-controlling interest attributed to the partnership common units held by the public of $133.8 million were recorded as a reduction of non-controlling interest with a corresponding increase to additional paid-in capital.
The company incurred transaction costs of $5.5 million related to the Merger during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and $2.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2023. These costs were directly related to the Merger consisting primarily of financial advisory services, legal services and other professional fees, and were recorded as an offset to the issuance of common stock within additional paid-in capital.
4. FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES
The following methods, assumptions and valuation techniques were used in estimating the fair value of the company’s financial instruments:
Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities the company can access at the measurement date.
Level 2 – directly or indirectly observable inputs such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets other than quoted prices included within Level 1, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, and other inputs that are observable or can be substantially corroborated by observable market data through correlation or other means. Fair value hedged inventories in the agribusiness and energy services segment as well as forward commodity purchase and sale contracts are valued at nearby futures values, plus or minus nearby basis values, which represent differences in local markets, including transportation or commodity quality or grade differences.
Level 3 – unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and comprise a significant component of the fair value of the assets or liabilities. The company currently does not have any recurring Level 3 financial instruments.
Derivative contracts include exchange-traded commodity futures and options contracts and forward commodity purchase and sale contracts. Exchange-traded futures and options contracts are valued based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and are classified in Level 1. The majority of the company’s exchange-traded futures and options contracts are cash-settled on a daily basis.
There have been no changes in valuation techniques and inputs used in measuring fair value. The company’s assets and liabilities by level are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2024 |
| Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2) | | Total |
| Assets | | | | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 237,302 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 237,302 | |
| Restricted cash | 40,080 | | | — | | | 40,080 | |
| Inventories carried at market | — | | | 25,186 | | | 25,186 | |
| Derivative financial instruments - assets | — | | | 6,955 | | | 6,955 | |
| Other assets | — | | | 8 | | | 8 | |
| Total assets measured at fair value | $ | 277,382 | | | $ | 32,149 | | | $ | 309,531 | |
| | | | | |
| Liabilities | | | | | |
Accounts payable (1) | $ | — | | | $ | 44,504 | | | $ | 44,504 | |
Accrued and other liabilities (2) | — | | | 3,259 | | | 3,259 | |
| Derivative financial instruments - liabilities | — | | | 6,642 | | | 6,642 | |
Other liabilities (2) | — | | | 903 | | | 903 | |
| Total liabilities measured at fair value | $ | — | | | $ | 55,308 | | | $ | 55,308 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2023 |
| Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2) | | Total |
| Assets | | | | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 349,574 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 349,574 | |
| Restricted cash | 29,188 | | | — | | | 29,188 | |
| Inventories carried at market | — | | | 45,898 | | | 45,898 | |
| Derivative financial instruments - assets | — | | | 13,311 | | | 13,311 | |
| Total assets measured at fair value | $ | 378,762 | | | $ | 59,209 | | | $ | 437,971 | |
| | | | | |
| Liabilities | | | | | |
Accounts payable (1) | $ | — | | | $ | 54,716 | | | $ | 54,716 | |
Accrued and other liabilities (2) | — | | | 9,917 | | | 9,917 | |
| Derivative financial instruments - liabilities | — | | | 10,577 | | | 10,577 | |
Other liabilities (2) | — | | | 659 | | | 659 | |
| Total liabilities measured at fair value | $ | — | | | $ | 75,869 | | | $ | 75,869 | |
(1)Accounts payable is generally stated at historical amounts with the exception of $44.5 million and $54.7 million at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, related to certain delivered inventory for which the payable fluctuates based on changes in commodity prices. These payables are hybrid financial instruments for which the company has elected the fair value option.
(2)As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, accrued and other liabilities includes $3.3 million and $9.9 million and other liabilities includes $0.9 million and $0.7 million of consideration related to potential earn-out payments recorded at fair value.
As of March 31, 2024, the fair value of the company’s debt was approximately $603.8 million compared with a book value of $622.2 million. At December 31, 2023, the fair value of the company’s debt was approximately $585.0 million compared with a book value of $599.7 million. The company estimated the fair value of its outstanding debt using Level 2 inputs. The company believes the fair value of its accounts receivable approximated book value, which was $87.6 million and $94.4 million at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Although the company currently does not have any recurring Level 3 financial measurements, the fair values of tangible assets and goodwill acquired represent Level 3 measurements which were derived using a combination of the income approach, market approach and cost approach for the specific assets or liabilities being valued.
5. SEGMENT INFORMATION
The company reports the financial and operating performance for the following two operating segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production, storage and transportation of ethanol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein and renewable corn oil and (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, Ultra-High Protein, renewable corn oil, natural gas and other commodities.
As a result of the Merger, the partnership's operations are included in the ethanol production operating segment. The following changes were made to the company's operating segments:
•The revenue and operating results from fuel storage and transportation services previously disclosed within the partnership segment are now included within the ethanol production segment.
•Intersegment activities between the partnership and Green Plains Trade associated with ethanol storage and transportation services previously treated like third-party transactions and eliminated on a consolidated level are now eliminated within the ethanol production segment.
Intersegment activities between the partnership and Green Plains Trade associated with terminal services transacted with the agribusiness and energy services segment will continue to be eliminated on a consolidated level.
Corporate activities include selling, general and administrative expenses, consisting primarily of compensation, professional fees and overhead costs not directly related to a specific operating segment.
During the normal course of business, the operating segments conduct business with each other. For example, the agribusiness and energy services segment procures grain and natural gas and sells products, including ethanol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein and renewable corn oil for the ethanol production segment. These intersegment activities are treated like third-party transactions with origination, marketing and storage fees charged at estimated market values. Consequently, these transactions affect segment performance; however, they do not impact the company’s consolidated results since the revenues and corresponding costs are eliminated.
The following tables set forth certain financial data for the company’s operating segments (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Revenues | | | |
| Ethanol production | | | |
| Revenues from external customers | $ | 504,446 | | | $ | 696,613 | |
| Intersegment revenues | 1,213 | | | 1,105 | |
| Total segment revenues | 505,659 | | | 697,718 | |
| Agribusiness and energy services | | | |
| Revenues from external customers | 92,768 | | | 136,336 | |
| Intersegment revenues | 6,228 | | | 6,050 | |
| Total segment revenues | 98,996 | | | 142,386 | |
| Revenues including intersegment activity | 604,655 | | | 840,104 | |
| Intersegment eliminations | (7,441) | | | (7,155) | |
| | $ | 597,214 | | | $ | 832,949 | |
Refer to Note 2 - Revenue, for further disaggregation of revenue by operating segment.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Cost of goods sold | | | |
Ethanol production (1) | $ | 508,302 | | | $ | 706,133 | |
| Agribusiness and energy services | 87,986 | | | 133,280 | |
| Intersegment eliminations | (7,441) | | | (7,155) | |
| $ | 588,847 | | | $ | 832,258 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Gross margin | | | |
Ethanol production (1) | $ | (2,643) | | | $ | (8,415) | |
| Agribusiness and energy services | 11,010 | | | 9,106 | |
| $ | 8,367 | | | $ | 691 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | |
| Ethanol production | $ | 20,534 | | | $ | 23,754 | |
| Agribusiness and energy services | 505 | | | 813 | |
| Corporate activities | 448 | | | 819 | |
| $ | 21,487 | | | $ | 25,386 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Operating income (loss) | | | |
Ethanol production (2) | $ | (33,653) | | | $ | (41,950) | |
| Agribusiness and energy services | 6,004 | | | 4,126 | |
| Corporate activities | (17,240) | | | (18,716) | |
| $ | (44,889) | | | $ | (56,540) | |
(1)Costs historically reported as operations and maintenance expenses in the consolidated statements of operations are now being reported within cost of goods sold, resulting in increased cost of goods sold and decreased gross margin within the ethanol production segment.
(2)Operating loss for ethanol production includes an inventory lower of average cost or net realizable value adjustment of $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
The following table sets forth total assets by operating segment (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| March 31,
2024 | | December 31,
2023 |
Total assets (1) | | | |
| Ethanol production | $ | 1,290,485 | | | $ | 1,275,562 | |
| Agribusiness and energy services | 400,584 | | | 413,937 | |
| Corporate assets | 112,473 | | | 254,300 | |
| Intersegment eliminations | (4,107) | | | (4,477) | |
| $ | 1,799,435 | | | $ | 1,939,322 | |
(1)Asset balances by segment exclude intercompany balances.
6. INVENTORIES
Inventories are carried at the lower of average cost or net realizable value, except fair-value hedged inventories. Raw materials and finished goods inventories are valued under the first in, first out (FIFO) or weighted average cost method at the lower of average cost or net realizable value. There was a $4.2 million and $2.6 million lower of average cost or net realizable value inventory adjustment associated with finished goods in cost of goods sold within the ethanol production segment as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
The components of inventories are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| March 31,
2024 | | December 31,
2023 |
| Finished goods | $ | 70,408 | | | $ | 73,975 | |
| Commodities held for sale | 25,186 | | | 45,898 | |
| Raw materials | 32,950 | | | 32,820 | |
| Work-in-process | 13,169 | | | 14,454 | |
| Supplies and parts | 49,436 | | | 48,663 | |
| $ | 191,149 | | | $ | 215,810 | |
7. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
At March 31, 2024, the company’s consolidated balance sheet reflected unrealized losses of $3.9 million, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The company expects these items will be reclassified as operating income (loss) over the next 12 months as a result of hedged transactions that are forecasted to occur. The amount realized in operating income (loss) will differ as commodity prices change.
Fair Values of Derivative Instruments
The fair values of the company’s derivative financial instruments and the line items on the consolidated balance sheets where they are reported are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Asset Derivatives'
Fair Value | | Liability Derivatives'
Fair Value | |
| March 31,
2024 | | December 31,
2023 | | March 31,
2024 | | December 31,
2023 | |
| Derivative financial instruments - forwards | $ | 6,955 | | (1) | $ | 13,311 | | (2) | $ | 6,642 | | (3) | $ | 10,577 | |
|
| Other assets | 8 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | |
| Other liabilities | — | | | — | | | 5 | | | 2 | | |
| Total | $ | 6,963 | | | $ | 13,311 | | | $ | 6,647 | | | $ | 10,579 | | |
(1)At March 31, 2024, derivative financial instruments, as reflected on the balance sheet, includes net unrealized gains on exchange-traded futures and options contracts of $0.9 million, which include $0.9 million of net unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments designated as fair value hedging instruments, and the balance representing economic hedges.
(2)At December 31, 2023, derivative financial instruments, as reflected on the balance sheet, includes net unrealized gains on exchange-traded futures and options contracts of $6.5 million, which include $0.7 million of net unrealized gains on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments, $0.7 million of unrealized gains on derivative financial instruments designated as fair value hedging instruments, and the balance representing economic hedges.
(3)At March 31, 2024, derivative financial instruments, as reflected on the balance sheet, includes net unrealized losses on exchange-traded futures and options contracts of $45 thousand, which included $1.8 million of net unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments, and the balance representing economic hedges.
Refer to Note 4 - Fair Value Disclosures, which contains fair value information related to derivative financial instruments.
Effect of Derivative Instruments on Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
The gains or losses recognized in income and other comprehensive income related to the company’s derivative financial instruments and the line items on the consolidated financial statements where they are reported are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Income |
Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income into Income | | Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Revenues | | $ | 3,736 | | | $ | — | |
| Cost of goods sold | | (10,723) | | | (2,236) | |
| Net loss recognized in loss before income taxes | | $ | (6,987) | | | $ | (2,236) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives |
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on
Derivatives | | Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Commodity contracts | | $ | (7,959) | | | $ | (16,811) | |
A portion of the company’s derivative instruments are considered economic hedges and as such are not designated as hedging instruments. The company uses exchange-traded futures and options contracts to manage its net position of product inventories and forward cash purchase and sales contracts to reduce price risk caused by market fluctuations. Derivatives, including exchange-traded contracts and forward commodity purchase or sale contracts, and inventories of
certain agricultural products, which include amounts acquired under deferred pricing contracts, are stated at fair value. Fair value estimates are based on exchange-quoted prices, adjusted as appropriate for regional location basis value, which represent differences in local markets including transportation as well as quality or grade differences.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Amount of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income on Derivatives |
Derivatives Not Designated as
Hedging Instruments | | Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income
on Derivatives | | Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| | 2024 | | 2023 |
| Exchange-traded futures and options | | Revenues | | $ | (1,073) | | $ | (7,876) | |
| Forwards | | Revenues | | (2,729) | | | 659 | |
| Exchange-traded futures and options | | Cost of goods sold | | 3,037 | | | 8,366 | |
| Forwards | | Cost of goods sold | | 2,868 | | | 426 | |
| Net gain recognized in loss before income taxes | | $ | 2,103 | | $ | 1,575 |
The following amounts were recorded on the consolidated balance sheets related to cumulative basis adjustments for the fair value hedged items (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | March 31, 2024 | | December 31, 2023 |
| Line Item in the Consolidated Balance Sheet in Which the Hedged Item is Included | | Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets | | Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of the Hedged Liabilities | | Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets | | Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of the Hedged Liabilities |
| Inventories | | $ | 25,186 | | | $ | (3,389) | | | $ | 45,898 | | | $ | (1,104) | |
Effect of Cash Flow and Fair Value Hedge Accounting on the Statements of Operations:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location and Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Cash Flow and Fair Value Hedging Relationships for the Three Months Ended March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Revenue | | Cost of
Goods Sold | | Revenue | | Cost of
Goods Sold |
| Gain (loss) on cash flow hedging relationships | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| Commodity contracts | | | | | | | |
| Amount of gain (loss) on exchange-traded futures reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income | $ | 3,736 | | | $ | (10,723) | | | $ | — | | | $ | (2,236) | |
| | | | | | | |
| Gain (loss) on fair value hedging relationships | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| Commodity contracts | | | | | | | |
| Fair-value hedged inventories | — | | | (4,361) | | | — | | | (9,357) | |
| Exchange-traded futures designated as hedging instruments | — | | | 5,262 | | | — | | | 10,678 | |
| Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the consolidated statement of operations in which the effects of cash flow or fair value hedges are recorded | $ | 3,736 | | | $ | (9,822) | | | $ | — | | | $ | (915) | |
The notional volume of open commodity derivative positions as of March 31, 2024 are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Exchange-Traded (1) | | Non-Exchange-Traded (2) | | | | |
Derivative
Instruments | | Net Long &
(Short) | | Long | | (Short) | | Unit of
Measure | | Commodity |
| Futures | | (525) | | | | | | | Bushels | | Corn |
| Futures | | (3,455) | | (4) | | | | | Bushels | | Corn |
| Futures | | 27,468 | | | | | | | Gallons | | Ethanol |
| Futures | | (6,898) | | | | | | | MmBTU | | Natural Gas |
| Futures | | 6,828 | | (3) | | | | | MmBTU | | Natural Gas |
| Futures | | (3,275) | | (4) | | | | | MmBTU | | Natural Gas |
| Options | | (552) | | | | | | | Pounds | | Soybean Oil |
| Options | | (3,173) | | | | | | | Bushels | | Corn |
| Forwards | | | | 29,016 | | | — | | | Bushels | | Corn |
| Forwards | | | | — | | | (219,591) | | | Gallons | | Ethanol |
| Forwards | | | | 52 | | | (327) | | | Tons | | Distillers Grains |
| Forwards | | | | — | | | (27,279) | | | Pounds | | Renewable Corn Oil |
| Forwards | | | | 12,162 | | | (10) | | | MmBTU | | Natural Gas |
(1)Notional volume of exchange-traded futures and options are presented on a net long and (short) position basis. Options are presented on a delta-adjusted basis.
(2)Notional volume of non-exchange-traded forward physical contracts are presented on a gross long and (short) position basis, including both fixed-price and basis contracts, for which only the basis portion of the contract price is fixed.
(3)Notional volume of exchange-traded futures used for cash flow hedges.
(4)Notional volume of exchange-traded futures used for fair value hedges.
Energy trading contracts that do not involve physical delivery are presented net in revenues on the consolidated statements of operations. Included in revenues are net gains of $1.8 million and $3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, on energy trading contracts.
8. DEBT
The components of long-term debt are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| March 31,
2024 | | December 31,
2023 |
| Corporate | | | |
2.25% convertible notes due 2027 (1) | $ | 230,000 | | | $ | 230,000 | |
| Green Plains SPE LLC | | | |
$125.0 million junior secured mezzanine notes due 2026 (2) | 125,000 | | | 125,000 | |
| Green Plains Wood River and Green Plains Shenandoah | | | |
$75.0 million loan agreement (3) | 72,750 | | | 73,125 | |
| Green Plains Partners | | | |
$60.0 million term loan (4) | 54,469 | | | 55,969 | |
| Other | 14,514 | | | 14,669 | |
| Total book value of long-term debt | 496,733 | | | 498,763 | |
| Unamortized debt issuance costs | (4,610) | | | (5,013) | |
| Less: current maturities of long-term debt | (1,828) | | | (1,832) | |
| Total long-term debt | $ | 490,295 | | | $ | 491,918 | |
(1)The 2.25% notes had $3.7 million and $4.0 million of unamortized debt issuance costs as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
(2)The junior notes had $0.4 million of unamortized debt issuance costs as of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
(3)The loan had $0.3 million of unamortized debt issuance costs as of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
(4)The term loan had $0.3 million of unamortized debt issuance costs as of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
The components of short-term notes payable and other borrowings are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| March 31,
2024 | | December 31,
2023 |
| Green Plains Finance Company, Green Plains Grain and Green Plains Trade | | | |
$350.0 million revolver | $ | 120,000 | | | $ | 99,000 | |
| Green Plains Commodity Management | | | |
$40.0 million hedge line | 10,038 | | | 6,973 | |
| $ | 130,038 | | | $ | 105,973 | |
Corporate Activities
In March 2021, the company issued an aggregate $230.0 million of 2.25% convertible senior notes due in 2027, or the 2.25% notes. The 2.25% notes bear interest at a rate of 2.25% per year, payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning September 15, 2021, and mature on March 15, 2027. The 2.25% notes are senior, unsecured obligations of the company. The 2.25% notes are convertible, at the option of the holders, into consideration consisting of, at the company’s election, cash, shares of the company’s common stock, or a combination of cash and stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares). However, before September 15, 2026, the 2.25% notes will not be convertible unless certain conditions are satisfied. The initial conversion rate is 31.6206 shares of the company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2.25% notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $31.62 per share of the company’s common stock), representing an approximately 37.5% premium over the offering price of the company’s common stock. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, including but not limited to; the event of a stock dividend or stock split; the issuance of additional rights, options and warrants; spinoffs; or a tender or exchange offering. In addition, the company may be obligated to increase the conversion rate for any conversion that occurs in connection with certain corporate events, including the company’s calling the 2.25% notes for redemption.
On and after March 15, 2024, and prior to the maturity date, the company may redeem, for cash, all, but not less than all, of the 2.25% notes if the last reported sale price of the company’s common stock equals or exceeds 140% of the applicable conversion price on (i) at least 20 trading days during a 30 consecutive trading day period ending on the trading day immediately prior to the date the company delivers notice of the redemption; and (ii) the trading day immediately before the date of the redemption notice. The redemption price will equal 100% of the principal amount of the 2.25% notes to be redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. In addition, upon the occurrence of a “fundamental change” (as defined in the indenture for the 2.25% notes), holders of the 2.25% notes will have the right, at their option, to require the company to repurchase their 2.25% notes for cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2.25% notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.
Ethanol Production Segment
On February 9, 2021, Green Plains SPE LLC, a wholly-owned special purpose subsidiary and parent of Green Plains Obion and Green Plains Mount Vernon, issued $125.0 million of junior secured mezzanine notes due 2026 (the “Junior Notes”) with BlackRock, a holder of a portion of the company’s common stock.
The Junior Notes will mature on February 9, 2026 and are secured by a pledge of the membership interests in and the real property owned by Green Plains Obion and Green Plains Mount Vernon. The proceeds of the Junior Notes were used to construct high protein processing systems at the Green Plains Obion and Green Plains Mount Vernon facilities. The Junior Notes accrue interest at an annual rate of 11.75%. However, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, Green Plains SPE LLC may elect to pay an amount in cash equal to interest accruing at a rate of 6.00% per annum plus an amount equal to interest accruing at a rate of 6.75% per annum to be paid in kind. The entire outstanding principal balance, plus any accrued and unpaid interest is due upon maturity. Green Plains SPE LLC is required to comply with certain financial covenants regarding minimum liquidity at Green Plains and a maximum aggregate loan to value. The Junior Notes can be retired or refinanced after 42 months with no prepayment premium. The Junior Notes have an unsecured parent guarantee from the company and have certain limitations on distributions, dividends or loans to the company unless there will not exist any event of default.
On September 3, 2020, Green Plains Wood River and Green Plains Shenandoah, wholly-owned subsidiaries of the company, entered into a $75.0 million loan agreement with MetLife Real Estate Lending LLC. The loan matures on September 1, 2035 and is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Wood River and Shenandoah facilities. The proceeds from the loan were used to add MSC™ technology at the Wood River and Shenandoah facilities as well as other capital expenditures.
The loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 5.02%, plus an interest rate premium of 1.5% until the loan is fully drawn. The remaining availability was drawn in the first quarter of 2022. Beginning in the second quarter of 2022, the interest rate premium may be adjusted quarterly from 0.00% to 1.50% based on the leverage ratio of total funded debt to EBITDA of Wood River and Shenandoah. Principal payments of $1.5 million per year began in October 2022. Prepayments are prohibited until September 2024. Financial covenants of the loan agreement include a minimum loan to value ratio of 50%, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25x, a total debt service reserve of six months of future principal and interest payments and a minimum working capital requirement at Green Plains of not less than $0.10 per gallon of nameplate capacity or $90.3 million. The loan is guaranteed by the company and has certain limitations on distributions, dividends or loans to Green Plains by Wood River and Shenandoah unless immediately after giving effect to such action, there will not exist any event of default. At March 31, 2024, the interest rate on the loan was 5.02%.
Green Plains Partners has a term loan to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general partnership purposes. The term loan has a maturity date of July 20, 2026. Interest on the term loan is based on 3-month SOFR plus 8.26%, and is payable on the 15th day of each March, June, September and December. The term loan does not require any principal payments; however, the partnership has the option to prepay $1.5 million per quarter beginning twelve months after the closing date. Prepayments totaling $1.5 million were made during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
The partnership’s obligations under the term loan are secured by a first priority lien on (i) the equity interests of the partnership’s present and future subsidiaries, (ii) all of the partnership’s present and future personal property, such as investment property, general intangibles and contract rights, including rights under any agreements with Green Plains Trade, (iii) all proceeds and products of the equity interests of the partnership’s present and future subsidiaries and its personal property and (iv) substantially all of the partnership’s real property and material leases of real property. The terms impose affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions on the partnership’s ability to incur additional debt, acquire and sell assets, create liens, invest capital, pay distributions and materially amend the partnership’s commercial
agreements with Green Plains Trade. The term loan also requires the partnership to maintain a maximum consolidated leverage ratio and a minimum consolidated debt service coverage ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter, each of which is calculated on a pro forma basis with respect to acquisitions and divestitures occurring during the applicable period. The maximum consolidated leverage ratio is required to be no more than 2.50x. The minimum debt service coverage ratio is required to be no less than 1.10x. The consolidated leverage ratio is calculated by dividing total funded indebtedness by the sum of the four preceding fiscal quarters’ consolidated EBITDA. The consolidated debt service coverage ratio is calculated by taking the sum of the four preceding fiscal quarters’ consolidated EBITDA minus income taxes and consolidated capital expenditures for such period divided by the sum of the four preceding fiscal quarters’ consolidated interest charges plus consolidated scheduled funded debt payments for such period.
Under the terms of the loan, the partnership has no restrictions on the amount of quarterly distribution payments, so long as (i) no default has occurred and is continuing, or would result from payment of the distribution, and (ii) the partnership and its subsidiaries are in compliance with its financial covenants and remain in compliance after payment of the distribution. The term loan is not guaranteed by the company. At March 31, 2024, the interest rate on the term loan was 13.59%.
The company also has small equipment financing loans, finance leases on equipment or facilities, and other forms of debt financing.
Agribusiness and Energy Services Segment
On March 25, 2022, Green Plains Finance Company, Green Plains Grain and Green Plains Trade (collectively, the “Borrowers”), all wholly owned subsidiaries of the company, together with the company, as guarantor, entered into a five-year, $350.0 million senior secured sustainability-linked revolving Loan and Security Agreement (the “Facility”) with a group of financial institutions. This transaction refinanced the separate credit facilities previously held by Green Plains Grain and Green Plains Trade. The Facility matures on March 25, 2027.
The Facility includes revolving commitments totaling $350.0 million and an accordion feature whereby amounts available under the Facility may be increased by up to $100.0 million of new lender commitments subject to certain conditions. Each SOFR rate loan shall bear interest for each day at a rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR rate for the outstanding period plus a Term SOFR adjustment and an applicable margin of 2.25% to 2.50%, which is dependent on undrawn availability under the Facility. Each base rate loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the base rate plus the applicable margin of 1.25% to 1.50%, which is dependent on undrawn availability under the Facility. The unused portion of the Facility is also subject to a commitment fee of 0.275% to 0.375%, dependent on undrawn availability. Additionally, the applicable margin and commitment fee are subject to certain increases or decreases of up to 0.10% and 0.025%, respectively, tied to the company’s achievement of certain sustainability criteria, including the reduction of GHG emissions, recordable incident rate reduction, increased renewable corn oil production and the implementation of technology to produce sustainable ingredients.
The Facility contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, as well as the following financial covenants to be calculated as of the last day of any month: the current ratio of the Borrowers shall not be less than 1.00 to 1.00; the collateral coverage ratio of the Borrowers shall not be less than 1.20 to 1.00; and the debt to capitalization ratio of the company shall not be greater than 0.60 to 1.00.
The Facility also includes customary events of default, including without limitation, failure to make required payments of principal or interest, material incorrect representations and warranties, breach of covenants, events of bankruptcy and other certain matters. The Facility is secured by the working capital assets of the Borrowers and is guaranteed by the company. At March 31, 2024, the interest rate on the Facility was 8.63%.
Green Plains Commodity Management has an uncommitted $40.0 million revolving credit facility to finance margins related to its hedging programs, which is secured by cash and securities held in its brokerage accounts. During the first quarter of 2023, this revolving credit facility was extended five years to mature on April 30, 2028. Advances are subject to variable interest rates equal to SOFR plus 1.75%. At March 31, 2024, the interest rate on the facility was 7.09%.
Green Plains Grain has a short-term inventory financing agreement with a financial institution. The company has accounted for the agreement as short-term notes, rather than revenues, and has elected the fair value option to offset fluctuations in market prices of the inventory. This agreement is subject to negotiated variable interest rates. The company had no outstanding short-term notes payable related to the inventory financing agreement as of March 31, 2024.
Covenant Compliance
The company was in compliance with its debt covenants as of March 31, 2024.
Restricted Net Assets
At March 31, 2024, there were approximately $131.4 million of net assets at the company’s subsidiaries that could not be transferred to the parent company in the form of dividends, loans or advances due to restrictions contained in the credit facilities of these subsidiaries.
9. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The company has an equity incentive plan which reserved a total of 5.7 million shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to the plan, of which 2.2 million shares remain outstanding and available. The plan provides for shares, including options to purchase shares of common stock, stock appreciation rights tied to the value of common stock, restricted stock, performance share awards, and restricted and deferred stock unit awards, to be granted to eligible employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The company measures stock-based compensation at fair value on the grant date, with no adjustments for estimated forfeitures. The company records noncash compensation expense related to equity awards in its consolidated financial statements over the requisite period on a straight-line basis.
Restricted Stock Awards and Deferred Stock Units
The restricted non-vested stock awards and deferred stock units activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024 is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Non-Vested
Shares and
Deferred Stock
Units | | Weighted-
Average Grant-
Date Fair Value | | Weighted-Average
Remaining
Vesting Term
(in years) |
| Non-Vested at December 31, 2023 | 607,894 | | | $ | 30.79 | | | |
| Granted | 403,466 | | | 20.31 | | | |
| Forfeited | (58) | | | 34.66 | | | |
| Vested | (313,492) | | | 29.31 | | | |
| Non-Vested at March 31, 2024 | 697,810 | | | $ | 25.40 | | | 2.3 |
Performance Share Awards
On March 13, 2024, March 9, 2023, and March 14, 2022, the board of directors granted performance shares to be awarded in the form of common stock to certain participants of the plan. These performance shares vest based on the level of achievement of certain performance goals, including the incremental value achieved from the company’s high-protein initiatives, annual production levels and return on investment (ROI). Performance shares granted in 2024, 2023 and 2022 do not contain market based factors requiring a Monte Carlo valuation model. The performance shares were granted at a target of 100%, but each performance share can be reduced or increased depending on results for the performance period. If the company achieves the maximum performance goals, the maximum amount of shares available to be issued pursuant to the 2024, 2023 and 2022 awards are 1,077,144 performance shares which represents 200% of the 538,572 performance shares which remain outstanding. The actual number of performance shares that will ultimately vest is based on the actual performance targets achieved at the end of the performance period.
On February 18, 2021, the board of directors granted performance shares to be awarded in the form of common stock to certain participants of the plan. The performance shares were granted at a target of 100%, but each performance share was reduced or increased depending on results for the performance period. On February 16, 2024, based on the criteria discussed above, the 118,673 2021 performance shares vested at 115%, which resulted in the issuance of 136,475 shares of common stock.
The non-vested performance share award activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024 is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Performance
Shares | | Weighted-
Average Grant-
Date Fair Value | | Weighted-Average
Remaining
Vesting Term
(in years) |
| Non-Vested at December 31, 2023 | 404,740 | | | $ | 30.51 | | | |
| Granted | 270,307 | | | 20.70 | | | |
| Vested | (136,475) | | | 26.22 | | | |
| Non-Vested at March 31, 2024 | 538,572 | | | $ | 26.67 | | | 2.2 |
Green Plains Partners
Green Plains Partners had a long-term incentive plan (LTIP) intended to promote the interests of the partnership, its general partner and affiliates by providing unit-based incentive compensation awards to employees, consultants and directors to encourage superior performance. The LTIP reserved 2.5 million common limited partner units for issuance in the form of options, restricted units, phantom units, distribution equivalent rights, substitute awards, unit appreciation rights, unit awards, profit interest units or other unit-based awards. The partnership measured unit-based compensation related to equity awards in its consolidated financial statements over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis. As a result of the Merger, the LTIP units available for issuance were converted to 1.2 million shares available for issuance under the company's equity incentive plan.
The non-vested unit-based awards activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024 is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Non-Vested Units | | Weighted-
Average Grant-
Date Fair Value | | Weighted-Average
Remaining
Vesting Term
(in years) |
| Non-Vested at December 31, 2023 | 18,549 | | | $ | 12.94 | | | |
Vested (1) | (18,549) | | | 12.94 | | | |
| Non-Vested at March 31, 2024 | — | | | $ | — | | | 0.0 |
(1)Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each of these awards became fully vested at the effective time of the Merger on January 9, 2024.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Compensation costs for the stock-based payment plan were $3.1 million and $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. At March 31, 2024, there was $26.0 million of unrecognized compensation costs from stock-based compensation related to non-vested awards. This compensation is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.3 years. The potential tax benefit related to stock-based payment is approximately 24.0% of these expenses.
10. EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share, or EPS, is calculated by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
The company computes diluted EPS by dividing net income on an if-converted basis, adjusted to add back net interest expense related to the convertible debt instruments, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted to include the shares that would be issued if the convertible debt instruments were converted to common shares and the effect of any outstanding dilutive securities.
The basic and diluted EPS are calculated as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| EPS - basic and diluted | | | |
| Net loss attributable to Green Plains | $ | (51,412) | | | $ | (70,324) | |
| Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted | 63,341 | | | 58,549 | |
| EPS - basic and diluted | $ | (0.81) | | | $ | (1.20) | |
| | | |
Anti-dilutive weighted-average convertible debt, warrants and stock-based compensation (1) | 7,634 | | | 8,598 | |
(1)The effect related to the company’s convertible debt, warrants and certain stock-based compensation awards has been excluded from diluted EPS for the periods presented as the inclusion of these shares would have been antidilutive.
11. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Green Plains Partners Merger
As a result of the Merger, for the three months ended March 31, 2024, the company issued approximately 4.7 million shares of common stock and recorded par value $0.001 per share, paid cash consideration of $29.2 million, extinguished the non-controlling interest attributed to the partnership common units held by the public of $133.8 million, and capitalized transaction costs of $7.5 million, within additional paid-in capital. Refer to Note 3 - Acquisition included herein for more information.
Components of stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Common Stock | Additional
Paid-in
Capital | Retained Deficit | Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Loss | Treasury Stock | Total
Green Plains
Stockholders'
Equity | Non-
Controlling
Interests | Total
Stockholders'
Equity |
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | 62,327 | | $ | 62 | | $ | 1,113,806 | | $ | (235,801) | | $ | (3,160) | | 2,805 | | $ | (31,174) | | $ | 843,733 | | $ | 146,323 | | $ | 990,056 | |
| Net loss | — | | — | | — | | (51,412) | | — | | — | | — | | (51,412) | | 290 | | (51,122) | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Other comprehensive loss before reclassification | — | | — | | — | | — | | (6,043) | | — | | — | | (6,043) | | — | | (6,043) | |
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | — | | — | | — | | — | | 5,305 | | — | | — | | 5,305 | | — | | 5,305 | |
| Other comprehensive loss, net of tax | — | | — | | — | | — | | (738) | | — | | — | | (738) | | — | | (738) | |
| Investment in subsidiaries | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 166 | | 166 | |
| Partnership Merger | 4,746 | | 5 | | 97,035 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 97,040 | | (133,765) | | (36,725) | |
| Stock-based compensation | 349 | | — | | (1,169) | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (1,169) | | — | | (1,169) | |
| Balance, March 31, 2024 | 67,422 | | $ | 67 | | $ | 1,209,672 | | $ | (287,213) | | $ | (3,898) | | 2,805 | | $ | (31,174) | | $ | 887,454 | | $ | 13,014 | | $ | 900,468 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Common Stock | Additional
Paid-in
Capital | Retained Deficit | Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Loss | Treasury Stock | Total
Green Plains
Stockholders'
Equity | Non-
Controlling
Interests | Total
Stockholders'
Equity |
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | 62,101 | | $ | 62 | | $ | 1,110,151 | | $ | (142,417) | | $ | (26,591) | | 2,805 | | $ | (31,174) | | $ | 910,031 | | $ | 151,035 | | $ | 1,061,066 | |
| Net loss | — | | — | | — | | (70,324) | | — | | — | | — | | (70,324) | | 4,075 | | (66,249) | |
| Cash dividends and distributions declared | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (5,305) | | (5,305) | |
| Other comprehensive loss before reclassification | — | | — | | — | | — | | (12,788) | | — | | — | | (12,788) | | — | | (12,788) | |
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | — | | — | | — | | — | | 1,701 | | — | | — | | 1,701 | | — | | 1,701 | |
| Other comprehensive loss, net of tax | — | | — | | — | | — | | (11,087) | | — | | — | | (11,087) | | — | | (11,087) | |
| Investment in subsidiaries | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 185 | | 185 | |
| Stock-based compensation | 217 | | — | | (5,632) | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (5,632) | | 59 | | (5,573) | |
| Balance, March 31, 2023 | 62,318 | | $ | 62 | | $ | 1,104,519 | | $ | (212,741) | | $ | (37,678) | | 2,805 | | $ | (31,174) | | $ | 822,988 | | $ | 150,049 | | $ | 973,037 | |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, | | Statements of
Operations
Classification |
| 2024 | | 2023 | |
| Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges | | | | | |
| Commodity derivatives | $ | 3,736 | | | $ | — | | | (1) |
| Commodity derivatives | (10,723) | | | (2,236) | | | (2) |
| Total losses on cash flow hedges | (6,987) | | | (2,236) | | | (3) |
| Income tax benefit | 1,682 | | | 535 | | | (4) |
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | $ | (5,305) | | | $ | (1,701) | | | |
(1)Revenues
(2)Costs of goods sold
(3)Loss before income taxes and income (loss) from equity method investees
(4)Income tax benefit
12. INCOME TAXES
The company records actual income tax expense or benefit during interim periods rather than on an annual effective tax rate method. Certain items are given discrete period treatment and the tax effect of those items are reported in full in the relevant interim period. Green Plains Partners is a limited partnership, which is treated as a flow-through entity for federal income tax purposes and is not subject to federal income taxes.
The IRA was signed into law on August 16, 2022. The IRA includes significant law changes relating to tax, climate change, energy and health care. The IRA significantly expands clean energy incentives by providing an estimated $370 billion of new energy related tax credits over the next ten years. It also permits more flexibility for taxpayers to use the credits with direct-pay and transferable credit options. In addition, the IRA includes key revenue-raising provisions which include a 15% book-income alternative minimum tax on corporations with adjusted financial statement income over $1 billion, a 1% excise tax on the value of certain net stock repurchases by publicly traded companies, and the reinstatement of Superfund excise taxes. The company expects it will benefit from certain energy related tax credits in future years and not be negatively impacted by the revenue raising provisions; however, the company does not have enough information to provide a reasonable estimate of future tax benefits at this time.
On January 9, 2024, the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement were completed as described in more detail in Note 3 - Acquisition included herein. For income tax purposes, the total consideration given by the company in exchange for the remaining interest in the partnership, creates a tax basis in the acquired interest. Because the GAAP basis in the acquired interest is less than the total consideration, a new deferred tax asset was created. The company's valuation allowance on deferred tax assets increased by a corresponding amount, which did not have a material impact on the company's consolidated financial statements.
The company recorded income tax expense of $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with income tax expense of $3.4 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in the amount of tax expense recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2024 is primarily due to a decrease in the valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets related to gains (losses) on derivatives.
The effective tax rate can be affected by variances in the estimates and amounts of taxable income among the various states, entities and activity types, realization of tax credits, adjustments from resolution of tax matters under review, valuation allowances and the company’s assessment of its liability for uncertain tax positions.
13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Lease Expense
The company leases certain facilities, parcels of land, and equipment, with remaining terms ranging from less than one year to approximately 13.6 years. The land and facility leases include renewal options. The renewal options are included in the lease term only for those sites or locations in which they are reasonably certain to be renewed. Equipment renewals are not considered reasonably certain to be exercised as they typically renew with significantly different underlying terms.
The components of lease expense are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Lease expense | | | |
| Operating lease expense | $ | 7,136 | | $ | 6,746 |
Variable lease expense (benefit) (1) | 186 | | (131) |
| Total lease expense | $ | 7,322 | | $ | 6,615 |
(1)Represents amounts incurred in excess of the minimum payments required for a certain building lease and for the handling and unloading of railcars for a certain land lease, offset by railcar lease abatements provided by the lessor when railcars are out of service during periods of maintenance or upgrade.
Supplemental cash flow information related to operating leases is as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities | | | |
| Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | 6,988 | | | $ | 6,197 | |
| | | |
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations | | | |
| Operating leases | 7,163 | | | 16,658 | |
Supplemental balance sheet information related to operating leases is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| March 31,
2024 | | December 31,
2023 |
| Weighted average remaining lease term | 4.3 years | | 4.5 years |
| | | |
| Weighted average discount rate | 5.25 | % | | 5.16 | % |
Aggregate minimum lease payments under the operating lease agreements for the remainder of 2024 and in future years are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | |
| Year Ending December 31, | Amount |
| 2024 | $ | 20,885 | |
| 2025 | 23,609 | |
| 2026 | 16,839 | |
| 2027 | 12,684 | |
| 2028 | 5,054 | |
| Thereafter | 8,715 | |
| Total | 87,786 | |
| Less: Present value discount | (9,735) | |
| Lease liabilities | $ | 78,051 | |
The company has an additional railcar operating lease anticipated to commence during the second quarter of 2024, with undiscounted future lease payments of approximately $2.3 million and a lease term of five years. These amounts are not included in the tables above.
Other Commodities, Storage and Transportation
As of March 31, 2024, the company had contracted future purchases of grain, distillers grains and natural gas, valued at approximately $168.6 million and future commitments for storage and transportation, valued at approximately $19.9 million.
Legal
The company is currently involved in litigation that has arisen in the ordinary course of business, but does not believe any pending litigation will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
General
The following discussion and analysis provides information we believe is relevant to understand our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements contained in this report together with our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements are made in accordance with safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and do not relate strictly to historical or current facts, but rather to plans and objectives for future operations. These statements may be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “outlook,” “plan,” “predict,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will” and similar expressions, as well as statements regarding future operating or financial performance or guidance, business strategy, environment, key trends and benefits of actual or planned acquisitions.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, or incorporated by reference. Specifically, we may experience fluctuations in future operating results due to a number of economic conditions and other factors, including: the status, expected timing, and expected outcome of our Board of Directors' ongoing review of strategic alternatives; the failure to realize the anticipated results from the new products being developed; the failure to realize the anticipated costs savings or other benefits of the Merger; local, regional and national economic conditions and the impact they may have on the company and its customers; disruption caused by health epidemics, such as the COVID-19 outbreak; conditions in the ethanol and biofuels industry, including a sustained decrease in the level of supply or demand for ethanol and biofuels or a sustained decrease in the price of ethanol or biofuels; competition in the ethanol and biofuels industry and other industries in which we operate; commodity market risks, including those that may result from weather conditions; the financial condition of the company’s customers; any non-performance by customers of their contractual obligations; changes in customer, employee or supplier relationships resulting from the Merger; changes in safety, health, environmental and other governmental policy and regulation, including changes to tax laws; risks related to acquisition and disposition activities and achieving anticipated results; risks associated with merchant trading; risks related to our equity method investees; the results of any reviews, investigations or other proceedings by government authorities; the performance of the company; and other factors detailed in reports filed with the SEC.
We believe our expectations regarding future events are based on reasonable assumptions; however, these assumptions may not be accurate or account for all risks and uncertainties. Consequently, forward-looking statements are not guaranteed. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. In addition, we are not obligated and do not intend to update our forward-looking statements as a result of new information unless it is required by applicable securities laws. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which represent management’s views as of the date of this report or documents incorporated by reference.
Overview
Green Plains is an Iowa corporation, founded in June 2004 as a producer of low-carbon fuels and has grown to be a leading biorefining company maximizing the potential of existing resources through fermentation and patented agribusiness technologies. We continue the transition from a commodity-processing business to a value-added agricultural technology company creating sustainable, high-value ingredients from existing resources. To that end, we are currently executing on a number of initiatives to develop and implement proven agricultural, food and industrial biotechnology systems that allow for product diversification, new market opportunities and production of additional value-added low-carbon ingredients, such as Ultra-High Protein, dextrose, renewable corn oil and more, as well as offering these technologies to the broader biofuels industry.
Green Plains Partners LP, a master limited partnership, is our primary downstream storage and logistics provider since its assets are the principal method of storing and delivering the ethanol we produce. On January 9, 2024, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, we completed the acquisition of all the publicly held common units of the partnership not already owned by us and our affiliates. As a result of the Merger, the partnership common units are no longer publicly traded.
Refer to Note 3 - Acquisition included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included herein for more information.
We group our business activities into the following two operating segments to manage performance:
•Ethanol Production. Our ethanol production segment includes the production, storage and transportation of ethanol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein and renewable corn oil at ten biorefineries in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Tennessee. At capacity, our facilities are capable of processing approximately 310 million bushels of corn per year and producing approximately 903 million gallons of ethanol, 2.2 million tons of distillers grains and Ultra-High Protein, and 300 million pounds of renewable corn oil, a low-carbon feedstock for biodiesel and renewable diesel. This segment also includes 24 ethanol storage facilities, two fuel terminal facilities and approximately 2,180 leased railcars. We are one of the largest ethanol producers in North America.
•Agribusiness and Energy Services. Our agribusiness and energy services segment includes grain procurement, with approximately 20.2 million bushels of grain storage capacity, and our commodity marketing business, which markets, sells and distributes the ethanol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein and renewable corn oil produced at our ethanol plants. We also market ethanol for a third-party producer as well as buy and sell ethanol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein, renewable corn oil, grain, natural gas and other commodities in various markets.
We have installed and are operating FQT MSC™ technology at five of our biorefineries. Through our value-added ingredients initiative, we produce Ultra-High Protein, a feed ingredient with protein concentrations of 50% or greater and yeast concentrations of 25%, increase production of renewable corn oil and produce other higher value products, such as post-MSC™ distillers grains. We successfully completed full scale 60% protein production runs using FQT's MSC™ system, which is our new specialty feed ingredient branded as Sequence™. In 2021, we formed a 50/50 joint venture with Tharaldson Ethanol, which owns the MSC™ technology assets added adjacent to the Tharaldson Ethanol plant in Casselton, North Dakota to produce Ultra-High Protein and increase renewable corn oil yields. These assets are in commissioning and anticipating to ship the first commercial quantities during the second quarter of 2024. Including Tharaldson's capacity, the annual Ultra-High Protein capacity is approximately 430 thousand tons.
We began pilot scale batch operations at the FQT CST™ production facility at our Innovation Center at York in the second quarter of 2021, which allows for the production of both food and industrial grade low-carbon glucose and dextrose to target applications in food production, renewable chemicals and synthetic biology. The world's first commercial scale FQT CST™ facility in Shenandoah, Iowa is mechanically complete and in the commissioning phase, with shipments to customers beginning in the second quarter of 2024. We also anticipate modifying additional biorefineries to include FQT CST™ production capabilities to meet anticipated future customer demands.
Additionally, we have taken advantage of opportunities to divest certain assets to reallocate capital toward our current growth initiatives. We are focused on generating stable and growing operating margins through our business segments and risk management strategy.
SAF is a drop-in fuel, chemically identical to petroleum-based jet fuel and can be blended into the fuel supply at varying levels. There is an increasing focus on using this fuel to reduce the carbon footprint of air travel. SAF can be produced from vegetable and waste oil feedstocks, such as our renewable corn oil. Additionally, ATJ technologies are emerging and being commercialized that use low-CI ethanol as a feedstock to produce SAF. In January 2023, Green Plains, United Airlines and Tallgrass formed a joint venture, Blue Blade Energy, to develop and then commercialize a novel ATJ SAF technology.
As part of our carbon reduction strategy, we committed our seven biorefineries in Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota to carbon capture and sequestration projects through carbon pipeline transport, four with Summit Carbon Solutions and three with another provider, which will lower GHG emissions through the capture of carbon dioxide at each of these biorefineries, significantly lowering their CI. We anticipate completion of our three Nebraska biorefinery carbon capture projects in 2025, and the Summit Carbon Solutions projects in 2026. In addition, we are collaborating with global partners to explore innovative options for carbon use, such as synthetic methane production at Madison and Obion. We intend to sequester the carbon from fermentation at Mount Vernon as well. Reducing the CI of our fuel ethanol could allow us to benefit from state and federal clean fuel programs, including LCFS and federal tax credits under the IRA, and could position our low-carbon ethanol as a potential feedstock for ATJ pathways to produce SAF.
In July 2023, we announced a technology collaboration with Equilon Enterprises LLC, which allows us to use FQT’s precision separation and processing technology with Shell Fiber Conversion Technology. The two technologies will
combine fermentation, mechanical separation and processing, and fiber conversion into one platform. This has the potential to create a new process to liberate all available distillers corn oil currently bound in the fiber fraction of the corn kernel, generate cellulosic sugars for production of low-carbon ethanol, and enhance and expand available high protein to produce high-quality ingredients for global animal feed diets. Our collaboration completed the construction of a facility at Green Plains York and began commissioning during the first quarter of 2024.
Our profitability is highly dependent on commodity prices, particularly for ethanol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein, renewable corn oil, soybean meal, corn, and natural gas. Since market price fluctuations of these commodities are not always correlated, our operations may be unprofitable at times. We use a variety of risk management tools and hedging strategies to monitor price risk exposure at our ethanol plants and lock in favorable margins or reduce production when margins are compressed. Our profitability could be significantly impacted by price movements of the aforementioned commodities.
Recent Developments
The Partnership Merger
On January 9, 2024, the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement were completed and the company acquired all of the publicly held common units of the partnership not already owned by the company and its affiliates. Refer to Note 3 - Acquisition in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included herein for more information.
Results of Operations
During the first quarter of 2024, a few of our plants were idled during the January cold snap; however, we maintained an average utilization rate of approximately 92.4% of capacity, resulting in ethanol production of 208.0 mmg, compared with 206.7 mmg, or 87.5% of capacity, for the same quarter last year. Our operating strategy is to transform our company to a value-add agricultural technology company. Depending on the margin environment, we may exercise operational discretion that results in reductions in production volumes. It is possible that throughput volumes could fluctuate in the future, depending on various factors that drive each biorefinery’s variable contribution margin, including future driving and gasoline demand for the industry, demand for valuable coproducts we produce, and the supply and pricing of renewable feedstocks needed to operate our biorefineries. We are currently producing Ultra-High Protein at five of our biorefineries. We also anticipate modifying additional biorefineries to include FQT MSC™ production capabilities to meet anticipated future customer demands.
U.S. Ethanol Supply and Demand
According to the EIA, domestic ethanol production averaged 1.04 million barrels per day during the first quarter of 2024, which was approximately 3.0% higher than the 1.01 million barrels per day for the same quarter last year. Refiner and blender input volume was 851 thousand barrels per day for the first quarter of 2024, compared with 853 thousand barrels per day for the same quarter last year. Gasoline demand for the first quarter of 2024 was in line with the prior year quarter at 8.5 million barrels per day. U.S. domestic ethanol ending stocks increased by approximately 1.3 million barrels compared to the prior year, or 5.2%, to 26.4 million barrels as of March 31, 2024. As of this filing, according to Prime the Pump, there were approximately 3,244 retail stations selling E15 year-round.
Global Ethanol Supply and Demand
According to the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, domestic ethanol exports through February 28, 2024, were approximately 289 mmg, up from the 222 mmg for the same period of 2023. Canada was the largest export destination for U.S. ethanol accounting for approximately 37% of domestic ethanol export volume, driven in part by their national clean fuel standard. India, the United Kingdom, Colombia, and South Korea accounted for approximately 16%, 12%, 8%, and 5%, respectively, of U.S. ethanol exports. We currently estimate that net ethanol exports will range from 1.6 to 1.8 billion gallons in 2024, based on historical demand from a variety of countries and certain countries that seek to improve their air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions through low carbon fuel programs and eliminate MTBE from their own fuel supplies. Fluctuations in currencies relative to the U.S. Dollar could impact the U.S. ethanol competitiveness in the global market.
Protein and Vegetable Oil Supply and Demand
Our dried distillers grains and high protein ingredients compete against other ethanol producers domestically and abroad, as well as with soybean meal, canola meal and other protein feed ingredients. Likewise our distillers corn oil,
which is a feedstock for producing biodiesel, renewable diesel and to some extent SAF, competes against other vegetable oils such as soybean oil, canola oil, and to some extent palm oil, as well as against waste oils such as used cooking oils, animal fats and tallow. Soybean processing capacity in the U.S. has been expanding to meet the rising demand for vegetable oils to produce renewable fuels. According to the National Oilseed Processors Association, for the first quarter of 2024, soybean crush was approximately 568.4 million bushels, up 38.2 million bushels from the 530.2 million bushels crushed during the first quarter of 2023. Soybean oil stocks were 1.9 billion pounds, which was unchanged from the 1.9 billion pounds of stocks as of March 31, 2023. Soybean meal production was 13.4 million short tons for the first quarter of 2024, up 0.8 million short tons from the 12.6 million short tons from the same period in the prior year.
Legislation and Regulation
We are sensitive to government programs and policies that affect the supply and demand for ethanol and other fuels, which in turn may impact the volume of ethanol and other products we handle. Over the years, various bills and amendments have been proposed in the House and Senate, which would eliminate the RFS entirely, eliminate the corn based ethanol portion of the mandate, lower the price of RINs and make it more difficult to sell fuel blends with higher levels of ethanol. Bills have also been introduced to require or otherwise incentivize higher levels of octane blending, allow for year-round sales of higher blends of ethanol and require car manufacturers to produce vehicles that can operate on higher ethanol blends. We believe it is unlikely that any of these bills will become law in the current Congress. In addition, the manner in which the EPA administers the RFS and related regulations can have a significant impact on the actual amount of ethanol and other biofuels blended into the domestic fuel supply.
Federal mandates and state-level clean fuel standards supporting the use of renewable fuels are a significant driver of ethanol demand in the U.S. Ethanol policies are influenced by concerns for the environment, diversifying the fuel supply, supporting U.S. farmers and reducing the country’s dependence on foreign oil. Consumer acceptance of FFVs, availability of higher ethanol blends and increased use of higher ethanol blends in non-FFVs may be necessary before ethanol can achieve further growth in the U.S. light duty surface transportation fleet market share. In addition, expansion of clean fuel standards in other states and countries, or a national LCFS could increase the demand for ethanol, depending on how they are structured. Incentives for automakers to produce FFVs phased out in 2020, and the EPA's proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards further incentivize EV production, with the administration's stated goal of having EVs represent two-thirds of vehicles sold by 2032. Sales of EVs in the U.S. were approximately 269 thousand vehicles during the first quarter of 2024, which represented approximately 7.3% of new vehicles sales, up 2.6% from the approximately 262 thousand in 2023. Transition of the light duty surface transportation fleet from internal combustion engines to EVs could decrease the demand for ethanol.
The IRA, which was signed into law on August 16, 2022, is a sweeping policy that could have many potential impacts on our business which we are continuing to evaluate. The legislation (1) created a new Clean Fuel Production Credit of $0.02 per gallon per CI point reduction for any fuel below a 50 CI threshold from 2025 to 2027, section 45Z of the Internal Revenue Code, which could impact our fuel ethanol, depending on the level of GHG reduction for each gallon; (2) created a new tax credit for SAF of $1.25 to $1.75 per gallon for 2023 and 2024, depending on the GHG reduction for each gallon, that could possibly involve some of our renewable corn oil or low carbon ethanol as feedstock through an ATJ pathway, depending on the life cycle analysis model being used (this credit expires after 2024 and shifts to the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, where it qualifies for up to $0.035 per gallon per CI point reduction below a 50 CI threshold); (3) expanded the carbon capture and sequestration credit, section 45Q of the Internal Revenue Code, to $85 for each metric ton of carbon dioxide sequestered, which could impact our carbon capture strategies, though it cannot be claimed in conjunction with the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, which could prove to be more valuable; (4) extended the $1.00 per gallon biomass-based diesel tax credit through 2024, which could impact our renewable corn oil values, as this co-product serves as a low-carbon feedstock for renewable diesel and bio-diesel production (this credit expires after 2024 and shifts to the 45Z Clean Fuel Production credit, where all non-SAF fuels qualify for $0.02 per gallon for each point of CI reduction under the 50 CI threshold); (5) funded $500 million of biofuel blending infrastructure, which could impact the availability of higher level ethanol blended fuel; (6) increased funding for climate-smart agriculture and working lands conservation programs for farmers by $20 billion; and (7) provided credits for the production and purchase of electric vehicles, which could impact the amount of internal combustion engines built and sold longer term, and by extension impact the demand for liquid fuels including ethanol. There are numerous additional clean energy credits included in this law, including investment tax credits for construction of clean energy infrastructure, that could impact us and our overall competitiveness. Regulatory rulemaking for the administration of these programs is underway, and the final regulations could impact many aspects of our business. On April 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Treasury issued regulatory guidance along with an updated GREET lifecycle assessment model for the SAF tax credit, which included a pathway for U.S. corn ethanol to qualify as a feedstock for SAF if the carbon intensity is lowered through utilization of various technologies and practices, including carbon capture and climate smart agriculture practices.
The RFS sets a floor for biofuels use in the United States. In June 2023, the EPA finalized RVOs for 2023, 2024 and 2025, setting the implied conventional ethanol levels at 15.25 billion gallons for 2023, and 15 billion for 2024 and 2025, inclusive of 250 million gallons of supplemental volume in 2023 to reflect a court-ordered remand of a previously lowered RVO. The EPA also proposed a modest increase in biomass-based diesel volumes over the three years, setting the volumes at 2.82 billion for 2023, 3.04 billion for 2024 and 3.35 billion for 2025. The EPA also indicated that corn kernel fiber would contribute to the finalized cellulosic volumes, and could move to approve registrations that have been languishing for years at the agency. The EPA also removed a proposed e-RIN program to support electric vehicles from the final rule, but indicated they may move forward with it in a separate rulemaking. The EPA is required to propose RVOs for 2026 and potentially additional years by November of 2024. From time to time, the EPA has delayed the proposed RVOs past the statutory deadlines.
Under the RFS, RINs impact supply and demand. The EPA assigns individual refiners, blenders, and importers the volume of renewable fuels they are obligated to use in each annual RVO based on their percentage of total production of domestic transportation fuel sales. Obligated parties use RINs to show compliance with the RFS mandated volumes. Ethanol producers assign RINs to each gallon of renewable fuel they produce and the RINs are detached when the renewable fuel is blended with transportation fuel domestically. Market participants can trade the detached RINs in the open market. The market price of detached RINs can affect the price of ethanol in certain markets and can influence purchasing decisions by obligated parties. SREs can reduce or waive entirely the obligation for a refinery, which has the practical effect of reducing the RVO, and by extension the amount of RINs that need to be retired, which can impact their values and ultimately blending levels of renewable fuels. There are multiple on-going legal challenges to how the EPA has handled SREs and RFS rulemakings.
The One-Pound Waiver, which was extended in May 2019 to allow E15 to be sold year-round to all vehicles model year 2001 and newer, was challenged in an action filed in Federal District Court for the D.C. Circuit. On July 2, 2021, the Circuit Court vacated the EPA’s rule so the future of summertime, defined as June 1 to September 15, sales of E15 is uncertain. The Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to this ruling. On April 1, 2022, the President announced that he had directed the EPA to issue an emergency waiver to allow for the continued sale of E15 during the summer months of 2022, and that the temporary waiver should be extended as long as the gasoline supply emergency lasts. On April 28, 2023, the administration announced emergency waivers for the 2023 summer driving season. On April 19, 2024, the EPA announced emergency waivers for the 2024 driving season, making it the sixth consecutive year that E15 is able to be sold year-round. The EPA has also allowed for the elimination of the One-Pound Waiver for E10 in several Midwestern states beginning with the 2025 summer driving season, which would have the practical effect of allowing for E15 to be sold year- round in the following states: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
In October 2019, the White House directed the USDA and EPA to move forward with rulemaking to expand access to higher blends of biofuels. This includes funding for infrastructure, labeling changes and allowing E15 to be sold through E10 infrastructure. The USDA rolled out the Higher Blend Infrastructure Incentive Program in the summer of 2020, providing competitive grants to fuel terminals and retailers for installing equipment for dispensing higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. In December 2021, the USDA announced it would administer another infrastructure grant program. The IRA, signed into law in 2022, provided for an additional $500 million in USDA grants for biofuel infrastructure. On June 26, 2023, the USDA announced the initial $50 million in awards, and laid out a process for distributing the remaining $450 million, with $90 million being made available each quarter.
To respond to COVID-19 health crisis and attempt to offset the subsequent economic damage, Congress passed multiple relief measures, most notably the CARES Act in March 2020, which created and funded multiple programs that have impacted our industry. The CARES Act also allowed for certain net operating loss carrybacks, which has allowed us to receive certain tax refunds. In December 2020, Congress passed and the then President signed into law an annual spending package coupled with another COVID relief bill, which included additional funds for the Secretary of Agriculture to distribute to those impacted by the pandemic. The language of the bill specifically included biofuels producers as eligible for some of this aid, and in May 2022, the USDA distributed funds to us in the amount of $27.7 million pursuant to this bill. In July 2023, the USDA distributed supplemental program funds to us in the amount of $3.4 million.
Environmental and Other Regulation
Our operations are subject to environmental regulations, including those that govern the handling and release of ethanol, crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbon materials. Compliance with existing and anticipated environmental laws and regulations may increase our overall cost of doing business, including capital costs to construct, maintain, operate, and upgrade equipment and facilities. Our business may also be impacted by government policies, such as tariffs, duties,
subsidies, import and export restrictions and outright embargos. We employ maintenance and operations personnel at each of our facilities, which are regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Comparability
There are various events that could affect comparability of our operating results, including fluctuations in our production rates in 2024 compared to 2023, along with the disposition of our Atkinson, Nebraska ethanol plant in September 2023.
Segment Results
We report the financial and operating performance for the following two operating segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production, storage, and transportation of ethanol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein and renewable corn oil and (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, renewable corn oil, natural gas and other commodities.
As a result of the Merger, the partnership's operations are included in the ethanol production operating segment. The following changes were made to the company's operating segments:
•The revenue and operating results from fuel storage and transportation services previously disclosed within the partnership segment are now included within the ethanol production segment.
•Intersegment activities between the partnership and Green Plains Trade associated with ethanol storage and transportation services previously treated like third-party transactions and eliminated on a consolidated level are now eliminated within the ethanol production segment.
Intersegment activities between the partnership and Green Plains Trade associated with terminal services transacted with the agribusiness and energy services segment will continue to be eliminated on a consolidated level.
Corporate activities include selling, general and administrative expenses, consisting primarily of compensation, professional fees and overhead costs not directly related to a specific operating segment.
During the normal course of business, our operating segments do business with each other. For example, our agribusiness and energy services segment procures grain and natural gas and sells products, including ethanol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein, and renewable corn oil of our ethanol production segment. These intersegment activities are treated like third-party transactions with origination, marketing and storage fees charged at estimated market values. Consequently, these transactions affect segment performance; however, they do not impact our consolidated results since the revenues and corresponding costs are eliminated.
When we evaluate segment performance, we review the following segment information as well as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA.
The selected operating segment financial information is as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, | | %
Variance |
| 2024 | | 2023 | |
| Revenues | | | | | |
| Ethanol production | | | | | |
| Revenues from external customers | $ | 504,446 | | | $ | 696,613 | | | (27.6)% |
| Intersegment revenues | 1,213 | | | 1,105 | | | 9.8 |
| Total segment revenues | 505,659 | | | 697,718 | | | (27.5) |
| Agribusiness and energy services | | | | | |
| Revenues from external customers | 92,768 | | | 136,336 | | | (32.0) |
| Intersegment revenues | 6,228 | | | 6,050 | | | 2.9 |
| Total segment revenues | 98,996 | | | 142,386 | | | (30.5) |
| Revenues including intersegment activity | 604,655 | | | 840,104 | | | (28.0) |
| Intersegment eliminations | (7,441) | | | (7,155) | | | 4.0 |
| $ | 597,214 | | | $ | 832,949 | | | (28.3)% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, | | %
Variance |
| 2024 | | 2023 | |
| Cost of goods sold | | | | | |
Ethanol production (1) | $ | 508,302 | | | $ | 706,133 | | | (28.0)% |
| Agribusiness and energy services | 87,986 | | | 133,280 | | | (34.0) |
| Intersegment eliminations | (7,441) | | | (7,155) | | | 4.0 |
| $ | 588,847 | | | $ | 832,258 | | | (29.2)% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, | | %
Variance |
| 2024 | | 2023 | |
| Gross margin | | | | | |
Ethanol production (1) | $ | (2,643) | | | $ | (8,415) | | | (68.6)% |
| Agribusiness and energy services | 11,010 | | | 9,106 | | | 20.9 |
| $ | 8,367 | | | $ | 691 | | | *% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, | | %
Variance |
| 2024 | | 2023 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | | | |
| Ethanol production | $ | 20,534 | | | $ | 23,754 | | | (13.6)% |
| Agribusiness and energy services | 505 | | | 813 | | | (37.9) |
| Corporate activities | 448 | | | 819 | | | (45.3) |
| $ | 21,487 | | | $ | 25,386 | | | (15.4)% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, | | %
Variance |
| 2024 | | 2023 | |
| Operating income (loss) | | | | | |
Ethanol production (2) | $ | (33,653) | | | $ | (41,950) | | | (19.8)% |
| Agribusiness and energy services | 6,004 | | | 4,126 | | | 45.5 |
| Corporate activities | (17,240) | | | (18,716) | | | (7.9) |
| $ | (44,889) | | | $ | (56,540) | | | (20.6)% |
(1)Costs historically reported as operations and maintenance expenses in the consolidated statements of operations are now being reported within cost of goods sold, resulting in increased cost of goods sold and decreased gross margin within the ethanol production segment.
(2)Operating loss for ethanol production includes an inventory lower of average cost or net realizable value adjustment of $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
* Percentage variance not considered meaningful.
We use EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and segment EBITDA as measures of profitability to compare the financial performance of our reportable segments and manage those segments. EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization excluding the amortization of right-of-use assets and debt issuance costs. Adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments related to our proportional share of EBITDA adjustments of our equity method investees. We believe EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and segment EBITDA are useful measures to compare our performance against other companies. These measures should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, which is prepared in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and segment EBITDA calculations may vary from company to company. Accordingly, our computation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and segment EBITDA may not be comparable with a similarly titled measure of other companies.
The following table reconciles net loss including noncontrolling interest to adjusted EBITDA (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, | | %
Variance |
| 2024 | | 2023 | |
| Net loss | $ | (51,122) | | | $ | (66,249) | | | (22.8)% |
| Interest expense | 7,786 | | | 9,738 | | | (20.0) |
| Income tax expense | 329 | | | 3,429 | | | (90.4) |
Depreciation and amortization (1) | 21,487 | | | 25,386 | | | (15.4) |
| EBITDA | (21,520) | | | (27,696) | | | (22.3) |
| Proportional share of EBITDA adjustments to equity method investees | 45 | | | 45 | | | — |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (21,475) | | | $ | (27,651) | | | (22.3)% |
(1)Excludes amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets and amortization of debt issuance costs.
The following table reconciles segment EBITDA to consolidated adjusted EBITDA (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, | | %
Variance |
| 2024 | | 2023 | |
| Adjusted EBITDA | | | | | |
Ethanol production (1) | $ | (13,621) | | | $ | (17,804) | | | (23.5)% |
| Agribusiness and energy services | 7,056 | | | 5,227 | | | 35.0 |
| Corporate activities | (14,955) | | | (15,119) | | | (1.1) |
| EBITDA | (21,520) | | | (27,696) | | | (22.3) |
| Proportional share of EBITDA adjustments to equity method investees | 45 | | | 45 | | | — |
| $ | (21,475) | | | $ | (27,651) | | | (22.3)% |
(1)Ethanol production includes an inventory lower of cost or net realizable value adjustment of $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
Consolidated Results
Consolidated revenues decreased $235.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared with the same period in 2023, primarily due to lower weighted average selling prices on ethanol, distillers grains and renewable corn oil, as well as lower distillers grains and renewable corn oil volumes sold, partially offset by higher ethanol volumes sold within our ethanol production segment as described below. Additionally, we had lower revenues within our agribusiness and energy services segment as a result of lower natural gas prices and trading volumes, as well as a decrease in ethanol prices.
Net loss decreased $15.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared with the same period last year primarily due to higher margins in our ethanol production segment. Adjusted EBITDA increased $6.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared with the same period in 2023 primarily due to higher margins in our ethanol production segment. Interest expense decreased $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared with the same period in 2023 primarily due to lower working capital revolver balances. Income tax expense was $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with income tax expense of $3.4 million for the same period in 2023 primarily due to a decrease in the valuation allowance recorded against certain deferred tax assets for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
The following discussion provides greater detail about our first quarter segment performance.
Ethanol Production Segment
Key operating data for our ethanol production segment is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended
March 31, | | |
| 2024 | | 2023 | | % Variance |
| | | | | |
| Ethanol sold | | | | | |
| (thousands of gallons) | 207,904 | | | 206,880 | | | 0.5% |
| Distillers grains sold | | | | | |
| (thousands of equivalent dried tons) | 469 | | | 482 | | | (2.7) |
| Ultra-High Protein sold | | | | | |
| (thousands of tons) | 60 | | | 52 | | | 15.4 |
| Renewable corn oil sold | | | | | |
| (thousands of pounds) | 66,721 | | | 68,011 | | | (1.9) |
| Corn consumed | | | | | |
| (thousands of bushels) | 71,274 | | | 71,235 | | | 0.1% |
Revenues in our ethanol production segment decreased $192.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared with the same period in 2023, primarily due to lower weighted average selling prices on ethanol, distillers grains and renewable corn oil resulting in decreased revenues of $156.1 million, $32.0 million and $9.3 million, respectively, as well as lower distillers grains and renewable corn oil volumes sold resulting in decreased revenues of $1.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively, partially offset by higher ethanol volumes sold resulting in increased revenues of $2.5 million. Revenues also increased as a result of hedging activities by $4.8 million.
Cost of goods sold in our ethanol production segment decreased $197.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared with the same period last year due to lower weighted average corn prices resulting in decreased costs of $174.5 million, as well as lower ethanol volumes purchased and lower utilities of $29.4 million and $28.5 million, respectively, partially offset by higher chemicals and other costs, hedging activities, and higher repair costs of $12.0 million, $11.3 million and $6.5 million, respectively.
Operating loss in our ethanol production segment decreased $8.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared with the same period in 2023 primarily due to increased margins on ethanol production as outlined above. Depreciation and amortization expense for the ethanol production segment was $20.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with $23.8 million for the same period last year, with the decrease primarily due to certain assets becoming fully depreciated.
Agribusiness and Energy Services Segment
Revenues in our agribusiness and energy services segment decreased $43.4 million while operating income increased $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with the same period in 2023. The decrease in revenues was primarily due to lower natural gas prices and trading volumes, as well as a decrease in ethanol prices. The increase in operating income was primarily due to higher grain storage volumes.
Intersegment Eliminations
Intersegment eliminations of revenues increased by $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Corporate Activities
Operating loss was impacted by a decrease in corporate activities of $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared with 2023 primarily due to decreased personnel costs.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal sources of liquidity include cash generated from operating activities and bank credit facilities. We fund our operating expenses and service debt primarily with operating cash flows. Capital resources for maintenance and growth expenditures are funded by a variety of sources, including cash generated from operating activities or from debt and equity capital markets. Our ability to access capital markets for debt under reasonable terms depends on our financial condition, credit ratings and market conditions. We believe that our ability to obtain financing at reasonable rates based on these factors remains sufficient and provides a solid foundation to meet our future liquidity and capital resource requirements.
On March 31, 2024, we had $237.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and $40.1 million in restricted cash. We also had $230.0 million available under our committed revolving credit agreement, subject to restrictions or other lending conditions. Funds at certain subsidiaries are generally required for their ongoing operational needs and restricted from distribution. At March 31, 2024, our subsidiaries had approximately $131.4 million of net assets that were not available to use in the form of dividends, loans or advances due to restrictions contained in their credit facilities.
Net cash used in operating activities was $50.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with net cash used in operating activities of $117.0 million for the same period in 2023. Net cash used in operating activities compared to the prior year decreased primarily due to increases in cash related to accounts payables and inventories. Net cash used in investing activities was $30.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with net cash used in investing activities of $35.4 million for the same period in 2023. Investing activities were primarily affected by lower capital expenditures when compared to the same period in the prior year. Net cash used in financing activities was $20.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with net cash provided by financing activities of $60.5 million for the same period in 2023, primarily due to the extinguishment of non-controlling interest and lower working capital revolver balances when compared to the same period in 2023.
Additionally, Green Plains Finance Company, Green Plains Trade, Green Plains Grain and Green Plains Commodity Management use revolving credit facilities to finance working capital requirements. We frequently draw from and repay these facilities, which results in significant cash movements reflected on a gross basis within financing activities as proceeds from and payments on short-term borrowings.
We incurred capital expenditures of approximately $21.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily for the clean sugar expansion project at Shenandoah and for various other capital projects. Capital spending for 2024 is expected to be between $95.0 million and $115.0 million, which is subject to review prior to the initiation of any project. The capital spending estimate does not include the anticipated expenditures related to our carbon capture and sequestration projects, which are expected to be financed through project related financing. The estimate includes additional expenditures to deploy FQT's CST™ technology, as well as expenditures for various other capital projects, which are expected to be financed with cash on hand and by cash provided by operating activities.
Our business is highly sensitive to the price of commodities, particularly for corn, ethanol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein, renewable corn oil and natural gas. We use derivative financial instruments to reduce the market risk associated with fluctuations in commodity prices. Sudden changes in commodity prices may require cash deposits with brokers for margin calls or significant liquidity with little advanced notice to meet margin calls, depending on our open derivative positions. We continuously monitor our exposure to margin calls and believe we will continue to maintain adequate liquidity to cover margin calls from our operating results and borrowings.
In August 2014 and October 2019, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $200.0 million of our common stock. Under the program, we may repurchase shares in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions, accelerated share buyback programs, tender offers or by other means. The timing and amount of repurchase transactions are determined by our management based on market conditions, share price, legal requirements and other factors. The program may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time without prior notice. Since inception of the repurchase program, we have repurchased 7.4 million shares of common stock for approximately $92.8 million under the program. We did not repurchase any shares of common stock during the first quarter of 2024.
We believe we have sufficient working capital for our existing operations. A continued sustained period of unprofitable operations, however, may strain our liquidity. We may sell additional assets or equity or borrow capital to improve or preserve our liquidity, expand our business or acquire businesses.
Debt
We were in compliance with our debt covenants at March 31, 2024. Based on our forecasts, we anticipate we will maintain compliance at each of our subsidiaries for the next twelve months or have sufficient liquidity available on a consolidated basis to resolve noncompliance. We cannot provide assurance that actual results will approximate our forecasts or that we will inject the necessary capital into a subsidiary to maintain compliance with its respective covenants. In the event a subsidiary is unable to comply with its debt covenants, the subsidiary’s lenders may determine that an event of default has occurred, and following notice, the lenders may terminate the commitment and declare the unpaid balance due and payable.
Corporate Activities
In March 2021, we issued $230.0 million of unsecured 2.25% convertible senior notes due in 2027, or the 2.25% notes. The 2.25% notes bear interest at a rate of 2.25% per year, payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year. The initial conversion rate is 31.6206 shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2.25% notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $31.62 per share of our common stock), representing an approximately 37.5% premium over the offering price of our common stock. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, including but not limited to; the event of a stock dividend or stock split; the issuance of additional rights, options and warrants; spinoffs; or a tender or exchange offering. In addition, we may be obligated to increase the conversion rate for any conversion that occurs in connection with certain corporate events, including our calling the 2.25% notes for redemption. We may settle the 2.25% notes in cash, common stock or a combination of cash and common stock. At March 31, 2024, the outstanding principal balance on the 2.25% notes was $230.0 million.
Ethanol Production Segment
On February 9, 2021, Green Plains SPE LLC, a wholly-owned special purpose subsidiary and parent of Green Plains Obion and Green Plains Mount Vernon issued $125.0 million of junior secured mezzanine notes due February 2026 with BlackRock. These notes will accrue interest at an annual rate of 11.75% and mature on February 9, 2026.
Green Plains Wood River and Green Plains Shenandoah, wholly-owned subsidiaries of us, have a $75.0 million secured loan agreement, which matures on September 1, 2035. At March 31, 2024, the outstanding principal balance was $72.8 million on the loan and the interest rate was 5.02%.
Green Plains Partners, through a wholly owned subsidiary, has a secured term loan to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general partnership purposes. The term loan has a maturity date of July 20, 2026. The term loan does not require any principal payments; however, the partnership has the option to prepay $1.5 million per quarter. Prepayments totaling $1.5 million were made during the three months ended March 31, 2024. Interest on the term loan is based on 3-month SOFR plus 8.26%, and is payable on the 15th day of each March, June, September and December. The term loan is secured by substantially all of the assets of the partnership. As of March 31, 2024, the term loan had a balance of $54.5 million and an interest rate of 13.59%.
We also have small equipment financing loans, finance leases on equipment or facilities, and other forms of debt financing.
Agribusiness and Energy Services Segment
Green Plains Finance Company, Green Plains Grain and Green Plains Trade have total senior secured revolving commitments of $350.0 million and an accordion feature whereby amounts available under the facility may be increased by up to $100.0 million of new lender commitments subject to certain conditions. The facility matures in March 2027. Each SOFR rate loan shall bear interest for each day at a rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR rate for the outstanding period plus a Term SOFR adjustment and an applicable margin of 2.25% to 2.50%, which is dependent on undrawn availability under the facility. Each base rate loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the base rate plus the applicable margin of 1.25% to 1.50%, which is dependent on undrawn availability under the facility. The unused portion of the facility is also subject to a commitment fee of 0.275% to 0.375%, dependent on undrawn availability. At March 31, 2024, the outstanding principal balance was $120.0 million on the facility and the interest rate was 8.63%.
Green Plains Commodity Management has an uncommitted $40.0 million secured revolving credit facility to finance margins related to its hedging programs. During the first quarter of 2023, this revolving credit facility was extended five years to mature on April 30, 2028. Advances are subject to variable interest rates equal to SOFR plus 1.75%. At March 31, 2024, the outstanding principal balance was $10.0 million on the facility and the interest rate was 7.09%.
Green Plains Grain has a short-term inventory financing agreement with a financial institution. The company has accounted for the agreement as short-term notes, rather than revenues, and has elected the fair value option to offset fluctuations in market prices of the inventory. This agreement is subject to negotiated variable interest rates. The company had no outstanding short-term notes payable related to the inventory financing agreement as of March 31, 2024.
Refer to Note 8 - Debt in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included herein for more information about our debt.
Effects of Inflation
We have experienced inflationary impacts on labor costs, wages, components, equipment, other inputs and services across our business and inflation and its impact could escalate in future quarters, many of which are beyond our control. Moreover, we have fixed price arrangements with our customers and are not able to pass those costs along in most instances. As such, inflationary pressures could have a material adverse effect on our performance and financial statements.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
In addition to debt, our material future obligations include certain lease agreements and contractual and purchase commitments related to commodities, storage and transportation. Aggregate minimum lease payments under the operating lease agreements for future fiscal years as of March 31, 2024 totaled $90.0 million. As of March 31, 2024, we had contracted future purchases of grain, distillers grains and natural gas valued at approximately $168.6 million and future commitments for storage and transportation valued at approximately $19.9 million. Refer to Note 13 – Commitments and Contingencies included in the notes to consolidated financial statements for more information.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Critical accounting policies, including those relating to derivative financial instruments and accounting for income taxes, are impacted significantly by judgments, assumptions and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. Information about our critical accounting policies and estimates are included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.