February 10, 2016 - 5:33 PM EST
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Green Plains Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Financial Results

$4.8 Million of Income Before Taxes and Noncontrolling Interest

  • Net income attributable to company of $7.1 million, or $0.18 per diluted share for the full year of 2015
  • Net loss attributable to company of $(3.6) million, or $(0.09) per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2015

OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 10, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2015. Net income attributable to the company for the quarter was a loss of $(3.6) million, or $(0.09) per diluted share, compared with net income of $42.2 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, for the same period in 2014. Revenues were $739.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with $829.9 million for the same period last year.

“The company performed well in a challenging margin environment with over $32 million in EBITDA this quarter,” stated Todd Becker, president and chief executive officer. “We were profitable before tax but an unusually high effective tax rate led to a small EPS loss this quarter. With that said, we achieved a record 261 million gallons of ethanol production for the fourth quarter of 2015 and benefitted from our diversified platform. Our agribusiness, marketing and distribution, and partnership segments all reported solid results for the fourth quarter.”

During the fourth quarter, Green Plains’ ethanol production totaled 260.8 million gallons, or approximately 93.9% of its daily average production capacity. The consolidated ethanol crush margin was $29.8 million, or $0.11 per gallon, for the fourth quarter of 2015, compared with $94.2 million, or $0.38 per gallon, for the same period in 2014. The consolidated ethanol crush margin is the ethanol production segment’s operating income before depreciation and amortization, which includes corn oil production, plus intercompany storage, transportation and other fees.

Revenues were $3.0 billion for the year ended Dec. 31, 2015, compared with $3.2 billion for the same period in 2014. Net income attributable to Green Plains for the twelve months ended Dec. 31, 2015, was $7.1 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared with net income of $159.5 million, or $3.96 per diluted share, for the same period last year.

“Even with strong global and domestic ethanol blending growth, U.S. production continues to outpace demand for the time being,” continued Becker. “We are carefully managing our supply chain and production levels in the first quarter until the forward curve shows some measurable improvement as we approach stronger seasonal demand.”

Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $32.5 million compared with $91.1 million for the same period last year. EBITDA was $127.8 million for the twelve months ended Dec. 31, 2015, compared with $352.5 million for the same period last year. Green Plains had $411.9 million in cash and equivalents and $248.0 million available under revolving credit agreements, some of which are subject to restrictions and other lending conditions, at Dec. 31, 2015. Total debt was $675.0 million, including $226.9 million outstanding under working capital revolvers and other short-term borrowing arrangements for the marketing and distribution and agribusiness segments at Dec. 31, 2015.

2015 Fourth Quarter Highlights and Recent Developments

  • On Oct. 26, 2015, Green Plains announced it had acquired an ethanol production facility in Hopewell, Va. Operating at full capacity, the dry mill ethanol plant will increase the company’s annual production capacity by approximately 60 million gallons.
  • Green Plains completed the purchase of an ethanol production facility located in Hereford, Texas with approximately 100 million gallons of annual production capacity. The transaction closed on Nov. 12, 2015.
  • Effective Jan. 1, 2016, Green Plains sold the storage and transportation assets of the Hopewell and Hereford ethanol production facilities to Green Plains Partners for $62.5 million.

Fourth Quarter 2015 Conference Call Information

On Feb. 11, 2016, Green Plains Inc. and Green Plains Partners will host a joint conference call at 11 a.m. Eastern time (10 a.m. Central time) to discuss fourth quarter 2015 financial results for each company. Domestic and international participants can access the conference call by dialing 888.293.6979 and 719.325.2234, respectively. Participants are advised to call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. Alternatively, the conference call and presentation can be accessed on Green Plains’ website at http://investor.gpreinc.com/events.cfm.

About Green Plains Inc.

Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is a diversified commodity-processing business with operations related to ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil production; grain handling and storage; a cattle feedlot; and commodity marketing and distribution services. The company processes 12 million tons of corn annually, producing over 1.2 billion gallons of ethanol, approximately 3.4 million tons of livestock feed and 275 million pounds of industrial grade corn oil at full capacity. Green Plains owns a 62.5% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest in Green Plains Partners. For more information about Green Plains, visit www.gpreinc.com.

About Green Plains Partners LP

Green Plains Partners LP (NASDAQ:GPP) is a fee-based Delaware limited partnership formed by Green Plains Inc. to provide fuel storage and transportation services by owning, operating, developing and acquiring ethanol and fuel storage tanks, terminals, transportation assets and other related assets and businesses. For more information about Green Plains Partners, visit www.greenplainspartners.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such statements are identified by the use of words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “goal,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should,” “will,” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to various factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, outcome of events, timing and performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Green Plains may experience significant fluctuations in future operating results due to a number of economic conditions, including, but not limited to, competition in the ethanol and other industries in which Green Plains operates, commodity market risks including those that may result from current weather conditions, financial market risks, counterparty risks, risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, risks related to closing and achieving anticipated results from acquisitions, risks associated with the joint venture to commercialize algae production and the growth potential of the algal biomass industry, and other risks detailed in Green Plains’ reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2014, and in Green Plains’ subsequent filings with the SEC, as well as the risks disclosed in Green Plains Partners’ SEC filings and the impact of the recent initial public offering of Green Plains Partners and its operations as a separate, publicly traded entity. In addition, Green Plains is not obligated, and does not intend, to update any of its forward-looking statements at any time unless an update is required by applicable securities laws. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this release also could have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.

Consolidated Financial Results

 
GREEN PLAINS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
      
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
  
    2015  2014   2015  2014 
Revenues     
Product revenues  $  737,882 $  827,743  $  2,957,201 $  3,227,127 
Service revenues     2,032    2,196     8,388    8,484 
Total revenues     739,914    829,939     2,965,589    3,235,611 
Costs and expenses     
Cost of goods sold     681,219    710,904     2,729,599    2,783,045 
Operations and maintenance expenses     7,518    7,915     29,369    26,424 
Selling, general and administrative expenses     21,121    20,831     79,594    77,729 
Depreciation and amortization expenses     17,318    16,360     65,950    62,139 
Total costs and expenses     727,176    756,010     2,904,512    2,949,337 
Operating income     12,738    73,929     61,077    286,274 
Other income (expense)     
Interest income     462    215     1,211    635 
Interest expense     (10,448)   (10,157)    (40,366)   (39,908)
Other, net     2,027    627     (457)   3,429 
Total other income (expense)     (7,959)   (9,315)    (39,612)   (35,844)
Income before income taxes     4,779    64,614     21,465    250,430 
Income tax expense     4,066    22,377     6,237    90,926 
Net income     713    42,237     15,228    159,504 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest     4,302    -      8,164    -  
Net income attributable to Green Plains  $  (3,589)$  42,237  $  7,064 $  159,504 
      
Earnings per share:     
Income attributable to Green Plains stockholders - basic  $  (0.09)$  1.12  $  0.19 $  4.37 
Income attributable to Green Plains stockholders - diluted  $  (0.09)$  1.07  $  0.18 $  3.96 
Weighted average shares outstanding:     
Basic     37,890    37,610     37,947    36,467 
Diluted     37,890    39,543     39,028    40,730 
      

Results of Operations

Consolidated revenues decreased $90.0 million for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2015, compared with the same period in 2014. Ethanol revenues decreased $110.4 million due to lower average realized prices despite higher volumes produced and sold. Grain revenues decreased $19.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with the same quarter last year due to lower soybean sales that were partially offset by higher corn volumes and prices. Revenues from cattle sales increased $37.6 million due to higher sales volumes for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with the same quarter last year, which was the cattle feeding operation’s first year of business. Operating income decreased $61.2 million for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2015, compared with the same period last year primarily due to decreased ethanol production margins. Income tax expense was $4.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with $22.4 million for the same period in 2014. Income tax expense for the fourth quarter of 2015 reflects an unusually high effective tax rate primarily as a result of revised estimates of full-year income subject to tax and the effects of income attributable to noncontrolling interest.

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share (EPS) is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing net income on an if-converted basis with respect to the 5.75% convertible senior notes by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period adjusted for the dilutive effect of any outstanding dilutive securities. During the first quarter of 2014, all of the 5.75% notes were retired. During the second quarter of 2014, the company received shareholder approval to settle the 3.25% notes in cash, common stock or a combination of cash and stock. The company intends to settle the principal in cash, and related conversion premium in cash or stock. Accordingly, diluted EPS is calculated using the treasury stock method, with respect to the 3.25% notes beginning in the second quarter of 2014, by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted for the dilutive effect of any outstanding dilutive securities, beginning the second quarter of 2014.

 
GREEN PLAINS INC.
EARNINGS PER SHARE
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
      
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
  
    2015  2014   2015  2014 
Basic EPS:     
Net income attributable to Green Plains  $  (3,589)$  42,237  $  7,064 $  159,504 
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic     37,890    37,610     37,947    36,467 
EPS - basic  $  (0.09)$  1.12  $  0.19 $  4.37 
      
Diluted EPS:     
Net income attributable to Green Plains  $  (3,589)$  42,237  $  7,064 $  159,504 
Interest and amortization on convertible debt,     
net of tax effect:     
5.75% Notes     -    -     -    576 
3.25% Notes     -    -     -    1,379 
Net income attributable to Green Plains - diluted  $  (3,589)$  42,237  $  7,064 $  161,459 
      
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic     37,890    37,610     37,947    36,467 
Effect of dilutive convertible debt:     
5.75% Notes     -    -     -    1,006 
3.25% Notes     -    1,759     939    3,040 
Effect of dilutive stock-based comp. awards     -    174     142    217 
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted     37,890    39,543     39,028    40,730 
      
EPS - diluted  $  (0.09)$  1.07  $  0.18 $  3.96 
      

Segment Results

Following the initial public offering of Green Plains Partners on July 1, 2015, the company implemented organizational changes during the third quarter of 2015, resulting in four operating segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production of ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil, (2) agribusiness, which includes grain handling and storage and cattle feedlot operations, (3) marketing and distribution, which include marketing and merchant trading for company-produced and third-party ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil and other commodities, and (4) the partnership, which includes fuel storage and transportation services provided by Green Plains Partners. Prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the revised segment presentation.

 
GREEN PLAINS INC.
SEGMENT OPERATIONS
(in thousands)
      
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
  
    2015  2014   2015  2014 
Revenues:     
Ethanol production  $  459,809 $  534,187  $  1,746,327 $  2,235,028 
Agribusiness     406,417    291,183     1,381,300    1,308,556 
Marketing and distribution     651,250    853,009     2,631,611    3,349,487 
Partnership     22,686    3,288     50,937    12,843 
Intersegment eliminations     (800,248)   (851,728)    (2,844,586)   (3,670,303)
   $  739,914 $  829,939  $  2,965,589 $  3,235,611 
Cost of goods sold:     
Ethanol production  $  441,732 $  431,465  $  1,626,327 $  1,879,547 
Agribusiness     399,021    284,028     1,362,001    1,293,274 
Marketing and distribution     638,411    843,378     2,588,738    3,281,191 
Partnership     -    -     -    - 
Intersegment eliminations     (797,945)   (847,967)    (2,847,467)   (3,670,967)
   $  681,219 $  710,904  $  2,729,599 $  2,783,045 
Operating income (loss):     
Ethanol production  $  (2,571)$  82,973  $  40,568 $  281,332 
Agribusiness     4,373    5,156     10,206    8,497 
Marketing and distribution     8,503    5,014     25,560    48,460 
Partnership     12,458    (5,921)    13,263    (19,975)
Intersegment eliminations     (2,304)   (3,604)    2,960    666 
Segment operating income     20,459    83,618     92,557    318,980 
Corporate activities     (7,721)   (9,689)    (31,480)   (32,706)
   $  12,738 $  73,929  $  61,077 $  286,274 
      

Ethanol Production Segment

Ethanol production segment revenues decreased $74.4 million for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2015, compared with the same period in 2014 primarily due to lower average ethanol and distillers grains prices realized despite higher volumes produced and sold. The ethanol production segment produced 260.8 million gallons of ethanol during the quarter, representing approximately 93.9% of daily average production capacity. Corn oil sold increased 5.0 million pounds for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with the same period last year due to higher production levels; however the average realized price was approximately 28% lower quarter over quarter.

Cost of goods sold for the ethanol production segment increased $10.3 million for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2015, compared with the same period last year due to higher production volumes and a 3.7% increase in the average cost per bushel of corn. As a result of the factors identified above, operating income decreased $85.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. Depreciation and amortization expense was $14.3 million for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2015, compared with $13.8 million for the same period in 2014.

 
GREEN PLAINS INC.
ETHANOL PRODUCTION SEGMENT OPERATING DATA
(in thousands)
      
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
  
 20152014 20152014 
Ethanol sold260,767246,595 947,557966,176
(thousands of gallons)     
Distillers grains sold703697 2,5402,670
(thousands of equivalent dried tons)     
Corn oil sold68,07263,098 244,047234,632
(thousands of pounds)     
Corn consumed90,66987,962 332,417343,982
(thousands of bushels)     
      

Agribusiness Segment

Agribusiness segment revenues increased $115.2 million while operating income decreased $0.8 million for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2015, compared with the same period in 2014. The segment sold 93.6 million bushels of grain, including 91.1 million bushels to the ethanol production segment, for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2015, compared with sales of 74.5 million bushels of grain, including 73.2 million bushels to the ethanol production segment, for the same period in 2014. Revenues were impacted by higher average realized prices and volumes sold, and increased revenues of $37.6 million due to the cattle-feeding operation that was acquired during the second quarter of 2014.

Marketing and Distribution Segment

Marketing and distribution segment revenues decreased $201.8 million for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2015, compared with the same period last year. Ethanol revenues decreased $146.5 million due to lower average realized prices and third-party volumes sold. Grain revenues decreased $21.5 million due to lower volumes of soybeans sold partially offset by higher average realized prices. The marketing and distribution segment sold 290.7 million and 308.7 million gallons of ethanol for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

Operating income for the marketing and distribution segment increased $3.5 million for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2015, compared with the same period in 2014, primarily due to higher margins on distillers grains, corn oil and other products trading offset by lower margins on ethanol marketing.

Partnership Segment

The partnership segment’s results of operations are not comparable to periods prior to its initial public offering on July 1, 2015, when the storage and transportation agreements became effective. Periods ended on or before June 30, 2015, include the activities of BlendStar LLC, which provided terminal and trucking services. Expenses related to periods prior to June 30, 2015, for the ethanol storage and transportation assets that were contributed to the partnership are reflected retroactively in the consolidated financial statements.

The partnership segment’s revenues were $22.7 million for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2015. Operating income increased $18.4 million due to revenues related to its storage and transportation agreements with Green Plains Trade partially offset by increased operations and maintenance expenses and general and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management uses earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to measure the company’s financial performance and to internally manage its businesses. Management believes EBITDA provides useful information to investors as a measure of comparison with peer and other companies. EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to net income or cash flow, which are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. EBITDA calculations may vary from company to company. Accordingly, the company’s computation of EBITDA may not be comparable with a similarly-titled measure of another company.

 
GREEN PLAINS INC.
RECONCILIATIONS TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(Unaudited, in thousands)
      
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
  
    2015  2014   2015  2014 
Net income  $  713 $  42,237  $  15,228 $  159,504 
Interest expense     10,448    10,157     40,366    39,908 
Income taxes     4,066    22,377     6,237    90,926 
Depreciation and amortization     17,318    16,360     65,950    62,139 
EBITDA  $  32,545 $  91,131  $  127,781 $  352,477 
      

Consolidated Financial Position

 
GREEN PLAINS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
 December 31,
2015
 December 31,
2014
  
ASSETS   
Current assets$  912,577  $  910,910 
Property and equipment, net   922,070     825,210 
Other assets   94,681     92,437 
Total assets$  1,929,328  $  1,828,557 
    
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   
Current liabilities$  438,669  $  511,540 
Long-term debt   443,547     399,440 
Other liabilities   88,203     120,128 
Total liabilities   970,419     1,031,108 
 

Total Green Plains stockholders’ equity
   797,830     797,449 
Noncontrolling interest   161,079     - 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$  1,929,328  $  1,828,557 
    

As of Dec. 31, 2015, Green Plains had $411.9 million in cash and equivalents and $248.0 million available under committed loan agreements at subsidiaries, subject to borrowing base restrictions and other specified lending conditions. Total debt at Dec. 31, 2015, was $675.0 million, including $226.9 million outstanding under working capital revolvers and other short-term borrowing arrangements for the marketing and distribution and agribusiness segments. As of Dec. 31, 2015, Green Plains had 37.9 million common shares outstanding.

 

Contact: Jim Stark, Vice President - Investor and Media Relations, Green Plains Inc. (402) 884-8700

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Source: GlobeNewswire (February 10, 2016 - 5:33 PM EST)

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