Press Release

• Consolidated ethanol crush margin of $32.3 million or $0.11 cents per gallon
  
• Net loss attributable to the company of $12.5 million, or $(0.31) per diluted share
• Full company EBITDA of $32.0 million, inclusive of corporate activities
• Portfolio optimization plan remains on track, the company expects to close on asset sales of $650 million in the next 30 days
• Company anticipates realizing a pre-tax gain from the sale of assets, net of adjustments, of approximately $162 million in the fourth quarter of 2018
• Green Plains will pay off outstanding term loan B balance of $495 million with a portion of the net sales proceeds

OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2018. Net loss attributable to the company was $12.5 million, or $(0.31) per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to net income of $34.4 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, for the same period in 2017. Revenues were $1.0 billion for the third quarter of 2018 compared with $901.2 million for the same period last year.

“I am pleased to say that the portfolio optimization plan we launched six months ago to strengthen our balance sheet and to reposition our assets for growth remains on track,” commented Todd Becker, president and chief executive officer. “We estimate that the cash proceeds from the asset sales, net of fees and taxes, will be approximately $645 million. This will allow the company to pay off the outstanding term loan B balance of $495 million and execute on the other points of our portfolio optimization plan once the sale transactions close.”

“We will be free of term debt on our assets for the first time in the company’s history,” added Becker, “We will continue to focus on enhancing our margin structure for our ethanol production segment by reducing controllable expenses, investing in high-protein feed technology, and focusing our efforts on growing our earnings across our entire business.”

Revenues attributable to the company were $3.0 billion for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, compared with $2.7 billion for the same period in 2017. Net loss for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, was $37.6 million, or $(0.94) per diluted share, compared with net income of $14.4 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, for the same period in 2017.

“In addition to our food and ingredients segment delivering results in line with our expectations, we were successful in generating a consolidated ethanol crush margin of $32.3 million, or approximately $0.11 per gallon in a challenging third quarter environment. Ethanol exports continue on their record pace of 1.6 billion gallons for 2018 and we believe exports should grow again in 2019,” commented Becker. “The expected approval of E15 next year, along with strong demand for our products worldwide, should start to clear the way for a fundamental improvement in the business going forward. While the current environment remains challenging, our balance sheet has never been stronger due in part to the execution of our portfolio optimization plan and our very strong cash and liquidity position.”

Third Quarter Highlights and Recent Developments

• On October 25, 2018, the company announced the sale of Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company for $350 million in cash to Kerry Group, subject to certain post-closing working capital adjustments. This transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, regulatory approvals and contains normal and customary representations, warranties, and indemnification obligations.
   
• On October 8, 2018, the company entered into an asset purchase agreement with Valero Renewable Fuels Company LLC to sell three of its ethanol plants, located in  Bluffton, Ind., Lakota, Iowa, and Riga, Mich., for $300 million in cash, plus approximately $22 million of working capital also paid in cash. The transaction involves 280 million gallons of nameplate capacity, or approximately 20% of the company’s reported ethanol production capacity. Correspondingly, the company entered into a separate asset purchase agreement with Green Plains Partners (the “partnership”) to acquire the storage and transportation assets and an assignment of railcar leases associated with the Lakota, Bluffton and Riga ethanol plants. The company will exchange approximately 8.9 million units it owns of the partnership, valued at $120.9 million, for the storage and transportation assets and railcar leases. In addition, the company and the partnership agreed, upon closing, to extend the storage and throughput services agreement an additional three years to June 30, 2028. The quarterly minimum volume commitment associated with the storage and throughput services agreement will be 235.7 million gallons or, approximately 80% of the new Green Plains Inc. annual production capacity of 1.183 billion gallons.  Both transactions are anticipated to close during the fourth quarter of 2018. These purchase agreements are subject to customary closing conditions, regulatory approvals and contain normal and customary representations, warranties, and indemnification obligations.
   
• During the third quarter of 2018, the company extended the maturity date one year with certain beneficial owners of the company’s outstanding 3.25% convertible senior notes due 2018 totaling $56.8 million in aggregate principal amount. On October 1, 2018, the remaining aggregate principal of $6.9 million was paid in cash.
   
• On August 1, 2018, the company acquired two cattle-feeding operations from Bartlett Cattle Company, L.P. for $16.2 million, plus working capital of approximately $106.6 million. The transaction included the feed yards located in Sublette, Kan. and Tulia, Texas, which added combined feedlot capacity of 97,000 head of cattle to the company’s operations, now totaling 355,000 head.

Results of Operations

Green Plains produced 304.8 million gallons of ethanol during the third quarter of 2018, compared with 313.6 million gallons for the same period in 2017. The consolidated ethanol crush margin was $32.3 million, or $0.11 per gallon, for the third quarter of 2018, compared with $47.3 million, or $0.15 per gallon, for the same period in 2017. The consolidated ethanol crush margin is the ethanol production segment’s operating income before depreciation and amortization, which includes corn oil, plus intercompany storage, transportation and other fees, net of related expenses.

Consolidated revenues increased $98.9 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared with the same period in 2017 as a result of the acquisitions of cattle feeding operations in 2018 and 2017, partially offset by a decrease in ethanol production and trading activity.

Operating income decreased $20.1 million and earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) decreased $18.3 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared with the same period last year primarily due to the compression of ethanol production margins. Interest expense decreased $8.5 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared with the same period in 2017, primarily due to higher expense associated with the termination of previous credit facilities during the third quarter of 2017. Income tax benefit was $14.7 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared with $48.8 million for the same period in 2017 due to the company’s recognition of tax benefits related to R&D Credits during the third quarter of 2017 for all open tax years.

Segment Information
The company reports the financial and operating performance for the following four operating segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production of ethanol and distillers grains, and recovery of corn oil, (2) agribusiness and energy services, which includes grain handling and storage, commodity marketing and merchant trading for company-produced and third-party ethanol, distillers grains, corn oil, natural gas and other commodities, (3) food and ingredients, which includes cattle feeding, vinegar production and food-grade corn oil operations and (4) partnership, which includes fuel storage and transportation services. Intercompany fees charged to the ethanol production segment for storage and logistics services, grain procurement and product sales are included in the partnership, and agribusiness and energy services segments and eliminated upon consolidation. Third party costs of grain consumed and revenues from product sales are reported directly in the ethanol production segment.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
On September 30, 2018, Green Plains had $234.5 million in total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, and $491.6 million available under revolving credit agreements, some of which are subject to restrictions and other lending conditions. Total debt outstanding at September 30, 2018, was $1,389.4 million, including $556.6 million outstanding under working capital revolvers and other short-term borrowing arrangements for the agribusiness and energy services, and food and ingredients segments and $136.0 million of debt related to Green Plains Partners.

Conference Call Information
Green Plains Inc. and Green Plains Partners LP will host a joint conference call Thursday Nov. 8^th at 11 a.m. Eastern time (10 a.m. Central time), to discuss third quarter 2018 financial and operating results for each company. Domestic and international participants can access the conference call by dialing 877.711.2374 and 281.542.4862, respectively, and referencing conference ID 1476588. The company advises participants to call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. Alternatively, the conference call, transcript and presentation will be accessible on Green Plains’ website at http://investor.gpreinc.com/events.cfm.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management uses earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, segment EBITDA and consolidated ethanol crush margins to measure the company’s financial performance and to internally manage its businesses. Management believes these measures provide useful information to investors for comparison with peer and other companies. These measures should not be considered alternatives to net income or segment operating income, which are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP calculations may vary from company to company. Accordingly, the company’s computation of EBITDA, segment EBITDA and consolidated ethanol crush margins may not be comparable with similarly titled measures of another company.

To supplement our condensed consolidated statements of operations presented in accordance with GAAP, the company has provided non-GAAP adjusted financial measures of operating results that excludes certain items. Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to Green Plains are presented in the Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Adjusted Financial Measures as reported on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis related to the impact of the expenses for refinancing and expanding the company's term loan and net R&D tax credits related to qualifying activities during fiscal year 2017. Management believes including these additional measures may enhance the investor's overall understanding of the company's ongoing operations. These measures should not be considered alternatives to net income or segment operating income, which are determined in accordance with GAAP.

About Green Plains Inc.
Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is a diversified commodity-processing business with operations related to ethanol production, grain handling and storage, cattle feeding, food ingredients, and commodity marketing and logistics services. The company is one of the leading producers of ethanol in the world and, through its adjacent businesses, is focused on the production of high-protein feed ingredients and export growth opportunities. Green Plains owns a 62.4% 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 includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views, which are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, anticipated financial and operating results, plans and objectives that are not historical in nature. These statements may be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar expressions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include: competition in the industries in which Green Plains operates; commodity market risks, financial market risks; counterparty risks; risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, including changes to tax laws; risks related to closing and achieving anticipated results from acquisitions. Other factors can include risks associated with the Green Plains’ ability to successfully complete the sale of assets related to the company’s announced portfolio optimization plan and other risks discussed in Green Plains’ reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Green Plains assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Consolidated Financial Results

Contact: Jim Stark | Vice President, Investor & Media Relations | 402.884.8700 | jim.stark@gpreinc.com

Source: Green Plains Inc.