Join TodayResults for the Fourth Quarter of 2009
Net income of $23.1 million
Diluted earnings per share of $0.91
Results for the Full Year of 2009
Net income of $19.8 million
Diluted earnings per share of $0.79
OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 22, 2010 - Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:GPRE) announced today its financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2009. Net income attributable to Green Plains was $23.1 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, compared to a net loss attributable to Green Plains of $1.8 million, or $0.08 per share, for the same period of 2008. Revenues were $436.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to revenues of $183.2 million for the same period in 2008. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, revenues were $1.3 billion, with net income attributable to Green Plains of $19.8 million, or $0.79 per diluted share.
"All of our businesses performed well in the fourth quarter," said Todd Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We generated significantly higher operating income during the quarter primarily due to a strong performance from our ethanol production segment. In the fourth quarter, we produced 122 million gallons of ethanol which exceeds our expected capacity. The combination of higher production volumes, a stronger margin environment, and harvest activities for agribusiness resulted in a record quarter."
"During 2009 and more recently, we have continued to see demand for ethanol increase driven by expanded mandates and positive blend margins. This combined with a record corn harvest resulted in an improved margin environment in late 2009 and early 2010. While we are pleased with these trends, our focus remains on risk management, operational excellence, safety and expanding our platform in the coming year as opportunities present themselves," commented Becker.
"I am proud of the many accomplishments our team achieved during 2009. We fortified our operating, administrative and commercial activities while at the same time demonstrated our ability to significantly grow our operating segments. Our business model has been tested through one of the most challenging environments the ethanol industry has seen and continues to prove itself. As a result, we were able to reach profitability for the full year. We believe our industry, and more importantly, our company is on solid footing for the coming years," said Becker.
EBITDA, which is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, noncontrolling interests, depreciation and amortization, was $37.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, compared with $6.5 million for the same period in 2008. Green Plains had available liquidity of $138.7 million, including $102.3 million total cash and equivalents, and $36.4 million available under committed loan agreements (subject to satisfaction of specified lending conditions and covenants) at December 31, 2009. EBITDA for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 was $67.7 million.
2009 Business Highlights
On October 14, 2009, Green Plains unveiled BioProcessAlgae, LLC's Phase I Grower Harvester TM pilot project. BioProcessAlgae has completed the installation of Phase I of the multi-phase pilot project and algae production has commenced at the company's Shenandoah ethanol plant.
Green Plains Trade Group LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into an agreement to provide third-party ethanol marketing services to Lincolnway Energy, LLC at the end of the third quarter. The addition of Lincolnway, located near Nevada, Iowa, increased our third-party marketing services to four plants with annual expected ethanol production totaling 360 million gallons.
On July 2, 2009, Green Plains completed the acquisition of two Nebraska ethanol plants located near Central City and Ord. The addition of these plants increased the company's expected ethanol production capacity by 45%. Green Plains acquired the ethanol plants from a lender group for $121.0 million which provided debt financing to fund the purchases.
On January 15, 2009, Green Plains Trade entered into an agreement to provide third-party ethanol marketing services to Bushmills Ethanol, Inc. of Atwater, Minnesota.
Green Plains acquired majority interest in Houston-based biofuel terminal operator Blendstar, LLC as of January 1, 2009. The transaction involved a membership interest purchase whereby Green Plains acquired 51% of Blendstar for $8.9 million. Blendstar currently operates nine blending and terminaling facilities in the south central United States.
Conference Call
On February 22, 2010, Green Plains will hold a conference call to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2009. Green Plains' participants will include Todd Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jerry Peters, Chief Financial Officer and Steve Bleyl, Executive Vice President – Ethanol Marketing. The time of the call is 11:00 a.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. CT. To participate by telephone, the domestic dial-in number is 877-868-1833 and the international dial-in number is 914-495-8604. The conference call will be webcast and accessible at www.gpreinc.com. Listeners are advised to go to the website at least 10 minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. The conference call will also be archived and available for replay through March 8, 2010.
About Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc.
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:GPRE ) is North America's fourth largest ethanol producer, operating a total of six ethanol plants in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Tennessee with annual expected operating capacity totaling approximately 480 million gallons. Green Plains also markets and distributes ethanol for four third-party ethanol producers with annual expected operating capacity totaling approximately 360 million gallons. Green Plains owns 51% of Blendstar, LLC, a biofuel terminal operator which operates nine blending or terminaling facilities with approximately 495 million gallons per year of total throughput capacity in seven states in the south central United States. Green Plains operates grain storage facilities and complementary agronomy and petroleum businesses in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota.
Safe Harbor
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," "estimates," "expects," "will," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "believes," 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 the company competes; commodity market risks, financial market risks, counter-party risks, risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, and other risks detailed in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-KT/A and any amendments thereto for the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 2008 and in the company's subsequent filings with the SEC. Green Plains assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The cautionary statements in this report expressly qualify all of our forward-looking statements. In addition, the company 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.
*For full financials see the company news release._________________________________________________________
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