Item 1. Financial Statements
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
PACIFIC ETHANOL,
INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
June 30,
December 31,
2020
2019
(unaudited)
*
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 29,783
$ 18,997
Accounts receivable, net (net of allowance for doubtful
accounts of $16 and $39, respectively)
48,871
74,307
Inventories
46,326
60,600
Prepaid inventory
3,180
1,528
Assets held-for-sale
—
69,764
Derivative instruments
—
2,438
Other current assets
3,630
4,430
Total current assets
131,790
232,064
Property and equipment,
net
317,950
332,526
Other Assets:
Right of use operating lease assets, net
22,625
24,346
Notes receivable
16,500
—
Assets held-for-sale
—
16,500
Intangible assets
2,678
2,678
Other assets
5,586
4,381
Total other assets
47,389
47,905
Total Assets
$ 497,129
$ 612,495
* Amounts
derived from the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31,
2019.
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
1
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
(in thousands, except par value)
June 30,
December 31,
2020
2019
(unaudited)
*
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable – trade
$ 27,721
$ 29,277
Accrued liabilities
13,628
22,331
Current portion – operating leases
2,898
3,457
Current portion – long-term debt
96,000
63,000
Liabilities held-for-sale
—
34,413
Derivative instruments
—
1,860
Other current liabilities
6,707
6,060
Total current liabilities
146,954
160,398
Long-term debt, net of current portion
95,888
180,795
Operating leases, net of current portion
20,164
21,171
Other liabilities
23,382
23,086
Total
Liabilities
286,388
385,450
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6)
Stockholders’ Equity:
Pacific Ethanol, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000 shares authorized;
Series
A: 1,684 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019;
Series
B: 1,581 shares authorized; 927 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019; liquidation
preference of $19,025 as of June 30, 2020
1
1
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 300,000 shares authorized; 55,482
and 55,508 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively
55
56
Non-voting common stock, $0.001 par value; 3,553 shares authorized;
1 share issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively
—
—
Additional paid-in capital
944,035
942,307
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(2,370 )
(2,370 )
Accumulated deficit
(730,980 )
(720,214 )
Total Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
Stockholders’ Equity
210,741
219,780
Noncontrolling interests
—
7,265
Total Stockholders’
Equity
210,741
227,045
Total Liabilities
and Stockholders’ Equity
$ 497,129
$ 612,495
* Amounts
derived from the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31,
2019.
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
2
PACIFIC ETHANOL,
INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands, except per
share data)
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
2020
2019
2020
2019
Net sales
$ 212,074
$ 346,301
$ 523,478
$ 702,104
Cost of goods sold
180,892
342,330
505,186
700,422
Gross profit
31,182
3,971
18,292
1,682
Selling, general and administrative expenses
8,629
6,708
18,841
14,943
Income (loss) from operations
22,553
(2,737 )
(549 )
(13,261 )
Interest expense, net
(4,647 )
(5,115 )
(9,954 )
(9,851 )
Fair value adjustments
(1,314 )
—
(641 )
—
Other income (expense), net
(1,738 )
(438 )
(1,158 )
661
Income (loss) before benefit for income taxes
14,854
(8,290 )
(12,302 )
(22,451 )
Benefit for income taxes
—
—
—
—
Consolidated net income (loss)
14,854
(8,290 )
(12,302 )
(22,451 )
Net loss attributed to noncontrolling interests
110
644
2,166
1,915
Net income (loss) attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
$ 14,964
$ (7,646 )
$ (10,136 )
$ (20,536 )
Preferred stock dividends
$ (315 )
$ (315 )
$ (630 )
$ (627 )
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders
$ 14,649
$ (7,961 )
$ (10,766 )
$ (21,163 )
Net income (loss) per share, basic and diluted
$ 0.27
$ (0.17 )
$ (0.20 )
$ (0.45 )
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted
54,498
47,771
54,163
46,651
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
3
PACIFIC ETHANOL,
INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited, in thousands)
Six Months Ended
June 30,
2020
2019
Operating Activities:
Consolidated net loss
$ (12,302 )
$ (22,451 )
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net loss to
net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles
18,806
23,915
Amortization of deferred financing fees
497
629
Fair value adjustments
641
—
Interest added to debt
133
—
Non-cash compensation
1,441
1,518
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments
—
(4,885 )
Bad debt expense
1
27
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
25,435
913
Inventories
14,274
(19,670 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(403 )
7,994
Prepaid inventory
(1,652 )
(172 )
Operating leases
(2,348 )
(5,169 )
Assets held-for-sale
1,012
—
Liabilities held-for-sale
9,345
—
Accounts payable and accrued
expenses
(9,225 )
(8,403 )
Net cash provided by (used
in) operating activities
45,655
(25,754 )
Investing Activities:
Proceeds from PAL Sale
19,896
—
Additions to property and
equipment
(2,510 )
(1,536 )
Net cash provided by (used
in) investing activities
17,386
(1,536 )
Financing Activities:
Net (payments on) proceeds from Kinergy’s
line of credit
(36,897 )
20,881
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
282
3,670
Proceeds from borrowings
9,860
—
Principal payments on borrowings
(25,500 )
(6,748 )
Preferred stock dividends
paid
—
(627 )
Net cash (used in) provided
by financing activities
(52,255 )
17,176
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
10,786
(10,114 )
Cash and cash equivalents
at beginning of period
18,997
26,627
Cash and cash equivalents
at end of period
$ 29,783
$ 16,513
Supplemental Information:
Interest paid
$ 9,733
$ 9,088
Accrued preferred stock dividends
$ 630
$ —
Initial right of use assets
and liabilities recorded under ASC 842
$ —
$ 43,753
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
4
PACIFIC ETHANOL,
INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(unaudited, in thousands)
Preferred
Stock
Common
Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Accumulated
Accum.
Other Comprehensive
Non-Controlling
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Capital
Deficit
Income (Loss)
Interests
Total
Balances,
January 1, 2020
927
$ 1
55,508
$ 56
$ 942,307
$ (720,214 )
$ (2,370 )
$ 7,265
$ 227,045
Stock-based
compensation expense – restricted stock issued to employees and directors, net of cancellations and tax
—
—
(38 )
(4 )
868
—
—
—
864
Issuances
of common stock
—
—
421
4
278
—
—
—
282
Preferred
stock dividends
—
—
—
—
—
(315 )
—
—
(315 )
Net
loss
—
—
—
—
—
(25,100 )
—
(2,056 )
(27,156 )
Balances,
March 31, 2020
927
$ 1
55,891
$ 56
$ 943,453
$ (745,629 )
$ (2,370 )
$ 5,209
$ 200,720
Stock-based
compensation expense – restricted stock issued to employees and directors, net of cancellations and tax
—
—
(409 )
(1 )
582
—
—
—
581
Preferred
stock dividends
—
—
—
—
—
(315 )
—
—
(315 )
Sale
of interests in PAL
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(5,099 )
(5,099 )
Net
income (loss)
—
—
—
—
—
14,964
—
(110 )
14,854
Balances,
June 30, 2020
927
$ 1
55,482
$ 55
$ 944,035
$ (730,980 )
$ (2,370 )
$ —
$ 210,741
Preferred
Stock
Common
Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Accumulated
Accum.
Other Comprehensive
Non-Controlling
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Capital
Deficit
Income (Loss)
Interests
Total
Balances,
January 1, 2019
927
$ 1
45,771
$ 46
$ 932,179
$ (630,000 )
$ (2,459 )
$ 19,598
$ 319,365
Stock-based
compensation expense – restricted stock issued to employees and directors, net of cancellations and tax
—
—
(24 )
—
797
—
—
—
797
Issuances
of common stock
—
—
3,137
3
3,667
—
—
—
3,670
Preferred
stock dividends
—
—
—
—
—
(312 )
—
—
(312 )
Net
loss
—
—
—
—
—
(12,890 )
—
(1,271 )
(14,161 )
Balances,
March 31, 2019
927
$ 1
48,884
$ 49
$ 936,643
$ (643,202 )
$ (2,459 )
$ 18,327
$ 309,359
Stock-based
compensation expense – restricted stock issued to employees and directors, net of cancellations and tax
—
—
954
1
565
—
—
—
566
Preferred
stock dividends
—
—
—
—
—
(315 )
—
—
(315 )
Net
loss
—
—
—
—
—
(7,646 )
—
(644 )
(8,290 )
Balances,
June 30, 2019
927
$ 1
49,838
$ 50
$ 937,208
$ (651,163 )
$ (2,459 )
$ 17,683
$ 301,320
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
5
PACIFIC ETHANOL,
INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
1. ORGANIZATION
AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION.
Organization
and Business – The consolidated financial statements include, for all periods presented, the accounts of Pacific
Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pacific Ethanol”), and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively,
the “Company”), including its subsidiaries, Kinergy Marketing LLC, an Oregon limited liability company (“Kinergy”),
Pacific Ag. Products, LLC, a California limited liability company (“PAP”), PE Op Co., a Delaware corporation (“PE
Op Co.”) and all nine of the Company’s ethanol production facilities through April 15, 2020. As discussed in Note 2,
on April 15, 2020, the Company completed the sale of its ownership interests in Pacific Aurora, LLC (“Pacific Aurora”),
thereby divesting the Company’s two ethanol production facilities located in Nebraska.
The Company is a leading
producer and marketer of high quality alcohol products and low-carbon renewable fuels in the United States. The Company’s
plants in Illinois and Nebraska (together with their respective holding companies, the “Pacific Ethanol Central Plants”)
are located in the heart of the Corn Belt, benefit from low-cost and abundant feedstock production and allow for access to many
additional domestic markets. In addition, the Company’s ability to load unit trains from these facilities in the Midwest
allows for greater access to international markets. The Company’s four ethanol plants in California, Oregon and Idaho (together
with their respective holding companies, the “Pacific Ethanol West Plants”) are located in close proximity to both
feed and ethanol customers and thus enjoy unique advantages in efficiency, logistics and product pricing.
Following the Company’s
sale of its interest in Pacific Aurora, the Company has a combined production capacity of 450 million gallons per year, markets,
on an annualized basis, nearly 1.0 billion gallons combined of high quality alcohol and ethanol, based on historical volumes,
and produces, on an annualized basis, nearly 3.0 million tons of co-products on a dry matter basis, such as wet and dry distillers
grains, wet and dry corn gluten feed, condensed distillers solubles, corn gluten meal, corn germ, dried yeast and CO 2 ,
based on historical volumes.
As of June 30, 2020,
the Company was operating at approximately 50% of its 450 million gallon annual production capacity. As market conditions change,
the Company may increase, decrease or idle production at one or more operating facilities or resume operations at any idled facility.
Basis of Presentation – Interim
Financial Statements – The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes have been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and
the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Results for interim periods should not be considered
indicative of results for a full year. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2019. The accounting policies used in preparing these consolidated financial statements are the same as those
described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2019. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered
necessary for a fair statement of the results for interim periods have been included. All significant intercompany accounts and
transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
6
Liquidity – The accompanying
consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates
the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. During the three months ended June
30, 2020, the Company continued to experience significant adverse conditions in the ethanol fuel market as demand and pricing were
at record lows due to reduced domestic transportation and resulting lower gasoline demand. In response, the Company reduced production
at its facilities by more than 50% in an effort to conserve capital as a result of the substantial reduction in fuel ethanol demand
due to stay-at-home orders issued in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Company, however, has not only continued producing
and selling its high quality alcohol, but also converted a portion of its fuel-grade ethanol production to higher quality alcohol
to respond to increased demand from the sanitizer and disinfectant markets. These sales of high quality alcohol were at a mix of
fixed and spot pricing, both of which resulted in positive net income and cash flows from operations during the quarter. The Company
expects robust demand for its high quality alcohol to continue for at least the next twelve months as the Company continues to
enter fixed-price contracts and hedge corn input costs, locking in profit margins on sales of high quality alcohol.
At June 30, 2020, the Company had $29.8 million
in cash and $10.0 million available under Kinergy’s operating line of credit. During the first half of 2020, the Company
generated $45.7 million in cash from its operations and realized $19.9 million in net cash proceeds from the sale of its interest
in Pacific Aurora. These positive cash flows have allowed the Company to make net payments totaling $52.3 million on its debt.
Further, subsequent to June 30, 2020, the Company made an additional $9.2 million in payments on its term debt.
The Company, as previously agreed with its lenders, has presented
and continues to negotiate a comprehensive plan to restructure its assets and liabilities. The Company has appointed a chief restructuring
officer to facilitate the development of such a plan and to assist in the Company’s current strategic initiatives. The
Company expects the negotiated plan may include additional assets sales, soliciting new investments in its assets, further debt
payments and further reductions to overhead expenses.
The Company believes that as of the date of
this report, it is in compliance with all debt covenants contained in its credit facilities, except the Company’s obligation
to obtain lender approval of a comprehensive plan to restructure its assets and liabilities with respect to its Pekin and ICP lenders.
The Company has appointed a chief restructuring officer to facilitate the development of such a plan and has presented and continues
to negotiate the plan with its lenders. As a result, the Company is not in compliance with its obligations to its lenders, which
could result in their acceleration of the Company’s debt. Although the Company does not expect such an outcome, especially
in light of its financial performance and debt prepayments during the second quarter and thereafter, the Company does not have
sufficient liquidity or capital resources to immediately repay its debt if accelerated. Even though the Company doesn’t believe
acceleration is probable, it has classified its related debt as current on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Given
the above noted projected cash flows from operations and debt repayments, the Company believes it has alleviated substantial doubt
about its ability to continue as a going concern. Therefore, the Company believes it has sufficient liquidity to meet its anticipated
working capital, debt service and other liquidity needs for the next twelve months.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for
Doubtful Accounts – Trade accounts receivable are presented at face value, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts.
The Company sells ethanol to gasoline refining and distribution companies, sells distillers grains and other feed co-products
to dairy operators and animal feedlots and sells corn oil to poultry and biodiesel customers generally without requiring collateral.
The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful
accounts for balances that appear to have specific collection issues. The collection process is based on the age of the invoice
and requires attempted contacts with the customer at specified intervals. If, after a specified number of days, the Company has
been unsuccessful in its collection efforts, a bad debt allowance is recorded for the balance in question. Delinquent accounts
receivable are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts once uncollectibility has been determined. The factors considered
in reaching this determination are the apparent financial condition of the customer and the Company’s success in contacting
and negotiating with the customer. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting
in an impairment of ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.
Of the accounts receivable balance, approximately
$40,772,000 and $63,736,000 at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, were used as collateral under Kinergy’s
operating line of credit. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $16,000 and $39,000 as of June 30, 2020 and December 31,
2019, respectively. The Company recorded a bad debt recovery of $18,000 and a bad debt expense of $1,000 for the three months
ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company recorded a bad debt expense of $1,000 and $27,000 for the six months ended
June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Financial Instruments –
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, derivative assets, accounts payable, accrued liabilities
and derivative liabilities are reasonable estimates of their fair values because of the short maturity of these items. The carrying
value of the Company’s senior secured notes were recorded at fair value at December 31, 2019 and are considered Level 2
fair value measurements. The Company believes their carrying value approximates fair value at June 30, 2020. The Company believes
the carrying value of its notes receivable are not considered materially different than fair value due to their recent issuances,
and other long-term debt instruments are not considered materially different than fair value because the interest rates on these
instruments are variable, and are considered Level 2 fair value measurements.
7
Estimates and Assumptions –
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates
are required as part of determining the allowance for doubtful accounts, net realizable value of inventory, estimated lives of
property and equipment, long-lived asset impairments, valuation allowances on deferred income taxes and the potential outcome
of future tax consequences of events recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns, and the valuation
of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as a result of business combinations. Actual results and outcomes may materially differ
from management’s estimates and assumptions.
2. PACIFIC AURORA.
On December 19, 2019, Pacific Ethanol Central,
LLC (“PE Central”) entered into a term sheet covering the proposed sale of its 73.93% ownership interest in Pacific
Aurora to Aurora Cooperative Elevator Company (“ACEC”) for $52.8 million, and as a result, the Company determined
that as of December 31, 2019, the long-lived assets of Pacific Aurora should be classified as held-for-sale.
On April 15, 2020, the Company closed the
sale of its ownership interest in Pacific Aurora and preliminarily received total consideration of $52.8 million, subject to working
capital adjustments of approximately $35.3 million, resulting in cash proceeds of $19.9 million and the balance of $16.5 million
in long-term ACEC promissory notes, resulting in a net loss on sale of approximately $1.4 million, recorded as other income (expense)
in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Approximately $14.5 million of the cash proceeds were used to repay
a portion of the Company’s term debt.
The Company received two promissory notes
in the amounts of $8.6 million and $7.9 million as part consideration for the sale, both maturing on April 15, 2025. The $8.6
million note accrues interest at an annual rate of 5.00%. Interest payments are due quarterly beginning July 1, 2020 and principal
payments of $0.4 million are due quarterly beginning July 1, 2021. The $7.9 million note accrues interest at an annual rate of
4.50%. Interest payments are due quarterly beginning July 1, 2020 and principal payments of $0.4 million are due quarterly beginning
January 3, 2022.
In addition, upon the sale, the Company no
longer has noncontrolling interests on its balance sheet and no longer records income (loss) of noncontrolling interests for future
periods.
For the three months ended June 30,
2020 and 2019, Pacific Aurora contributed less than $0.1 million and $45.4 million in net sales, $0.5 million and $2.5 million
in pre-tax loss, and $0.1 million and $0.6 million in net loss attributed to noncontrolling interests, respectively. For the six
months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, Pacific Aurora contributed $39.6 million and $81.9 million in net sales, $8.4 million
and $7.4 million in pre-tax loss, and $2.2 million and $1.9 million in net loss attributed to noncontrolling interests, respectively.
8
3. SEGMENTS.
The Company reports its financial and operating
performance in two segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production and sale of high quality alcohol, ethanol and
co-products, with all of the Company’s production facilities aggregated, and (2) marketing and distribution, which includes
marketing and merchant trading for Company-produced high quality alcohol, ethanol and co-products and third-party ethanol.
The following tables set forth certain financial
data for the Company’s operating segments (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
2020
2019
2020
2019
Net
Sales
Production, recorded as gross:
Ethanol/alcohol sales
$ 105,321
$ 194,394
$ 289,989
$ 373,783
Co-product sales
35,328
64,679
104,129
133,485
Intersegment sales
503
421
1,097
784
Total production sales
141,152
259,494
395,215
508,052
Marketing and distribution:
Ethanol/alcohol sales, gross
$ 71,118
$ 86,754
$ 128,624
$ 193,908
Ethanol/alcohol sales, net
307
474
736
928
Intersegment sales
893
1,942
2,785
3,760
Total marketing and distribution sales
72,318
89,170
132,145
198,596
Intersegment eliminations
(1,396 )
(2,363 )
(3,882 )
(4,544 )
Net sales as reported
$ 212,074
$ 346,301
$ 523,478
$ 702,104
Cost of goods sold:
Production
$ 113,196
$ 257,187
$ 382,857
$ 515,782
Marketing and distribution
69,092
87,741
126,211
189,569
Intersegment eliminations
(1,396 )
(2,598 )
(3,882 )
(4,929 )
Cost of goods sold as reported
$ 180,892
$ 342,330
$ 505,186
$ 700,422
Income (loss) before benefit
for income taxes:
Production
$ 17,811
$ (7,117 )
$ (7,219 )
$ (24,683 )
Marketing and distribution
1,664
(129 )
2,605
5,989
Corporate activities
(4,621 )
(1,044 )
(7,688 )
(3,757 )
$ 14,854
$ (8,290 )
$ (12,302 )
$ (22,451 )
Depreciation and amortization:
Production
$ 9,034
$ 10,199
$ 18,540
$ 23,557
Corporate activities
79
113
266
358
$ 9,113
$ 10,312
$ 18,806
$ 23,915
Interest expense:
Production
$ 1,623
$ 2,048
$ 3,739
$ 3,755
Marketing and distribution
313
774
940
1,362
Corporate activities
2,711
2,293
5,275
4,734
$ 4,647
$ 5,115
$ 9,954
$ 9,851
9
The following table sets forth the Company’s
total assets by operating segment (in thousands):
June 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
Total assets:
Production
$ 397,331
$ 492,060
Marketing and distribution
82,868
106,863
Corporate assets
16,930
13,572
$ 497,129
$ 612,495
4. INVENTORIES.
Inventories consisted primarily of bulk high
quality alcohol, ethanol, corn, co-products, low-carbon and Renewable Identification Number (“RIN”) credits and unleaded
fuel, and are valued at the lower-of-cost-or-net realizable value, with cost determined on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory
is net of a $0 and $1,290,000 valuation adjustment as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Inventory balances
consisted of the following (in thousands):
June 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
Finished goods
$ 28,810
$ 38,194
Work in progress
3,018
7,426
Raw materials
6,655
7,890
Low-carbon and RIN credits
6,443
5,690
Other
1,400
1,400
Total
$ 46,326
$ 60,600
10
5. DEBT.
Long-term borrowings are summarized as follows
(in thousands):
June 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
Kinergy line of credit
$ 41,441
$ 78,338
Pekin term loan
26,000
39,500
Pekin revolving loan
32,000
32,000
ICP term loan
—
12,000
ICP revolving loan
18,000
18,000
CARES Act loans
9,860
—
Parent notes payable
65,782
65,649
193,083
245,487
Less unamortized debt premium
346
461
Less unamortized debt financing costs
(1,541 )
(2,153 )
Less short-term portion
(96,000 )
(63,000 )
Long-term debt
$ 95,888
$ 180,795
PE Pekin Credit Facilities
– On March 20, 2020, Pacific Ethanol Pekin, LLC (“PE Pekin”) and its lender agreed to defer $1.0 million
in aggregate interest payments due March 20, 2020 and April 20, 2020 until May 20, 2020. On that same date, the Company granted
to the lender a security interest in all of the Company’s equity interests in PE Op Co., which indirectly owns the Company’s
plants located on the West Coast. The Company and certain subsidiaries also entered into intercreditor agreements with the PE
Pekin and Illinois Corn Processing, LLC (“ICP”) lenders, and the agent for the Company’s senior secured noteholders,
to address issues of priority and the allocation of proceeds from asset sales. In July 2020, the Company reached a confidential
settlement of an outstanding dispute resulting in a gain and cash proceeds of approximately $11.8 million. The Company used a
portion of these funds to make approximately $7.4 million in additional principal payments on PE Pekin’s term debt.
ICP Credit Facilities –
On March 20, 2020, ICP and its lender agreed to defer a $1.5 million principal payment due March 20, 2020 and $0.3 million in
aggregate interest payments due March 20, 2020 and April 20, 2020 until May 20, 2020. On that same date, the Company granted to
the lender a security interest in all of the Company’s equity interests in PE Op Co. The Company and certain of its subsidiaries
also entered into intercreditor agreements with the PE Pekin and ICP lenders, and the agent for the Company’s senior secured
noteholders, to address issues of priority and the allocation of proceeds from asset sales. The Company used a portion of the
proceeds from the settlement noted above, in July 2020, to make approximately $1.8 million in additional principal payments on
ICP’s term debt.
CARES Act Loans – On
May 4, 2020, Pacific Ethanol, Inc. and PE Pekin received loan proceeds from Bank of America, NA under the recently enacted Coronavirus
Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), through the Paycheck Protection Program administered by the
U.S. Small Business Administration. Pacific Ethanol, Inc. received $6.0 million and PE Pekin received $3.9 million in loan proceeds.
The loans mature in two years and bear interest at a rate of 1.00% per annum. Under the terms of the loans, certain amounts may
be forgiven if they are used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act, but the Company can provide no assurance that
it will be able to obtain forgiveness of all or any portion of the loans.
Restrictions – At June
30, 2020, there were approximately $204.4 million of net assets at the Company’s subsidiaries that were not available to
be transferred to Pacific Ethanol, Inc. in the form of dividends, loans or advances due to restrictions contained in the credit
facilities of the Company’s subsidiaries.
11
6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES.
Sales Commitments – At
June 30, 2020, the Company had entered into sales contracts with its major customers to sell certain quantities of ethanol and
co-products. The Company had open ethanol indexed-price contracts for 5,169,000 gallons of ethanol as of June 30, 2020 and open
fixed-price ethanol and high quality alcohol sales contracts totaling $226,845,000 as of June 30, 2020. The Company had open fixed-price
co-product sales contracts totaling $9,320,000 and open indexed-price co-product sales contracts for 179,000 tons as of June 30,
2020. These sales contracts are scheduled to be completed throughout 2020 and 2021.
Purchase Commitments –
At June 30, 2020, the Company had indexed-price purchase contracts to purchase 35,476,000 gallons of ethanol and fixed-price purchase
contracts to purchase $7,766,000 of ethanol from its suppliers. The Company had fixed-price purchase contracts to purchase $7,669,000
of corn from its suppliers as of June 30, 2020. These purchase commitments are scheduled to be satisfied throughout 2020. In July
2020, the Company entered into derivative contracts to hedge its corn costs for its fixed sales contracts.
Litigation – General –
The Company is subject to various claims and contingencies in the ordinary course of its business, including those related
to litigation, business transactions, employee-related matters, environmental regulations, and others. When the Company is aware
of a claim or potential claim, it assesses the likelihood of any loss or exposure. If it is probable that a loss will result and
the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, the Company will record a liability for the loss. If the loss is not probable
or the amount of the loss cannot be reasonably estimated, the Company discloses the claim if the likelihood of a potential loss
is reasonably possible and the amount involved could be material. While there can be no assurances, the Company does not expect
that any of its pending legal proceedings will have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of
operations.
7. PENSION AND RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS.
The Company sponsors a
defined benefit pension plan (the “Retirement Plan”) and a health care and life insurance plan (the “Postretirement
Plan”). The Company assumed the Retirement Plan and the Postretirement Plan as part of its acquisition of PE Central on
July 1, 2015.
The Retirement Plan is
noncontributory, and covers only “grandfathered” unionized employees at the Company’s Pekin, Illinois facility
who fulfill minimum age and service requirements. Benefits are based on a prescribed formula based upon the employee’s years
of service. The Retirement Plan, which is part of a collective bargaining agreement, covers only union employees hired prior to
November 1, 2010.
The Company uses a December
31 measurement date for its Retirement Plan. The Company’s funding policy is to make the minimum annual contribution required
by applicable regulations. As of December 31, 2019, the Retirement Plan’s accumulated projected benefit obligation
was $21.6 million, with a fair value of plan assets of $15.7 million. The underfunded amount of $5.9 million is recorded on the
Company’s consolidated balance sheet in other liabilities.
The Postretirement Plan
provides postretirement medical benefits and life insurance to certain “grandfathered” unionized employees. Employees
hired after December 31, 2000 are not eligible to participate in the Postretirement Plan. The Postretirement Plan is contributory,
with contributions required at the same rate as active employees. Benefit eligibility under the plan reduces at age 65 from a
defined benefit to a defined dollar cap based upon years of service. As of December 31, 2019, the Postretirement Plan’s
accumulated projected benefit obligation was $5.3 million and is recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet in
other liabilities. The Company’s funding policy is to make the minimum annual contribution required by applicable regulations.
12
8. FAIR
VALUE MEASUREMENTS.
The
fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used in valuation techniques into three levels, as follows:
● Level
1 – Observable inputs – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical
assets and liabilities;
● Level
2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable
for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data; and
● Level
3 – Unobservable inputs – includes amounts derived from valuation models
where one or more significant inputs are unobservable. For fair value measurements using
significant unobservable inputs, a description of the inputs and the information used
to develop the inputs is required along with a reconciliation of Level 3 values from
the prior reporting period.
Pooled
separate accounts – Pooled separate accounts invest primarily in domestic and international stocks, commercial paper
or single mutual funds. The net asset value is used as a practical expedient to determine fair value for these accounts. Each
pooled separate account provides for redemptions by the Retirement Plan at reported net asset values per share, with little to
no advance notice requirement, therefore these funds are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy.
Warrants
– The Company’s warrants issued December 22, 2019, were valued using the Black-Scholes Valuation Model.
Significant
assumptions used and related fair value for the warrants as of June 30, 2020 were as follows:
Original Issuance
Exercise
Price
Volatility
Risk Free
Interest
Rate
Term
(years)
Warrants
Outstanding
Fair
Value
12/22/19
$ 1.00
122.0 %
0.16 %
2.50
5,500,000
$ 1,618,100
Significant
assumptions used and related fair value for the warrants as of December 31, 2019 were as follows:
Original Issuance
Exercise
Price
Volatility
Risk Free
Interest
Rate
Term
(years)
Warrants
Outstanding
Fair
Value
12/22/19
$ 1.00
76.0 %
1.66 %
3.00
5,500,000
$ 977,000
The
fair values of the warrants are based on unobservable inputs and are designated as Level 3 inputs.
Other
Derivative Instruments – The Company’s other derivative instruments consist of commodity positions. The fair
values of the commodity positions are based on quoted prices on the commodity exchanges and are designated as Level 1 inputs.
13
The
following table summarizes recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements by level at June 30, 2020 (in thousands):
Fair
Value
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Liabilities:
Warrants
$ (1,618 )
$ —
$ —
$ (1,618 )
$ (1,618 )
$ —
$ —
$ (1,618 )
The
following table summarizes recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements by level at December 31, 2019 (in thousands):
Benefit Plan
Fair
Percentage
Value
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Allocation
Assets:
Derivative financial instruments
$ 2,438
$ 2,438
$ —
$ —
Long-lived assets held-for-sale
70,400
—
—
70,400
Defined benefit plan assets(1)
(pooled separate accounts):
Large U.S. Equity(2)
4,654
—
4,654
—
30 %
Small/Mid U.S. Equity(3)
2,348
—
2,348
—
15 %
International Equity(4)
2,596
—
2,596
—
17 %
Fixed Income(5)
6,056
—
6,056
—
38 %
$ 88,492
$ 2,438
$ 15,654
$ 70,400
Liabilities:
Derivative financial instruments
$ (1,860 )
$ (1,860 )
$ —
$ —
Warrants
(977 )
—
—
(977 )
$ (2,837 )
$ (1,860 )
$ —
$ (977 )
(1) Included
in derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets.
(2) This
category includes investments in funds comprised of equity securities of large U.S. companies.
The funds are valued using the net asset value method in which an average of the market
prices for the underlying investments is used to value the fund.
(3) This
category includes investments in funds comprised of equity securities of small- and medium-sized
U.S. companies. The funds are valued using the net asset value method in which an average
of the market prices for the underlying investments is used to value the fund.
(4) This
category includes investments in funds comprised of equity securities of foreign companies
including emerging markets. The funds are valued using the net asset value method in
which an average of the market prices for the underlying investments is used to value
the fund.
(5) This
category includes investments in funds comprised of U.S. and foreign investment-grade
fixed income securities, high-yield fixed income securities that are rated below investment-grade,
U.S. treasury securities, mortgage-backed securities, and other asset-backed securities.
The funds are valued using the net asset value method in which an average of the market
prices for the underlying investments is used to value the fund.
14
9. EARNINGS
PER SHARE.
The
following tables compute basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):
Three Months Ended June 30, 2020
Income
Numerator
Shares
Denominator
Per-Share
Amount
Net income attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
$ 14,964
Less: Preferred stock dividends
(315 )
Basic and diluted loss per share:
Income available to common stockholders
$ 14,649
54,498
$ 0.27
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
Loss
Numerator
Shares
Denominator
Per-Share
Amount
Net loss attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
$ (7,646 )
Less: Preferred stock dividends
(315 )
Basic and diluted loss per share:
Loss available to common stockholders
$ (7,961 )
47,771
$ (0.17 )
Six Months Ended June 30, 2020
Loss
Numerator
Shares
Denominator
Per-Share
Amount
Net loss attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
$ (10,136 )
Less: Preferred stock dividends
(630 )
Basic and diluted loss per share:
Loss available to common stockholders
$ (10,766 )
54,163
$ (0.20 )
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
Loss
Numerator
Shares
Denominator
Per-Share
Amount
Net loss attributed to Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
$ (20,536 )
Less: Preferred stock dividends
(627 )
Basic and diluted loss per share:
Loss available to common stockholders
$ (21,163 )
46,651
$ (0.45 )
15
There
were an aggregate of 635,000 potentially dilutive weighted-average shares from convertible securities outstanding for the three
and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019. These convertible securities were not considered in calculating diluted net
income (loss) per share for the periods presented, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.
10. PARENT
COMPANY FINANCIALS.
Restricted
Net Assets – At June 30, 2020, the Company had approximately $204,432,000 of net assets at its subsidiaries
that were not available to be transferred to Pacific Ethanol in the form of dividends, distributions, loans or advances due to
restrictions contained in the credit facilities of these subsidiaries.
Parent
company financial statements for the periods covered in this report are set forth below (in thousands):
June 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 8,687
$ 4,985
Receivables from subsidiaries
14,264
13,057
Other current assets
1,756
2,349
Total current assets
24,707
20,391
Property and equipment,
net
202
269
Other Assets:
Investments in subsidiaries
214,898
218,464
Pacific Ethanol West plant receivable
49,937
55,750
Right of use operating lease assets, net
3,121
3,253
Other assets
1,344
1,452
Total other assets
269,300
278,919
Total Assets
$ 294,209
$ 299,579
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$ 3,297
$ 5,907
Accrued PE Op Co. purchase
3,829
3,829
Current portion of long-term debt
20,000
10,000
Other current liabilities
678
659
Total current liabilities
27,804
20,395
Long-term debt, net of current portion
51,140
56,110
Other liabilities
4,524
3,294
Total
Liabilities
83,468
79,799
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock
1
1
Common and non-voting common stock
55
56
Additional paid-in capital
944,035
942,307
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(2,370 )
(2,370 )
Accumulated deficit
(730,980 )
(720,214 )
Total Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
stockholders’ equity
210,741
219,780
Total Liabilities
and Stockholders’ Equity
$ 294,209
$ 299,579
16
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
2020
2019
2020
2019
Management fees from subsidiaries
$ 2,873
$ 3,000
$ 6,126
$ 6,330
Selling, general and administrative expenses
4,308
2,818
9,685
7,547
Income (loss) from operations
(1,435 )
182
(3,559 )
(1,217 )
Fair value adjustments
(1,314 )
—
(641 )
—
Interest income
1,004
1,172
2,046
2,331
Interest expense
(2,725 )
(2,307 )
(5,343 )
(4,762 )
Other expense
(140 )
(83 )
(162 )
(84 )
Loss before benefit for income taxes
(4,610 )
(1,036 )
(7,659 )
(3,732 )
Benefit for income taxes
—
—
—
—
Loss before benefit for income taxes
(4,610 )
(1,036 )
(7,659 )
(3,732 )
Equity in income (losses) of subsidiaries
19,574
(6,610 )
(2,477 )
(16,804 )
Consolidated net income (loss)
$ 14,964
$ (7,646 )
$ (10,136 )
$ (20,536 )
17
For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
2020
2019
Operating Activities:
Net loss
$ (10,136 )
$ (20,536 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:
Equity in losses of subsidiaries
2,477
16,804
Fair value adjustments
(641 )
—
Depreciation
67
142
Amortization of debt (premiums) discounts
(115 )
357
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
(1,207 )
1,871
Other assets
714
(281 )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
—
1,363
Accounts payable with subsidiaries
475
(600 )
Net cash used in operating activities
$ (8,366 )
$ (880 )
Investing Activities:
Additions to property and equipment
$ —
$ (11 )
Net cash used in investing activities
$ —
$ (11 )
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuances of common stock
$ 282
$ 3,670
Proceeds from plant receivables
5,813
—
Proceeds from long-term debt
5,973
—
Payments on senior notes
—
(3,748 )
Preferred stock dividend payments
—
(627 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
$ 12,068
$ (705 )
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
3,702
(1,596 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
4,985
6,759
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$ 8,687
$ 5,163
18
ITEM
2.
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The
following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated
financial statements included elsewhere in this report. This report and our consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated
financial statements contain forward-looking statements, which generally include the plans and objectives of management for future
operations, including plans and objectives relating to our future economic performance and our current beliefs regarding revenues
we might generate and profits we might earn if we are successful in implementing our business and growth strategies. The forward-looking
statements and associated risks may include, relate to or be qualified by other important factors, including:
●
fluctuations in the market prices of our products;
●
fluctuations
in the costs of key production input commodities such as corn and natural gas;
● the projected growth or contraction in the markets in which we operate;
●
our
strategies for expanding, maintaining or contracting our presence in these markets;
●
anticipated
trends in our financial condition and results of operations; and
●
our
ability to distinguish ourselves from our current and future competitors.
You
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report, or
in the case of a document incorporated by reference, as of the date of that document. We do not undertake to update, revise or
correct any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Any
of the factors described immediately above, or referenced from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
or in the “Risk Factors” section below could cause our financial results, including our net income or loss or growth
in net income or loss to differ materially from prior results, which in turn could, among other things, cause the price of our
common stock to fluctuate substantially.
Overview
We
are a leading producer and marketer of high quality alcohol products and low-carbon renewable fuels in the United States.
We operate seven strategically-located production
facilities. Three of our plants are located in the Midwestern state of Illinois and four of our plants are in the Western states
of California, Oregon and Idaho. We are the seventh largest ethanol producer in the United States based on annualized production
capacity. Our plants have a combined high quality alcohol and fuel ethanol production capacity of 450 million gallons per year.
We market all the high quality alcohol, ethanol and co-products produced at our plants as well as ethanol produced by third parties.
In 2019, we marketed nearly 1.0 billion gallons combined of high quality alcohol and ethanol, and nearly 3.0 million tons of co-products
on a dry matter basis. Our business consists of two operating segments: a production segment and a marketing segment.
19
Our
mission is to be a leading producer and marketer of high quality alcohol products, low-carbon renewable fuels and high-value animal
feed in the United States. We intend to accomplish this goal in part by investing in our production and distribution infrastructure,
lowering the carbon intensity of our products, extending our marketing business into new regional and international markets, and
implementing new technologies to promote higher production yields and greater efficiencies.
Production
Segment
We
produce high quality alcohol, ethanol and co-products at our production facilities described below. Our plants located in the
Midwest are in the heart of the Corn Belt, benefit from low-cost and abundant feedstock production and allow for access to many
additional domestic markets. In addition, our ability to load unit trains and barges from our Pekin, Illinois plants, allows for
greater access to international markets. Our plants located on the West Coast are near their respective fuel and feed customers,
offering significant timing, transportation cost and logistical advantages.
Currently,
we are operating at approximately 52% of production capacity. As market conditions change, we may increase, decrease or idle production
at one or more operating facilities or resume operations at any idled facility.
Facility Name
Facility Location
Estimated Annual Capacity
(gallons)
Operating Status
Magic Valley
Burley, ID
60,000,000
Idled
Columbia
Boardman, OR
40,000,000
Operating
Stockton
Stockton, CA
60,000,000
Idled
Madera
Madera, CA
40,000,000
Idled
Pekin Wet
Pekin, IL
100,000,000
Operating
Pekin Dry
Pekin, IL
60,000,000
Idled*
Pekin ICP
Pekin, IL
90,000,000
Operating
* We anticipate restarting our Pekin dry mill in September
2020, which was idled due to river closures.
We
produce high quality alcohol and ethanol co-products at our production facilities such as wet distillers grains, or WDG, dried
distillers grains with solubles, or DDGS, wet and dry corn gluten feed, condensed distillers solubles, corn gluten meal, corn
germ, corn oil, dried yeast and CO 2 .
Marketing
Segment
We market high quality alcohol products, low-carbon
ethanol, high protein feed and co-products produced by our facilities. We also market fuel ethanol produced by third parties.
We have extensive and long-standing customer
relationships, both domestic and international, for our high quality alcohol products. These customers include producers and distributors
of ingredients for cosmetics, sanitizers and related products, distilled spirits producers, food products manufacturers, producers
of personal health/consumer health and personal care hygiene products, and global trading firms.
Our fuel ethanol customers are located throughout
the Western and Midwestern United States and consist of integrated oil companies and gasoline marketers who blend ethanol into
gasoline. Our customers depend on us to provide a reliable supply of fuel ethanol, and manage the logistics and timing of delivery
with very little effort on their part. Our customers collectively require ethanol volumes in excess of the supplies we produce
at our Western production facilities. We secure additional ethanol supplies from third-party plants in California and other third-party
suppliers in the Midwest where a majority of ethanol producers are located. We arrange for transportation, storage and delivery
of ethanol purchased by our customers through our agreements with third-party service providers in the Western United States as
well as in the Midwest from a variety of sources.
20
We
market our distillers grains and other feed co-products to dairies and feedlots, in many cases located near our plants. These
customers use our feed co-products for livestock as a substitute for corn and other sources of starch and protein. We sell our
corn oil to poultry and biodiesel customers. We do not market co-products from other producers.
See “Note 3 – Segments” to
our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report for financial information about our business segments.
Current
Initiatives and Outlook
In the second quarter, we experienced an excellent
margin environment for our high quality alcohol, reflecting the benefits of our diversification strategy, expanded production and
robust demand for our products used in sanitizers and disinfectants due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. To meet increased
demand, we focused on debottlenecking production and other process improvements to generate additional production capacity for
high quality alcohol of 25 million gallons per year at our Pekin campus. In addition, we continue to modify and refurbish existing
equipment to further increase production capacity of USP-grade alcohol by an additional 30 million gallons per year by the end
of 2020. As we move into 2021, our Pekin campus will have total production capacity for high quality alcohol of 140 million gallons
per year, the majority of which will meet or exceed USP specifications.
Our high quality alcohol products consistently
achieve significantly better margins than fuel ethanol. Moreover, high-quality alcohol is typically sold at fixed prices and volumes
with longer-term commitments than fuel ethanol, allowing us to lock in our input costs over the contract term and better secure
favorable margins. The majority of our high quality alcohol production is contracted through 2020, and we are building a strong
book of sales for 2021 as we add new customers and renew existing contracts.
The market for high quality alcohol requires
that manufacturers have specialized equipment and systems, and also strong quality controls, experience and operational capabilities
to produce alcohol products that meet customers’ precise and unique specifications. The coronavirus pandemic significantly
increased demand for sanitizers and disinfectants, which quickly outstripped available supplies. In response, the federal government
temporarily loosened quality-control requirements, which had the unintended consequence of allowing questionable third-party products
into the marketplace. We expect that quality-control requirements will be retightened, highlighting a competitive advantage we
hold over various third-party producers.
Our Pekin campus has produced industrial, chemical
and beverage grade alcohol for over 100 years. We have new as well as many long-standing relationships with key domestic and international
customers who benefit from our quality products, service and logistics advantages, including our ability to ship products via truck,
rail or barge. Given our quality control capabilities, we intend to continue to meet or exceed our stringent customer and regulatory
standards.
We also continue to enjoy strong demand for
our high protein meal and dried yeast products, which our Pekin facilities have manufactured for over 20 years. For example, we
offer a high quality yeast used in pet and human food and a high protein corn meal used in poultry, pet food and aquaculture. Despite
the slowdown in our production of fuel ethanol co-products as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, we have been able to consistently
maintain production of these high value products at our Pekin campus, resulting in strong co-product returns.
With regard to our fuel grade ethanol operations,
we continued to experience a poor margin environment in the second quarter resulting from low demand from the impact of the coronavirus
pandemic. Industry-wide ethanol production had declined by more than 50% at the beginning of the second quarter. Most of our fuel
ethanol commitments for the quarter were met through our third party marketing business.
Although we have seen some resurgence in both
production and demand, the current market environment for fuel ethanol remains volatile and uncertain, with overall demand off
by more than 10% from a year ago. In addition, fuel ethanol production crush margins remain variable and unpredictable over the
longer term. Given these market conditions, we do not intend to restart our idled fuel ethanol plants in the Western states until
we can better secure positive forward operating margins for the facilities. We anticipate that reopening may also entail either
repurposing certain facilities or restarting with high value complementary or differentiated products. We are considering all options
for maximizing or monetizing the value of our fuel ethanol plants, and we are in discussions with various parties in this regard.
We continue to pursue a number of strategic
initiatives focused on the sale of additional production assets, a reduction of our debt levels, a strengthening of our cash and
liquidity position, and opportunities for strategic partnerships and capital raising activities, positioning us to optimize our
business performance.
We remain focused on implementing initiatives and investing in our
assets to further diversify our sales through additional products and revenue streams, improve our production yields and other
operating efficiencies, and reduce costs, both at the operating and corporate levels.
21
Critical
Accounting Policies
The
preparation of our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America, requires us to make judgments and estimates that may have a significant impact upon the portrayal
of our financial condition and results of operations. We believe that of our significant accounting policies, the following require
estimates and assumptions that require complex, subjective judgments by management that can materially impact the portrayal of
our financial condition and results of operations: revenue recognition; impairment of long-lived assets and held-for-sale classification;
valuation of allowance for deferred taxes and derivative instruments. These significant accounting principles are more fully described
in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting
Policies” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Results
of Operations
The
following selected financial information should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes to
our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report, and the other sections of “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in this report.
Certain
performance metrics that we believe are important indicators of our results of operations include:
Three
Months Ended
June
30,
Percentage
Six
Months Ended
June
30,
Percentage
2020
2019
Variance
2020
2019
Variance
Production gallons sold (in millions)
56.9
118.6
(52.0 )%
179.5
235.5
(23.8 )%
Third party gallons sold (in millions)
73.9
83.2
(11.2 )%
136.3
178.0
(23.4 )%
Total gallons sold (in millions)
130.8
201.8
(35.2 )%
315.8
413.5
(23.6 )%
Total gallons produced (in millions)
47.6
121.3
(60.8 )%
163.9
243.8
(32.8 )%
Production capacity utilization
40 %
80 %
(50.0 )%
82 %
82 %
—
Average sales price per gallon
$ 1.59
$ 1.61
(1.2 )%
$ 1.55
$ 1.57
(1.3 )%
Corn cost per bushel – CBOT equivalent
$ 3.39
$ 3.81
(11.0 )%
$ 3.59
$ 3.77
(4.8 )%
Average basis (1)
$ 0.20
$ 0.41
(51.2 )%
$ 0.32
$ 0.40
(20.0 )%
Delivered cost of corn
$ 3.59
$ 4.22
(14.9 )%
$ 3.91
$ 4.17
(6.2 )%
Total co-product tons sold (in thousands)
250.1
691.5
(63.8 )%
922.0
1,375.6
(33.0 )%
Co-product revenues as % of delivered cost of corn (2)
46.5 %
35.5 %
31.0 %
41.8 %
37.2 %
12.4 %
Average CBOT ethanol price per gallon
$ 1.08
$ 1.41
(23.4 )%
$ 1.16
$ 1.36
(14.7 )%
Average CBOT corn price per bushel
$ 3.23
$ 3.90
(17.2 )%
$ 3.59
$ 3.82
(6.0 )%
(1)
Corn
basis represents the difference between the immediate cash price of delivered corn and the future price of corn for Chicago
delivery.
(2)
Co-product
revenues as a percentage of delivered cost of corn shows our yield based on sales of co-products, including WDG and corn oil,
generated from ethanol we produced.
22
Net
Sales, Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Profit (Loss)
The
following table presents our net sales, cost of goods sold and gross profit in dollars and gross profit as a percentage of net
sales (in thousands, except percentages):
Three
Months Ended June 30,
Variance in
Six
Months Ended
June 30,
Variance in
2020
2019
Dollars
Percent
2020
2019
Dollars
Percent
Net sales
$ 212,074
$ 346,301
$ (134,227 )
(38.8 )%
$ 523,478
$ 702,104
$ (178,626 )
(25.4 )%
Cost of goods sold
180,892
342,330
(161,438 )
(47.2 )%
505,186
700,422
(195,236 )
(27.9 )%
Gross profit
$ 31,182
$ 3,971
$ 27,211
685.2 %
$ 18,292
$ 1,682
$ 16,610
987.5 %
Percentage of net sales
14.7 %
1.1 %
3.5 %
0.2 %
Net
Sales
The decline in our net sales
for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same periods in 2019 was primarily due to a significant decline
in our ethanol production gallons sold.
We sold fewer ethanol production
gallons and co-products for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same periods in 2019. These declines
are primarily due to significantly reduced transportation fuel demand from the effects of stay-at-home orders as a result of the
coronavirus pandemic. As a result, we reduced our production capacity utilization to 40% on a consolidated basis in the second
quarter. Demand for our high quality alcohol, however, increased significantly in the sanitizer and disinfectant markets. These
markets have historically, and even more so in the second quarter, provided a premium price over fuel ethanol markets. Our third-party
gallons sold declined in the quarter, but less than the decline in overall ethanol demand, as most of our fuel ethanol commitments
for the quarter were met through our third party marketing business.
Three
Months Ended June 30, 2020 and 2019
On
a consolidated basis, our average sales price per gallon declined 1.2% to $1.59 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared
to $1.61 for the same period in 2019. The average Chicago Board of Trade, or CBOT, ethanol price per gallon, declined 23.4% to
$1.08 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $1.41 for the same period in 2019.
Production
Segment
Net sales of alcohol and
ethanol from our production segment declined by $89.1 million, or 46%, to $105.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020
as compared to $194.4 million for the same period in 2019. Our total volume of production gallons sold declined by 61.7 million
gallons, or 52%, to 56.9 million gallons for the three months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to 118.6 million gallons for the
same period in 2019. Our production segment’s average sales price per gallon increased 13% to $1.85 for the three months
ended June 30, 2020 compared to $1.64 for the same period in 2019. At our production segment’s average sales price per gallon
of $1.85 for the three months ended June 30, 2020, we generated $114.3 million less in net sales from our production segment from
the 61.7 million fewer gallons of produced alcohol and ethanol sold in the three months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the
same period in 2019. The increase of $0.21 in our production segment’s average sales price per gallon for the three months
ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019 increased our net sales of alcohol and ethanol from our production segment
by $25.2 million.
23
Net
sales of co-products declined $29.4 million, or 45%, to $35.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 as compared
to $64.7 million for the same period in 2019. Our total volume of co-products sold declined by 441.4 thousand tons, or 64%, to
250.1 thousand tons for the three months ended June 30, 2020 from 691.5 thousand tons for the same period in 2019, however,
our average sales price per ton improved to $141.26 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 from $93.53 for the same period
in 2019. At our average sales price per ton of $141.26 for the three months ended June 30, 2020, we generated $62.4 million
less in net sales from the 441.4 thousand ton decline in co-products sold in the three months ended June 30, 2020 as compared
to the same period in 2019. The increase in our average sales price per ton of $47.73, or 51%, for the three months ended June 30,
2020 as compared to the same period in 2019 increased our net sales of co-products by $33.0 million.
Marketing
Segment
Net sales of alcohol and ethanol from our marketing
segment, excluding intersegment sales, declined by $15.8 million, or 18%, to $71.4 million for the three months ended June 30,
2020 as compared to $87.2 million for the same period in 2019. Our total volume of alcohol and ethanol gallons sold by our marketing
segment declined by 71.0 million gallons, or 35%, to 130.8 million gallons for the three months ended June 30, 2020 as compared
to 201.8 million gallons for the same period in 2019. The 71.0 million decline in gallons sold by our marketing segment is comprised
of 61.7 million fewer production gallons sold and 9.3 million fewer third party gallons sold. The 9.3 million gallon decline in
third party gallons sold is comprised of 0.3 million fewer gallons sold on a gross basis and 9.0 million fewer gallons sold on
a net basis.
Our
marketing segment’s average fuel ethanol sales price per gallon declined 17% to $1.34 for the three months ended June 30,
2020 compared to $1.62 for the same period in 2019. At our marketing segment’s average sales price per gallon of $1.34 for
the three months ended June 30, 2020, we generated $0.4 million less in net sales from our marketing segment from the 0.3 million
fewer gallons in third party ethanol sold in the three months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019. The
decline of $0.28 in our marketing segment’s average sales price per gallon for the three months ended June 30, 2020 as compared
to the same period in 2019 reduced our net sales from third party ethanol sold by our marketing segment by $15.4 million.
Six
Months Ended June 30, 2020 and 2019
On
a consolidated basis, our average sales price per gallon declined 1.3% to $1.55 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared
to $1.57 for the same period in 2019. The average CBOT ethanol price per gallon declined 14.7% to $1.16 for the six months ended
June 30, 2020 compared to $1.36 for the same period in 2019.
Production
Segment
Net sales of alcohol and
ethanol from our production segment declined by $83.8 million, or 22%, to $290.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020
as compared to $373.8 million for the same period in 2019. Our total volume of production gallons sold declined by 56.0 million
gallons, or 24%, to 179.5 million gallons for the six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to 235.5 million gallons for the same
period in 2019. Our production segment’s average sales price per gallon increased 2% to $1.62 for the six months ended June
30, 2020 compared to $1.59 for the same period in 2019. At our production segment’s average sales price per gallon of $1.62
for the six months ended June 30, 2020, we generated $90.7 million less in net sales from our production segment from the 56.0
million fewer gallons of produced alcohol and ethanol sold in the six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same period
in 2019. The increase of $0.03 in our production segment’s average sales price per gallon for the six months ended June 30,
2020 as compared to the same period in 2019 increased our net sales of alcohol and ethanol from our production segment by $6.9
million.
24
Net
sales of co-products declined $29.3 million, or 22%, to $104.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared
to $133.4 million for the same period in 2019. Our total volume of co-products sold declined by 453.6 thousand tons, or 33%, to
922.0 thousand tons for the six months ended June 30, 2020 from 1,375.6 thousand tons for the same period in 2019, and our
average sales price per ton increased to $112.94 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 from $97.04 for the same period in
2019. At our average sales price per ton of $112.94 for the six months ended June 30, 2020, we generated $51.2 million less
in net sales from the 453.6 thousand ton decline in co-products sold in the six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to
the same period in 2019. The increase in our average sales price per ton of $15.90, or 16%, for the six months ended June 30,
2020 as compared to the same period in 2019 increased our net sales of co-products by $21.9 million.
Marketing
Segment
Net sales of alcohol and ethanol from our marketing
segment, excluding intersegment sales, declined by $65.4 million, or 34%, to $129.4 million for the six months ended June 30,
2020 as compared to $194.8 million for the same period in 2019. Our total volume of alcohol and ethanol gallons sold by our marketing
segment declined by 97.7 million gallons, or 24%, to 315.8 million gallons for the six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared
to 413.5 million gallons for the same period in 2019. The 97.7 million decline in gallons sold by our marketing segment is comprised
of 56.0 million fewer production gallons sold and 41.7 million fewer third party gallons sold. The 41.7 million decline in third
party gallons sold is comprised of 31.7 million fewer gallons sold on a gross basis and 10.0 million fewer gallons sold on a net
basis.
Our
marketing segment’s average fuel ethanol sales price per gallon declined 9.8% to $1.47 for the six months ended June 30,
2020 as compared to $1.63 for the same period in 2019. At our marketing segment’s average sales price per gallon of $1.47
for the six months ended June 30, 2020, we generated $46.7 million less in net sales from our marketing segment from the
41.7 million fewer gallons in third party ethanol sold in the six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same period
in 2019. The decline of $0.16 in our marketing segment’s average sales price per gallon for the six months ended June 30,
2020 as compared to the same period in 2019 reduced our net sales from third party ethanol sold by our marketing segment by $18.7
million.
Cost
of Goods Sold and Gross Profit
Our
consolidated gross profit improved to $31.2 million, representing a gross profit margin of 14.7%, for the three months ended June
30, 2020 compared to $4.0 million, representing a gross profit margin of 1.1%, for the same period in 2019. Our consolidated gross
profit improved to $18.3 million, representing a gross profit margin of 3.5%, for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared
to $1.7 million, representing a gross profit margin of 0.2%, for the same period in 2019. Our gross profit and gross profit margin
improved primarily due to significantly higher margins from sales of our high quality alcohol.
Three
Months Ended June 30, 2020 and 2019
Production
Segment
Our production segment’s gross profit
from external sales improved by $25.6 million to $27.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to $2.3 million
for the same period in 2019. Of this improvement, $55.6 million is attributable to our production segment’s higher margins
for the three months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019, partially offset by $30.0 million in lower gross
profit attributable to decreased ethanol production volumes for the three months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same period
in 2019.
25
Marketing
Segment
Our
marketing segment’s gross profit increased by $1.7 million to $3.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020
as compared to $1.6 million for the same period in 2019. Of this improvement, nearly all of it relates to our marketing segment’s
higher margins per gallon for the three months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019.
Six
Months Ended June 30, 2020 and 2019
Production
Segment
Our production segment’s gross profit
from external sales improved by $20.1 million to $12.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to a gross loss
of $7.8 million for the same period in 2019. Of this improvement, $23.9 million is attributable to our production segment’s
higher margins for the six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019, partially offset by $3.8 million
in lower gross profit attributable to reduced ethanol production volumes for the six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to
the same period in 2019.
Marketing
Segment
Our
marketing segment’s gross profit declined by $3.5 million to $5.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 as
compared to $9.4 million for the same period in 2019. Of this decline, $1.3 million is attributable to our marketing segment’s
lower margins per gallon and $2.2 million is attributable to the reduction in third-party marketing volumes for the six months
ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019.
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses
The
following table presents our selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expenses in dollars and as a percentage of net
sales (in thousands, except percentages):
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Variance in
Six Months Ended
June 30,
Variance in
2020
2019
Dollars
Percent
2020
2019
Dollars
Percent
Selling, general and
administrative expenses
$ 8,629
$ 6,708
$ 1,921
28.6 %
$ 18,841
$ 14,943
$ 3,898
26.1 %
Percentage of net sales
4.1 %
1.9 %
3.6 %
2.1 %
Our
SG&A expenses increased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019. The
increase in SG&A expenses is primarily due to increases in professional fees associated with the sale of our interest in Pacific
Aurora, LLC, or Pacific Aurora, and our other strategic initiatives.
26
Net
Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders
The
following table presents our net income (loss) available to common stockholders in dollars and as a percentage of net sales (in
thousands, except percentages):
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Variance in
Six Months Ended
June 30,
Variance in
2020
2019
Dollars
Percent
2020
2019
Dollars
Percent
Net income (loss) available
to common stockholders
$ 14,649
$ (7,961 )
$ 22,610
NM
$ (10,766 )
$ (21,163 )
$ 10,397
49.1 %
Percentage of net sales
6.9 %
(2.3 )%
(2.1 )%
(3.0 )%
The
improvement in net income (loss) available to common stockholders is primarily due to significantly higher margins from our high
quality alcohol sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same periods in 2019.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
During
the six months ended June 30, 2020, we funded our operations primarily from cash generated by our operations and cash on hand.
These funds were used to make payments on our term debt and under our other credit facilities, and for capital expenditures and
to make lease payments.
Our financial statements have been prepared
on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course
of business. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we continued to experience significant adverse conditions in the ethanol
fuel market as demand and pricing were at record lows due to reduced domestic transportation and resulting lower gasoline demand.
In response, we reduced production at our facilities by more than 50% in an effort to conserve capital as a result of a substantial
reduction in demand due to stay-at-home orders issued in response to the coronavirus pandemic. We have, however, not only continued
producing and selling high quality alcohol, but also converted a portion of our fuel ethanol production to higher quality alcohol
to respond to increased demand from the sanitizer and disinfectant markets. These sales of high quality alcohol were at a mix
of fixed and spot pricing, both of which resulted in positive net income and cash flows from operations during the second quarter.
We expect robust demand for our high quality alcohol to continue for at least the next twelve months as we continue to enter fixed
price contracts and hedge corn input costs, locking in profit margins on sales of high quality alcohol.
At
June 30, 2020, we had $29.8 million in cash and $10.0 million available under our operating line of credit for our marketing subsidiary,
Kinergy Marketing LLC, or Kinergy. During the first half of 2020, we generated $45.7 million in cash from our operations and realized
$19.9 million in net cash from the sale of our interest in Pacific Aurora. These positive cash flows have allowed us to make net
payments totaling $52.3 million on our debt. Further, subsequent to June 30, 2020, we made an additional $9.2 million in payments
on our term debt.
As previously agreed with our lenders, we have
presented and continue to negotiate a comprehensive plan to restructure our assets and liabilities. We have appointed a chief
restructuring officer to facilitate the development of such a plan and to assist in our current strategic initiatives. We
expect the negotiated plan may include additional assets sales, soliciting new investments in us or our assets, further debt payments
and further reductions to overhead expenses.
Our
current available capital resources consist of cash on hand and amounts available for borrowing under our credit facilities. We
expect that our future available capital resources will consist primarily of any cash generated from our operations, cash balances,
any availability under our lines of credit, net cash proceeds from any sale of our production assets and net cash proceeds from
any equity sales or debt financing transactions.
27
As of June 30, 2020, our current
liabilities of $147.0 million exceeded our current assets of $131.8 million, resulting in a working capital deficit of $15.2
million.
We believe that as of the date of this report,
we are in compliance with all debt covenants contained in our credit facilities, except our obligation to obtain lender approval
of a comprehensive plan to restructure our assets and liabilities with respect to our Pekin and ICP lenders. As noted above, we
appointed a chief restructuring officer to facilitate the development of such a plan and we have presented and continue to negotiate
the plan with our lenders. As a result, we are not in compliance with our obligations to our lenders, which could result in their
acceleration of our debt. Although we do not expect such an outcome, especially in light of our financial performance and debt
prepayments during the second quarter and thereafter, we do not have sufficient liquidity or capital resources to immediately
repay our debt if accelerated. Even though we do not believe acceleration is probable, we have classified our related debt as
current on our consolidated balance sheets. Given our cash flows from operations and debt prepayments, we believe we have alleviated
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We therefore believe that we will have sufficient liquidity
to meet our anticipated working capital, debt service and other liquidity needs for the next twelve months.
Quantitative
Quarter-End Liquidity Status
We
believe that the following amounts provide insight into our liquidity and capital resources. The following selected financial
information should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements
included elsewhere in this report, and the other sections of “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations” contained in this report (dollars in thousands):
June 30, 2020
December 31, 2019
Change
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 29,783
$ 18,997
56.8 %
Current assets
$ 131,790
$ 232,064
(43.2 )%
Property and equipment, net
$ 317,950
$ 332,526
(4.4 )%
Current liabilities
$ 146,954
$ 160,398
(8.4 )%
Long-term debt, net of current portion
$ 95,888
$ 180,795
(47.0 )%
Working capital (deficit)
$ (15,164 )
$ 71,666
NM
Working capital ratio
0.90
1.45
(37.9 )%
Restricted
Net Assets
At
June 30, 2020, we had approximately $204.4 million of net assets at our subsidiaries that were not available to be transferred
to Pacific Ethanol, Inc. in the form of dividends, loans or advances due to restrictions contained in the credit facilities of
our subsidiaries.
Changes
in Working Capital and Cash Flows
Our working capital declined to a deficit of
$15.2 million at June 30, 2020 from working capital of $71.7 million at December 31, 2019 as a result of a decrease of $100.3
million in current assets, partially offset by a decrease of $13.4 million in current liabilities.
Current
assets decreased primarily due to a decrease in assets held-for-sale associated with the completed sale of our interest in Pacific
Aurora, and decreases in accounts receivable and inventories, due to the timing of collections, and lower ethanol production and
sales.
Our
current liabilities decreased primarily due to a decrease in liabilities held-for-sale associated with the completed sale of our
interest in Pacific Aurora, partially offset by an increase in the current portion of our long-term debt primarily due to our
failure to obtain lender approval of a comprehensive plan to restructure our assets and liabilities.
Our
cash and cash equivalents increased by $10.8 million at June 30, 2020 as compared to December 31, 2019 primarily due
to $45.7 million in cash provided by our operating activities and $17.4 million in cash provided by our investing activities,
partially offset by $52.3 million in cash used in our financing activities.
28
Cash
provided by our Operating Activities
Cash
provided by our operating activities increased by $71.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, as compared to the
same period in 2019. We generated $45.7 million in cash from our operating activities during the first half of 2020. Specific
factors that contributed to the increase in cash provided by our operating activities include:
●
a
decrease of $24.5 million related to accounts receivable primarily due to the timing of collections;
●
a
decrease of $34.0 million related to inventories as we reduced production during the period;
●
a
decrease of $10.1 million in our consolidated net loss due to higher margins from our sales of high quality alcohol; and
●
an
increase of $9.4 million related to liabilities held-for-sale in connection with the sale of our interests in Pacific Aurora.
These
amounts were partially offset by:
●
a
decrease of $9.9 million related to prepaid expenses and other assets due to the timing of payments; and
●
a
decrease of $5.1 million in depreciation expense resulting from the sale of Pacific Aurora.
Cash
provided by our Investing Activities
Cash
provided by our investing activities was $17.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, which included $19.9 million
in net proceeds from the sale of Pacific Aurora, partially offset by $2.5 million of additions to property and equipment.
Cash
used in our Financing Activities
Cash
used in our financing activities was $52.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Cash used in our financing activities
was primarily due to $36.9 million in net payments under Kinergy’s line of credit and $25.5 million in principal payments
on our term debt, partially offset by $9.9 million in proceeds under our CARES Act loans and $0.3 million from the issuance of
common stock.
Capital
Expenditures
Our capital expenditures totaled $2.5 million
for the first six months of 2020, largely attributable to enhancements made to the production process of our operating facilities.
Kinergy
Operating Line of Credit
Kinergy
maintains an operating line of credit for an aggregate amount of up to $100.0 million. The credit facility matures on August 2,
2022. Interest accrues under the credit facility at a rate equal to (i) the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”),
plus (ii) a specified applicable margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.00%. The credit facility’s monthly unused line fee is 0.25%
to 0.375% of the amount by which the maximum credit under the facility exceeds the average daily principal balance during the
immediately preceding month. Payments that may be made by Kinergy to Pacific Ethanol as reimbursement for management and other
services provided by Pacific Ethanol to Kinergy are limited under the terms of the credit facility to $1.5 million per fiscal
quarter. The credit facility also includes the accounts receivable of Pacific Ag. Products, LLC, or PAP, as additional collateral.
Payments that may be made by PAP to Pacific Ethanol as reimbursement for management and other services provided by Pacific Ethanol
to PAP are limited under the terms of the credit facility to $0.5 million per fiscal quarter. PAP, one of our indirect wholly-owned
subsidiaries, markets our co-products and also provides raw material procurement services to our subsidiaries.
29
For
all monthly periods in which excess borrowing availability falls below a specified level, Kinergy and PAP must collectively maintain
a fixed-charge coverage ratio (calculated as a twelve-month rolling earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
(EBITDA) divided by the sum of interest expense, capital expenditures, principal payments of indebtedness, indebtedness from capital
leases and taxes paid during such twelve-month rolling period) of at least 2.0 and are prohibited from incurring certain additional
indebtedness (other than specific intercompany indebtedness). Kinergy’s and PAP’s obligations under the credit facility
are secured by a first-priority security interest in all of their assets in favor of the lender. We believe Kinergy and PAP are
in compliance with this covenant. The following table summarizes Kinergy’s financial covenants and actual results for the
periods presented:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Years Ended
December 31,
2020
2019
2019
2018
Fixed-Charge Coverage Ratio Requirement
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
Actual
4.84
11.58
5.71
19.06
Excess
2.84
9.58
3.71
17.06
Pacific
Ethanol has guaranteed all of Kinergy’s obligations under the credit facility. As of June 30, 2020, Kinergy had an
outstanding balance of $41.4 million with additional borrowing availability under the credit facility of $10.0 million.
Pekin
Credit Facilities
On
December 15, 2016, Pacific Ethanol Pekin, LLC, or PE Pekin, entered into term and revolving credit facilities. PE Pekin borrowed
$64.0 million under a term loan facility that matures on August 20, 2021 and $32.0 million under a revolving credit facility that
matures on February 1, 2022. The PE Pekin credit facilities are secured by a first-priority security interest in all of PE Pekin’s
assets. Interest initially accrued under the PE Pekin credit facilities at an annual rate equal to the 30-day LIBOR plus 3.75%,
payable monthly. PE Pekin is required to make quarterly principal payments in the amount of $3.5 million on the term loan beginning
on May 20, 2017, with the remaining principal balance payable at maturity on August 20, 2021. PE Pekin is required to pay monthly
in arrears a fee on any unused portion of the revolving credit facility at a rate of 0.75% per annum. Prepayment of these facilities
is subject to a prepayment penalty. Under the initial terms of the credit facilities, PE Pekin was required to maintain not less
than $20.0 million in working capital and an annual debt service coverage ratio of not less than 1.25 to 1.0.
On
August 7, 2017, PE Pekin amended its term and revolving credit facilities by agreeing to increase the interest rate under the
facilities by 25 basis points to an annual rate equal to the 30-day LIBOR plus 4.00%. PE Pekin and its lender also agreed that
PE Pekin is required to maintain working capital of not less than $17.5 million from August 31, 2017 through December 31,
2017 and working capital of not less than $20.0 million from January 1, 2018 and continuing at all times thereafter. In addition,
the required debt service coverage ratio was reduced to 0.15 to 1.00 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. PE Pekin’s
actual debt service coverage ratio was 0.17 to 1.00 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, 0.02 in excess of the required
0.15 to 1.00. For the month ended January 31, 2018, PE Pekin was not in compliance with its working capital requirement due to
larger than anticipated repair and maintenance expenses to replace faulty equipment. PE Pekin received a waiver from its lender
for this noncompliance. Further, the lender decreased PE Pekin’s working capital covenant requirement to $13.0 million for
the month ended February 28, 2018, excluding from the calculation a $3.5 million principal payment previously due in May 2018.
30
On
March 30, 2018, PE Pekin further amended its term loan facility by reducing the amount of working capital it is required to maintain
to not less than $13.0 million from March 31, 2018 through November 30, 2018 and not less than $16.0 million from December 1,
2018 and continuing at all times thereafter. In addition, a principal payment in the amount of $3.5 million due for May 2018 was
deferred until the maturity date of the term loan.
At
December 31, 2018 and January 31, 2019, PE Pekin experienced certain covenant violations under its term and revolving credit
facilities. In February 2019, PE Pekin reached an agreement with its lender to forbear until March 11, 2019 and to defer a $3.5
million principal payment until that date.
On
March 21, 2019, PE Pekin amended its term and revolving credit facilities by agreeing to increase the interest rate under the
facilities by 125 basis points to an annual rate equal to the 30-day LIBOR plus 5.00%. PE Pekin and its lender also agreed that
it is required to maintain working capital of not less than $15.0 million from March 21, 2019 through July 15, 2019 and working
capital of not less than $30.0 million from July 15, 2019 and continuing at all times thereafter. On July 15, 2019, PE Pekin and
its lender agreed to a further amendment extending the aforementioned July 15, 2019 dates to November 15, 2019. On August 6, 2019,
PE Pekin paid its $3.5 million principal payment scheduled for August 20, 2019.
Under
these amendments, the lender agreed to temporarily waive financial covenant violations, working capital maintenance violations
and intercompany accounts receivable collections violations that occurred with respect to the credit agreement. The lenders also
agreed to defer all scheduled principal payments, including further deferral of principal payments in the amount of $3.5 million
each due on February 20, 2019 and May 20, 2019.
The
waivers and principal deferral expired on November 15, 2019, at which time the waivers were to become permanent if PE Pekin’s
parent, Pacific Ethanol Central, LLC, or PE Central, made a contribution to PE Pekin in an amount equal to $30.0 million, minus
the then-existing amount of PE Pekin’s working capital, plus the amount of any accounts receivable owed by PE Central to
PE Pekin, plus $12.0 million, or the Parent Contribution Amount. In addition, if the Parent Contribution Amount was timely received,
the lender agreed to waive PE Pekin’s debt service coverage ratio financial covenant for the year ended December 31,
2019. If the Parent Contribution Amount was not timely made, then the temporary waivers would automatically expire.
PE
Pekin was also required to pay by November 15, 2019 the aggregate amount of $10.5 million representing all deferred and unpaid
scheduled principal payments and all additional scheduled principal payments for the remainder of 2019.
On
November 15, 2019, PE Pekin amended its term and revolving credit facilities by agreeing to extend the temporary waiver of violations
of financial and other covenants relating to working capital maintenance, intercompany accounts receivable collections, financial
projections, cash flow forecasts, and sales reports. The lender also agreed to extend the deferral of all scheduled principal
payments payable on February 20, 2019, May 20, 2019 and November 15, 2019 to December 15, 2019. The amendment also made a payment
default of $250,000 or more under Kinergy’s credit facility or the senior secured notes, or any acceleration of indebtedness,
or any termination of any commitment to lend or termination of any forbearance or other accommodation, an event of default.
31
The
waivers and principal deferral expired on December 15, 2019. On December 15, 2019, the waivers were to become permanent if PE
Central made a contribution to PE Pekin in an amount equal to the Parent Contribution Amount. In addition, if the Parent Contribution
Amount was timely received, the lender agreed to waive PE Pekin’s debt service coverage ratio financial covenant for the
year ended December 31, 2019. If the Parent Contribution Amount was not timely made, then the temporary waivers would automatically
expire.
On
December 16, 2019, PE Pekin amended its term and revolving credit facilities by agreeing to extend the deferral of all scheduled
principal payments payable on February 20, 2019, May 20, 2019 and November 20, 2019 to December 20, 2019.
On
December 20, 2019, PE Pekin’s lender agreed to temporarily waive working capital covenant violations, debt service coverage
ratio covenant violations, reporting covenant violations and certain other covenant violations that occurred under the PE Pekin
credit agreement, and replaced those covenants with new EBITDA and production volume covenants. PE Pekin’s lender also agreed
to defer all scheduled principal installments payable under the term note on February 20, 2019, May 20, 2019 and November 20,
2019 until August 20, 2021. In addition, PE Pekin was not required to make its prior scheduled quarterly principal payments of
$3.5 million until September 30, 2020, at which time $3.5 million will be due, with the same amount due quarterly thereafter until
maturity.
Under
the amendment, PE Pekin, collectively with Illinois Corn Processing, LLC, or ICP, agreed to pay the lenders an aggregate of $40.0
million on or before September 30, 2020 to reduce the outstanding balances of the term loans under the PE Pekin credit agreement
and the ICP credit agreement. The $40.0 million is an aggregate amount payable to ICP’s lender and PE Pekin’s lender,
and allocated between them. The $40.0 million is to be funded through asset sales, proceeds of any award, judgment or settlement
of litigation, or, at our election, from funds contributed to PE Pekin by us. Following receipt by the lenders under the ICP credit
agreement and the PE Pekin credit agreement, collectively, of $40.0 million in full, and once any loans corresponding to the particular
midwestern asset sold are repaid, additional proceeds from the sale of any of our midwestern plant assets will generally be allocated
33/34/33% among ICP’s lender and PE Pekin’s lender, collectively, the selling security holders, and us, respectively.
Proceeds from the sale of any of our western assets will generally be allocated 33/34/33% among PE Pekin’s lender and ICP’s
lender, collectively, the selling security holders, and us, respectively.
PE
Pekin’s lender also imposed cross-default terms such that, until PE Pekin’s lender and ICP’s lender receive
$40.0 million, a default under the ICP credit agreement would constitute a default under the PE Pekin credit agreement. PE Pekin
agreed to provide additional collateral security to support its obligations under the PE Pekin credit agreement, including second
lien positions in our western plants, which will terminate and be released upon PE Pekin’s lender’s receipt of $40.0
million.
On
December 29, 2019, PE Pekin agreed to amend the secured obligations under its security agreement to include PE Pekin’s unconditional
guarantee of the payment of up to an aggregate $40.0 million to satisfy the obligations of ICP to ICP’s lender under the
ICP credit agreement.
On
March 20, 2020, PE Pekin and its lender agreed to defer $1.0 million in aggregate interest payments due March 20, 2020 and April
20, 2020 until May 20, 2020. On that same date, we granted to the lender a security interest in all of our equity interests in
our wholly-owned subsidiary, PE Op Co., which indirectly owns our plants located on the West Coast. We also entered into intercreditor
agreements with our PE Pekin and ICP lenders, and the agent for our senior secured noteholders, to address issues of priority
and the allocation of proceeds from asset sales.
32
On
April 15, 2020, upon the closing of the sale of our interests in Pacific Aurora, we repaid approximately $11.6 million in principal
on our PE Pekin term debt.
On
June 26, 2020, we repaid approximately $1.9 million in additional principal on our PE Pekin term debt.
On
July 22, 2020, we repaid approximately $7.4 million in additional principal on our PE Pekin term debt.
As of the filing of this
report, we believe we are in compliance with all debt covenants under our PE Pekin credit facilities, except our obligation to
obtain lender approval of a comprehensive plan to restructure our assets and liabilities.
ICP
Credit Facilities
On
September 15, 2017, ICP entered into term and revolving credit facilities. ICP borrowed $24.0 million under a term loan facility
that matures on September 20, 2021 and $18.0 million under a revolving credit facility that matures on September 1, 2022. The
ICP credit facilities are secured by a first-priority security interest in all of ICP’s assets. Interest accrues under the
ICP credit facilities at an annual rate equal to the 30-day LIBOR plus 3.75%, payable monthly. ICP is required to make quarterly
consecutive principal payments in the amount of $1.5 million. ICP is required to pay monthly in arrears a fee on any unused portion
of the revolving credit facility at a rate of 0.75% per annum. Prepayment of these facilities is subject to a prepayment penalty.
Under the terms of the credit facilities, ICP is required to maintain not less than $8.0 million in working capital and an annual
debt service coverage ratio of not less than 1.5 to 1.0, beginning for the year ended December 31, 2018. As of September
30, 2019, ICP had no additional borrowing availability under its revolving credit facility. As of September 30, 2019, ICP did
not meet its minimum working capital requirement, however, ICP’s lender subsequently waived the minimum working capital
deficiency.
On
December 20, 2019, ICP amended its term and revolving credit facilities under which ICP’s lender granted waivers for certain
ICP covenant defaults and replaced those covenants with new EBITDA and production volume covenants. ICP’s lender also imposed
cross-default terms such that, until ICP’s lender and PE Pekin’s lender receive an aggregate of $40.0 million, a default
under the PE Pekin credit agreement would constitute a default under the ICP credit agreement. ICP agreed to provide additional
collateral security to support its obligations under the ICP credit agreement, including second lien positions in our western
plants, which will terminate and be released upon ICP’s lender’s receipt of an aggregate of $40.0 million. ICP’s
prior scheduled principal payment of $1.5 million, originally due on December 20, 2019, was deferred to the maturity date of September
20, 2021. Scheduled quarterly principal payments of $1.5 million will resume March 20, 2020.
Under
the amendment, ICP, collectively with PE Pekin, agreed to pay the lenders an aggregate of $40.0 million on or before September
30, 2020 to reduce the outstanding balances of the term loans under the ICP credit agreement and the PE Pekin credit agreement.
The $40.0 million is an aggregate amount payable to ICP’s lender and PE Pekin’s lender, and allocated between them.
The $40.0 million is to be funded through asset sales, proceeds of any award, judgment or settlement of litigation, or, at our
election, from funds contributed to ICP by us. Following receipt by the lenders under the ICP credit agreement and the PE Pekin
credit agreement, collectively, of $40.0 million in full, and once any loans corresponding to the particular midwestern asset
sold are repaid, any additional proceeds from a sale of our midwestern plant assets will generally be allocated 33/34/33% among
ICP’s lender and PE Pekin’s lender, collectively, the selling security holders, and us, respectively. Proceeds from
the sale of any of our western assets will generally be allocated 33/34/33% among PE Pekin’s lender and ICP’s lender,
collectively, the selling security holders, and us, respectively.
33
On
December 29, 2019, ICP agreed to amend the secured obligations under its security agreement to include ICP’s unconditional
guarantee of the payment of up to an aggregate $40.0 million to satisfy the obligations of PE Pekin to PE Pekin’s lender
under the PE Pekin credit agreement.
On
March 20, 2020, ICP and its lender agreed to defer a $1.5 million principal payment due March 20, 2020 and $0.3 million in aggregate
interest payments due March 20, 2020 and April 20, 2020 until May 20, 2020. On that same date, we granted to the lender a security
interest in all of our equity interests in PE Op Co. We also entered into intercreditor agreements with our PE Pekin and ICP lenders,
and the agent for our senior secured noteholders, to address issues of priority and the allocation of proceeds from asset sales.
On
April 15, 2020, upon the closing of the sale of our interests in Pacific Aurora, we repaid approximately $2.9 million in principal
on our ICP term debt.
On
June 26, 2020, we repaid approximately $6.1 million in additional principal on our ICP term debt, fully repaying the ICP term
debt.
On
July 22, 2020, we repaid approximately $1.8 million in additional principal on our ICP revolving debt.
As
of the filing of this report, we believe we are in compliance with all debt covenants under our ICP credit facilities, except
our obligation to obtain lender approval of a comprehensive plan to restructure our assets and liabilities.
Pacific
Ethanol, Inc. Notes Payable
On
December 12, 2016, we entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with five accredited investors. On December 15, 2016, under the terms
of the Note Purchase Agreement, we sold $55.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our senior secured notes to the investors
in a private offering for aggregate gross proceeds of 97% of the principal amount of the notes sold. On June 26, 2017, we entered
into a second Note Purchase Agreement with five accredited investors. On June 30, 2017, under the terms of the second Note
Purchase Agreement, we sold an additional $13.9 million in aggregate principal amount of our senior secured notes to the investors
in a private offering for aggregate gross proceeds of 97% of the principal amount of the notes sold, for a total of $68.9 million
in aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes.
The
notes had an original maturity date of December 15, 2019. Interest on the notes accrued at an annual rate equal to (i) the greater
of 1% and the three-month LIBOR, plus 7.0% from the closing through December 14, 2017, (ii) the greater of 1% and three-month
LIBOR, plus 9% between December 15, 2017 and December 14, 2018, and (iii) the greater of 1% and three-month LIBOR plus 11% between
December 15, 2018 and the maturity date. The interest rate would increase by an additional 2% per annum above the interest rate
otherwise applicable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default until cured. Interest was payable in
cash in arrears on the 15th calendar day of each March, June, September and December. We are required to pay all outstanding principal
and any accrued and unpaid interest on the notes on the maturity date. We may, at our option, prepay the outstanding principal
amount of the notes at any time without premium or penalty. Pacific Ethanol, Inc. issued the notes, which are secured by a first-priority
security interest in the equity interest held by Pacific Ethanol, Inc. in PE Op. Co.
On
December 16, 2019, we amended the notes to extend the maturity date from December 15, 2019 to December 23, 2019 and amended the
interest rate from the greater of 1% and the three-month LIBOR, plus 11% between December 15, 2018 through December 14, 2019 to
15% commencing on September 15, 2019. Under the amendment, we also agreed to pay the December 15, 2019 interest payment 50% in
cash and 50% in-kind through the issuance of an additional note in the principal amount equal thereto.
34
On
December 22, 2019, we amended and restated the notes which extended the maturity date from December 23, 2019 to December 15, 2021.
Interest on the Notes accrues at a rate of 15% per annum, payable quarterly.
On
March 20, 2020, we and the noteholders agreed to defer a $2.5 million aggregate interest payment due March 15, 2020 until May
20, 2020. On that same date, ICP granted a junior lien in certain of its personal property to the noteholders, and PE Central
granted a junior lien in certain of its personal property to the noteholders. PE Central also pledged its equity interests in
Pacific Aurora, PE Pekin and ICP in favor of the noteholders. In addition, PE Op Co. and Pacific Ethanol West, LLC, which directly
owns our plants located on the West Coast, granted a security interest in certain of their personal property to the noteholders.
We also entered into intercreditor agreements with our PE Pekin and ICP lenders, and the agent for our senior secured noteholders,
to address issues of priority and the allocation of proceeds from asset sales.
As of the filing of this report, we believe
we are in compliance with all debt covenants under our senior secured notes.
CARES
Act Loans
On
May 4, 2020, Pacific Ethanol, Inc. and PE Pekin received loan proceeds from Bank of America, NA under the recently enacted Coronavirus
Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, through the Paycheck Protection Program administered by the U.S. Small Business
Administration. Pacific Ethanol, Inc. received $6.0 million and PE Pekin received $3.9 million in loan proceeds. The loans mature
in two years and bear interest at a rate of 1.00% per annum. Under the terms of the loans, certain amounts may be forgiven if
they are used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act, but we can provide no assurance that we will be able to obtain
forgiveness of all or any portion of the loans.
Effects
of Inflation
The
impact of inflation was not significant to our financial condition or results of operations for the three and six months ended
June 30, 2020 and 2019.
ITEM
3.
QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not
applicable.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.