Green Plains Partners Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results


Results for the Second Quarter of 2021

  • Net income of $10.3 million, or $0.44 per common unit
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $12.7 million and distributable cash flow of $11.2 million
  • Quarterly cash distribution of $0.12 per unit
  • Distribution coverage ratio of 3.95x, LTM distribution coverage ratio of 4.01x

OMAHA, Neb., Aug. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green Plains Partners LP (NASDAQ:GPP) today announced financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2021. Net income attributable to the partnership was $10.3 million, or $0.44 per common unit, for the second quarter of 2021 compared with net income of $10.2 million, or $0.43 per common unit, for the same period in 2020.

The partnership also reported adjusted EBITDA of $12.7 million and distributable cash flow of $11.2 million for the second quarter of 2021, compared with adjusted EBITDA of $13.2 million and distributable cash flow of $11.3 million for the same period in 2020. Distribution coverage was 3.95x for the three months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to 3.99x for the same period a year ago.

“Executing on the recent financing of the partnership’s credit facility enables value to be returned to our unitholders through higher distributions,” said Todd Becker, president and chief executive officer. “During the second quarter, the partnership continued to achieve consistent financial results for its unitholders and combined with the new debt structure, puts the partnership in strong position to deliver consistent returns and increase distributions to unitholders moving forward.”

Second Quarter Highlights and Recent Developments

  • On July 22, 2021, the board of directors of the partnership’s general partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.12 per unit, or approximately $2.8 million, for the second quarter of 2021. The distribution is payable on Aug. 13, 2021, to unitholders of record at the close of business on Aug. 6, 2021.
  • On July 20, 2021, the partnership closed on an amended five-year, $60.0 million term loan facility and concurrently, the board of directors provided guidance on future distributions focused on maintaining a 1.1 times coverage ratio on normalized trailing 12-month distributable cash flows.

Results of Operations
Consolidated revenues decreased $0.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, compared with the same period for 2020. Railcar transportation services revenue decreased $0.6 million primarily due to a reduction in average volumetric capacity, and storage and throughput services revenue decreased $0.2 million due to a decrease in throughput volumes, both of which were a result of the sale of our parent’s Hereford ethanol plant in the fourth quarter of 2020 and its Ord ethanol plant in the first quarter of 2021. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $0.1 million in terminal services revenue associated with minimum volume charges at our Birmingham terminal.

Operations and maintenance expenses decreased $0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, compared with the same period for 2020, primarily due to a reduction in railcar lease expense as a result of our parent’s sale of assets. General and administrative expenses increased $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, compared with the same period for 2020, primarily due to an increase in insurance expense.

During the second quarter of 2021, Green Plains Inc.’s average production utilization rate was approximately 79.9% of capacity. Ethanol throughput was 191.8 million gallons, which was below the contracted minimum volume commitment. As a result, the partnership charged Green Plains Trade $1.4 million related to the minimum volume commitment deficiency for the quarter, resulting in a credit to be applied against potential excess volumes in future periods. The cumulative minimum volume deficiency credits available to Green Plains Trade as of June 30, 2021 totaled $7.7 million. If these credits are unused by Green Plains Trade, $2.4 million will expire on September 30, 2021, $1.1 million will expire on December 31, 2021, $2.8 million will expire on March 31, 2022 and $1.4 million will expire on June 30, 2022. These credits have been recognized in revenue by the partnership, and as such, future volumes throughput by Green Plains Trade in excess of the quarterly minimum volume commitment, up to the amount of these credits, will not be recognized in revenue in future periods prior to expiration.

              
GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
SELECTED OPERATING DATA
(unaudited, in million gallons)
              
 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
 June 30, June 30,
 2021 2020 % Var. 2021 2020 % Var.
Product volumes             
Storage and throughput services191.8 150.1 27.8 % 370.8 391.7 (5.3)%
              
Terminal services:             
Affiliate21.6 22.3 (3.1)  40.0 54.8 (27.0) 
Non-affiliate27.1 24.1 12.4   51.5 50.6 1.8  
 48.7 46.4 5.0   91.5 105.4 (13.2) 
              
Railcar capacity billed (daily average)69.4 80.9 (14.2)  71.2 79.8 (10.8) 

Liquidity and Capital Resources
Total liquidity as of June 30, 2021, was $6.3 million, including $1.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, and $5.0 million available under the partnership’s revolving credit facility. Total debt outstanding was $52.0 million, net of debt issuance costs of $1.1 million. The partnership’s outstanding debt was refinanced on July 20, 2021, extending the maturity to July 2026.

Conference Call Information
On Aug 2, 2021, Green Plains Partners LP and Green Plains Inc. will host a joint conference call at 11 a.m. Eastern time (10 a.m. Central time) to discuss second quarter 2021 financial and operating results for each company. Domestic and international participants can access the conference call by dialing 877.711.2374 and 281.542.4862, respectively, and referencing conference ID 6498532. The company advises participants to call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. Alternatively, the conference call, transcript and presentation will be accessible on Green Plains Partners’ website at http://ir.greenplainspartners.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are supplemental financial measures used to assess the partnership’s financial performance. Management believes adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow provide investors useful information in assessing the partnership’s financial condition and results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, plus adjustments for transaction costs related to acquisitions or financing transactions, unit-based compensation expense, net gains or losses on asset sales and the partnership’s proportional share of EBITDA adjustments of our equity method investee. Distributable cash flow is defined as adjusted EBITDA less interest paid or payable, income taxes paid or payable, maintenance capital expenditures and the partnership’s proportionate share of distributable cash flow adjustments of our equity method investee. References to LTM refer to results from the immediately preceding twelve-month period. Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are not presented in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and therefore should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to net income or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP to analyze the partnership’s results.

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

About Green Plains Inc.
Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is a leading biorefining company focused on the development and utilization of fermentation, agricultural and biological technologies in the processing of annually renewable crops into sustainable value-added ingredients. This includes the production of cleaner low carbon biofuels, renewable feedstocks for advanced biofuels and high purity alcohols for use in cleaners and disinfectants. Green Plains is an innovative producer of ultra-high protein and novel ingredients for animal and aquaculture diets to help satisfy a growing global appetite for sustainable protein. The Company also owns a 48.9% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest in Green Plains Partners LP. For more information, visit www.gpreinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views, which are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, anticipated financial and operating results, plans and objectives that are not historical in nature. These statements may be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar expressions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied are discussed in Green Plains Partners’ reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Green Plains Partners assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Consolidated Financial Results

      
GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
      
 June 30, December 31,
 2021 2020
ASSETS(unaudited)   
Current assets     
Cash and cash equivalents$1,330  $2,478 
Accounts receivable, including from affiliates 10,844   14,744 
Other current assets 1,100   772 
Total current assets 13,274   17,994 
Property and equipment, net 30,594   32,119 
Operating lease right-of-use assets 43,711   40,604 
Other assets 14,936   14,603 
Total assets$102,515  $105,320 
      
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' DEFICIT     
Current liabilities     
Accounts payable, including to affiliates$3,869  $4,399 
Operating lease current liabilities 12,910   11,506 
Current maturities of long-term debt 2,036   97,739 
Other current liabilities 3,061   5,438 
Total current liabilities 21,876   119,082 
Long-term debt 49,999   - 
Asset retirement obligations 2,936   2,865 
Operating lease long-term liabilities 31,708   29,835 
Total liabilities 106,519   151,782 
      
Partners' deficit (4,004)  (46,462)
Total liabilities and partners' deficit$102,515  $105,320 


GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands except per unit amounts)
                  
 Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
 June 30, June 30,
 2021 2020 % Var. 2021 2020 % Var.
Revenues                 
Affiliate$18,531  $18,997  (2.5)% $37,840  $37,980  (0.4)%
Non-affiliate 1,170   1,384  (15.5)   2,267   2,672  (15.2) 
Total revenues 19,701   20,381  (3.3)   40,107   40,652  (1.3) 
Operating expenses                 
Operations and maintenance (excluding depreciation and
amortization reflected below)
 6,238   6,603  (5.5)   11,992   12,763  (6.0) 
General and administrative 1,059   878  20.6    2,260   1,922  17.6  
Depreciation and amortization 795   966  (17.7)   1,682   1,927  (12.7) 
Total operating expenses 8,092   8,447  (4.2)   15,934   16,612  (4.1) 
Operating income 11,609   11,934  (2.7)   24,173   24,040  0.6  
Interest expense (1,411)  (1,820) (22.5)   (3,339)  (3,684) (9.4) 
Income before income taxes and income from equity
method investee
 10,198   10,114  0.8    20,834   20,356  2.3  
Income tax expense (68)  (105) (35.2)   (152)  (136) 11.8  
Income from equity method investee 168   175  (4.0)   343   333  3.0  
Net income$10,298  $10,184  1.1 % $21,025  $20,553  2.3 %
                  
Net income attributable to partners' ownership interests:                 
General partner$206  $204  1.0 % $421  $411  2.4 %
Limited partners - common unitholders 10,092   9,980  1.1    20,604   20,142  2.3  
                  
Earnings per limited partner unit (basic and diluted):                 
Common units$0.44  $0.43  2.3 % $0.89  $0.87  2.3 %
                  
Weighted average limited partner units outstanding (basic and diluted):                 
Common units 23,161   23,138      23,161   23,138    
                  
Supplemental Revenues Data:                 
Storage and throughput services$11,564  $11,785  (1.9)% $23,825  $23,570  1.1 %
Railcar transportation services 4,795   5,374  (10.8)   9,837   10,498  (6.3) 
Terminal services 2,218   2,132  4.0    4,260   4,326  (1.5) 
Trucking and other 1,124   1,090  3.1    2,185   2,258  (3.2) 
Total revenues$19,701  $20,381  (3.3)% $40,107  $40,652  (1.3)%


GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited, in thousands)
      
 Six Months Ended
 June 30,
 2021 2020
Cash flows from operating activities:     
Net income$21,025  $20,553 
Noncash operating adjustments:     
Depreciation and amortization 1,682   1,927 
Distribution from equity method investee -   1,000 
Other 1,075   589 
Net change in working capital 379   (1,825)
Net cash provided by operating activities 24,161   22,244 
      
Cash flows from investing activities:     
Purchases of property and equipment (291)  (54)
Disposition of assets 27,500   - 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 27,209   (54)
      
Cash flows from financing activities:     
Payments of distributions (5,684)  (14,116)
Net payments on revolving credit facility -   (2,100)
Net payments on long-term debt (46,834)  - 
Payments of loan fees -   (3,198)
Net cash used in financing activities (52,518)  (19,414)
      
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (1,148)  2,776 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 2,478   261 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$1,330  $3,037 


GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
RECONCILIATIONS TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(unaudited, in thousands except ratios)
               
 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended LTM Ended
 June 30, June 30, June 30,
 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021
Net income$10,298  $10,184  $21,025  $20,553  $41,619 
Interest expense 1,411   1,820   3,339   3,684   8,168 
Income tax expense 68   105   152   136   228 
Depreciation and amortization 795   966   1,682   1,927   3,561 
Transaction costs -   -   5   -   30 
Unit-based compensation expense 80   79   159   158   321 
Proportional share of EBITDA adjustments of equity method investee (1) 50   44   94   94   181 
Adjusted EBITDA 12,702   13,198   26,456   26,552   54,108 
Interest paid or payable (1,411)  (1,820)  (3,339)  (3,684)  (8,168)
Income taxes paid or payable (68)  (30)  (152)  (61)  (228)
Maintenance capital expenditures -   (32)  (2)  (54)  (129)
Distributable cash flow (2)$11,223  $11,316  $22,963  $22,753  $45,583 
Distributions declared (3)$2,844  $2,836  $5,686  $5,672  $11,375 
Coverage ratio 3.95x  3.99x  4.04x  4.01x  4.01x
               
(1) Represents the partnership's proportional share of depreciation and amortization of its equity method investee.
(2) Distributable cash flow does not include adjustments for the principal payments on the term loan of $9.3 million, of which $0.5 million relates to the Ord disposition, for the three months ended June 30, 2021, and $46.8 million, of which $27.5 million relates to the Ord disposition, for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
(3) Represents distributions declared for the applicable period and paid in the subsequent quarter.
               

Green Plains Contacts
Investors: Phil Boggs | Senior Vice President, Investor Relations | 402.884.8700 | phil.boggs@gpreinc.com
Media: Lisa Gibson | Communications Manager | 402.952.4971 | lisa.gibson@gpreinc.com