Granite Falls Energy, LLC - Quarter Report: 2018 July (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

☒Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

For the quarterly period ended July 31, 2018

 

OR

 

☐Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

For the transition period from               to               .

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 000-51277

 

GRANITE FALLS ENERGY, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

☒Yes    ☐No

 

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

☒Yes    ☐No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

☐Yes    ☒No

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

As of September 14, 2018, there were 30,606 membership units outstanding.

 

 

 

 

INDEX

 

 

 

 

PART IFINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.    Financial Statements

 

GRANITE FALLS ENERGY, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Financial Statements are an integral part of this Statement.

 

 

GRANITE FALLS ENERGY, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Financial Statements are an integral part of this Statement.

 

 

 

GRANITE FALLS ENERGY, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Financial Statements are an integral part of this Statement.

 

1.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Nature of Business

 

Granite Falls Energy, LLC (“GFE”) is a Minnesota limited liability company currently producing fuel-grade ethanol, distillers' grains, and crude corn oil near Granite Falls, Minnesota and sells these products, pursuant to marketing agreements, throughout the continental United States and on the international market. GFE's plant has an approximate annual production capacity of 60 million gallons, but is currently permitted to produce up to 70 million gallons of undenatured ethanol on a twelve month rolling sum basis.

 

Additionally, GFE owns a majority interest in Heron Lake BioEnergy, LLC (“HLBE”). HLBE is a Minnesota limited liability company currently producing fuel-grade ethanol, distillers' grains, and crude corn oil near Heron Lake, Minnesota and sells these products, pursuant to marketing agreements, throughout the continental United States. HLBE's plant has an approximate annual production capacity of 60 million gallons, but is permitted to produce approximately 72.3 million gallons of undenatured ethanol on a twelve month rolling sum basis. HLBE owns a majority interest in Agrinatural Gas, LLC (“Agrinatural”), which operates a natural gas pipeline that provides natural gas to HLBE's ethanol production facility and other customers.

 

All references to “we”, “us”, “our”, and the “Company” collectively refer to GFE and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries.

 

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

 

The condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements as of July 31, 2018 consolidate the operating results and financial position of GFE, and its approximately 50.7% owned subsidiary, HLBE (through GFE's 100% ownership of Project Viking, LLC). Given the Company’s control over the operations of HLBE and its majority voting interest, the Company consolidates the condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements of HLBE with GFE's condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements. The remaining 49.3% ownership of HLBE is included in the condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements as a non-controlling interest. HLBE, through its wholly owned subsidiary, HLBE Pipeline Company, LLC, owns approximately 73% of Agrinatural. Given HLBE’s control over the operations of Agrinatural and its majority voting interest, HLBE consolidates the financial statements of Agrinatural with its consolidated unaudited financial statements, with the equity and earnings attributed to the remaining approximately 27% noncontrolling interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted as permitted by such rules and regulations. These financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2017, contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K.

 

In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments consisting of normal recurring accruals that we consider necessary to present fairly the Company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows. The results reported in these condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements should not be regarded as necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other fiscal period or for the fiscal year.

 

Reportable Operating Segments 

 

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280, “Segment Reporting,” establishes the standards for reporting information about segments in financial statements. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Therefore, in applying the criteria set forth in ASC 280, the Company determined that based on the nature of the products and production process and the expected financial results, the Company’s operations at GFE’s ethanol plant and HLBE’s plant, including the production and sale of ethanol and its co-products, are aggregated into one reporting segment.

 

Additionally, the Company also realizes relatively immaterial revenue from natural gas pipeline operations at Agrinatural, HLBE’s majority owned subsidiary. Before and after accounting for intercompany eliminations, these revenues from Agrinatural’s represent less than less than 1% of our consolidated revenues and have little to no impact on the overall performance of the Company.  Therefore, the Company does not separately review Agrinatural’s revenues, cost of sales or other operating performance information.  Rather, the Company reviews Agrinatural’s natural gas pipeline financial data on a consolidated basis with the Company’s ethanol production operating segment. The Company believes that the presentation of separate operating performance information for Agrinatural’s natural gas pipeline operations would not provide meaningful information to a reader of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and would not achieve the basic principles and objectives of ASC 280.

 

Accounting Estimates

 

Management uses estimates and assumptions in preparing these condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. Those estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported revenues and expenses. The Company uses estimates and assumptions in accounting for the following significant matters, among others: economic lives of property and equipment, valuation of commodity derivatives, inventory, inventory purchase and sale commitments, evaluation of railcar damages contingency, and the assumptions used in the impairment analysis of long-lived assets, which includes goodwill. Actual results may differ from previously estimated amounts, and such differences may be material to our condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements. The Company periodically reviews estimates and assumptions, and the effects of revisions are reflected in the period in which the revision is made.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company generally sells ethanol and related products pursuant to marketing agreements. Revenues from the production of ethanol and the related products are recorded when the customer has taken title and assumed the risks and rewards of ownership, prices are fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Ethanol and related products are generally shipped free on board (FOB) shipping point. The Company believes there are no ethanol sales, during any given month, which should be considered contingent and recorded as deferred revenue.

 

In accordance with the Company's agreements for the marketing and sale of ethanol and related products, marketing fees and commissions due to the marketers are deducted from the gross sales price as earned. These fees and commissions are recorded net of revenues, as they do not provide an identifiable benefit that is sufficiently separable from the sale of ethanol and related products. Shipping costs paid by the Company to the marketer in the sale of ethanol are not specifically identifiable and, as a result, are recorded based on the net selling price reported to the Company from the marketer. Shipping costs incurred by the Company in the sale of distillers' grains and corn oil are included in cost of goods sold.

 

Agrinatural recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the fee for the arrangement is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.

 

Inventory

 

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost for all inventories is determined using the first in first out method (“FIFO”).  Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.  Inventory consists of raw materials, work in process, finished goods, and spare parts.  Corn is the primary raw material along with other raw materials.  Finished goods consist of ethanol, distillers' grains, and corn oil.

 

Derivative Instruments

 

From time to time the Company enters into derivative transactions to hedge its exposures to commodity price fluctuations. The Company is required to record these derivatives on the balance sheets at fair value.

 

In order for a derivative to qualify as a hedge, specific criteria must be met and appropriate documentation maintained. Gains and losses from derivatives that do not qualify as hedges, or are undesignated, must be recognized immediately in earnings. If the derivative does qualify as a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative will be either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. Changes in the fair value of undesignated derivatives are recorded in earnings.

 

Additionally, the Company is required to evaluate its contracts to determine whether the contracts are derivatives. Certain contracts that literally meet the definition of a derivative may be exempted as “normal purchases or normal sales”.  Normal purchases and normal sales are contracts that provide for the purchase or sale of something other than a financial instrument or derivative instrument that will be delivered in quantities expected to be used or sold over a reasonable period in the normal course of business. Contracts that meet the requirements of normal purchases or sales are documented as normal and exempted from accounting and reporting requirements, and therefore, are not marked to market in our condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements.

 

In order to reduce the risks caused by market fluctuations, the Company occasionally hedges its anticipated corn, natural gas, and denaturant purchases and ethanol sales by entering into options and futures contracts. These contracts are used with the intention to fix the purchase price of anticipated requirements for corn in the Company's ethanol production activities and the related sales price of ethanol. The fair value of these contracts is based on quoted prices in active exchange-traded or over-the-counter market conditions. Although the Company believes its commodity derivative positions are economic hedges, none have been formally designated as a hedge for accounting purposes and derivative positions are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair market value, with changes in fair value recognized in current period earnings or losses. The Company does not enter into financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

 

The Company has adopted authoritative guidance related to “Derivatives and Hedging,” and has included the required enhanced quantitative and qualitative disclosure about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of gains and losses from derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. See further discussion in Note 4.

 

Investments 

 

On November 1, 2016, GFE subscribed to purchase 1,500 capital units of Ringneck Energy & Feed, LLC (“Ringneck”) at a price of $5,000 per unit for a total of $7,500,000.  Ringneck is a South Dakota limited liability company that is currently constructing an 80 million gallon per year ethanol manufacturing plant in outside of Onida, South Dakota in Sully County. GFE’s investment is sufficient to secure the Company the right to appoint one director to the board of directors of Ringneck. GFE has appointed Steve Christensen, its CEO, to serve as its appointed director.

 

GFE paid a down payment of $750,000 in connection with the subscription, and signed a promissory note for $6,750,000 for the remaining balance of the subscription. On August 2, 2017, following notice from Ringneck accepting GFE’s subscription and that payment of the balance of GFE’s subscription and promissory note was due, GFE borrowed $7.5 million under its credit facility with Project Hawkeye, LLC (“Project Hawkeye”) and paid $6,750,000 to Ringneck as payment for the remaining balance of GFE’s subscription.  Project Hawkeye is an affiliate of Fagen, Inc., which is a member of GFE.  See Note 6 below for the terms of GFE’s credit facility with Project Hawkeye.

On June 29, 2018, GFE executed a subscription agreement for investment in Harvestone Group, LLC (“Harvestone”), a Delaware limited liability company, and a Joinder to the Operating Agreement of Harvestone.  In connection with the execution of the subscription agreement and joinder, GFE made a capital contribution of $2.0 million in exchange for twenty (20) preferred membership units and was sufficient to secure GFE the right to appoint one advisor to the advisory committee to the managers of Harvestone.   GFE has appointed Eric Baukol, its Risk Manager, to serve as its appointed advisor. Harvestone is a start-up ethanol marketing, logistics, and trading company headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee.  Harvestone is owned by several other ethanol producers and other private investors that expects that its primary business will be marketing and trading for member and non-member ethanol producers.

 

The investments are accounted for by the equity method, under which the Company’s share of the net income of the investee is recognized as income in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and added to the investment account, and distributions received from the affiliates are treated as a reduction of the investment.

 

 

2.   RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

 

The Company has certain risks and uncertainties that it experiences during volatile market conditions. These volatilities can have a severe impact on operations.  The Company's revenues are derived from the sale and distribution of ethanol, distillers' grains, corn oil, and natural gas to customers primarily located in the United States. Corn for the production process is supplied to our plant primarily from local agricultural producers and from purchases on the open market.  Ethanol sales typically average 75% - 90% of total revenues and corn costs typically average 65% - 85% of cost of goods sold.

 

The Company's operating and financial performance is largely driven by the prices at which they sell ethanol and the net expense of corn. The price of ethanol is influenced by factors such as supply and demand, the weather, government policies and programs, and unleaded gasoline prices and the petroleum markets as a whole. Excess ethanol supply in the market, in particular, puts downward pressure on the price of ethanol. The Company’s largest cost of production is corn.  The cost of corn is generally impacted by factors such as supply and demand, the weather, government policies and programs, and a risk management program used to protect against the price volatility of these commodities. Market fluctuations in the price of and demand for these products may have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s operations, profitability and the availability and adequacy of cash flow to meet the Company’s working capital requirements.

 

 

3.   INVENTORY

 

Inventories consist of the following:

 

 

The Company performs a lower of cost or net realizable value analysis on inventory to determine if the net realizable values of certain inventories are less than their carrying value, which is attributable primarily to decreases in market prices of corn and ethanol. Based on the lower of cost or net realizable value analysis, as a component of cost of goods sold, the Company recorded a loss on ethanol inventories, as a component of cost of goods sold, of approximately $420,000 and $65,000 for the nine months ended July 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

 

4.   DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

 

As of July 31, 2018, the total notional amount of GFE’s outstanding corn derivative instruments was approximately 5,725,000 bushels, comprised of long corn positions on 190,000 bushels that were entered into to hedge forecasted ethanol sales through September 2018, and short corn positions on 5,535,000 bushels that were entered into to hedge forecasted corn purchases through December 2021. There may be offsetting positions that are not shown on a net basis that could lower the notional amount of positions outstanding as disclosed above.

 

As of July 31, 2018, the total notional amount of HLBE’s outstanding corn derivative instruments was approximately 4,125,000 bushels, comprised of short corn positions that were entered into to hedge forecasted corn purchases through December 2019. There may be offsetting positions that are not shown on a net basis that could lower the notional amount of positions outstanding.

 

As of July 31, 2018, GFE had approximately $109,000 of cash collateral (restricted cash) related to derivatives held by a broker and approximately $0 due to broker related to derivatives held by a broker, recorded as a component of accounts payable.

 

As of July 31, 2018, HLBE had approximately $24,000 of cash collateral (restricted cash) related to derivatives held by a broker and approximately $0 due to broker related to derivatives held by a broker, recorded as a component of accounts payable.

 

The following tables provide details regarding the Company's derivative instruments at July 31, 2018, none of which were designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

As of October 31, 2017, the total notional amount of GFE’s outstanding corn derivative instruments was approximately 1,495,000 bushels, comprised of long corn positions on 200,000 bushels that were entered into to hedge forecasted ethanol sales through December 2017, and short corn positions on 1,295,000 bushels that were entered into to hedge forecasted corn purchases through December 2018. There may be offsetting positions that are not shown on a net basis that could lower the notional amount of positions outstanding.

 

As of October 31, 2017, the total notional amount of GFE’s outstanding ethanol derivative instruments was approximately 420,000 gallons that were entered into to hedge forecasted ethanol sales through November 2017.

 

As of October 31, 2017, GFE had approximately $75,000 cash collateral (restricted cash) and approximately $12,000 due to broker related to derivatives held by a broker, recorded as a component of accounts payable.

 

As of October 31, 2017, the total notional amount of HLBE’s outstanding corn derivative instruments was approximately 1,120,000 bushels, comprised of long corn positions on 215,000 bushels that were entered into to hedge forecasted ethanol sales through December 2017, and short corn positions on 905,000 bushels that were entered into to hedge forecasted corn purchases through July 2018. There may be offsetting positions that are not shown on a net basis that could lower the notional amount of positions outstanding.

 

As of October 31, 2017, HLBE had outstanding natural gas derivative instruments totaling 120,000 MMBTU entered into hedge forecasted natural gas purchases through February 2018.

 

As of October 31, 2017, the total notional amount of HLBE’s outstanding ethanol derivative instruments was approximately 420,000 gallons that were entered into to hedge forecasted ethanol sales through November 2017.

 

As of October 31, 2017, HLBE did not have any cash collateral (restricted cash) and approximately $12,000 due to broker related to derivatives held by a broker, recorded as a component of accounts payable.

 

The following tables provide details regarding the Company's derivative instruments at October 31, 2017, none of which were designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

The following tables provide details regarding the gains (losses) from Company's derivative instruments in statements of operations, none of which are designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

5.   FAIR VALUE

 

The following table sets forth, by level, the Company assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis at July 31, 2018:

 

 

The following table sets forth, by level, the Company assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis at October 31, 2017:

 

 

The Company determines the fair value of commodity derivative instruments by obtaining fair value measurements from an independent pricing service. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes and live trading levels from the Chicago Board of Trade market and New York Mercantile Exchange. We determine the fair value of ethanol, corn, and natural gas Level 2 instruments by model-based techniques in which all significant inputs are observable in the markets noted above.

 

 

6.    DEBT FACILITIES

 

Debt financing consists of the following:

 

 

Granite Falls Energy

 

Seasonal Revolving Loan

 

GFE has a credit facility with a lender that includes a seasonal revolving loan, under which GFE may borrow, repay, and re-borrow up to the aggregate principal commitment of $6,000,000 until maturity.  The seasonal revolving loan matures on October 1, 2018 unless a later date is agreed to by the administrative agent for the facility.  There was no outstanding balance on the seasonal revolving loan at July 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017. Therefore, the aggregate principal amount available for borrowing by GFE under this seasonal revolving loan at July 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017 was $6,000,000.

 

The interest rate on the seasonal revolving loan is based on the bank's One Month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) Index Rate, plus 2.75%, which equated to 4.83% and 3.99% at July 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017, respectively.

 

The credit facility also requires GFE to comply with certain financial covenants, at various times calculated monthly, quarterly, or annually, including maintenance of certain financial ratios including minimum working capital, a debt service coverage ratio as defined by the credit facility, as well as a restriction of the payment of distributions.  Failure to comply with the protective loan covenants or maintain the required financial ratios may cause acceleration of the outstanding principal balances on the revolving term loan and/or the imposition of fees, charges or penalties.

The credit facility is secured by substantially all assets of GFE. There are no savings account balance collateral requirements as part of this credit facility.

 

Project Hawkeye Loan

 

On August 2, 2017, GFE entered into a credit facility with Project Hawkeye to finance its investment in Ringneck. Pursuant to this credit facility, GFE borrowed $7.5 million from Project Hawkeye using the Ringneck investment as collateral.  The Project Hawkeye loan bears interest from date funds are first advanced on the loan through maturity, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the One Month LIBOR Index Rate plus 3.05% per annum, with an interest rate floor of 3.55%, which equated to 5.13% and 4.29% at July 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017 respectively.

 

The Project Hawkeye loan requires annual interest payments only for the first two years of the loan and monthly principal and interest payments for years three through nine based on a seven-year amortization period.  The monthly amortized payments will be re-amortized following any change in interest rate. The entire outstanding principal balance of the loan, plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, is due and payable in full on August 2, 2026. GFE is permitted to voluntarily prepay all or any portion of the outstanding balance of this loan at any time without premium or penalty.

 

Pursuant to a pledge agreement entered into in connection with the Project Hawkeye loan, GFE’s obligations are secured by all of its right, title, and interest in its investment in Ringneck, including the 1,500 units subscribed for by GFE. The loan is non-recourse to all of GFE’s other assets, meaning that in the event of default, the only remedy available to Project Hawkeye will be to foreclose and seize all of GFE’s right, title and interest in its investment in Ringneck.

 

Heron Lake BioEnergy

 

Revolving Term Loan

 

HLBE had a revolving term note payable with a lender under which HLBE could borrow, repay and re-borrow in an amount up to the original aggregate principal commitment at any time prior to maturity at March 1, 2022.  The original aggregate principal commitment was $28,000,000, which reduced by $3,500,000 annually, starting March 1, 2015 and continuing each anniversary thereafter until maturity. In December 2017, HLBE and its lender orally agreed to reduce the aggregate principal commitment of the revolving term loan to $8,000,000. On April 6, 2018, HLBE finalized loan agreements with an effective date of March 29, 2018 for an amended credit facility with its lender.

 

Amended Credit Facility

 

The amended credit facility includes an amended and restated revolving term loan with a $4,000,000 principal commitment and a revolving seasonal line of credit with a $4,000,000 principal commitment.  The loans are secured by substantially all of HLBE’s assets, including a subsidiary guarantee.  The amended credit facility contains customary covenants, including restrictions on the payment of dividends and loans and advances to Agrinatural, and maintenance of certain financial ratios including minimum working capital, minimum net worth and a debt service coverage ratio as defined by the credit facility.  Failure to comply with the protective loan covenants or maintain the required financial ratios may cause acceleration of the outstanding principal balances on the revolving term loan and/or the imposition of fees, charges, or penalties.

 

As part of the amended credit facility closing, HLBE entered into an amended administrative agency agreement with CoBank, ACP (“CoBank”).  As a result, CoBank will continue act as the agent for the lender with respect to the amended credit facility.  HLBE agreed to pay CoBank an annual fee of $2,500 for its services as administrative agent.

 

Amended Revolving Term Loan

 

Under the terms of the amended revolving term loan, HLBE may borrow, repay, and reborrow up to the aggregate principal commitment amount of $4,000,000.  Final payment of amounts borrowed under amended revolving term loan is due December 1, 2021.  Interest on the amended revolving term loan accrues at a variable weekly rate equal to 3.10% above the One-Month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) Index rate, which was 5.18% at July 31, 2018.

 

HLBE also agreed to pay an unused commitment fee on the unused available portion of the amended revolving term loan commitment at the rate of 0.50% per annum, payable monthly in arrears. The loan is secured by substantially all of HLBE's assets including a subsidiary guarantee. 

 

At October 31, 2017, the aggregate principal amount available to HLBE for borrowing under the revolving term loan was $17,500,000.  At July 31, 2018, the aggregate principal amount available to HLBE for borrowing under the amended revolving term loan was $4,000,000.

 

Seasonal Revolving Loan

 

Under the terms of the seasonal revolving loan, HLBE may borrow, repay, and reborrow up to the aggregate principal commitment amount of $4,000,000 until its maturing on February 1, 2019.  Amounts borrowed under the seasonal revolving loan bear interest at a variable weekly rate equal to 2.850% above the One-Month LIBOR Index rate, which was 4.93% at July 31, 2018.  The aggregate principal amount available to the Company for borrowing under the seasonal revolving loan was $4,000,000 at July 31, 2018.

 

The Company also agreed to pay an unused commitment fee on the unused available portion of the seasonal revolving loan commitment at the rate of 0.250% per annum.

 

Estimated annual maturities of debt at July 31, 2018, are as follows based on the most recent debt agreements:

 

 

 

 

7.   MEMBERS' EQUITY

 

Granite Falls Energy

 

GFE has one class of membership units.   The units have no par value and have identical rights, obligations and privileges.  Income and losses are allocated to all members based upon their respective percentage of units held. As of July 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017, GFE had 30,606 membership units authorized, issued, and outstanding.

 

In December 2017, the Board of Governors of GFE declared a cash distribution of $385 per unit or approximately $11,783,000, for unit holders of record as of December 21, 2017.  The distribution was paid in January 2018.

 

In December 2016, the Board of Governors of GFE declared a cash distribution of $365 per unit or approximately $11,171,000, for unit holders of record as of December 22, 2016.  The distribution was paid in January 2017.

 

Heron Lake BioEnergy

 

In December 2017, the Board of Governors of HLBE declared a cash distribution of $0.11 per unit, or approximately $8,573,000, for unit holders of record as of December 21, 2017. The distribution was paid in January 2018.

 

At December 21, 2017, GFE owned 24,475,824 Class A membership units and 15,000,000 Class B units of HLBE, and received an aggregate distribution from HLBE of approximately $4,342,000.  The remaining $4,231,000 was distributed by HLBE to the non-controlling interest.

 

8.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Corn Purchase Commitments

 

At July 31, 2018, GFE had cash and basis contracts for forward corn contracts for approximately 6,384,000 bushels for various delivery periods through December 2021.

 

At July 31, 2018, HLBE had cash and basis contracts for forward corn purchase commitments for approximately 4,189,000 bushels for various delivery periods through June 2019.

 

Corn Purchases - Members

 

GFE purchased corn from board members of approximately $1,754,000 and $0 for the three months ended July 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and approximately $3,839,000 and $0 for the nine months ended July 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

HLBE purchased corn from board members of approximately $3,382,000 and $143,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and approximately $10,479,000 and $5,737,000 for the nine months ended July 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Of this total, approximately $0 and $607,000 was included in accounts payable at July 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017, respectively.

 

Ethanol Contracts

 

At July 31, 2018, GFE had fixed and basis contracts to sell approximately $11,832,000 of ethanol for various delivery periods through September 2018.

 

At July 31, 2018, HLBE had fixed and basis contracts to sell approximately $11,716,000 of ethanol for various delivery periods through September 2018.

 

Distillers' Grain Contracts

 

At July 31, 2018, GFE had forward contracts to sell approximately $848,000 of distillers' grain for various delivery periods through August 2018.

 

At July 31, 2018, HLBE had forward contracts to sell approximately $2,517,000 of distillers' grains for various delivery periods through August 2018.

 

Corn Oil

 

At July 31, 2018, GFE had forward contracts to sell approximately $829,000 of corn oil for various delivery periods through December 2018.

 

At July 31, 2018, HLBE had forward contracts to sell approximately $775,000 of corn oil for various delivery periods through December 2018.

 

Railcar Damages

 

In accordance with certain railcar lease agreements, at expiration, the Company is required to return the railcars in good condition, less normal wear and tear.  Primarily due to the ongoing maintenance and repair activities performed on its railcars, the Company has determined that no accrual for leased railcars is necessary and an estimate of the possible range of loss cannot be made.

 

Leases

 

In February 2018, GFE entered into a sublease arrangement for 16 railcars for the transportation of GFE’s ethanol.  The sublease matures in January 2021 with minimum future lease payments of approximately $144,000 per year.

 

 

Item 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

We prepared the following discussion and analysis to help you better understand our financial condition, changes in our financial condition, and results of operations for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2018 and 2017. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements and related notes in Item 1 of this report and the information contained in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

 

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) encourages companies to disclose forward-looking information so investors can better understand future prospects and make informed investment decisions. As such, we have historical information, as well as forward-looking statements regarding our business, financial condition, results of operations, performance and prospects in this report.  All statements that are not historical or current facts are forward-looking statements. In some cases,  you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”, “plans”, “potential”, “predicts”, “projects”, “should”, “will”, “would”, and similar expressions. 

 

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which may be beyond our control, and may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those projected in, expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by us are described more particularly in the “Risk Factors” section of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2017 and this report on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

We believe our expectations regarding future events are based on reasonable assumptions; however, these assumptions may not be accurate or account for all risks and uncertainties. Consequently, forward-looking statements are not guaranteed. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. In addition, we are not obligated and do not intend to update our forward-looking statements as a result of new information unless it is required by applicable securities laws. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which represent management’s views as of the date of this report. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

 

Available Information

 

Our website address is www.granitefallsenergy.com.  Our annual report on Form 10-K, periodic reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, are available, free of charge, on our website under the link “SEC Compliance”, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish such materials to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. The contents of our website are not incorporated by reference in this report on Form 10-Q.

 

Industry and Market Data

 

Much of the information in this report regarding the ethanol industry, including government regulation relevant to the industry is from information published by the Renewable Fuels Association (“RFA”), a national trade association for the United States (“U.S.”) ethanol industry, and information about the market for our products and competition is derived from publicly available information from governmental agencies or publications and other published independent sources.  Although we believe our third-party sources are reliable, we have not independently verified the information.

 

Overview

 

Granite Falls Energy, LLC (“Granite Falls Energy” or “GFE”) is a Minnesota limited liability company that owns and operates a dry mill corn-based, natural gas fired ethanol plant in Granite Falls, Minnesota.  Additionally, through Project Viking, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary (“Project Viking”), GFE owns an approximately 50.7% controlling interest of Heron Lake BioEnergy, LLC (“Heron Lake BioEnergy” or “HLBE”).  HLBE is a Minnesota limited liability company that owns and operates a dry mill corn-based, natural gas fired ethanol plant near Heron Lake, Minnesota.  Additionally, through its a wholly owned subsidiary, HLBE Pipeline Company, LLC (“HLBE Pipeline Company”), HLBE owns a 73% controlling interest of Agrinatural Gas, LLC (“Agrinatural”), which operates a natural gas pipeline.

 

When we use the terms “Heron Lake BioEnergy”, “Heron Lake”, or “HLBE” or similar words, unless the context otherwise requires, we are referring to Heron Lake BioEnergy and its wholly owned subsidiary, HLBE Pipeline Company, LLC, and its majority-owned subsidiary Agrinatural. When we use the terms “Granite Falls Energy” or “GFE” or similar words, unless the context otherwise requires, we are referring to Granite Falls Energy, LLC and our operations at our ethanol production facility located in Granite Falls, Minnesota. When we use the terms the “Company”, “we”, “us”, “our” or similar, unless the context otherwise requires, we are referring to Granite Falls Energy, LLC and our consolidated wholly- and majority owned subsidiaries.

 

Our business consists primarily of the production and sale of ethanol and its co-products (wet, modified wet and dried distillers’ grains, corn oil and corn syrup) locally, and throughout the continental U.S.  Our production operations are carried out at GFE’s ethanol plant located in Granite Falls, Minnesota and at HLBE’s ethanol plant near Heron Lake, Minnesota.    

 

GFE’s ethanol plant has an approximate annual production capacity of 60 million gallons of denatured ethanol, but has obtained EPA pathway approval and permits from the Minnesota Pollution Control Authority (“MPCA”) to increase its production capacity to approximately 70 million gallons of undenatured ethanol on a twelve month rolling sum basis. HLBE’s plant has an approximate annual production capacity of 60 million gallons of denatured ethanol, but has obtained EPA pathway approval and permits from the MPCA to increase its production capacity to approximately 72 million gallons of undenatured ethanol on a twelve month rolling sum basis.  We intend to continue working toward increasing production at plants to take advantage of the additional production allowed pursuant to their respective permits so long as we believe it is profitable to do so.

 

We market and sell the products produced at our plants primarily using third party marketers. The markets in which our products are sold may be local, regional, national, and international and depend primarily upon the efforts of third party marketers. We have contracted with Eco-Energy, LLC to market all of the ethanol produced at our ethanol plants.  GFE also independently markets a small portion of the ethanol production at its plant as E-85 to local retailers. 

 

We have contracted with Renewable Products Marketing Group, LLC (“RPMG”) to market the distillers’ grains produced at the GFE plant and with Gavilon Ingredients, LLC to market distillers’ grains produced at the HLBE plant. We have contracted with RPMG to market all of corn oil produced at our ethanol plants. HLBE also occasionally independently markets and sells excess corn syrup from the distillation process at the Heron Lake plant to local livestock feeders.

 

We do not have any long-term, fixed price exclusive supply contracts for the purchase of corn for either the GFE or HLBE plants. Both GFE and HLBE purchase the corn necessary for operating directly from grain elevators, farmers, and local dealers within approximately 80 miles of their respective plants. Neither GFE’s nor HLBE’s members are obligated to deliver corn to our plants.

 

At the GFE plant, we pay Center Point Energy/Minnegasco a per unit fee to move the natural gas through the pipeline, and we have guaranteed to move a minimum of 1,500,000 MMBTUs annually through December 31, 2025, which is the ending date of the agreement.  We also have an agreement with U.S. Energy Services, Inc. to procure contracts with various natural gas vendors on our behalf to supply the natural gas necessary to operate the Granite Falls plant.

 

HLBE has a facilities agreement with Northern Border Pipeline Company, which allows HLBE to access an existing interstate natural gas pipeline located approximately 16 miles north of its plant.  HLBE has entered into a firm natural gas transportation agreement with its majority owned subsidiary, Agrinatural.  HLBE also has an agreement with Constellation NewEnergy—Gas Division, LLC to supply the natural gas necessary to operate the Heron Lake plant.

 

We have a management services agreement with HLBE pursuant to which our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and commodity risk manager also hold those same offices with HLBE.  The management services agreement automatically renews for successive one-year terms unless either HLBE or GFE gives the other party written notice of termination prior to expiration of the then current term. The management services agreement may also be terminated by either party for cause under certain circumstances.

 

HLBE owns a controlling 73% interest in Agrinatural, a natural gas distribution and sales company located in Heron Lake, Minnesota.  Agrinatural owns approximately 190 miles of natural gas pipeline and provides natural gas to HLBE’s ethanol plant and other commercial, agricultural and residential customers through a connection with the natural gas pipeline facilities of Northern Border Pipeline Company.  Agrinatural's revenues are generated through natural gas distribution fees and sales.

 

On August 2, 2017, GFE made a $7.5 million investment in Ringneck Energy & Feed, LLC (“Ringneck”). Ringneck is constructing an ethanol plant in Onida, South Dakota.  On June 29, 2018, GFE made a $2.0 million investment in Harvestone Group, LLC (“Harvestone”).  Harvestone is a start-up ethanol marketing, logistics, and trading company headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee.  Details regarding our investment in Ringneck and Harvestone are provided below in the section below titled “Investments.” 

 

Reportable Operating Segments

 

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Our revenues from operations come from three primary sources: sales of fuel ethanol, sales of distillers' grains and sales of corn oil at GFE's ethanol plant and HLBE's ethanol plant.  Therefore, we have determined that based on the nature of the products and production process and the expected financial results, the Company’s operations at its ethanol plant and HLBE's plant, including the production and sale of ethanol and its co-products, are aggregated into one reporting segment.

 

Additionally, we also realize relatively immaterial revenue from natural gas pipeline operations at Agrinatural, HLBE's majority owned subsidiary.  The intercompany transactions between HLBE and Agrinatural resulting from the firm natural gas transportation agreement between the two companies are eliminated in consolidation. After intercompany eliminations, revenues from Agrinatural represent less than 1% of our consolidated revenues and have little to no impact on the overall performance of the Company.  Therefore, our management does not separately review Agrinatural's operating performance information.  Rather, management reviews Agrinatural's natural gas pipeline financial data on a consolidated basis with our ethanol production operations segment. Additionally, management believes that the presentation of separate operating performance information for Agrinatural's natural gas pipeline operations would not provide meaningful information to a reader of the Company’s condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements.

 

We currently do not have or anticipate that we will have any other lines of business or other significant sources of revenue other than the sale of ethanol and its co-products, which include distillers' grains and non-edible corn oil.

 

Plan of Operations for the Next Twelve Months

 

Over the next twelve months, we will continue our focus on operational improvements at our plants. These operational improvements include exploring methods to improve ethanol yield per bushel and increasing production output at our plants to take full advantage of our permitted production capacities, reducing our operating costs, and optimizing our margin opportunities through prudent risk-management policies.

 

We expect to have sufficient cash generated by continuing operations and availability on current credit facilities to fund our operations.  However, should we experience unfavorable operating conditions in the ethanol industry that prevent us from profitably operating the ethanol plants, we may need to seek additional funding.

 

Additionally, we expect to continue to conduct routine maintenance and repair activities at our ethanol plants to maintain current plant infrastructure, as well as small capital projects to improve operating efficiency. We anticipate using cash we generate from our operations and our revolving term loan to finance these plant upgrade projects.

 

Trends and Uncertainties Impacting Our Operations

 

The principal factors affecting our results of operations and financial conditions are the market prices for corn, ethanol, distillers’ grains and natural gas, as well as governmental programs designed to create incentives for the use of corn-based ethanol.  Other factors that may affect our future results of operation include those risks discussed below and in “PART II - Item 1A. Risk Factors”  of this report, PART II - Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended January 31, 2018, the three months ended April 30, 2018, and “PART I - Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

 

Our operations are highly dependent on commodity prices, especially prices for corn, ethanol, distillers’ grains and natural gas. As a result, our operating results can fluctuate substantially due to volatility in these commodity markets. The price and availability of corn is subject to significant fluctuations depending upon a number of factors that affect commodity prices in general, including crop conditions, yields, domestic and global stocks, weather, federal policy and foreign trade. Natural gas prices are influenced by severe weather in the summer and winter and hurricanes in the spring, summer and fall. Other factors include North American exploration and production, and the amount of natural gas in underground storage during injection and withdrawal seasons.

 

Ethanol prices are sensitive to world crude oil supply and demand, domestic gasoline supply and demand, the price of crude oil, gasoline and corn, the price of substitute fuels and octane enhancers, refining capacity and utilization, government regulation and incentives and consumer demand for alternative fuels. Distillers’ grains prices are impacted by livestock numbers on feed, prices for feed alternatives and supply, which is associated with ethanol plant production.

 

Because the market price of ethanol is not always directly related to corn, at times ethanol prices may lag price movements in corn prices and corn-ethanol price spread may be tightly compressed or negative. If the corn-ethanol spread is compressed or negative for sustained period, it is possible that our operating margins will decline or become negative and our plants may not generate adequate cash flow for operations. In such cases, we may reduce or cease production at our plants to minimize our variable costs and optimize cash flow.

 

Ethanol continues trading at a significant discount to gasoline which has improved export demand somewhat. However, management currently believes that our margins will remain tight during the remainder of fiscal year 2018, due to uncertainty regarding the Trump Administration’s support for the Renewable Fuels Standard (“RFS”) and increased waivers of small refiner renewable volume obligations (“RVOs”) by the US Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”).  Typically such an ethanol trading discount would also bolster demand in the domestic market by penetration of E15 blends. However, the impact of large increases in small refiner waivers granted by the EPA and the expected reductions in both Chinese and Brazilian imports continues to have a negative impact on prices for RINs for corn-based ethanol.  As a result, RINS prices remain lower, removing a blending incentive from the ethanol marketplace.

 

Increases in the price for crude oil and unleaded gasoline could have a negative impact on the demand for gasoline and impact the market price of ethanol, which could adversely impact our profitability.  According to the US Energy Information Administration’s (“EIA”) June 2018 Short Term Energy Outlook, that U.S. gasoline demand was 9.3 million barrels per day in 2017 and is expected to stay at that same level in 2018. The EIA forecasts regular gasoline prices to average $2.87 per gallon compared to last summers' average $2.41 per gallon. The EIA also estimates the summer peak price will gradually decrease to $2.84 per gallon in September.  Any increase in the average gallon cost to the public could have a negative impact on the EIA’s forecast.

 

Continued ethanol production capacity increases also could have a negative impact on the market price of ethanol, which could be further exacerbated if domestic ethanol inventories remain high or grow, or if U.S. exports of ethanol decline. The ethanol industry is currently experiencing growth in production capacity principally through plant optimization and some new construction.  The EIA reports that domestic ethanol production averaged 1.04 million barrels per day during the second calendar quarter of 2018, maintaining the same rate of production as the previous quarter but 3.8% higher than the same quarter of last year. Year-to-date, production volumes are up 1.8% in 2018 compared with the same period in 2017. Refiner and blender input volume decreased slightly to 930 thousand barrels per day for the second quarter of 2018 compared with 934 thousand barrels per day for the same quarter last year despite a 2.0% increase in consumer gasoline demand due to seasonal demand and growing numbers of retail stations offering higher blends.

 

In recent years, ethanol demand growth has resulted largely from increased exports.  However, export demand for ethanol is less consistent compared to domestic demand which can lead to ethanol price volatility. Global demand for US ethanol, as reported by the EIA, continues to increase with increased exports to various foreign markets, including China, Canada, and Mexico, in response to higher blending mandates and octane demand within the foreign countries and lower domestic ethanol prices.  Despite its imposition tariffs, China resumed imports of US ethanol during late 2017 and had been one of the top importers of US ethanol during the first three months of 2018. However, in April 2018, in response to the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, China announced an additional retaliatory tariff on ethanol imports of 15%, bringing the total tariff up to 45%.  Brazilian demand from the US ethanol has remained relatively steady, despite a tariff imposed in 2017, due to the price of corn relative to sugar cane as a feedstock and high gasoline prices within Brazil.  Any decrease in U.S. ethanol exports could adversely impact the market price of ethanol unless domestic demand increases or foreign markets are developed.

 

Our margins have been positively impacted during the three months ended July 31, 2018 by the higher prices received for our distillers’ grains. During our third fiscal quarter of 2018, distillers’ grains prices improved as a result of relatively firm world soybean meal prices which management believes are attributable to the Argentinian drought. Argentina is the third largest soybean producer in the world and a leading exporter of soybean meal. In addition to being an animal feed substitute for corn, distillers’ grains are increasingly considered a protein feed substitute for soybean meal. In 2018, strong protein meal prices have enabled distillers’ grains prices to rally versus corn.  Management currently believes that the impact of the current Chinese imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on distillers’ grains produced in the U.S. has been absorbed into the market. However, recent trade disputes with China, Mexico and Canada could result in the imposition of additional tariffs on distillers’ grains produced in the US, which could lead to an oversupply of distillers’ grains domestically and negatively impact distillers’ grains prices. Additionally, domestic feeding margins in cattle and hogs in particular could have a negative impact on total domestic distillers’ grains demand.

 

Corn oil prices have been adversely impacted by oversupply of corn oil due to the substantial increase in ethanol production during the last few years.  Additionally, corn oil prices have been impacted by oversupply of soybeans and the resulting lower price of soybean oil which competes with corn oil for biodiesel production. The impact of lower soybean oil prices and the current oversupply of corn oil due to the substantial increase in corn oil production during the last few years will likely continue to impact corn oil prices.

 

In February 2018, legislation was signed retroactively extending the $1.00-per-gallon biodiesel blender tax credit retroactively to January 1, 2017.  However, management cannot predict whether additional legislation further extending the biodiesel tax credit will be passed by Congress.  Corn oil prices may decrease if biodiesel producers reduce production and/or demand for corn oil to reduce without extension of the biodiesel blenders tax credit.

 

Given the inherent volatility in ethanol, distillers’ grains, non-food grade corn oil, grain and natural gas prices, we cannot predict the likelihood that the spread between ethanol, distillers’ grains, non-food grade corn oil, and grain prices in future periods will be consistent compared to historical periods.

 

Government Supports and Regulation

 

The Renewable Fuels Standard

 

The ethanol industry is dependent on several economic incentives to produce ethanol, the most significant of which is the RFS.  The RFS has been, and we expect will continue to be, a significant factor impacting ethanol usage.  Any adverse ruling on, or legislation affecting, the RFS could have an adverse impact on short-term ethanol prices and our financial performance in the future.

 

Under the provisions of the RFS, the EPA must publish an annual rule that establishes the number of gallons of different types of renewable fuels, including corn-based ethanol, that must be blended with gasoline in the U.S. by refineries, blenders, distributors, and importers, which affects the domestic market for ethanol.  In November 2017, the EPA announced it would maintain the 15.0 billion gallon mandate for conventional ethanol in 2018, excluding any waivers granted by the EPA to small refiners for “hardship”.

 

On June 26, 2018, the EPA released a preliminary rule proposal for 2019 setting the blending requirements at 19.88 billion gallons, a slight increase from 2018 mandates. Conventional corn-based ethanol levels were left at 15.0 billion gallons, excluding any “hardship” waivers granted by the EPA to small refiners.

 

Under the RFS, if mandatory renewable fuel volumes are reduced by at least 20% for two consecutive years, the EPA is required to modify, or reset, statutory volumes through 2022.  Since 2018 is the first year the total proposed volume requirements are more than 20% below statutory levels, the EPA Administrator directed his staff to initiate the required technical analysis to perform any future reset consistent with the reset rules. If the final 2019 volume requirements are also more than 20% below statutory levels, the reset will be triggered under the RFS and the EPA will be required to modify statutory volumes through 2022 within one year of the trigger event, based on the same factors used to set the volume requirements post-2022. The proposed 2019 Rule is more than 20% below the original 2019 statutory level of 28.0 billion gallons, and if finalized as proposed will fulfill the two consecutive year requirements and require a reset of the RFS.

 

The EPA assigns individual refiners, blenders, and importers the RVOs they are obligated to use based on their percentage of total fuel sales.  Obligated parties use renewable identification numbers (“RINs”) to show compliance with RVOs.  RINs are attached to renewable fuels by producers and detached when the renewable fuel is blended with transportation fuel or traded in the open market.  The market price of detached RINs affects the price of ethanol in certain markets and influences the purchasing decisions by obligated parties. 

 

 The EPA has recently granted a number of small refiner exemptions, whereby such refiners were alleviated of their responsibility to supply RINS for their obligated volumes based upon the grounds of economic hardship.  In early July 2018, the EPA reported that hardship waivers for almost 2.25 billion gallons had been granted to small refiners for 2016 and 2017 RVOs.

 

Legal challenges are underway to the RFS, including the EPA's recent reductions in the RFS volume requirements, the Final 2018 Rule, and the denial of petitions to change the RFS point of obligation. If the EPA's decision to reduce the volume requirements under the RFS is allowed to stand, if the volume requirements are further reduced, or if the RFS point of obligation were changed, it could have an adverse effect on the market price and demand for ethanol which would negatively impact our financial performance.

 

On May 1, 2018, the Advanced Biofuel Association submitted a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit challenging EPA’s process for granting exemptions from compliance under the RFS to small refineries. The Advanced Biofuel Association petition asks the court to review the EPA’s decision to modify criteria to lower the threshold by which the agency determines whether to grant small refineries an exemption for the RFS for reasons of disproportionate economic hardship.

 

Additionally, on May 29, 2018, the National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, and the Renewable Fuels Association (“RFA”) filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit challenging the EPA’s grant of waivers to three specific refineries.  The petitioners are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit to reject the waivers granted to three refineries located in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Woods Cross, Utah as an abuse of EPA authority.  These waived gallons are not redistributed to obligated parties, and in effect, reduce the aggregate RVOs under the RFS. If the specific waivers granted by the EPA and/or its lower criteria for granting small refinery waivers under the RFS are allowed to stand, or if the volume requirements are further reduced, it could have an adverse effect on the market price and demand for ethanol which would negatively impact our financial performance.

 

Related to the recent lawsuits, the Renewable Fuels Association, American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, National Biodiesel Board, National Corn Growers Association, Biotechnology Industry Organization, and National Farmers Union petitioned the EPA on June 4, 2018 to change its regulations to account for lost volumes of renewable fuel resulting from the retroactive small refinery exemptions. This petition to EPA seeks a broader, forward-looking remedy to account for the collective lost volumes caused by the recent increase in retroactive small refinery RVO exemptions. It is unclear what regulatory changes, if any, will emerge from the petition to the EPA. 

 

Further, on August 30, 2018, the RFA and Growth Energy filed a lawsuit in federal district court, alleging that the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy have improperly denied agency records requested by RFA, Growth Energy, and others under the Freedom of Information Act. The requested documents relate to exemptions from Renewable Fuel Standard compliance obligations granted by EPA.

 

Although the maintenance of the 15.0 billion gallon threshold for volume requirements that may be met with corn-based ethanol in the final 2018 Rule and the proposed 2019 rule signal support from the EPA and the Trump administration for domestic ethanol production, the Trump administration could still elect to materially modify, repeal, or otherwise invalidate the RFS.  Any such reform could adversely affect the demand and price for ethanol and the Company's profitability.

 

Tax Cuts and Job Act

 

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Act”) was signed into law.  The Tax Reform Act includes significant changes to the taxation of partnership entities.  The Company continues to evaluate the impact of the Tax Reform Act with its professional advisors.  The full impact of the Tax Reform Act on the Company in future periods cannot be predicted at this time. On March 23, 2018, Congress rescinded an unintended consequence of the Tax Reform Act under section 199A, which provided certain tax benefits to producers selling grain to cooperative associations and enabled a potential marketplace advantage over other agribusiness companies.

Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended July 31, 2018 and 2017 

 

The following table shows summary information from the results of our operations and the approximate percentage of revenues, costs of goods sold, operating expenses and other items to total revenues in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended July 31, 2018 and 2017 (amounts in thousands).

 

 

Revenues

 

Our consolidated revenue is derived principally from sales of our three primary products: ethanol, distillers’ grains and corn oil. Revenues from these products represented approximately 99.6% of our total revenues for the three months ended July 31, 2018 and 2017. The remaining approximately 0.4% is attributable to miscellaneous other revenue for the three months ended July 31, 2018 and 2017 and is made up of incidental sales of corn syrup at HLBE's plant and revenues from natural gas pipeline operations at Agrinatural, net of intercompany eliminations for distribution fees paid by HLBE to Agrinatural for natural gas transportation services.

 

The following table shows the sources of our consolidated revenue and the approximate percentage of revenues from those sources to total revenues in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended July 31, 2018:

 

 

 

The following table shows the sources of our consolidated revenue and the approximate percentage of revenues from those sources to total revenues in our condensed consolidated unaudited statements of operations for the three months ended July 31, 2017: