Green Plains Partners LP - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________________
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒ Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2023
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 001-37469
GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 47-3822258 | ||||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||
1811 Aksarben Drive, Omaha, NE 68106 | (402) 884-8700 | ||||
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) | (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
Common Units, Representing Limited Partner Interests | GPP | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
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.
x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).
x Yes o 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.
Large Accelerated Filer o | Accelerated Filer x | ||||
Non-Accelerated Filer ¨ | |||||
Smaller Reporting Company o | Emerging Growth Company ¨ |
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).
o Yes x No
The registrant had 23,246,822 common units outstanding as of April 28, 2023.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Commonly Used Defined Terms
The abbreviations, acronyms and industry terminology used in this quarterly report are defined as follows:
Green Plains Partners LP, Subsidiaries, and Partners: | |||||
Green Plains Operating Company | Green Plains Operating Company LLC | ||||
Green Plains Partners; the partnership | Green Plains Partners LP and its subsidiaries | ||||
NLR | NLR Energy Logistics LLC | ||||
Green Plains Inc. and Subsidiaries: | |||||
Green Plains; the parent or sponsor | Green Plains Inc. and its subsidiaries | ||||
Green Plains Holdings, the general partner | Green Plains Holdings LLC | ||||
Green Plains Trade | Green Plains Trade Group LLC | ||||
Other Defined Terms: | |||||
2022 annual report | The partnership’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed February 10, 2023 | ||||
ATJ | Alcohol-to-Jet | ||||
ARO | Asset retirement obligation | ||||
ASC | Accounting Standards Codification | ||||
Bgy | Billion gallons per year | ||||
BlackRock | Funds and accounts managed by BlackRock | ||||
Conflicts committee | The partnership’s committee responsible for reviewing situations involving certain transactions with affiliates or other potential conflicts of interest | ||||
D.C. | District of Columbia | ||||
DOE | Department of Energy | ||||
E10 | Gasoline blended with up to 10% ethanol by volume | ||||
E15 | Gasoline blended with up to 15% ethanol by volume | ||||
EBITDA | Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization | ||||
EIA | U.S. Energy Information Administration | ||||
EPA | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | ||||
EV | Electric Vehicle | ||||
Exchange Act | Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended | ||||
FASB | Financial Accounting Standards Board | ||||
FFV | Flexible-fuel vehicle | ||||
GAAP | U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | ||||
LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate | ||||
LTIP | Green Plains Partners LP 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan | ||||
Mmg | Million gallons | ||||
MTBE | Methyl tertiary-butyl ether | ||||
Partnership agreement | First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Green Plains Partners LP, dated as of July 1, 2015, between Green Plains Holdings LLC and Green Plains Inc. | ||||
RFS | Renewable Fuels Standard | ||||
RIN | Renewable identification number | ||||
RVO | Renewable volume obligation | ||||
SAF | Sustainable Aviation Fuel | ||||
SEC | Securities and Exchange Commission | ||||
SOFR | Secured Overnight Financing Rate | ||||
SRE | Small refinery exemption | ||||
U.S. | United States | ||||
USDA | U.S. Department of Agriculture |
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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except unit amounts)
March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||
ASSETS | |||||||||||
Current assets | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 18,119 | $ | 20,166 | |||||||
Accounts receivable | 1,987 | 255 | |||||||||
Accounts receivable from affiliates | 17,024 | 12,742 | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other | 781 | 1,410 | |||||||||
Total current assets | 37,911 | 34,573 | |||||||||
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $37,132 and $36,323, respectively | 26,572 | 26,137 | |||||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 59,490 | 47,002 | |||||||||
Goodwill | 10,598 | 10,598 | |||||||||
Investment in equity method investee | 2,789 | 2,680 | |||||||||
Other assets | 405 | 432 | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | 137,765 | $ | 121,422 | |||||||
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) | |||||||||||
Current liabilities | |||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 7,056 | $ | 3,086 | |||||||
Accounts payable to affiliates | 644 | 1,139 | |||||||||
Accrued and other liabilities | 4,844 | 4,849 | |||||||||
Asset retirement obligations | 1,824 | 1,861 | |||||||||
Operating lease current liabilities | 17,347 | 14,734 | |||||||||
Total current liabilities | 31,715 | 25,669 | |||||||||
Long-term debt | 58,588 | 58,559 | |||||||||
Asset retirement obligations | 3,660 | 2,862 | |||||||||
Operating lease long-term liabilities | 43,874 | 33,582 | |||||||||
Total liabilities | 137,837 | 120,672 | |||||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8) | |||||||||||
Partners' equity (deficit) | |||||||||||
Common unitholders - public (11,660,274 units issued and outstanding) | 134,652 | 135,025 | |||||||||
Common unitholders - Green Plains (11,586,548 units issued and outstanding) | (134,727) | (134,296) | |||||||||
General partner interests | 3 | 21 | |||||||||
Total partners' equity (deficit) | (72) | 750 | |||||||||
Total liabilities and partners' equity (deficit) | $ | 137,765 | $ | 121,422 |
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited and in thousands, except per unit amounts)
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Revenues | |||||||||||
Affiliate | $ | 19,656 | $ | 18,095 | |||||||
Non-affiliate | 1,119 | 1,005 | |||||||||
Total revenues | 20,775 | 19,100 | |||||||||
Operating expenses | |||||||||||
Operations and maintenance (excluding depreciation and amortization reflected below) | 7,253 | 5,565 | |||||||||
General and administrative | 1,230 | 1,185 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 816 | 898 | |||||||||
Total operating expenses | 9,299 | 7,648 | |||||||||
Operating income | 11,476 | 11,452 | |||||||||
Interest expense, net | (1,772) | (1,239) | |||||||||
Income before income taxes and income from equity method investee | 9,704 | 10,213 | |||||||||
Income tax benefit (expense) | 99 | (38) | |||||||||
Income from equity method investee | 109 | 175 | |||||||||
Net income | $ | 9,912 | $ | 10,350 | |||||||
Net income attributable to partners' ownership interests | |||||||||||
General partner | $ | 198 | $ | 207 | |||||||
Limited partners - common unitholders | 9,714 | 10,143 | |||||||||
Earnings per limited partner unit (basic and diluted) | |||||||||||
Common units | $ | 0.42 | $ | 0.44 | |||||||
Weighted average limited partner units outstanding (basic and diluted) | |||||||||||
Common units | 23,227 | 23,208 |
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited and in thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | 9,912 | $ | 10,350 | |||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 816 | 898 | |||||||||
Accretion | 115 | 64 | |||||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs | 29 | 5 | |||||||||
Unit-based compensation | 59 | 59 | |||||||||
Income from equity method investee | (109) | (175) | |||||||||
Other | (359) | — | |||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities | |||||||||||
Accounts receivable | (1,732) | (134) | |||||||||
Accounts receivable from affiliates | (4,282) | (2,351) | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 629 | 310 | |||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 3,829 | 74 | |||||||||
Accounts payable to affiliates | (498) | (318) | |||||||||
Operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets | 417 | 142 | |||||||||
Other | 37 | — | |||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 8,863 | 8,924 | |||||||||
Cash flows from investing activities | |||||||||||
Purchases of property and equipment | (117) | (134) | |||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (117) | (134) | |||||||||
Cash flows from financing activities | |||||||||||
Payments of distributions | (10,793) | (10,429) | |||||||||
Principal payments on long-term debt | — | (1,031) | |||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (10,793) | (11,460) | |||||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | (2,047) | (2,670) | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 20,166 | 17,645 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 18,119 | $ | 14,975 | |||||||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow | |||||||||||
Cash paid for interest | $ | 1,857 | $ | 1,210 |
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION, DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Organization
References to “we,” “our,” “us” or “the partnership” in the consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements refer to Green Plains Partners LP and its subsidiaries.
Green Plains Holdings LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Green Plains Inc., serves as the general partner of the partnership. References to (i) “the general partner” and “Green Plains Holdings” refer to Green Plains Holdings LLC; (ii) “the parent,” “the sponsor” and “Green Plains” refer to Green Plains Inc.; and (iii) “Green Plains Trade” refers to Green Plains Trade Group LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Green Plains.
Consolidated Financial Statements
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the partnership and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated on a consolidated basis for reporting purposes. Results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the expected results for the entire year.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Because they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP, the consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the partnership’s 2022 annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on February 10, 2023.
The partnership accounts for its interest in joint ventures using the equity method of accounting, with its investment recorded at the acquisition cost plus the partnership’s share of equity in undistributed earnings and reduced by the partnership’s share of equity in undistributed losses and distributions received.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements
Preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The partnership bases its estimates on historical experience and assumptions it believes are proper and reasonable under the circumstances. The partnership regularly evaluates the appropriateness of these estimates and assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain accounting policies, including, but not limited to, those related to leases, depreciation of property and equipment, asset retirement obligations, and impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill are impacted by judgments, assumptions and estimates used to prepare the consolidated financial statements.
Description of Business
The partnership provides fuel storage and transportation services by owning, operating, developing and acquiring ethanol and fuel storage terminals, transportation assets and other related assets and businesses. The partnership is its parent’s primary downstream logistics provider to support the parent’s approximately 1.0 bgy ethanol marketing and distribution business since the partnership’s assets are the principal method of storing and delivering the ethanol the parent produces. The ethanol produced by the parent is fuel grade, made principally from starch extracted from corn, and is primarily used for blending with gasoline. Ethanol is an economical source of octane and oxygenates for blending into the fuel supply. The partnership does not take ownership of, or receive any payments based on the value of the ethanol or other fuels it handles; as a result, the partnership does not have any direct exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices. However, commodity prices can potentially impact the demand for the products that we handle.
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Revenue Recognition
The partnership recognizes revenue when obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied. Generally, this occurs with the completion of services or the transfer of control of products to the customer or another specified third party. For contracts with customers in which a take-or-pay commitment exists, any minimum volume deficiency charges are recognized as revenue in the period incurred and are not allowed to be credited towards excess volumes in future periods.
The partnership generates a substantial portion of its revenues under fee-based commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade. Operating lease revenue related to minimum volume commitments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Under the terms of the storage and throughput agreement with Green Plains Trade, to the extent shortfalls associated with minimum volume commitments in the previous four quarters continue to exist, volumes in excess of the minimum volume commitment are applied to those shortfalls. Remaining excess volumes generating operating lease revenue are recognized as incurred.
Please refer to Note 2 - Revenue to the consolidated financial statements for further details.
Operations and Maintenance Expenses
The partnership’s operations and maintenance expenses consist primarily of lease expenses related to the transportation assets, labor expenses, outside contractor expenses, insurance premiums, repairs and maintenance expenses, and utility costs. These expenses also include fees for certain management, maintenance and operational services to support the storage and terminal facilities, trucks, and leased railcar fleet allocated by Green Plains under the operational services and secondment agreement.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
In the normal course of business, the partnership is exposed to credit risk resulting from the possibility a loss may occur due to failure of another party to perform according to the terms of their contract. The partnership provides fuel storage and transportation services for various parties with a significant portion of its revenues earned from Green Plains Trade. The partnership continually monitors its credit risk exposure and concentrations. Please refer to Note 2 – Revenue and Note 9 – Related Party Transactions to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill
The partnership reviews its long-lived assets, currently consisting primarily of property and equipment and operating lease right-of-use assets, for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. No impairment charges were recorded for the periods reported.
The partnership’s goodwill currently is comprised of amounts recognized by the partnership's predecessor related to terminal services assets. The partnership reviews goodwill at the reporting unit level for impairment at least annually, as of October 1, or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred.
Leases
The partnership leases certain facilities, parcels of land, and railcars. These leases are accounted for as operating leases, with lease expense recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The term of the lease may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that such options will be exercised. For leases with initial terms greater than 12 months, the partnership records operating lease right-of-use assets and corresponding operating lease liabilities. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheet. The partnership did not incur any material short-term lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 or 2022.
Operating lease right-of-use assets represent the right to control an underlying asset for the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. These assets and liabilities are
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recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the partnership’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the incremental borrowing rate is used based on information available at the commencement date to determine the present value of future payments.
The partnership utilizes a portfolio approach for lease classification, which allows for an entity to group together leases with similar characteristics, provided that its application does not create a material difference when compared to accounting for the leases at a contract level. For the partnership’s railcar leases, the partnership combines the railcars within each contract rider and accounts for each contract rider as an individual lease.
From a lessee perspective, the partnership combines both the lease and non-lease components and accounts for them as one lease. Certain of the partnership’s railcar agreements provide for maintenance costs to be the responsibility of the partnership as incurred or charged by the lessor. This maintenance cost is a non-lease component that the partnership combines with the monthly rental payment and accounts for the total cost as operating lease expense. In addition, the partnership has a land lease that contains a non-lease component for the handling and unloading services the landlord provides. The partnership combines the cost of services with the land lease cost and accounts for the total as operating lease expense.
The partnership records operating lease revenue as part of its operating lease agreements for storage and throughput services, rail transportation services, and certain terminal services. In addition, the partnership may sublease certain of its railcars to third parties on a short-term basis. These subleases are classified as operating leases, with the associated sublease revenue recognized on a straight-line basis over the sublease lease term.
From a lessor perspective, the partnership combines, by class of underlying asset, both the lease and non-lease components and accounts for them as one lease. The storage and throughput agreement consists of lease costs paid by Green Plains Trade for the rental of the terminal facilities as well as non-lease costs for the throughput services provided by the partnership. For this agreement, the partnership combines the facility rental revenue and the service revenue and accounts for the total as leasing revenue. The railcar transportation services agreement consists of lease costs paid by Green Plains Trade for the use of the partnership’s railcar assets as well as non-lease costs for logistical operations management and other services. For this agreement, the partnership combines the railcar rental revenue and the service revenue and accounts for the total as leasing revenue.
Please refer to Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies to the consolidated financial statements for further details on operating lease expense and revenue. Please refer to Note 2 - Revenue to the consolidated financial statements for further details on the operating lease agreements in which the partnership is a lessor.
Asset Retirement Obligations
The partnership records an ARO for the fair value of the estimated costs to retire a tangible long-lived asset in the period incurred if it can be reasonably estimated, which is subsequently adjusted for accretion expense. Corresponding asset retirement costs are capitalized as a long-lived asset and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the asset’s remaining useful life. The expected present value technique used to calculate the fair value of the AROs includes assumptions about costs, settlement dates, interest accretion, and inflation. Changes in assumptions, such as the amount or timing of estimated cash flows, could increase or decrease the AROs. The partnership’s AROs are based on legal obligations to perform remedial activity related to land, machinery and equipment when certain operating leases expire.
Segment Reporting
The partnership accounts for segment reporting in accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting, which establishes standards for entities reporting information about the operating segments and geographic areas in which they operate. Management evaluated how its chief operating decision maker has organized the partnership for purposes of making operating decisions and assessing performance, and concluded it has one reportable segment.
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2. REVENUE
Revenue by Source
The following table disaggregates our revenue by major source (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Revenues | |||||||||||
Service revenues | |||||||||||
Terminal services | $ | 2,077 | $ | 2,084 | |||||||
Trucking and other | 825 | 806 | |||||||||
Total service revenues | 2,902 | 2,890 | |||||||||
Leasing revenues (1) | |||||||||||
Storage and throughput services | 11,564 | 11,558 | |||||||||
Railcar transportation services | 6,309 | 4,652 | |||||||||
Total leasing revenues | 17,873 | 16,210 | |||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 20,775 | $ | 19,100 |
(1) Leasing revenues do not represent revenues recognized from contracts with customers under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and are accounted for under ASC 842, Leases.
Terminal Services Revenue
The partnership provides terminal services and logistics solutions to Green Plains Trade, and other customers, through its fuel terminal facilities under various terminal service agreements, some of which have minimum volume commitments. Revenue generated by these terminals is disaggregated between service revenue and leasing revenue. If Green Plains Trade, or other customers, fail to meet their minimum volume commitments during the applicable term, a deficiency payment equal to the deficient volume multiplied by the applicable fee is charged. Deficiency payments related to the partnership’s terminal services revenue may not be utilized as credits toward future volumes. At terminals where customers have shared use of terminal and tank storage assets, revenue is generated from contracts with customers and accounted for as service revenue. This service revenue is recognized at the point in time when product is withdrawn from tank storage.
At terminals where a customer is predominantly provided exclusive use of the terminal or tank storage assets, the partnership is considered a lessor as part of an operating lease agreement. Revenue is recognized over the term of the lease based on the minimum volume commitment or total actual throughput if in excess of the minimum volume commitment.
Trucking and Other Revenue
The partnership transports ethanol, natural gasoline, other refined fuels and feedstocks by truck from identified receipt points to various delivery points. Trucking revenue is recognized over time based on the percentage of total miles traveled, which is on average less than 100 miles.
Railcar Transportation Services Revenue
Under the rail transportation services agreement, Green Plains Trade is obligated to use the partnership to transport ethanol and other fuels from receipt points identified by Green Plains Trade to nominated delivery points. Green Plains Trade is required to pay the partnership fees for the minimum railcar volumetric capacity provided, regardless of utilization of that capacity. However, Green Plains Trade is not charged for railcar volumetric capacity that is not available for use due to inspections, upgrades or routine repairs and maintenance. Revenue associated with the rail transportation services fee is considered leasing revenue and is recognized over the term of the lease based on the actual average daily railcar volumetric capacity provided. The partnership may also charge Green Plains Trade a related services fee for logistical operations management of railcar volumetric capacity utilized by Green Plains Trade which is not provided by the partnership. Revenue associated with the related services fee is also considered leasing revenue and recognized over the term of the lease based on the average volumetric capacity for which services are provided.
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Storage and Throughput Revenue
The partnership generates leasing revenue from its storage and throughput agreement with Green Plains Trade based on contractual rates charged for the handling, storage and throughput of ethanol. Under this agreement, Green Plains Trade is required to pay the partnership a fee for a minimum volume commitment regardless of the actual volume delivered. If Green Plains Trade fails to meet its minimum volume commitment during any quarter, the partnership charges Green Plains Trade a deficiency payment equal to the deficient volume multiplied by the applicable fee. The deficiency payment may be applied as a credit toward volumes delivered by Green Plains Trade in excess of the minimum volume commitment during the following four quarters, after which time any unused credits will expire. Revenue is recognized over the term of the lease based on the minimum volume commitment or total actual throughput if in excess of the minimum volume commitment.
Payment Terms
The partnership has standard payment terms, which vary depending on the nature of the services provided, with the majority of terms falling within 10 to 30 days after transfer of control or completion of services. Contracts generally do not include a significant financing component in instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing.
Major Customers
Revenue from Green Plains Trade Group was $19.7 million and $18.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which exceeds 10% of the partnership’s total revenue.
Contract Liabilities
The partnership records unearned revenue when consideration is received, or such consideration is unconditionally due, from a customer prior to transferring goods or services to the customer under the terms of service and lease agreements. Unearned revenue from service agreements, which represents a contract liability, is recorded for fees that have been charged to the customer prior to the completion of performance obligations, and is generally recognized in the subsequent quarter.
The following table reflects the changes in our unearned revenue from service agreements, which is recorded in accrued and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, for the three months ended March 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Amount | |||||
Balance at January 1, 2023 | $ | 153 | |||
Revenue recognized included in beginning balance | (153) | ||||
Net additions | 124 | ||||
Balance at March 31, 2023 | $ | 124 |
The partnership expects to recognize all of the unearned revenue associated with service agreements from contracts with customers as of March 31, 2023, in the subsequent quarter when the product is withdrawn from tank storage.
3. DEBT
Term Loan Facility
Green Plains Operating Company has a term loan to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general partnership purposes. The term loan has a maturity date of July 20, 2026. Under the terms of the agreement, Green Plains Partners and its affiliates are allowed to repurchase outstanding notes from the lenders. The partnership repurchased $1.0 million of the outstanding notes during the three months ended March 31, 2022. No outstanding notes were repurchased during the three months ended March 31, 2023. Interest on the term loan is based on three-month LIBOR plus 8.00%, with a 0% LIBOR floor and is payable on the 15th day of each March, June, September and December during the term. The term loan does not require any principal payments; however, the partnership has the option to prepay $1.5 million per quarter. No principal payments were made during the three months ended March 31, 2023 or 2022. The term loan had an outstanding balance of $59.0 million, $0.4 million of unamortized debt issuance costs, and an interest rate of 13.14% as of
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March 31, 2023. The partnership believes the carrying amount of its debt approximated fair value at both March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
The partnership’s obligations under the term loan are secured by a first priority lien on (i) the equity interests of the partnership’s present and future subsidiaries, (ii) all of the partnership’s present and future personal property, such as investment property, general intangibles and contract rights, including rights under any agreements with Green Plains Trade, (iii) all proceeds and products of the equity interests of the partnership’s present and future subsidiaries and its personal property and (iv) substantially all of the partnership’s real property and material leases of real property. The terms impose affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions on the partnership’s ability to incur additional debt, acquire and sell assets, create liens, invest capital, pay distributions and materially amend the partnership’s commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade. The term loan also requires the partnership to maintain a maximum consolidated leverage ratio and a minimum consolidated debt service coverage ratio, each of which is calculated on a pro forma basis with respect to acquisitions and divestitures occurring during the applicable period. As of the end of any fiscal quarter, the maximum consolidated leverage ratio is required to be no more than 2.50x and the minimum debt service coverage ratio is required to be no less than 1.10x. The consolidated leverage ratio is calculated by dividing total funded indebtedness by the sum of the four preceding fiscal quarters’ consolidated EBITDA. The consolidated debt service coverage ratio is calculated by taking the sum of the four preceding fiscal quarters’ consolidated EBITDA minus income taxes and consolidated capital expenditures for such period divided by the sum of the four preceding fiscal quarters’ consolidated interest charges plus consolidated scheduled funded debt payments for such period. Under the terms of the loan, the partnership has no restrictions on the amount of quarterly distribution payments, so long as (i) no default has occurred and is continuing, or would result from payment of the distribution, and (ii) the partnership and its subsidiaries are in compliance with its financial covenants and remain in compliance after payment of the distribution.
Covenant Compliance
The partnership, including all of its subsidiaries, was in compliance with its debt covenants as of March 31, 2023.
4. UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION
The LTIP is intended to promote the interests of the partnership, its general partner and affiliates by providing unit-based incentive compensation awards to employees, consultants and directors to encourage superior performance. The LTIP reserves 2,500,000 common limited partner units for issuance in the form of options, restricted units, phantom units, distribution equivalent rights, substitute awards, unit appreciation rights, unit awards, profit interest units or other unit-based awards. The partnership measures unit-based compensation grants at fair value on the grant date and records noncash compensation expense related to the awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of one year.
There was no change in the number of non-vested unit-based awards for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Compensation costs related to the unit-based awards of $59 thousand were recognized during both the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. As of March 31, 2023, there was $60 thousand of unrecognized compensation costs from unit-based compensation awards.
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5. PARTNERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Changes in partners’ equity (deficit) are as follows (in thousands):
Limited Partners | General Partner | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Common Units- Public | Common Units- Green Plains | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2022 | $ | 135,025 | $ | (134,296) | $ | 21 | $ | 750 | |||||||||||||||
Quarterly cash distributions to unitholders ($0.455 per unit) | (5,305) | (5,272) | (216) | (10,793) | |||||||||||||||||||
Net income | 4,873 | 4,841 | 198 | 9,912 | |||||||||||||||||||
Unit-based compensation, including general partner net contributions | 59 | — | — | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2023 | $ | 134,652 | $ | (134,727) | $ | 3 | $ | (72) |
Limited Partners | General Partner | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Common Units- Public | Common Units- Green Plains | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2021 | $ | 135,666 | $ | (133,420) | $ | 57 | $ | 2,303 | |||||||||||||||
Quarterly cash distributions to unitholders ($0.44 per unit) | (5,122) | (5,098) | (209) | (10,429) | |||||||||||||||||||
Net income | 5,083 | 5,060 | 207 | 10,350 | |||||||||||||||||||
Unit-based compensation, including general partner net contributions | 59 | — | — | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | $ | 135,686 | $ | (133,458) | $ | 55 | $ | 2,283 |
There was no change in the number of common limited partner units outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Issuance of Additional Securities
The partnership agreement authorizes the partnership to issue unlimited additional partnership interests on the terms and conditions determined by the general partner without unitholder approval.
Cash Distribution Policy
Quarterly distributions are made from available cash within 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter, assuming the partnership has available cash. Available cash generally means all cash and cash equivalents on hand at the end of that quarter less cash reserves established by the general partner, including those for future capital expenditures, future acquisitions and anticipated future debt service requirements, plus all or any portion of the cash on hand resulting from working capital borrowings made subsequent to the end of that quarter.
The general partner also holds incentive distribution rights that entitle it to receive increasing percentages, up to 48%, of available cash distributed from operating surplus, as defined in the partnership agreement, in excess of $0.46 per unit per quarter. The maximum distribution of 48% does not include any distributions the general partner or its affiliates may receive on its general partner interest or common units.
On February 10, 2023, the partnership distributed $10.8 million to unitholders of record as of February 3, 2023, related to the quarterly cash distribution of $0.455 per unit that was declared on January 19, 2023, for the quarter ended December 31, 2022.
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On April 20, 2023, the board of directors of the general partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.455 per unit, or approximately $10.8 million, for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The distribution is payable on May 12, 2023, to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 5, 2023.
The total cash distributions declared for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, are as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
General partner distributions | $ | 216 | $ | 211 | |||||||
Limited partner common units - public | 5,305 | 5,180 | |||||||||
Limited partner common units - Green Plains | 5,272 | 5,156 | |||||||||
Total distributions to limited partners | 10,577 | 10,336 | |||||||||
Total distributions declared | $ | 10,793 | $ | 10,547 |
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6. EARNINGS PER UNIT
The partnership computes earnings per unit using the two-class method. Earnings per unit applicable to common units is calculated by dividing the respective limited partners’ interest in net income by the weighted average number of common units outstanding during the period, adjusted for the dilutive effect of any outstanding dilutive securities. Diluted earnings per limited partner unit was the same as basic earnings per limited partner unit as there were no potentially dilutive common units outstanding as of March 31, 2023.
The following tables show the calculation of earnings per limited partner unit – basic and diluted (in thousands, except for per unit data):
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
Limited Partner Common Units | General Partner | Total | |||||||||||||||
Net income | |||||||||||||||||
Distributions declared | $ | 10,577 | $ | 216 | $ | 10,793 | |||||||||||
Earnings less than distributions | (863) | (18) | (881) | ||||||||||||||
Total net income | $ | 9,714 | $ | 198 | $ | 9,912 | |||||||||||
Weighted-average units outstanding - basic and diluted | 23,227 | ||||||||||||||||
Earnings per limited partner unit - basic and diluted | $ | 0.42 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
Limited Partner Common Units | General Partner | Total | |||||||||||||||
Net income | |||||||||||||||||
Distributions declared | $ | 10,336 | $ | 211 | $ | 10,547 | |||||||||||
Earnings less than distributions | (193) | (4) | (197) | ||||||||||||||
Total net income | $ | 10,143 | $ | 207 | $ | 10,350 | |||||||||||
Weighted-average units outstanding - basic and diluted | 23,208 | ||||||||||||||||
Earnings per limited partner unit - basic and diluted | $ | 0.44 |
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7. INCOME TAXES
The partnership is a limited partnership, which is not subject to federal income taxes. However, the partnership is subject to state income taxes in certain states. As a result, the financial statements reflect a provision or benefit for such income taxes. The general partner and the unitholders are responsible for paying federal and state income taxes on their share of the partnership’s taxable income. The partnership’s income tax balances did not have a material impact on the financial statements.
The partnership recognizes uncertainties in income taxes based upon the technical merits of the position and measures the maximum benefit and degree of likelihood to determine the tax liability in the financial statements. The partnership does not have any material uncertain tax positions as of March 31, 2023.
8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Operating Lease Expense
The partnership leases certain facilities, parcels of land, and railcars with remaining terms ranging from less than one year to approximately 8.6 years, including renewal options reasonably certain to be exercised for the land and facility leases. Railcar agreement renewals are not considered reasonably certain to be exercised as they typically renew with different underlying terms.
The components of lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, are as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Lease expense | |||||||||||
Operating lease expense | $ | 4,859 | $ | 3,493 | |||||||
Variable lease expense (benefit) (1) | 33 | (25) | |||||||||
Total lease expense | $ | 4,892 | $ | 3,468 |
(1) Represents railcar lease abatements provided by the lessor when railcars are out of service during periods of maintenance or upgrade, offset by amounts incurred in excess of the minimum payments required for the handling and unloading of railcars for a certain lease.
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Supplemental cash flow information related to operating leases is as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities | |||||||||||
Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | 4,447 | $ | 3,358 | |||||||
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations | |||||||||||
Operating leases | 16,576 | 4,709 |
Supplemental balance sheet information related to operating leases is as follows:
March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
Weighted average remaining lease term | 4.0 years | 3.8 years | |||||||||
Weighted average discount rate | 4.61 | % | 3.93 | % |
Aggregate minimum lease payments under the operating lease agreements for the remainder of 2023 and in future years are as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31, | Amount | ||||
2023 | $ | 14,864 | |||
2024 | 18,149 | ||||
2025 | 15,536 | ||||
2026 | 9,414 | ||||
2027 | 6,820 | ||||
Thereafter | 2,480 | ||||
Total | 67,263 | ||||
Less: Present value discount | (6,042) | ||||
Operating lease liabilities | $ | 61,221 |
Lease Revenue
The components of lease revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, are as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Lease revenue | |||||||||||
Operating lease revenue | $ | 17,206 | $ | 15,758 | |||||||
Variable lease revenue (1) | 667 | 452 | |||||||||
Total lease revenue | $ | 17,873 | $ | 16,210 |
(1) Represents amounts charged to Green Plains Trade under the storage and throughput agreement in excess of the initial rate of $0.05 per gallon, amounts delivered by Green Plains Trade and other customers in excess of various minimum volume commitments, and the difference between the contracted railcar volumetric capacity and the actual amount provided to Green Plains Trade during the period.
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In accordance with the amended storage and throughput agreement, Green Plains Trade is obligated to deliver a minimum volume of 217.7 mmg per calendar quarter to the partnership’s storage facilities and pay $0.05312 per gallon on all volume it throughputs associated with the agreement.
The remaining lease term for the storage and throughput agreement is 6.3 years with automatic one year renewal periods in which either party has the right to terminate the contract. Due to the unilateral right to termination during the renewal period, the lease contract would no longer contain enforceable rights or obligations. Therefore, the lease term does not include the successive one year renewal periods. Anticipated minimum operating lease revenue under this agreement assuming a consistent rate of $0.05312 per gallon for the remainder of 2023 and in future years, is as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31, | Amount | ||||
2023 | $ | 34,693 | |||
2024 | 46,257 | ||||
2025 | 46,257 | ||||
2026 | 46,257 | ||||
2027 | 46,257 | ||||
Thereafter | 69,385 | ||||
Total | $ | 289,106 |
In accordance with the amended rail transportation services agreement with Green Plains Trade, Green Plains Trade is required to pay the rail transportation services fee for railcar volumetric capacity provided by the partnership. The remaining lease term for this agreement is 6.3 years, with automatic one year renewal periods in which either party has the right to terminate the contract. Due to the unilateral right to termination during the renewal period, the lease contract would no longer contain enforceable rights or obligations. Therefore, the lease term does not include the successive one year renewal periods. Under the terms of the agreement, Green Plains Trade is not required to pay for volumetric capacity that is not available due to inspections, upgrades, or routine repairs and maintenance. As a result, the actual volumetric capacity billed may be reduced based on the amount of volumetric capacity available for use during any applicable period. Anticipated minimum operating lease revenue under this agreement for the remainder of 2023 and in future years is as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31, | Amount | ||||
2023 | $ | 19,461 | |||
2024 | 23,530 | ||||
2025 | 20,096 | ||||
2026 | 11,386 | ||||
2027 | 8,526 | ||||
Thereafter | 1,073 | ||||
Total | $ | 84,072 |
Legal
The partnership may be involved in litigation that arises during the ordinary course of business. Currently, the partnership is not a party to any material litigation.
9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The partnership engages in various related party transactions with Green Plains and subsidiaries of Green Plains. Green Plains provides a variety of shared services to the partnership, including general management, accounting and finance, payroll and human resources, information technology, legal, communications and treasury activities. These costs are proportionally allocated by Green Plains to its subsidiaries based on common financial metrics management believes are reasonable. The partnership recorded expenses related to these shared services of $1.0 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Of these total shared service expenses, $0.6 million and $0.5 million were recorded in operations and maintenance expenses and $0.4 million and $0.3 million were recorded within
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general and administrative expenses, respectively, on the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. In addition, the partnership reimburses Green Plains for wages and benefit costs of employees directly performing services on its behalf. Green Plains may also pay certain direct costs on behalf of the partnership, which are reimbursed by the partnership. The partnership believes the consolidated financial statements reflect all material costs of doing business related to its operations, including expenses incurred by other entities on its behalf.
Omnibus Agreement
The partnership has entered into an omnibus agreement, as amended, with Green Plains and its affiliates which, among other terms and conditions, addresses the partnership’s obligation to reimburse Green Plains for direct or allocated costs and expenses incurred by Green Plains for general and administrative services; the prohibition of Green Plains and its subsidiaries from owning, operating or investing in any business that owns or operates fuel terminals or fuel transportation assets; the partnership’s right of first offer to acquire assets if Green Plains decides to sell them; a nontransferable, nonexclusive, royalty-free license to use the Green Plains trademark and name; the allocation of taxes among the parent, the partnership and its affiliates and the parent’s preparation and filing of tax returns; and an indemnity by Green Plains for certain environmental and other liabilities.
If Green Plains or its affiliates cease to control the general partner, then either Green Plains or the partnership may terminate the omnibus agreement, provided that (i) the indemnification obligations of the parties survive according to their respective terms; and (ii) Green Plains’ obligation to reimburse the partnership for operational failures survives according to its terms.
Operating Services and Secondment Agreement
The general partner has entered into an operational services and secondment agreement, as amended, with Green Plains. Under the terms of the agreement, Green Plains seconds employees to the general partner to provide management, maintenance and operational functions for the partnership, including regulatory matters, health, environment, safety and security programs, operational services, emergency response, employee training, finance and administration, human resources, business operations and planning. The seconded personnel are under the direct management and supervision of the general partner who reimburses the parent for the cost of the seconded employees, including wages and benefits. If a seconded employee does not devote 100% of his or her time providing services to the general partner, the general partner reimburses the parent for a prorated portion of the employee’s overall wages and benefits based on the percentage of time the employee spent working for the general partner.
Under the operational services and secondment agreement, Green Plains will indemnify the partnership from any claims, losses or liabilities incurred by the partnership, including third-party claims, arising from their performance of the operational services secondment agreement; provided, however, that Green Plains will not be obligated to indemnify the partnership for any claims, losses or liabilities arising out of the partnership’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith with respect to any services provided under the operational services and secondment agreement.
Commercial Agreements
The partnership has various fee-based commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade, including:
•Storage and throughput agreement, expiring on June 30, 2029;
•Rail transportation services agreement, expiring on June 30, 2029;
•Trucking transportation agreement, expiring on May 31, 2023;
•Terminal services agreement for the Birmingham, Alabama unit train terminal, expiring on December 31, 2023;
•Terminal services agreement for the Collins, Mississippi terminal, expiring on December 31, 2023.
The storage and throughput, rail transportation services, and trucking transportation agreements have various automatic renewal terms if not cancelled by either party within specified timeframes.
The storage and throughput agreement and terminal services agreements are supported by minimum volume commitments. The rail transportation services agreement is supported by minimum take-or-pay volumetric capacity commitments.
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Under the storage and throughput agreement, as amended, Green Plains Trade is obligated to deliver a minimum volume of 217.7 mmg of product per calendar quarter to the partnership’s storage facilities and pay $0.05312 per gallon on all volume it throughputs associated with the agreement.
If Green Plains Trade fails to meet its minimum volume commitment during any quarter, Green Plains Trade will pay the partnership a deficiency payment equal to the deficient volume multiplied by the applicable fee. The deficiency payment may be applied as a credit toward payments due on future volumes delivered by Green Plains Trade in excess of the minimum volume commitment during the following four quarters, after which time this option will expire.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the partnership charged Green Plains Trade $0.5 million related to the minimum volume commitment deficiency for the quarter, resulting in a credit to be applied against excess volumes in future periods. Prior year credits of $1.1 million expired unused, leaving a cumulative balance of minimum volume deficiency credits available to Green Plains Trade of $0.5 million. These credits, if unused, will expire on March 31, 2024.
The above credits have been previously recognized as 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.
Under the rail transportation services agreement, Green Plains Trade is obligated to use the partnership to transport ethanol and other fuels from receipt points identified by Green Plains Trade to nominated delivery points. The average daily railcar volumetric capacity provided by the partnership was 72.7 mmg and 69.7 mmg, respectively, and the associated average monthly fee was approximately $0.0291 and $0.0232 per gallon, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The partnership’s leased railcar fleet consisted of approximately 2,300 and 2,375 railcars as of March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Green Plains Trade is also obligated to use the partnership for logistical operations management and other services related to average daily railcar volumetric capacity provided by Green Plains Trade, which was approximately 0.7 mmg during both the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. Green Plains Trade is obligated to pay a monthly fee of approximately $0.0013 per gallon for these services. In addition, Green Plains Trade reimburses the partnership for costs related to: (1) railcar switching and unloading fees; (2) increased costs related to changes in law or governmental regulation related to the specification, operation or maintenance of railcars; (3) demurrage charges, except when the charges are due to the partnership’s gross negligence or willful misconduct; and (4) fees related to rail transportation services under transportation contracts with third-party common carriers. Green Plains Trade contracts with the partnership for additional railcar volumetric capacity as needed and in the normal course of business at comparable margins.
Under the trucking transportation agreement, Green Plains Trade pays the partnership to transport ethanol and other fuels by truck from identified receipt points to various delivery points. Green Plains Trade is obligated to pay a monthly trucking transportation services fee equal to the aggregate volume transported in a calendar month by the partnership’s trucks, multiplied by the applicable rate for each truck lane. A truck lane is defined as a specific and routine route of travel between a point of origin and point of destination. Rates for each truck lane are negotiated based on product, location, mileage and other factors. Green Plains Trade reimburses the partnership for costs related to: (1) truck switching and unloading fees; (2) increased costs related to changes in law or governmental regulation related to the specification, operation and maintenance of trucks; and (3) fees related to trucking transportation services under transportation contracts with third-party common carriers.
Under the existing Birmingham terminal services agreement, effective through December 31, 2023, Green Plains Trade is obligated to throughput a minimum volume commitment of approximately 8.3 mmg per month and pay associated throughput fees, as well as fees for ancillary services.
The partnership recorded revenues from Green Plains Trade under the storage and throughput agreement and rail transportation services agreement of $17.9 million and $16.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. In addition, the partnership recorded revenues from Green Plains Trade and other Green Plains subsidiaries related to trucking and terminal services of $1.8 million and $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
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Cash Distributions
The partnership distributed $5.5 million and $5.3 million to Green Plains related to the quarterly cash distribution paid for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
10. EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENT
NLR Energy Logistics LLC
The partnership and Delek Renewables LLC have a 50/50 joint venture, NLR Energy Logistics LLC, which operates a unit train terminal in the Little Rock, Arkansas area with capacity to unload 110-car unit trains and provide approximately 100,000 barrels of storage. As of March 31, 2023, the partnership’s investment balance in the joint venture was $2.8 million.
The partnership does not consolidate any part of the assets or liabilities or operating results of its equity method investee. The partnership’s share of net income or loss in the investee increases or decreases, as applicable, the carrying value of the investment. With respect to NLR, the partnership determined that this entity does not represent a variable interest entity and consolidation is not required. In addition, although the partnership has the ability to exercise significant influence over the joint venture through board representation and voting rights, all significant decisions require the consent of the other investor without regard to economic interest.
11. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
On May 3, 2023, the board of directors of Green Plains Holdings LLC, the general partner of the partnership received an unsolicited proposal from Green Plains Inc., our parent, to acquire all of the publicly held common units of the partnership not already owned by Green Plains in a stock-for-unit exchange.
The proposed transaction is subject to the negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement and approval of such definitive agreement and transactions contemplated thereunder by the board of directors of Green Plains Holdings LLC, and its conflicts committee. There can be no assurance that any such approvals will be forthcoming, that a definitive agreement will be executed, that any conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction will be satisfied, or that any transaction will be consummated.
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis provides information we believe is relevant to understand our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes contained in this report together with our 2022 annual report. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023, are not necessarily indicative of the results we expect for the full year.
Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements are made in accordance with safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and do not relate strictly to historical or current facts, but rather to plans and objectives for future operations. These statements may be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “outlook,” “plan,” “predict,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will” and similar expressions, as well as statements regarding future operating or financial performance or guidance, business strategy, environment, key trends and benefits of actual or planned acquisitions.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include those discussed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our 2022 annual report and in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in this report, or incorporated by reference. Specifically, we may experience fluctuations in future operating results due to changes in general economic, market or business conditions; foreign imports of ethanol; fluctuations in demand for ethanol and other fuels; risks of accidents or other unscheduled shutdowns affecting our assets, including mechanical breakdown of equipment or infrastructure; risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation; ability to comply with changing government usage mandates and regulations affecting the ethanol industry; price, availability and acceptance of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles, and laws mandating such fuels or vehicles; changes in operational costs at our facilities and for our railcars; failure to realize the benefits projected for capital projects; competition; inability to successfully implement growth strategies; the supply of corn and other feedstocks; unusual or severe weather conditions and natural disasters; ability and willingness of parties with whom we have material relationships, including Green Plains Trade, to fulfill their obligations; labor and material shortages; changes in the availability of unsecured credit and changes affecting the credit markets in general; disruption caused by health epidemics, such as the COVID-19 outbreak; and other risk factors detailed in our reports filed with the SEC.
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 nor do we 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 or documents incorporated by reference.
Overview
Green Plains Partners provides fuel storage and transportation services by owning, operating, developing and acquiring ethanol and fuel storage facilities, terminals, transportation assets and other related assets and businesses. We are Green Plains’ primary downstream logistics provider and generate a substantial portion of our revenues under fee-based commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade for receiving, storing, transferring and transporting ethanol and other fuels, which are supported by minimum volume or take-or-pay capacity commitments.
Results of Operations
During the first quarter of 2023, our parent maintained an average utilization rate of approximately 87.5% of capacity. Ethanol throughput was 208.1 mmg, which was below the contracted minimum volume commitment per quarter. As a result, the Partnership charged Green Plains Trade $0.5 million related to the minimum volume commitment deficiency for the quarter, resulting in a credit to be applied against excess volumes in future periods. Prior year credits of $1.1 million
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expired unused, leaving a cumulative balance of minimum volume deficiency credits available to Green Plains Trade of $0.5 million. These credits, if unused, will expire on March 31, 2024.
The above credits have been previously recognized as 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.
Our parent’s operating strategy is to transform to a value-added agricultural technology company creating sustainable high value ingredients. Depending on the margin environment, our parent may exercise operational discretion that results in reductions in throughput volumes. It is possible that throughput volumes could be below minimum volume commitments in the future, depending on various factors that drive each of our parent's biorefineries variable contribution margin, including future driving and gasoline demand for the industry and the availability and price of renewable feedstocks. As part of this strategy, our parent is deploying MSCTM technology, to help meet growing global demand for protein feed ingredients and low-carbon renewable corn oil, which could lead to our parent having more consistent margins and operating throughput rates over time.
Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, net of interest income, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization excluding the amortization of right-of-use assets, plus adjustments for transaction costs related to acquisitions or financing transactions, unit-based compensation expense, net gains or losses on asset sales, and our proportional share of EBITDA adjustments of our equity method investee.
Distributable cash flow is defined as adjusted EBITDA less interest paid or payable, net of interest income received, income taxes paid or payable, maintenance capital expenditures, which are defined under our partnership agreement as cash expenditures (including expenditures for the construction or development of new capital assets or the replacement, improvement or expansion of existing capital assets) made to maintain our operating capacity or operating income, and our proportional share of distributable cash flow adjustments of our equity method investee.
Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are supplemental financial measures that we use to assess our financial performance. We believe their presentation provides useful information to investors in assessing our financial condition and results of operations. However, these presentations are not made in accordance with GAAP. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow is net income. Since adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow may be defined differently by other companies in our industry, our definitions of adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, diminishing their utility. Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow 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 our financial performance and operating results.
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The following table presents reconciliations of net income to adjusted EBITDA and to distributable cash flow, for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 (unaudited, dollars in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Reconciliations to Non-GAAP Financial Measures: | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | 9,912 | $ | 10,350 | |||||||
Interest expense, net | 1,772 | 1,239 | |||||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense | (99) | 38 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 816 | 898 | |||||||||
Unit-based compensation expense | 59 | 59 | |||||||||
Proportional share of EBITDA adjustments of equity method investee (1) | 45 | 45 | |||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | 12,505 | 12,629 | |||||||||
Interest paid or payable, net of interest received | (1,772) | (1,239) | |||||||||
Income taxes paid or payable | 99 | (38) | |||||||||
Maintenance capital expenditures | (80) | (132) | |||||||||
Distributable cash flow (2) | 10,752 | 11,220 | |||||||||
Distributions declared (3) | 10,793 | 10,547 | |||||||||
Coverage ratio | 1.00 | x | 1.06 | x |
(1) Represents our proportional share of depreciation and amortization of our equity method investee.
(2) Distributable cash flow does not include adjustments for note repurchases on the term loan of $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.
(3) Represents distributions declared for the applicable period and paid in the subsequent quarter for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Selected Financial Information and Operating Data
The following discussion reflects the results of the partnership for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.
Selected financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, is as follows (unaudited, in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | % Var. | |||||||||||||||
Revenues | |||||||||||||||||
Storage and throughput services | $ | 11,564 | $ | 11,558 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||
Railcar transportation services | 6,309 | 4,652 | 35.6 | ||||||||||||||
Terminal services | 2,077 | 2,084 | (0.3) | ||||||||||||||
Trucking and other | 825 | 806 | 2.4 | ||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 20,775 | 19,100 | 8.8 | ||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||
Operations and maintenance (excluding depreciation and amortization reflected below) | 7,253 | 5,565 | 30.3 | ||||||||||||||
General and administrative | 1,230 | 1,185 | 3.8 | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 816 | 898 | (9.1) | ||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 9,299 | 7,648 | 21.6 | ||||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 11,476 | $ | 11,452 | 0.2 | % |
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Selected operating data for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, is as follows (unaudited):
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | % Var. | |||||||||||||||
Product volumes (mmg) | |||||||||||||||||
Storage and throughput services | 208.1 | 197.2 | 5.5% | ||||||||||||||
Terminal services | |||||||||||||||||
Affiliate | 26.3 | 27.3 | (3.7) | ||||||||||||||
Non-affiliate | 24.6 | 21.5 | 14.4 | ||||||||||||||
50.9 | 48.8 | 4.3 | |||||||||||||||
Railcar capacity billed (daily avg.) | 72.7 | 69.7 | 4.3 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023, Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022
Consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased $1.7 million compared with the same period for 2022. Storage and throughput services revenue was consistent with the prior year. Railcar transportation services revenue increased $1.7 million primarily due to an increase in transportation service fees charged as a result of upgrading our leased railcar fleet to comply with DOT 117 regulations, and higher railcar volumetric capacity. Terminal services revenue and trucking and other revenue were consistent with the prior year.
Operations and maintenance expenses increased $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared with the same period for 2022 primarily due to $1.5 million in higher railcar lease expense as a result of upgrading our leased railcar fleet to comply with DOT 117 regulations.
General and administrative expenses were consistent with the prior year.
Distributable cash flow decreased $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared with the same period for 2022, associated with the decrease in net income.
Industry Factors Affecting our Results of Operations
U.S. Ethanol Supply and Demand
According to the EIA, domestic ethanol production averaged 1.01 million barrels per day during the first quarter of 2023, which was 1.0% lower than the 1.02 million barrels per day for the same quarter last year. Refiner and blender input volume was 853 thousand barrels per day for the first quarter of 2023, compared with 840 thousand barrels per day for the same quarter last year. Gasoline demand for the first quarter of 2023 was in line with the prior year quarter at 8.6 million barrels per day. U.S. domestic ethanol ending stocks decreased by approximately 1.4 million barrels compared to the prior year, or 5.3%, to 25.1 million barrels as of March 31, 2023. As of this filing, according to Prime the Pump, there were approximately 386 suppliers at 113 pipeline terminal locations now offering E15 to wholesale customers.
Global Ethanol Supply and Demand
According to the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, domestic ethanol exports through February 28, 2023, were approximately 222 mmg, down from 267 mmg for the same period of 2022. Canada was the largest export destination for U.S. ethanol accounting for 40% of domestic ethanol export volume, driven in part by their national clean fuel standard. The United Kingdom, South Korea, the Netherlands and Mexico accounted for 12%, 11%, 5% and 5%, respectively, of U.S. ethanol exports. We currently estimate that net ethanol exports will range from 1.3 to 1.5 billion gallons in 2023, based on historical demand from a variety of countries and certain countries that seek to improve their air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions through low carbon fuel programs and eliminate MTBE from their own fuel supplies. The strength of the U.S. Dollar relative to other currencies has the potential to adversely impact the U.S. ethanol competitiveness in the global market.
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Legislation and Regulation
We are sensitive to government programs and policies that affect the supply and demand for ethanol and other fuels, which in turn may impact the volume of ethanol and other fuels we handle. Over the years, various bills and amendments have been proposed in the House and Senate, which would eliminate the RFS entirely, eliminate the corn based ethanol portion of the mandate, and make it more difficult to sell fuel blends with higher levels of ethanol. Bills have also been introduced to require higher levels of octane blending, and require car manufacturers to produce vehicles that can operate on higher ethanol blends. We believe it is unlikely that any of these bills will become law in the current Congress. In addition, the manner in which the EPA administers the RFS and related regulations can have a significant impact on the actual amount of ethanol and other biofuels blended into the domestic fuel supply.
Federal mandates and state-level clean fuel programs supporting the use of renewable fuels are a significant driver of ethanol demand in the U.S. Ethanol policies are influenced by concerns for the environment, diversifying the fuel supply, supporting agricultural production and reducing the country’s dependence on foreign oil. Consumer acceptance of FFVs and higher ethanol blends in non-FFVs may be necessary before ethanol can achieve further growth in U.S. light duty surface transportation fleet market share. In addition, expansion of clean fuel programs in other states and countries, or a national LCFS could increase the demand for ethanol, depending on how they are structured. Incentives for automakers to produce FFVs phased out in 2020, and the EPA's recently proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards further incentivize EV production, with the administration's stated goal of having two-thirds of vehicles sold in 2032 be EVs. Sales of EVs in the U.S. were close to 300,000 vehicles in the first quarter of 2023, which represented approximately 8.4% of new vehicles sales. Transition of the light duty surface transportation fleet from internal combustion engines to EVs could decrease the demand for ethanol.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which was signed into law on August 16, 2022, is a sweeping policy that could have many potential impacts on our business which we are continuing to evaluate. The legislation (1) created a new Clean Fuel Production Credit, section 45Z of the Internal Revenue Code, which runs from 2025 to 2027 of $1.00 per gallon, which could impact our fuel ethanol, depending on the level of GHG reduction for each gallon; (2) created a new tax credit for SAF of $1.25 to $1.75 per gallon, depending on the GHG reduction for each gallon, that could possibly involve some of our low carbon ethanol through an ATJ pathway, depending on the life cycle analysis model being used (this credit expires after 2024 and shifts to the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, where it qualifies for between $0.00 and $1.75 per gallon); (3) expanded the carbon capture and sequestration credit, section 45Q of the Internal Revenue Code, to $85 for each ton of carbon sequestered, which could impact our carbon capture partnership and other potential carbon capture investments, though it cannot be claimed in conjunction with the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, which could prove to be more valuable; (4) extended the biodiesel tax credit, which could impact our renewable corn oil values, as this co-product serves as a low-carbon feedstock for renewable diesel and biomass based diesel production (this credit expires after 2024 and shifts to the 45Z Clean Fuel Production credit, where all non-SAF fuels qualify for up to $1.00 per gallon); (5) funded biofuel blending infrastructure by $500 million, which could impact the availability of higher level ethanol blended fuel; (6) increased funding for working lands conservation programs for farmers by $20 billion; and (7) provided credits for the production and purchase of electric vehicles, which could impact the amount of internal combustion engines built and sold longer term, and by extension impact the demand for liquid fuels including ethanol. There are numerous additional clean energy credits included in this law, including investment tax credits for construction of clean energy infrastructure, that could impact us and our overall competitiveness. Regulatory rulemaking for the administration of these programs is underway, and the final regulations could impact many aspects of our business.
The RFS sets a floor for biofuels use in the United States. As of March 31, 2023, the EPA has proposed RVOs for 2023, 2024 and 2025, setting the implied conventional ethanol levels at 15.25 billion gallons for each year, inclusive of 250 million gallons of supplemental volume in 2023 to reflect a court-ordered remand of a previously lowered RVO. The EPA also proposed a modest increase in biomass based diesel volumes over the three years, with a large increase in advanced biofuels for 2024 and 2025, which they expect to be fulfilled by e-RINs for electric vehicles. The EPA has agreed to a consent decree from the U.S. District Court for D.C. to finalize an RVO for 2023 (and possibly 2024 and 2025) by June 14, 2023.
Under the RFS, RINs and SREs are important tools impacting supply and demand. The EPA assigns individual refiners, blenders, and importers the volume of renewable fuels they are obligated to use in each annual RVO based on their percentage of total production of domestic transportation fuel sales. Obligated parties use RINs to show compliance with the RFS mandated volumes. Ethanol producers assign RINs to each gallon of renewable fuel they produce, and the RINs are detached when the renewable fuel is blended with transportation fuel domestically. Market participants can trade the detached RINs in the open market. The market price of detached RINs can affect the price of ethanol in certain markets and can influence purchasing decisions by obligated parties. Of note, the RIN mechanism for proposed e-RINs could vary from the traditional process.
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As it relates to SREs, a small refinery is defined as one that processes fewer than 75,000 barrels of petroleum per day. Small refineries can petition the EPA for an SRE which, if approved, waives their portion of the annual RVO requirements. The EPA, through consultation with the DOE and the USDA can grant them a full or partial waiver, or deny it outright within 90 days of submittal. The EPA granted significantly more of these waivers for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 reporting years than they had in prior years, totaling 790 mmg of waived requirements for the 2016 compliance year, 1.82 billion gallons for 2017 and 1.43 billion gallons for 2018. In doing so, the EPA effectively reduced the RFS mandated volumes for those compliance years by those amounts respectively, and as a result, RIN values declined significantly. In the waning days of the previous administration, the EPA approved three additional SREs, reversing one denial from 2018 and granting two from 2019. A total of 88 SREs were granted under the previous administration, erasing a total 4.3 billion gallons of potential blending demand. Under the current administration, the EPA reversed the three SREs issued in the final weeks of the previous administration, and in conjunction with the RVO rulemaking for 2020, 2021, and 2022, denied all pending SREs, however the EPA allowed for so-called "alternative compliance" for these refineries, which in practice waives their blending obligations for those years. The EPA has reiterated their stance on denying all SRE applications in the proposed 2023, 2024 and 2025 RVO rulemaking, and there are multiple on-going legal challenges to how they have handled SREs and RFS rulemakings.
The One-Pound Waiver, which was extended in May 2019 to allow E15 to be sold year-round to all vehicles model year 2001 and newer, was challenged in an action filed in Federal District Court for the D.C. Circuit. On July 2, 2021, the Circuit Court vacated the EPA’s rule so the future of summertime, defined as June 1 to September 15, sales of E15 is uncertain. The Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to this ruling. On April 12, 2022, the President announced that he had directed the EPA to issue an emergency waiver to allow for the continued sale of E15 during the summer months, and that the temporary waiver should be extended as long as the gasoline supply emergency lasts. As of this filing, the administration has announced they will take the same approach with emergency waivers for the 2023 summer driving season. The EPA has also instigated regulatory rulemaking to allow for the elimination of the One-Pound Waiver for E10 in several Midwestern states in time for the 2024 summer driving season, which would have the practical effect of allowing for E15 to be sold year round in the following states: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
In October 2019, the White House directed the USDA and EPA to move forward with rulemaking to expand access to higher blends of biofuels. This includes funding for infrastructure, labeling changes and allowing E15 to be sold through E10 infrastructure. The USDA rolled out the Higher Blend Infrastructure Incentive Program in the summer of 2020, providing competitive grants to fuel terminals and retailers for installing equipment for dispensing higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. In December 2021, the USDA announced it would administer another infrastructure grant program. The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law in 2022, provided for an additional $500 million in USDA grants for biofuel infrastructure from 2022 to 2031, though all the funds could be awarded in the first few years of the program.
Environmental and Other Regulation
Our operations are subject to environmental regulations, including those that govern the handling and release of ethanol, crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbon materials. Compliance with existing and anticipated environmental laws and regulations may increase our overall cost of doing business, including capital costs to construct, maintain, operate, and upgrade equipment and facilities. Our business may also be impacted by government policies, such as tariffs, duties, subsidies, import and export restrictions and outright embargos. Our parent employs maintenance and operations personnel at each of its facilities, which are regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The U.S. ethanol industry relies heavily on tank cars to deliver its product to market. In 2015, the DOT finalized the Enhanced Tank Car Standard and Operational Controls for High-Hazard and Flammable Trains, or DOT specification 117, which established a schedule to retrofit or replace older tank cars that carry crude oil and ethanol, braking standards intended to reduce the severity of accidents and new operational protocols. The rule has increased the lease costs for railcars in the short term and may increase the lease costs long term, which will in turn result in an increase in the fees we charge for railcar capacity. The deadline for compliance with DOT specification 117 is May 1, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, our fleet was DOT 117 compliant.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal sources of liquidity include cash generated from operating activities. We expect operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs. We consider opportunities to repay or refinance our debt, depending on market conditions, as part of our normal course of doing business. Our ability to meet our debt service obligations and
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other capital requirements depends on our future operating performance, which is subject to general economic, financial, business, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other conditions, many of which are beyond our control. We plan to utilize a combination of operating cash, refinancing and other strategic actions to repay debt obligations as they come due.
As of March 31, 2023, we had $18.1 million of cash and cash equivalents.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $8.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. Net cash used by investing activities was $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. Net cash used in financing activities was $10.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared with $11.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The decrease was due to a reduction of note repurchases made on our term loan, offset by an increase in our quarterly distribution payment.
We incurred capital expenditures of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 for various maintenance and upgrades. We expect to incur approximately $0.5 million of capital expenditures for the remainder of 2023.
We did not make any equity method investee contributions related to the NLR joint venture for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and we do not anticipate making significant equity contributions to NLR for the remainder of 2023. We anticipate receiving future distributions from NLR as excess cash becomes available.
Term Loan Facility
Green Plains Operating Company has a term loan to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general partnership purposes. The term loan has a maturity date of July 20, 2026. Under the terms of the agreement, Green Plains Partners and its affiliates are allowed to repurchase outstanding notes from the lenders. In conjunction, the partnership repurchased $1.0 million of the outstanding notes during the three months ended March 31, 2022. No outstanding notes were repurchased during the three months ended March 31, 2023. Interest on the term loan is based on three-month LIBOR plus 8.00%, with a 0% LIBOR floor, and is payable on the 15th day of each March, June, September and December. The term loan does not require any principal payments; however, the partnership has the option to prepay $1.5 million per quarter. No principal payments were made during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. The term loan had an outstanding balance of $59.0 million and an interest rate of 13.14%.
Financial covenants of the term loan include a maximum consolidated leverage ratio of no more than 2.50x and a minimum consolidated debt service coverage ratio of no less than 1.10x. The term loan is secured by substantially all of the assets of the partnership.
The administrator of LIBOR ceased publication of the one-week and two-month LIBOR settings immediately following the LIBOR publication on December 31, 2021, and announced that the remaining USD LIBOR settings, including the three-month LIBOR, will cease immediately following the LIBOR publication on June 30, 2023. We use three-month LIBOR as a reference rate for our term loan. Our term loan was amended on April 19, 2023 to change the underlying floating interest rate to the three-month term SOFR rate plus a 0.26161% credit spread adjustment from three-month LIBOR. The impact of the amendment is not material to interest expense.
For more information related to our debt, see Note 3 – Debt to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
Distributions to Unitholders
On February 10, 2023, the partnership distributed $10.8 million to unitholders of record as of February 3, 2023, related to the quarterly cash distribution of $0.455 per unit that was declared on January 19, 2023, for the quarter ended December 31, 2022.
On April 20, 2023, the board of directors of our general partner announced a quarterly cash distribution of $0.455 per unit, or approximately $10.8 million, for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The distribution is payable on May 12, 2023, to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 5, 2023.
Effects of Inflation
We have experienced inflationary impacts on labor costs, wages, components, equipment, other inputs and services across our business and inflation and its impact could escalate in future quarters, many of which are beyond our control.
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Moreover, we have fixed price arrangements with our customers and are not able to pass those costs along in most instances. As such, inflationary pressures could have a material adverse effect on our performance and financial statements.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
In addition to debt, our material future obligations include certain lease agreements associated with our railcar fleet. Aggregate minimum lease payments under these operating lease agreements for future fiscal years as of March 31, 2023 totaled $67.3 million. Refer to Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies included in the notes to consolidated financial statements for more information.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Critical accounting policies relating to leases and impairment of goodwill are impacted significantly by judgments, assumptions and estimates used to prepare our consolidated financial statements. Information about our critical accounting policies and estimates is included in our 2022 annual report.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices. At this time, we conduct all of our business in U.S. dollars and are not exposed to foreign currency risk.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to interest rate risk through our term loan, which bears interest at variable rates. At March 31, 2023, we had $59.0 million outstanding under our term loan. A 10% change in interest rates would affect our interest expense by approximately $0.8 million per year, assuming no changes in the amount outstanding or other variables.
Other details about our outstanding debt are discussed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this report and in our 2022 annual report.
Commodity Price Risk
We do not have any direct exposure to risks associated with fluctuating commodity prices because we do not own the ethanol and other fuels that are stored at our facilities or transported by our railcars and trucks.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure information that must be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required financial disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Under the supervision and participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, management carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2023, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act and concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of our consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
We may be involved in litigation that arises during the ordinary course of business. We are not, however, involved in any material litigation at this time.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Investors should carefully consider the discussion of risks and the other information in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and the discussion of risks and other information in Part I, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” under “Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” of this report. Although we have attempted to discuss key factors, our investors need to be aware that other risks may prove to be important in the future. New risks may emerge at any time and we cannot predict such risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our financial performance. The following risk factor supplements and/or updates risk factors previously disclosed and should be considered in conjunction with the other information included in, or incorporated by reference in, this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
There can be no assurances that we will enter into a definitive agreement with our parent related to its proposal to acquire all of our Common Units that it does not already own, or that we will complete any transaction contemplated by such an agreement.
On May 3, 2023, the board of directors of our general partner received a non-binding proposal from our parent pursuant to which our parent would acquire all of our Common Units that it does not already own. While the board of directors of our general partner has delegated to the Conflicts Committee the authority to evaluate the proposal and the terms of any potential transaction with our parent related to the proposal, there can be no assurances that we will enter into a definitive agreement with our parent related to this transaction. Furthermore, should we enter into a definitive agreement with our parent, we anticipate that the consummation of any potential transaction will be subject to a number of conditions, and there can be no assurances that such conditions will be satisfied or waived or that any potential transaction will be completed in a timely manner or at all.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information.
None.
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Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit | ||||
31.1 | |||||
31.2 | |||||
32.1 | |||||
32.2 | |||||
101 | The following information from Green Plains Partners LP Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023, formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (iv) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | ||||
104 | The cover page from Green Plains Partners LP Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023, formatted in iXBRL. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP | ||||||||
(Registrant) | ||||||||
By: | Green Plains Holdings LLC, its general partner | |||||||
Date: May 4, 2023 | By: | /s/ Todd A. Becker | ||||||
Todd A. Becker | ||||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
(Principal Executive Officer) | ||||||||
Date: May 4, 2023 | By: | /s/ James E. Stark | ||||||
James E. Stark | ||||||||
Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
(Principal Financial Officer) |
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