Renewable Energy Group, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2016 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q



x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2016



¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 001-35397

RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware		26-4785427
(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

416 South Bell Avenue Ames, Iowa		50010
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

(515) 239-8000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES x NO ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data file required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES x NO ¨

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



Large accelerated filer ¨		Accelerated filer x

Non-accelerated filer ¨		Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ¨ NO x

As of April 29, 2016, the registrant had 43,716,170 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)



	March 31, 2016			December 31, 2015
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	164,052		$	47,081
Accounts receivable, net	106,350			310,731
Inventories	133,781			85,890
Prepaid expenses and other assets	43,273			31,882
Total current assets	447,456			475,584
Property, plant and equipment, net	600,530			574,584
Goodwill	16,080			16,080
Intangible assets, net	30,624			30,941
Investments	12,180			8,797
Other assets	11,672			11,819
Restricted cash	105,815			105,815
TOTAL ASSETS	$	1,224,357		$	1,223,620
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Lines of credit	$	2,864		$	23,149
Current maturities of long-term debt	9,109			5,206
Accounts payable	246,580			236,817
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	28,192			28,799
Total current liabilities	286,745			293,971
Unfavorable lease obligation	16,886			17,343
Deferred income taxes	19,020			19,186
Contingent consideration for acquisitions	28,890			26,949
Long-term debt (net of debt issuance costs of $3,817 and $4,105, respectively)	251,154			247,251
Other liabilities	4,856			4,910
Total liabilities	607,551			609,610
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
EQUITY:
Common stock ($.0001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 43,723,893 and 43,837,714 shares outstanding, respectively)	5			4
Common stock—additional paid-in-capital	479,808			474,367
Retained earnings	171,336			169,680
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,430		)	(4,009		)
Treasury stock (3,826,166 and 3,178,372 shares outstanding, respectively)	(34,579		)	(28,762		)
Total equity attributable to the Company's shareholders	614,140			611,280
Non-controlling interest	2,666			2,730
Total equity	616,806			614,010
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	1,224,357		$	1,223,620

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)



	Three months ended
	March 31, 2016			March 31, 2015
REVENUES:
Biomass-based diesel sales	$	247,164		$	221,026
Biomass-based diesel government incentives	58,401			9,788
	305,565			230,814
Services	29			104
	305,594			230,918
COSTS OF GOODS SOLD:
Biomass-based diesel	280,484			242,510
Biomass-based diesel—related parties	—			4,542
Services	2			61
	280,486			247,113
GROSS PROFIT (LOSS)	25,108			(16,195		)
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES	19,777			16,675
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSE	3,926			3,860
GAIN ON INVOLUNTARY CONVERSION	(3,543		)	—
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS	4,948			(36,730		)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET:
Other income (loss), net	(73		)	272
Interest expense	(3,311		)	(2,743		)
	(3,384		)	(2,471		)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	1,564			(39,201		)
INCOME TAX BENEFIT	122			897
NET INCOME (LOSS)	1,686			(38,304		)
LESS—NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST	30			(197		)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY	1,656			(38,107		)
LESS—EFFECT OF PARTICIPATING SHARE-BASED AWARDS	(24		)	—
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$	1,632		$	(38,107	)
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:
BASIC	$	0.04		$	(0.86	)
DILUTED	$	0.04		$	(0.86	)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED TO COMPUTE NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:
BASIC	43,899,084			44,362,637
DILUTED	43,899,084			44,362,637

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(unaudited)

(in thousands)



	Three months ended
	March 31, 2016		March 31, 2015
Net income (loss)	$	1,686	$	(38,304	)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, net of taxes of $0 and $0, respectively	—		9
Foreign currency translation adjustments	1,664		(4,641		)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,664		(4,632		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	3,350		(42,936		)
Less—Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	85		—
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company	$	3,265	$	(42,936	)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except share amounts)



	Company Stockholders’ Equity
	Common Stock Shares		Common Stock		Common Stock - Additional Paid-in Capital		Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Treasury Stock			Noncontrolling Interest			Total
BALANCE, January 1, 2015	44,422,881		$	4	$	453,109	$	321,083		$	(11	)	$	(4,412	)	$	8,889		$	778,662
Issuance of common stock	37,966		—		412		—			—			—			—			412
Treasury stock purchases	(525,281	)	—		—		—			—			(5,000		)	—			$	(5,000	)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	—		—		—		—			—			—			(4,064		)	(4,064		)
Stock compensation expense	—		—		1,080		—			—			—			—			1,080
Comprehensive income items	—		—		—		—			(4,632		)	—			—			(4,632		)
Net loss	—		—		—		(38,107		)	—			—			(197		)	(38,304		)
BALANCE, March 31, 2015	43,935,566		$	4	$	454,601	$	282,976		$	(4,643	)	$	(9,412	)	$	4,628		$	728,154
BALANCE, January 1, 2016	43,837,714		$	4	$	474,367	$	169,680		$	(4,009	)	$	(28,762	)	$	2,730		$	614,010
Issuance of common stock	33,973		—		316		—			—			—			—			316
Issuance of common stock in acquisition	500,000		1		4,049		—			—			—			—			4,050
Treasury stock purchases	(647,794	)	—		—		—			—			(5,817		)	—			(5,817		)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	—		—				—			—			—			(179		)	(179		)
Stock compensation expense	—		—		1,076		—			—			—			—			1,076
Other comprehensive income	—		—		—		—			1,579			—			85			1,664
Net income	—		—		—		1,656			—			—			30			1,686
BALANCE, March 31, 2016	43,723,893		$	5	$	479,808	$	171,336		$	(2,430	)	$	(34,579	)	$	2,666		$	616,806

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

(in thousands)



	Three months ended
	March 31, 2016			March 31, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$	1,686		$	(38,304	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation expense	7,674			5,613
Amortization expense of assets and liabilities, net	161			113
Gain on involuntary conversion	(3,543		)	—
Accretion of convertible note discount	1,203			1,158
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	(15		)	293
Provision for doubtful accounts	(160		)	(816		)
Stock compensation expense	1,076			1,080
Deferred tax benefit	(166		)	(938		)
Other operating activities	(117		)	199
Changes in asset and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Accounts receivable, net	204,628			242,572
Inventories	(45,789		)	(24,123		)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(10,817		)	4,508
Accounts payable	10,008			(20,482		)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(2,543		)	(6,851		)
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	163,286			164,022
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Cash received from maturities of marketable securities	—			13,733
Cash receipts for involuntary conversion	3,543			—
Transfer out of restricted cash	—			12,845
Cash paid for purchase of property, plant and equipment	(14,770		)	(12,178		)
Cash paid for acquisitions and additional interests, net of cash acquired	(12,720		)	(4,064		)
Cash paid for investments	(3,249		)	—
Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities	(27,196		)	10,336
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net repayments on Wells Fargo Revolver	(23,149		)	(15,325		)
Borrowings on other lines of credits	2,820			—
Cash received from notes payable	7,537			—
Cash paid on notes payable	(1,312		)	(1,317		)
Cash paid for debt issuance costs	(112		)	(317		)
Cash paid for treasury stock	(4,873		)	(5,000		)
Cash paid for contingent consideration settlement	(581		)	(1,052		)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(19,670		)	(23,011		)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	116,420			151,347
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, Beginning of period	47,081			63,516
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	551			(1,318		)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, End of period	$	164,052		$	213,545

(continued)

RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

(in thousands)



	Three months ended
	March 31, 2016		March 31, 2015
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION:
Cash paid for income taxes	$	122	$	—
Cash paid for interest	$	1,027	$	715
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Amounts included in period-end accounts payable for:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	$	6,224	$	3,511
Debt issuance cost	$	50	$	28
Incentive stock liability for raw material supply agreement	$	—	$	70
Treasury stock	$	944	$	—
Issuance of common stock for acquisitions	$	4,050	$	—
Contingent consideration for acquisitions	$	4,500	$	—

See "Note 3 - Acquisitions" for noncash items related to the acquisition transactions.

(concluded)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

NOTE 1 — BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND NATURE OF THE BUSINESS

The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Renewable Energy Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company" or "REG"), pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted as permitted by such rules and regulations. All adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, have been included. Management believes that the disclosures are adequate to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented. It is suggested that these interim financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appearing in the Company’s latest annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 14, 2016. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those to be expected for the fiscal year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

As of March 31, 2016, the Company operates a network of twelve biorefineries in North America, which includes eleven operating biomass-based diesel production facilities with aggregate nameplate production capacity of 452 million gallons per year, or mmgy, along with a fermentation facility. The Company's network includes the addition of a 20-million gallon nameplate capacity biomass-based diesel refinery located in DeForest, Wisconsin resulting from its acquisition of the biorefinery and related assets of Sanimax Energy, LLC ("Sanimax Energy") in March 2016. A number of these plants are “multi-feedstock capable” which allows them to use a broad range of lower cost feedstocks, such as inedible corn oil, used cooking oil and inedible animal fats in addition to vegetable oils, such as soybean oil and canola oil.

The Company expanded its business to Europe by acquiring a majority interest in Petrotec AG ("Petrotec") in December 2014. Petrotec is a fully-integrated company that produces biodiesel at its two biorefineries in Emden and Oeding, Germany to sell to the European market.

The biomass-based diesel industry and the Company’s business have benefited from the continuation of certain federal

and state incentives. The federal biodiesel mixture excise tax credit (the "BTC") is in effect throughout 2016 and will expire on December 31, 2016. It is uncertain whether the BTC will be reinstated thereafter. The expiration along with other amendments of any one or more of those laws, could adversely affect the financial results of the Company.

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company has disclosed a summary of the Company's significant accounting policies in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. There have been no material changes from the policies previously disclosed other than those noted below.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are carried at invoiced amount less allowance for doubtful accounts. Management estimates the allowance for doubtful accounts based on existing economic conditions, the financial conditions of customers, and the amount and age of past due accounts. Receivables are considered past due if full payment is not received by the contractual due date. Past due accounts are generally written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts only after reasonable collection attempts have been exhausted. At March 31, 2016, over $231,000 of the receivable amounts outstanding at December 31, 2015 related to the 2015 biodiesel mixture excise tax credit reinstatement were received.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation expense is computed on a straight-line method based upon estimated useful lives of the assets.

In April 2015, the Company experienced a fire at its Geismar facility, resulting in the shutdown of the facility. The Company estimated fixed assets with a net book value of approximately $11,027 were impaired as a result of the fire. As of the date of this report, the Company has received property insurance proceeds of $14,570, of which $11,027 was related to the property damage. The excess of the property insurance proceeds over the net book value of the impaired assets, $3,543, was

recorded as gain on involuntary conversion on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

In September 2015, another fire occurred at the Geismar facility. The Company estimated fixed assets with a net book value of approximately $1,414 were impaired by the September fire. The Company believes it is probable that it will recover all the net book value of the assets damaged by the fire under its insurance policies. As such, a receivable was recorded as an offset to the estimated impairment loss. No impact on earnings was recognized.

Goodwill

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually on July 31 or when impairment indicators exist. Goodwill is allocated and

tested for impairment by reporting units. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had goodwill in only one of its reporting units: Services. The annual impairment test at July 31, 2015 determined that the fair value of the Services reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by approximately 21%. The interim goodwill impairment test as of October 31, 2015 determined that the fair value of the Services reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by 24%. There have been no impairment indicators in the first three months of 2016 that would indicate an additional assessment needs to be performed.

Share Repurchase Programs

In February 2015, the Company's board of directors approved a share repurchase program of up to $30,000 of the Company's shares of common stock. The program is in effect through October 31, 2016. Shares may be repurchased from time to time in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or by other means. The Company accounts for share repurchases using the cost method. Under this method, the cost of the share repurchase is recorded entirely in treasury stock, a contra equity account. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company repurchased shares of Common Stock in the amount of $5,817, of which $944 was paid after March 31, 2016 under this share repurchase program.

In March 2016, the Company's board of directors approved a repurchase program of up to $50,000 of the Company's

shares of common stock and/or convertible notes, in effect through March 5, 2018. Under the program, which is in addition to the $30,000 common stock repurchase program announced in February 2015, the Company may repurchase shares or bonds from time to time in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or by other means. The timing and amount of repurchase transactions will be determined by the Company's management based on its evaluation of market conditions, share price, bond price, legal requirements and other factors. No shares or convertible notes were repurchased under this program during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

New Accounting Standards

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Consideration (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)" that clarifies how an entity should identify the unit of accounting for the principal versus agent evaluation and how it should apply the control principle to certain types of arrangements, such as service transactions. The guidance also re-frames the indicators to focus on evidence that an entity is acting as a principal rather than an agent. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting”. The amendments in this updated guidance include changes to simplify the codification for several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. For public entities, this guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact this new guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 3 — ACQUISITIONS

Sanimax Energy, LLC

On March 15, 2016, the Company acquired fixed assets and inventory from Sanimax Energy, including the 20 mmgy nameplate capacity biomass-based refinery in DeForest, Wisconsin. The Company has not completed its initial accounting of this business combination as the valuation of the real and personal property has not been finalized.

The following table summarizes the consideration paid for Sanimax Energy:



	March 15, 2016
Consideration at fair value for Sanimax:
Cash	$	12,541
Common stock	4,050
Contingent consideration	4,500
Total	$	21,091

The fair value of the 500,000 shares of Common Stock issued was determined using the closing market price of the Company's common shares at the date of acquisition.

REG Madison may pay contingent consideration of up to $5,000 (Earnout Payments) over a seven-year period after the acquisition, subject to achievement of certain milestones related to the biomass-based diesel gallons produced and sold by REG Madison. The Earnout Payments will be payable in cash and cannot exceed $1,700 in any one year period and $5,000 in aggregate. As of March 31, 2016, the Company has recorded a contingent liability of $4,500, approximately $1,231 of which has been classified as current on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired at the acquisition date.



	March 15, 2016
Assets acquired from Sanimax Energy:
Inventory	$	1,591
Property, plant and equipment	19,500
Net identifiable assets acquired	$	21,091

The following pro forma condensed combined results of operations assume that the Sanimax Energy acquisition was completed as of January 1, 2015.



	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016		Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
Revenues	$	314,020	$	237,242
Net income (loss)	1,701		(38,118		)
Basic net income (loss) per share	$	0.04	$	(0.85	)

NOTE 4 — INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of the following:



	March 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Raw materials	$	40,497	$	28,989
Work in process	4,027		3,014
Finished goods	89,257		53,887
Total	$	133,781	$	85,890

NOTE 5 — OTHER ASSETS

Prepaid expense and other assets consist of the following:



	March 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Commodity derivatives and related collateral, net	$	10,828	$	10,097
Prepaid expenses	7,628		8,504
Deposits	3,925		3,824
RIN inventory	15,708		5,656
Taxes receivable	2,625		1,814
Other	2,559		1,987
Total	$	43,273	$	31,882

RIN inventory values were adjusted in the amounts of $158 and $3,027 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, to reflect the lower of cost or market.

Other noncurrent assets consist of the following:



	March 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Spare parts inventory	$	2,922	$	2,922
Deposits	2,280		2,370
Other	6,470		6,527
Total	$	11,672	$	11,819

NOTE 6— INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Intangible assets consist of the following:



	March 31, 2016
	Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Weighted Average Remaining Life
Raw material supply agreement	$	6,230	$	(1,653	)	$	4,577	9.8 years
Renewable hydrocarbon diesel technology	8,300		(1,014		)	7,286		13.3 years
Ground lease	200		(116		)	84		5.6 years
Acquired customer relationships	2,900		(179		)	2,721		9.3 years
Total amortizing intangibles	17,630		(2,962		)	14,668
In-process research and development, indefinite lives	15,956		—			15,956
Total intangible assets	$	33,586	$	(2,962	)	$	30,624



	December 31, 2015
	Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Weighted Average Remaining Life
Raw material supply agreement	$	6,230	$	(1,551	)	$	4,679	10.0 years
Renewable hydrocarbon diesel technology	8,300		(876		)	7,424		13.5 years
Ground lease	200		(112		)	88		5.9 years
Acquired customer relationships	2,900		(106		)	2,794		9.6 years
Total amortizing intangibles	17,630		(2,645		)	14,985
In-process research and development, indefinite lives	15,956		—			15,956
Total intangible assets	$	33,586	$	(2,645	)	$	30,941

The Company recorded intangible amortization expense of $317 for the three months ended March 31, 2016, and $237 for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

The estimated intangible asset amortization expense for the remainder of fiscal year 2016 through fiscal year 2022 and thereafter is as follows:



April 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016	$	972
2017	1,302
2018	1,309
2019	1,315
2020	1,322
2021	1,328
2022 and thereafter	7,120
Total	$	14,668

NOTE 7 — DEBT

The Company’s debt is as follows:



	March 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
2.75% Convertible Senior Notes, $143,750 face amount, due in June 2019	$	127,255	$	126,053
REG Geismar GOZone bonds, secured, variable interest rate of daily LIBOR, due in October 2033	100,000		100,000
REG Danville term loan, secured, variable interest rate of LIBOR plus 4%, due in December 2017	6,192		—
REG Newton term loan, secured, variable interest rate of LIBOR plus 4%, due in December 2018	16,106		16,800
REG Mason City term loan, fixed interest rate of 5%, due in July 2019	3,445		3,675
REG Ames term loans, secured, fixed interest rates of 3.5% and 4.25%, due in January 2018 and December 2019, respectively	3,818		3,901
REG Grays Harbor term loan, variable interest of minimum of 3.5% or Prime Rate plus 0.25%, due in May 2022	5,225		5,225
Other	2,039		908
Total debt before debt issuance costs	264,080		256,562
Less: current portion of long-term debt	9,109		5,206
Less: Debt issuance costs (net of accumulated amortization of $2,515 and $2,296, respectively	3,817		4,105
Total long-term debt	$	251,154	$	247,251

On October 31, 2015, REG Danville, LLC entered into an Second Amended and Restated Loan Agreement with Fifth Third Bank regarding the construction/term loan (the "Fifth Third Construction/Term Loan"). The renewed Fifth Third Construction/Term Loan increased the principal amount of the Construction/Term Loan to $12,000 and had a three year term with the maturity of the loan being extended to December 19, 2017. The loan requires monthly principal payments of $212 and interest to be charged using LIBOR plus 4% per annum. The loan agreement contains various loan covenants. As of March 31, 2016, there was $6,192 outstanding under the Fifth Third Construction/Term Loan.

Lines of Credit



	March 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Amount outstanding under lines of credit	$	2,864	$	23,149
Maximum available to be borrowed under lines of credit	$	60,205	$	23,067

On March 16, 2016, REG Energy Services, LLC ("REG Energy Services") entered into an operating and revolving line of credit agreement (the "Agreement") with Bankers Trust Company (“Bankers Trust”). Pursuant to the Agreement, Bankers Trust agreed to provide an operating and revolving line of credit (the "Line of Credit") to REG Energy Services in the amount of $30,000 . Amounts outstanding under the Agreement bear variable interest as stipulated in the Agreement. The Agreement contains various loan covenants that restrict REG Energy Services’ ability to take certain actions, including prohibiting it in certain circumstances from making payments to the Company. In addition, the Line of Credit is secured by substantially all of REG Energy Services’ accounts receivable and inventory.

NOTE 8 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company reassesses its related parties at reporting dates and has determined that West Central Cooperative, as known as Landus Cooperative ("Landus") is no longer a related party as Landus no longer holds ten percent or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock nor a board seat on the Company board for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Transactions with Landus prior to the Company's determination that Landus was no longer a related party amounted to $4,542 for the three months ended March 31, 2015. This amount was included in the Costs of goods sold - Biomass-based diesel on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

NOTE 9 — DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company enters into heating oil and soybean oil futures, swaps and options ("commodity contract derivatives") to reduce the risk of price volatility related to anticipated purchases of feedstock raw materials and to protect gross profit margins from potentially adverse effects of price volatility on biomass-based diesel sales where prices are set at a future date. All of the Company’s commodity contract derivatives are designated as non-hedge derivatives and recorded at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Unrealized gains and losses are recognized as a component of biomass-based diesel costs of goods sold reflected in current results of operations. As of March 31, 2016, the net notional volumes of heating oil and soybean oil covered under the open commodity derivative contracts were approximately 98 million gallons and 40 million pounds, respectively.

The Company offsets the fair value amounts recognized for its commodity contract derivatives with cash collateral with the same counterparty under a master netting agreement. The net position is presented within prepaid and other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table sets forth the fair value of the Company's commodity contract derivatives and amounts that offset within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:



	March 31, 2016						December 31, 2015
	Assets			Liabilities			Assets			Liabilities
Gross amounts of derivatives recognized at fair value	$	2,408		$	6,921		$	4,644		$	185
Cash collateral	15,341			—			5,638			—
Total gross amount recognized	17,749			6,921			10,282			185
Gross amounts offset	(6,921		)	(6,921		)	(185		)	(185		)
Net amount reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheet	$	10,828		$	—		$	10,097		$	—

The following table sets forth the commodity contract derivatives losses included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:



	Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in income	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016			Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
Commodity derivatives	Cost of goods sold – Biomass-based diesel	$	(4,269	)	$	(623	)

NOTE 10 — FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:


•	Level 1 — Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.


•	Level 2 — Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-derived valuations, in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets.


•	Level 3 — Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

A summary of assets (liabilities) measured at fair value is as follows:



	As of March 31, 2016
	Total			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
Commodity contract derivatives	$	(4,513	)	$	(3,350	)	$	(1,163	)	$	—
Contingent considerations for acquisitions	(45,616		)	—			—			(45,616		)
	$	(50,129	)	$	(3,350	)	$	(1,163	)	$	(45,616	)



	As of December 31, 2015
	Total			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Commodity contract derivatives	$	4,459		$	2,196	$	2,263	$	—
Contingent considerations for acquisitions	(41,712		)	—		—		(41,712		)
	$	(37,253	)	$	2,196	$	2,263	$	(41,712	)

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):



	Contingent Consideration for Acquisitions
	March 31, 2016			March 31, 2015
Balance at beginning of period	$	41,712		$	39,319
Fair value of contingent consideration at measurement date	4,500			—
Change in estimates included in earnings	(15		)	293
Settlements	(581		)	(1,052		)
Balance at end of period	$	45,616		$	38,560

The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments, which are not recorded at fair value, are as follows:



	As of March 31, 2016						As of December 31, 2015
	Asset (Liability) Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Asset (Liability) Carrying Amount			Fair Value
Financial liabilities:
Debt and lines of credit	$	(263,127	)	$	(262,664	)	$	(279,711	)	$	(275,123	)

The carrying amounts reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values. Money market funds are included in cash and cash equivalents on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company used the following methods and assumptions to estimate fair value of its financial instruments:

Commodity derivatives: The instruments held by the Company consist primarily of futures contracts, swap agreements, purchased put options and written call options. The fair value of contracts based on quoted prices of identical assets in an active exchange-traded market is reflected in Level 1. Contract fair value that is determined based on quoted prices of similar contracts in over-the-counter markets is reflected in Level 2.

Contingent consideration for acquisitions: The fair value of the contingent consideration regarding REG Life Sciences, LLC ("REG Life Sciences") is determined using an expected present value technique. Expected cash flows are determined using the probability weighted-average of possible outcomes that would occur should achievement of certain milestones related to the development and commercialization of products from REG Life Sciences' technology occur. There is no observable market data available to use in valuing the contingent consideration; therefore, the Company developed its own assumptions related to the expected future delivery of product enhancements to estimate the fair value of these liabilities. An 8.0% discount rate is used to estimate the fair value of the expected payments.

The fair value of all other contingent consideration is determined using an expected present value technique. Expected cash flows are determined using the probability weighted-average of possible outcomes that would occur should the achievement of certain milestones related to the production and/or sale of biomass-based diesel at the

specific production facility. A discount rate ranging from 5.8% to 10.0% is used to estimate the fair value of the expected payments.

Debt and lines of credit: The fair value of long-term debt and lines of credit was established using discounted cash flow calculations and current market rates reflecting Level 2 inputs.

NOTE 11 — NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

Basic net income (loss) per share is presented in conformity with the two-class method required for participating securities. Participating securities include, or have included, Series B Preferred Stock and restricted stock units ("RSUs").

Under the two-class method, net income is reduced for distributed and undistributed dividends earned in the current period. The remaining earnings are then allocated to Common Stock and the participating securities. The Company calculates the effects of participating securities on diluted earnings per share ("EPS") using both the “if-converted or treasury stock” and "two-class" methods and discloses the method which results in a more dilutive effect. The effects of Common Stock options, warrants, stock appreciation rights and convertible notes on diluted EPS are calculated using the treasury stock method unless the effects are anti-dilutive to EPS.

The following potentially dilutive weighted average securities were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders during the periods presented as the effect was anti-dilutive:



	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016	Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
Options to purchase common stock	87,026	87,026
Stock appreciation rights	2,350,368	2,123,770
Convertible notes	10,838,218	10,838,218
Total	13,275,612	13,049,014

The following table presents the calculation of diluted net loss per share:



	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016		Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company’s common stockholders - Basic	$	1,632	$	(38,107	)
Less: effect of participating securities	—		—
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders - Dilutive	$	1,632	$	(38,107	)
Shares:
Weighted-average shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per share	43,899,084		44,362,637
Adjustment to reflect warrants to purchase common stock	—		—
Adjustment to reflect stock appreciation right conversions	—		—
Weighted-average shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per share	43,899,084		44,362,637
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:
Diluted	$	0.04	$	(0.86	)

NOTE 12 — REPORTABLE SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

The Company reports its reportable segments based on products and services provided to customers. The Company re-assesses its reportable segment on an annual basis. During the fourth quarter of 2015, due to the increasing activities surrounding its renewable chemicals business, the Company changed the composition of its operating segments from two reportable segments to three reportable segments by presenting Renewable Chemicals separate from Biomass-based Diesel. The new reportable segments generally align the Company's external financial reporting segments with its new internal operating segments, which are based on its internal organizational structure, operating decisions, and performance assessment.

As such, the Company's reportable segments at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include Biomass-based Diesel, Services, Renewable Chemicals and Corporate and other activities. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. All prior period disclosures below have been recast to present results on a comparable basis.

The Biomass-based Diesel segment processes waste vegetable oils, animal fats, virgin vegetable oils and other feedstocks and methanol into biomass-based diesel. The Biomass-based Diesel segment also includes the Company’s purchases and resale of biomass-based diesel produced by third parties. Revenue is derived from the purchases and sales of biomass-based diesel, RINs and raw material feedstocks acquired from third parties, sales of biomass-based diesel produced under toll manufacturing arrangements with third party facilities, sales of processed biomass-based diesel from Company facilities, related by-products and renewable energy government incentive payments, in the U.S. and internationally.

The Services segment offers services for managing the construction of biomass-based diesel production facilities and managing ongoing operations of third party plants and collects fees related to the services provided. The Company does not allocate items that are of a non-operating nature or corporate expenses to the business segments. Revenues are recorded by the Services segment at cost.

The Renewable Chemicals segment consists of research and development activities involving the production of renewable chemicals, additional advanced biofuels and other products from the Company's proprietary microbial fermentation process and the operations of a demonstration scale facility located in Okeechobee, Florida. No revenues were recorded by the Renewable Chemicals segment during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

The Corporate and Other segment includes trading activities related to petroleum-based heating oil and diesel fuel as well as corporate activities, which consist of corporate office expenses such as compensation, benefits, occupancy and other administrative costs, including management service expenses. Corporate and other also includes income/(expense) not associated with the reportable segments, such as corporate general and administrative expenses, shared service expenses, interest expense and interest income, all reflected on an accrual basis of accounting. In addition, corporate and other includes cash and other assets not associated with the reportable segments, including investments. Intersegment revenues are reported by the Services and Corporate and Other segments.

The following table represents the significant items by reportable segment:



	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016			Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
Net revenues:
Biomass-based Diesel (includes Petrotec's net sales of $36,995 and $29,993, respectively)	$	292,762		$	224,188
Services	20,737			15,471
Corporate and Other	16,988			7,342
Intersegment revenues	(24,893		)	(16,083		)
	$	305,594		$	230,918
Income (loss) before income taxes:
Biomass-based Diesel (includes Petrotec's income (loss) of $407 and ($1,048), respectively)	$	12,860		$	(31,676	)
Services	573			50
Renewable Chemicals	(4,681		)	(3,891		)
Corporate and other	(7,188		)	(3,684		)
	$	1,564		$	(39,201	)
Depreciation and amortization expense, net:
Biomass-based Diesel (includes Petrotec's amounts of $851 and $687, respectively)	$	6,929		$	4,971
Services	96			62
Renewable Chemicals	414			343
Corporate and other	396			350
	$	7,835		$	5,726
Cash paid for purchases of property, plant and equipment:
Biomass-based Diesel (includes Petrotec's amounts of $347 and $318, respectively)	$	13,604		$	10,410
Services	1,166			722
Renewable Chemicals	—			140
Corporate and other	—			906
	$	14,770		$	12,178



	As of March 31, 2016			As of December 31, 2015
Goodwill:
Services	$	16,080		$	16,080

Assets:
Biomass-based Diesel (including Petrotec's assets of $52,221 and $45,471, respectively)	$	1,003,250		$	1,048,923
Services	49,636			60,308
Renewable Chemicals	24,150			23,872
Corporate and other	366,739			308,782
Intersegment eliminations	$	(219,418	)	$	(218,265	)
	$	1,224,357		$	1,223,620

Geographic Information:

The following geographic data include net sales attributed to the countries based on the location of the subsidiary making the sale and long-lived assets based on physical location. Long-lived assets represent the net book value of property, plant and equipment.



	As of Three Months Ended March 31, 2016		As of Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
Net revenues:
United States	$	268,599	$	200,925
Foreign	36,995		29,993
	$	305,594	$	230,918



	As of As of, March 31, 2016		As of As of, December 31, 2015
Long-lived assets:
United States	$	579,544	$	553,987
Foreign	20,986		20,597
	$	600,530	$	574,584

NOTE 13 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company is involved in legal proceedings in the normal course of business. The Company currently believes that any ultimate liability arising out of such proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.



ITEM 2.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This report contains forward-looking statements regarding Renewable Energy Group, Inc., or “we,” “our” or “the Company” that involve risks and uncertainties such as anticipated financial performance, business prospects, technological developments, products, possible strategic initiatives and similar matters. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “might,” “objective,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “plan,” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about facilities currently under development progressing to the construction and operational stages, including planned capital expenditures and our ability to obtain financing for such construction; existing or proposed legislation affecting the biomass-based diesel industry, including governmental incentives and tax credits; our utilization of forward contracting and hedging strategies to minimize feedstock and other input price risk; anticipated future revenue sources from our operational management and facility construction services; the expected effect of current and future environmental laws and regulations on our business and financial condition; our ability to renew existing and expired contracts at similar or more favorable terms; expected technological advances in biomass-based diesel production methods; our competitive advantage relating to input costs relative to our competitors; the market for biomass-based diesel and potential biomass-based diesel consumers; our ability to further develop our financial, managerial and other internal controls and reporting systems to accommodate future growth; expectations regarding the realization of deferred tax assets and the establishment and maintenance of tax reserves and anticipated trends; expectations regarding our expenses and sales; anticipated cash needs and estimates regarding capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and challenges in our business and the biomass-based diesel market.

These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those risks discussed in Item 1A Part II in this Quarterly

Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2016. We encourage you to read this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in conjunction with the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes. Forward-looking statements contained in this report present management’s views only as of the date of this report. Except as required under applicable law, we do not intend to issue updates concerning any future revisions of management’s views to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report.

Overview

We are a company focused on providing cleaner, lower carbon intensity fuel products and related services while also providing conventional fuel products and related services. Today, we principally generate revenue as a leading North American advanced biofuels producer. We are currently the largest producer of biomass-based diesel in the United States. We utilize a nationwide production, distribution and logistics system as part of an integrated value chain model to focus on converting natural fats, oils and greases into advanced biofuels. We are also engaged in research and development efforts focused on the conversion of diverse feedstocks into renewable chemicals. We own and operate 12 North American biorefineries, which include 11 biomass-based diesel, or biodiesel and renewable hydrocarbon diesel, production facilities with aggregate nameplate production capacity of 452 million gallons per year, or mmgy, along with one fermentation facility.

We are a lower-cost biomass-based diesel producer. We primarily produce our biomass-based diesel from a wide variety of lower cost feedstocks, including inedible corn oil, used cooking oil and inedible animal fat. We also produce biomass-based diesel from virgin vegetable oils, which are more widely available and tend to be higher in price. We believe our ability to process a wide variety of feedstocks provides us with a cost advantage over many biomass-based diesel producers, particularly those that rely primarily on higher cost virgin vegetable oils, such as soybean oil or canola oil.

In 2014, we acquired a development stage industrial biotechnology business focusing on microbial fermentation to develop and produce renewable chemicals, fuels and other products.

We sell petroleum-based heating oil and diesel fuel, which enables us to offer additional biofuel blends, while expanding our customer base. We sell heating oil and ultra-low sulfur diesel, or ULSD, at terminals throughout the northeastern U.S. as well as BioHeat® blended fuel at one of our existing Northeastern terminal locations. In 2015, we expanded our sales of additional biofuel blends to Midwest terminal locations and look to potentially expand to other areas across North America.

We acquired a 75 mmgy nameplate capacity renewable hydrocarbon diesel biorefinery located in Geismar, Louisiana in June 2014. We began production at the Geismar facility in October 2014 after our completion of certain upgrades. The facility was idle again beginning in April 2015 while repairs were made related to the two separate plant fires that occurred in April and September 2015. The facility came back online in early March 2016.

We also expanded our business internationally by acquiring a majority interest in Petrotec AG, or Petrotec, in December 2014. During 2015 and the first three months of 2016, we acquired additional shares in Petrotec and at March 31, 2016, we owned approximately 88% of Petrotec's outstanding shares. Petrotec is a fully-integrated company utilizing used cooking oil and other waste feedstocks to produce biomass-based diesel at its two biorefineries in Emden and Oeding, Germany. Petrotec’s nameplate production capacity is approximately 50 mmgy.

In August 2015, we acquired substantially all of the assets of the renamed REG Grays Harbor, LLC entity, including a 100 mmgy nameplate biorefinery and terminal at the Port of Grays Harbor, Washington. This acquisition expanded our production fleet to the west coast of the United States. The Grays Harbor location includes 18 million gallons of storage capacity and a terminal that can accommodate feedstock intake and fuel delivery on deep-water PANAMAX class vessels as well as possessing significant rail and truck transport capabilities. To date, the production facility's primary feedstock has been canola oil sourced nearby in the Pacific Northwest.

In March 2016, we further expanded our total production capacity by acquiring Sanimax Energy LLC's, or Sanimax Energy, 20 mmgy nameplate biodiesel refinery located in DeForest, Wisconsin. The renamed REG Madison, LLC produces biodiesel from lower cost, lower carbon intensity feedstocks including yellow grease, rendered animal fats, and inedible corn oil, in addition to refined vegetable oils using the same REG Seneca, LLC patented and proven high free fatty acid processing technology as the Company’s Seneca, Illinois plant. The facility has both truck and rail capabilities.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, we sold 98 million total gallons, including 11 million gallons of biomass-based diesel that we purchased from third parties and resold, 10 million international biomass-based diesel gallons from our majority owned investment in Petrotec and 12 million petroleum-based diesel gallons. During 2015, we sold a total of 375 million total gallons, including 40 million gallons of biomass-based diesel we purchased from third parties and resold, 40 million international biomass-based diesel gallons and 30 million petroleum-based diesel gallons.

We re-assess our reportable segments on an annual basis. Prior to 2015, our businesses were organized into two reportable segments - the Biomass-based Diesel segment and the Services segment. As a result of the increased activities surrounding our renewable chemicals business, we began reporting in 2015 a new segment - Renewable Chemicals, which was previously

included in the Biomass-based Diesel segment. Through March 31, 2016, we derived revenues only in the Biomass-based Diesel segment and Services segment, and derived no revenues in the Renewable Chemicals segment.

Biomass-based diesel Segment

Our Biomass-based diesel segment, as reported herein, includes:


•	the operations of the following biomass-based diesel production facilities:


•	a 12 mmgy nameplate biomass-based diesel production facility located in Ralston, Iowa;


•	a 35 mmgy nameplate biomass-based diesel production facility located near Houston, Texas;


•	a 45 mmgy nameplate biomass-based diesel production facility located in Danville, Illinois;


•	a 30 mmgy nameplate biomass-based diesel production facility located in Newton, Iowa;


•	a 60 mmgy nameplate biomass-based diesel production facility located in Seneca, Illinois;


•	a 30 mmgy nameplate biomass-based diesel production facility located near Albert Lea, Minnesota;


•	a 15 mmgy nameplate biomass-based diesel production facility located in New Boston, Texas;


•	a 30 mmgy nameplate biomass-based diesel production facility located in Mason City, Iowa;


•	a 75 mmgy nameplate renewable hydrocarbon diesel production facility located in Geismar, Louisiana;


•	a 27 mmgy nameplate biomass-based diesel production facility located in Emden, Germany;


•	a 23 mmgy nameplate biomass-based diesel production facility located in Oeding, Germany;


•	a 100 mmgy nameplate biomass-based diesel production facility located in Grays Harbor, Washington; and


•	a 20 mmgy nameplate biomass-based diesel production facility located in DeForest, Wisconsin, since its acquisition in March 2016.


•	purchases and resale of biomass-based diesel, petroleum-based diesel, Renewable Identification Numbers ("RINs") and Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits, and raw material feedstocks acquired from third parties;


•	sales of biomass-based diesel produced under toll manufacturing arrangements with third party facilities using our feedstocks; and


•	incentives received from federal and state programs for renewable fuels.

We derive a small portion of our revenues from the sale of glycerin, free fatty acids and other co-products of the biomass-based diesel production process. In 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2016, our revenues from the sale of co-products were less than five percent of our total Biomass-based diesel segment revenues. During 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 , revenues from the sale of petroleum-based heating oil and diesel fuel acquired from third parties, along with the sale of these items further blended with biodiesel produced at wholly owned facilities or purchased from third parties, were less than five percent of our total revenues.

In accordance with EPA regulations, we generate 1.5 to 1.7 RINs for each gallon of biomass-based diesel we produce. RINs are used to track compliance with RFS2 using the EPA moderated transaction system, or EMTS. RFS2 allows us to attach between zero and 2.5 RINs to any gallon of biomass-based diesel we sell. When we attach 1.5 to 2.5 RINs to a sale of biomass-based diesel gallons, a portion of our selling price for a gallon of biomass-based diesel is generally attributable to RFS2 compliance; however no cost is allocated to the RINs generated by our biomass-based diesel production as RINs are a form of government incentive and not a result of the physical attributes of the biomass-based diesel production. In addition, RINs, once obtained through the production and sales of gallons of biomass-based diesel, may be separated by the acquirer and sold separately. From time to time, we may obtain these RINs from third parties for resale, and the value of these RINs is reflected in “Prepaid expenses and other assets” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. At each balance sheet date, this RIN inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market and resulting adjustments are reflected in our cost of goods sold for the period. The cost of RINs obtained from third parties is determined using the average cost method. Because we do not allocate costs to RINs generated by our biomass-based diesel production, fluctuations in the value of our RIN inventory represent fluctuations in the value of RINs we have obtained from third parties.

Services Segment

Our Services segment includes:


•	biomass-based diesel facility management and operational services, whereby we provide day-to-day management and operational services to biomass-based diesel production facilities; and


•	construction management services, whereby we act as the construction management and general contractor for the construction of biomass-based diesel production facilities.

During recent years, we have utilized our construction management expertise internally to upgrade our facilities, such as Albert Lea, New Boston, Mason City and Newton. During 2015, we began construction on a planned $31 million upgrade to our Danville facility and spent over $37 million related to repairs and upgrade projects at our Geismar facility, most of which was due to damages from fires in April and September 2015. The Geismar facility came back on line in early March 2016. Demand for our construction management and facility management and operational services depend on capital spending by potential customers and existing customers, which is directly affected by trends in the biomass-based diesel industry. We have not received any orders or provided services to outside parties for new facility construction services since 2009.

Renewable Chemicals Segment

Our Renewable Chemicals segment includes:


•	research and development activities focusing on microbial fermentation to develop and produce renewable chemicals, additional advanced biofuels and other products


•	the operations of a demonstration scale fermentation facility located in Okeechobee, Florida since its acquisition in January 2014.

We did not recognize any revenue from our Renewable Chemical segment during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. In January 2016, ExxonMobil, a global leader in advanced biofuels research, announced an agreement with us to study the production of biodiesel by fermenting renewable cellulosic sugars from sources such as agricultural waste. The agreement is between ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company and REG Life Sciences, LLC ("REG Life Sciences"). We have developed a patented technology that uses microbes to convert sugars to biodiesel in an on-step fermentation process similar to ethanol manufacturing. We expect our research and development expense associated with these programs to increase in future periods.

Factors Influencing Our Results of Operations

The principal factors affecting our operations are the market prices for biomass-based diesel and the feedstocks used to produce biomass-based diesel, as well as governmental programs designed to create incentives or requirements for the production and use of biomass-based diesel.

Governmental programs favoring biomass-based diesel production and use

Biomass-based diesel has historically been more expensive than petroleum-based diesel, excluding biomass-based diesel incentives and credits. The biomass-based diesel industry’s growth has largely been the result of federal and state programs that require or incentivize biomass-based diesel, which allows biomass-based diesel to compete with petroleum-based diesel on price.

On July 1, 2010, RFS2 was implemented, stipulating volume requirements for the amount of biomass-based diesel and other advanced biofuels that must be utilized in the United States each year. Under RFS2, Obligated Parties, including petroleum refiners and fuel importers, must show compliance with these standards. Currently, biodiesel and renewable hydrocarbon diesel RINs meets three categories of an Obligated Party’s annual renewable fuel required volume obligation, or RVO—biomass-based diesel, undifferentiated advanced biofuel and undifferentiated renewable fuel. On November 30, 2015, the EPA issued the final 2014-2016 RVO targets whereby the biomass-based diesel volumes were set at 1.63 billion gallons, 1.73 billion gallons, 1.90 billion gallons for 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively. In addition, for 2017, the EPA set the biomass-based diesel target at 2 billion gallons. Our sales volumes and revenues have benefited from our increased production capacity, as well as demand from the implementation of RFS2.

Volumes of biomass-based diesel produced and imported into the United States, in general, increased each year from 2010 to 2014. Based upon the RVO targets established by the EPA, volumes for 2015 through 2017 are expected to grow. According to EMTS data, 1.75 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel was produced and imported into the U.S. in 2014. In 2015, according to EMTS data, 1.81 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel was produced and/or imported into the U.S. For the first three months of 2016, according to EMTS data, 0.42 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel was produced and/or imported into the U.S., compared to 0.31 billion for the same period in 2015.

The federal biodiesel mixture excise tax credit, or the BTC, has generally provided a $1.00 refundable tax credit per gallon to the first blender of biomass-based diesel with petroleum-based diesel fuel. The BTC was established on January 1, 2005 and existed until it was allowed to lapse on January 1, 2010. Thereafter, the BTC was periodically reinstated by Congress both prospectively and retroactively, and then again allowed to lapse. For instance, Congress reinstated the BTC in December 2010, covering 2010 retroactively and 2011 prospectively, and allowed it to lapse at the end of 2011. On January 2, 2013, over a full year following its previous expiration, Congress again reinstated the BTC covering 2012 retroactively and 2013 prospectively. The credit lapsed a third time on January 1, 2014 and was reinstated almost one year later on December 19, 2014, covering only 2014 retroactively. Most recently, the credit was reinstated on December 18, 2015, covering 2015

retroactively and 2016 prospectively. As a result, we recognized the related BTC revenue for 2015 in the fourth quarter of that year. While in general the Company has not historically offered sales incentives to customers, the expected reinstatement of the federal biodiesel tax credit led to the Company and other market participants entering into agreements with both customers and vendors throughout the year to capture the credit when or if reinstated. The impacts of the agreements with customers are recorded net as adjustments to Biomass-based diesel sales, whereas agreements with vendors are recorded net as adjustments to Biomass-based diesel costs of goods sold on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As a result of the reinstatement of the BTC, in combination with these agreements, we recognized a net benefit of $95.0 million in 2015. It is uncertain whether the BTC will be reinstated after 2016 and if reinstated, whether it would be reinstated retroactively. The lapsing or modification of the BTC or enactment of a different incentive program could adversely affect our future financial results.

Biomass-based diesel and feedstock price fluctuations

Our operating results generally reflect the relationship between the price of biomass-based diesel, including credits and incentives and the price of feedstocks used to produce biomass-based diesel.

Biomass-based diesel is a low carbon, renewable alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuel and is primarily sold to the end user after it has been blended with petroleum-based diesel fuel. Biomass-based diesel prices have historically been heavily influenced by petroleum-based diesel fuel prices. Accordingly, biomass-based diesel prices have generally been impacted by the same factors that affect petroleum prices, such as crude oil supply and demand balance, worldwide economic conditions, wars and other political events, OPEC production quotas, changes in refining capacity and natural disasters.

Regulatory and legislative factors also influence the price of biomass-based diesel. Biomass-based diesel RIN pricing, a value component that was introduced via RFS2 in July 2010, has had a significant impact on our biomass-based diesel pricing. During 2013, the value of RINs, as reported by OPIS, have contributed to the average B100 spot price of a gallon of biomass-based diesel, as reported by The Jacobsen, and range from a low of $0.35 per gallon, or 9%, in October to a high of $2.20, or 43% per gallon in January. During 2014, the value of RINs, as reported by OPIS, have contributed to the average B100 spot price of a gallon of biomass-based diesel, as reported by The Jacobsen, from a low of $0.64 per gallon, or 19%, in January to a high of $1.15, or 34%, per gallon in December. During 2015, the value of RINs, as reported by OPIS, contributed to the average B100 spot price of a gallon of biomass-based diesel, as reported by The Jacobsen, from a low of $0.58 per gallon, or 23%, in September to a high of $1.55, or 53%, per gallon in January. On November 30, 2015, the EPA issued the final 2014-2016 RFS rules whereby the biomass-based diesel volumes were set at 1.63 billion gallons, 1.73 billion gallons, 1.90 billion gallons for 2014 to 2016, respectively. In addition, for 2017, the EPA set the biomass-based diesel target at 2 billion gallons. For the first three months of 2016, the value of RINs, as reported by OPIS, as a percentage of the average B100 spot price of a gallon of biomass-based diesel remained fairly stable, from a low of $1.05 or 38% in January to a high of $1.20 or 42% in February.

The changes in the value of RINs during the first three months of 2016 resulted in a $0.2 million write-down to lower of cost or market on the RIN inventory acquired from third party transactions that occurred throughout the period. See “Note 5 – Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets” to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. We enter into forward contracts to sell RINs and we use risk management position limits to manage RIN exposure. Because of EPA rules limiting the amount of assigned RINs we can hold at any one time, the value of these assigned RINs held in inventory has not had a material effect on margins from period to period.

During 2015, feedstock expense accounted for 78% of our production cost, while methanol and chemical catalysts expense accounted for 5% and 4% of our costs of goods sold, respectively.

Feedstocks for biomass-based diesel production, such as inedible corn oil, used cooking oil, inedible animal fat and soybean oil are commodities and market prices for them will be affected by a wide range of factors unrelated to the price of biomass-based diesel and petroleum-based diesel fuels. The following table outlines some of the factors influencing supply and price for each feedstock:



Feedstock		Factors Influencing Supply and Price
Inedible Corn Oil		Demand for inedible corn oil from renewable fuel and other markets
		Ethanol production
		Export demand
		Extraction system yield
		Implementation of inedible corn oil separation systems into existing and new ethanol facilities
		Implementation of co-located biodiesel/renewable diesel plants with ethanol facilities
		Feed demand
		New or expected biodiesel capacity
Used Cooking Oil		Biomass-based diesel demand
		Feed demand
		Export demand
		Population
		Number of restaurants in the vicinity of collection facilities and terminals which is dependent on population density
		Cooking methods and eating habits, which can be impacted by the economy
Inedible Animal Fat		Feed demand
		Export demand
		Number of slaughter kills in the United States
		Demand for inedible animal fat from other markets
Canola Oil		Export demand
		Demand for canola oil for food use
		Canola crush margin
		Weather conditions
		Biomass-based diesel demand
		Canola meal demand
		Crop disease
Soybean Oil		Export demand
		Weather conditions
		Soybean meal demand
		South American crop production
		Palm oil supply
		Farmer planting decisions
		Government policies and subsidies
		Crop disease
		Biomass-based diesel demand

During 2015, 85% of our feedstocks were comprised of inedible corn oil, used cooking oil and inedible animal fats with the remainder coming from refined vegetable oil.

The graph below illustrates the spread between the cost of producing one gallon of biodiesel made from soybean oil to the cost of producing one gallon of biodiesel made from a lower cost feedstock from December 2011 to March 31, 2016. The results were derived using assumed conversion factors for the yield of each feedstock and subtracting the cost of producing one gallon of biodiesel made from each respective lower cost feedstock from the cost of producing one gallon of biodiesel made from soybean oil.


(1)	Used cooking oil prices are based on the monthly average of the daily low sales price of Missouri River yellow grease as reported by The Jacobsen (based on 8.5 pounds per gallon).


(2)	Inedible corn oil prices are reported as the monthly average of the daily distillers’ corn oil market values delivered to Illinois as reported by The Jacobsen (based on 8.2 pounds per gallon).


(3)	Choice white grease prices are based on the monthly average of the daily low prices of Missouri River choice white grease as reported by The Jacobsen (based on 8.0 pounds per gallon).


(4)	Soybean oil (crude) prices are based on the monthly average of the daily closing sale price of the nearby soybean oil contract as reported by CBOT (based on 7.5 pounds per gallons).

Our results of operations generally will benefit when the spread between biomass-based diesel prices and feedstock prices widens and will be harmed when this spread narrows. The following graph shows feedstock cost data for choice white grease and soybean oil on a per gallon basis compared to the per gallon sale price data for biodiesel, and the spread between biodiesel and each of soybean oil and choice white grease, from December 2011 to March 31, 2016.


(1)	Biodiesel prices are based on the monthly average of the midpoint of the high and low prices of B100 (Upper Midwest) as reported by The Jacobsen.


(2)	Soybean oil (crude) prices are based on the monthly average of the daily closing sale price of the nearby soybean oil contract as reported by CBOT (based on 7.5 pounds per gallon).


(3)	Choice white grease prices are based on the monthly average of the daily low price of Missouri River choice white grease as reported by The Jacobsen (based on 8.0 pounds per gallon).


(4)	Spread between biodiesel price and choice white grease price.


(5)	Spread between biodiesel price and soybean oil (crude) price.

In the first quarter of 2016, energy prices started to reverse the continuous declining trend throughout 2015, mainly driven by a moderate rebound in the crude oil and energy prices. Feedstock prices also trended higher in the first three months of 2016, led by the tightness in the palm oil market and strong biodiesel demand for fats and inedible corn oil. US cattle slaughter numbers continued at a historically low rate as a result of heifers being held back for breeding rather than sent to market. Hog slaughter was consistent with the 2015's number, but stayed at a historically high level.

Risk Management

The profitability of the biomass-based diesel production business largely depends on the spread between prices for feedstocks and biomass-based diesel, including RINs, each of which is subject to fluctuations due to market factors and each of which is not significantly correlated. Adverse price movements for these commodities directly affect our operating results. We attempt to protect operating margins by entering into risk management contracts that mitigate price volatility of our feedstocks, such as inedible corn oil, used cooking oil, inedible animal fat, soybean oil and energy prices. We create offsetting positions by using a combination of forward fixed-price physical purchases and sales contracts on feedstock and biomass-based diesel, including risk management futures contracts, swaps and options primarily on heating oil and soybean oil; however, the extent to which we engage in risk management activities varies substantially from time to time, and from feedstock to feedstock, depending on market conditions and other factors. In making risk management decisions, we utilize research conducted by outside firms to provide additional market information in addition to our internal research and reviews.

Inedible corn oil, used cooking oil, inedible animal fat and soybean oil are the primary feedstocks we used to produce biodiesel in 2015 and the first three months of 2016. We utilize several varieties of inedible animal fat, such as beef tallow, choice white grease and poultry fat derived from livestock. There is no established futures market for these lower cost feedstocks. The purchase prices for lower cost feedstocks are generally set on a negotiated flat price basis or spread to a prevailing market price reported by the USDA price sheet or The Jacobsen. Our efforts to risk manage against changing prices

for inedible corn oil, used cooking oil and inedible animal fat have involved entering into futures contracts, swaps or options on other commodity products, such as soybean oil or heating oil. However, these products do not always experience the same price movements as lower cost feedstocks, making risk management for these feedstocks challenging. We manage feedstock supply risks related to biomass-based diesel production in a number of ways, including, where available, through long-term supply contracts. The purchase price for soybean oil under these contracts may be indexed to prevailing CBOT soybean oil market prices with a negotiated market basis. We utilize futures contracts, swaps and options to risk manage, or lock in, the cost of portions of our future feedstock requirements generally for varying periods up to one year.

Our ability to mitigate our risk of falling biomass-based diesel prices is limited. We have entered into forward contracts to supply biomass-based diesel. However, pricing under these forward sales contracts generally has been indexed to prevailing market prices, as fixed price contracts for long periods on acceptable terms have generally not been available. There is no established market for biomass-based diesel futures in the United States. Our efforts to hedge against falling biomass-based diesel prices generally involve entering into futures contracts, swaps and options on other commodity products, such as diesel fuel and heating oil. However, price movements on these products are not highly correlated to price movements of biomass-based diesel.

We generate 1.5 to 1.7 biomass-based diesel RINs for each gallon of biomass-based diesel we produce and sell. We also obtain RINs from third party transactions which we hold for resale. There is no established futures market for RINs, which severely limits the ability to risk manage the price of RINs. We enter into forward contracts to sell RINs and we use risk management position limits to manage RIN exposure.

As a result of our strategy, we frequently have gains or losses on derivative financial instruments that are conversely offset by losses or gains on forward fixed-price physical contracts on feedstocks and biomass-based diesel or inventories. Gains and losses on derivative financial instruments are recognized each period in operating results while corresponding gains and losses on physical contracts are generally not recognized until quantities are delivered or title transfers. Our results of operations are impacted when there is a period mismatch of recognized gains or losses associated with the change in fair value of derivative instruments used for risk management purposes at the end of the reporting period but the purchase or sale of feedstocks or biomass-based diesel has not yet occurred resulting in the offsetting gain or loss that will be recognized in a later accounting period.

We recorded risk management losses of $4.3 million from our derivative financial instrument activity for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to losses of $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Changes in the value of these futures, swaps or options instruments are recognized in current income or loss. Over the first three months of 2016, we had risk management losses of approximately $0.04 per gallon sold. Over the last three years prior to 2016, risk management gains have represented income of approximately $0.10 per gallon sold.

Seasonality

Our operating results are influenced by seasonal fluctuations in the demand for biodiesel. Our biodiesel sales tend to decrease during the winter season due to blending concentrations being reduced to adjust for performance during colder weather. Colder seasonal temperatures can cause the higher cloud point biodiesel we make from inedible animal fats to become cloudy and eventually gel at a higher temperature than petroleum-based diesel or lower cloud point biodiesel made from soybean oil, canola oil or inedible corn oil. Such gelling can lead to plugged fuel filters and other fuel handling and performance problems for customers and suppliers. Reduced demand in the winter for our higher cloud point biodiesel can result in excess supply of such higher cloud point biodiesel and lower prices for such biodiesel. In addition, most of our production facilities are located in colder Midwestern states in proximity to feedstock origination and our costs of shipping increases as more biodiesel is transported to warmer climate states during winter.

RIN prices may also be subject to seasonal fluctuations. The RIN is dated for the calendar year in which it is generated, commonly referred to as the RIN vintage. Since 20% of an Obligated Party's annual RVO can be satisfied by prior year RINs, most RINs must come from biofuel produced or imported during the RVO year. As a result, RIN prices can be expected to decrease as the calendar year progresses if the RIN market is oversupplied compared to that year's RVO and increase if it is undersupplied. Similar to prior years, during 2013, biomass-based diesel RIN generation was 1.78 billion gallons when the RVO for biomass-based diesel was 1.28 billion gallons and RIN prices declined during the third and fourth quarters as production rates exceeded the RVO. For 2014, biomass-based diesel RIN generation was 1.75 billion gallons while the RVO was finalized at 1.63 billion for 2014. In 2015, biomass-based diesel RIN generation was 1.81 billion gallons versus a finalized RVO volume set at 1.73 billion.

Industry capacity and production

Our operating results are influenced by our industry’s capacity and production, including in relation to RFS2 production requirements. According to EMTS data, approximately 1.1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel was produced in the United

States in 2011, primarily reflecting the recommencement of, or increase in, operations at underutilized facilities in response to RFS2 requirements. Such production was in excess of the 800 million gallon RFS2 requirement for 2011. During 2012, according to EMTS data, approximately 1.1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel was produced, which also was above RFS2 required volumes of 1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel for 2012. Production in 2011, 2012 and 2013 was in excess of continued expanding RFS2 volume requirements. As reported by EMTS, the biomass-based diesel RIN generation was 1.78 billion gallons in 2013 when the RVO for biomass-based diesel was 1.28 billion. Biomass-based diesel production, as reported by EMTS was 1.81 billion gallons for 2015, 600 million gallons higher than 2014.

During 2014 and 2015, the amount of imported biodiesel gallons qualifying under RFS2 increased from 192.2 million gallons in 2014 to approximately 334.2 million gallons in 2015, based on the information from the EIA. Imported gallons will likely make up a growing percentage of the RVO, as the EPA has approved a plan to allow Argentinian biodiesel made from soybean oil to qualify for RINs generation. Under RFS2, Obligated Parties are entitled to satisfy up to 20% of their annual requirement with prior year RINs.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, equities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for judgments we make about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Because these estimates can vary depending on the situation, actual results may differ from the estimates.

We have disclosed under the heading “Critical Accounting Policies” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 the critical accounting policies which materially affect our financial statements. There have been no material changes from the critical accounting policies previously disclosed other than those noted below. You should carefully consider the critical accounting policies set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K along with information described below.

Valuation of certain assets and liabilities related to acquisition of Sanimax Energy.

The significant estimates related to our acquisition of Sanimax Energy include the valuation of contingent consideration. We engaged an independent external valuation specialist to provide assistance in measuring the fair values of the liability related to the acquisition.

We may pay contingent consideration to the previous owners of our REG Madison, LLC facility over a seven year period after the acquisition if, and when, we achieve certain production volume. The fair value of the contingent consideration was estimated based on an income approach. Two production scenarios were considered in each period of the earnout period. The no-upgrade case of production was based on historical actual capacity while the base case factors in efficiency improvements following the acquisition. The base case was estimated to have a 75% probability, and the no-upgrade case was estimated to have 25% probability. The probability-weighted earnout payments were calculated based on the production levels in each period. These aggregate probability-weighted payments were then discounted to present value at the industry-adjusted cost of equity, calculated as the risk-free rate plus the equity risk premium multiplied by the selected beta. The industry-adjusted cost of equity was used as the earn-out payments were considered to be more risky than our cost of debt, but less risky than our cost of equity, given the application of probability-weighting to multiple scenarios. The fair value of the contingent consideration is estimated at the end of each reporting period with changes in fair value running through current period earnings.

Results of Operations

Three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

Set forth below is a summary of certain financial information (dollars in thousands and gallons in millions except for per gallon data) for the periods indicated:



	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2016			2015

Gallons sold	98.0			59.9
Average B100 price per gallon	$	2.92		$	3.17

Revenues	$	305,594		$	230,918
Cost of goods sold	280,486			247,113
Gross profit (loss)	25,108			(16,195		)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	19,777			16,675
Research and development expense	3,926			3,860
Gain on involuntary conversion	(3,543		)	—
Income (loss) from operations	4,948			(36,730		)
Other income (expenses), net	(3,384		)	(2,471		)
Income tax benefit	122			897
Net income (loss)	1,686			(38,304		)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	30			(197		)
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company	1,656			(38,107		)
Effect of participating share-based awards	(24		)	—
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company's common stockholders	$	1,632		$	(38,107	)

Revenues. Our total revenues increased $74.7 million, or 32%, to $305.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 from $230.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. This increase was primarily due to the increase in government incentives revenue as the 2016 BTC was in effect since the beginning of 2016 while the 2015 BTC was not reinstated until December 2015. In addition, the increase in the gallons sold during the quarter also contributed to the growth in total revenues, offset by slightly lower biomass-based diesel prices as compared to the first quarter of 2015.

Biomass-based diesel revenues including government incentives increased approximately $74.8 million, or 32%, to $305.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 from $230.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The BTC was in effect since the beginning of 2016 and contributed approximately $48.6 million to the increase in biomass-based diesel revenue. Gallons sold increased by 38.1 million, or 64%, to 98.0 million gallons for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to 59.9 million gallons for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Our average B100 sales price per gallon decreased $0.25, or 8%, to $2.92 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to $3.17 for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The decrease in average sales price contributed to a $15.0 million decrease in revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2016, when applied to the number of gallons sold during the same period of 2015. The increase in gallons sold for the three months ended March 31, 2016 accounted for a revenues increase of $111.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, using pricing for the same period of 2015. Sales of separated RIN inventory were $25.8 million and $32.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Costs of goods sold. Our costs of goods sold increased approximately $33.4 million, or 14%, to $280.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 from $247.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Costs of goods sold as a percentage of revenues were 92% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 107% for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The decrease in cost of goods sold as a percentage of revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2016 was primarily due to the increase in the revenues from having the BTC in place to start 2016, mitigated slightly from feedstock prices trending higher, led by an increase in palm oil prices and strong biodiesel demand.

Biomass-based diesel costs of goods sold increased in the three months ended March 31, 2016 due to a 64% increase in gallons sold that was partially offset by a decline in the average feedstock prices. Average lower cost feedstocks prices were approximately $0.24 per pound for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to $0.29 per pound for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Soybean oil costs were $0.32 per pound for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and $0.33 per pound for the three months ended March 31, 2015. We recorded risk management losses of $4.3 million from our derivative financial instrument activity for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to risk management losses of $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Costs of goods sold for separated RIN inventory sales were $26.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and $37.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Our selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expenses were $19.8 million, or 6% of total revenue, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and $16.7 million, or 7% of total revenue, for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The increase of approximately $3.1 million, or 19%, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was primarily due to $0.6 million in employee related expenses as headcount increased from prior year acquisitions supporting growth and $0.9 million in travel and other expenses largely associated with international expansion and to support our growth.

Research and development expense. Our research and development expenses were $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The majority of the research and development expenses were related to activities by REG Life Sciences to bring industrial biotechnology products to market and drive growth.

Gain on involuntary conversion. This represented the amount of insurance proceeds in excess of the property damage recorded by us related to the April fire at our Geismar facility. Our insurance policies cover replacement costs incurred to replace the property damaged by the fire.

Other income (expense), net. Other expense was $3.4 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Other income (expense) is primarily comprised of change in value of contingent consideration, interest expense, interest income and the other non-operating items.

Income tax benefit (expense). We recognized an income tax benefit of $0.1 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Our tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of our annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items arising in that quarter. Our effective tax rate differs from the statutory tax rate primarily due to the fact that we have a valuation allowance on our domestic deferred tax assets and most of our foreign deferred tax assets.

Adjusted EBITDA

We use earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for certain additional items, identified in the table below, or Adjusted EBITDA, as a supplemental performance measure. We present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it assists investors in analyzing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. In addition, we use Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate, assess and benchmark our financial performance on a consistent and a comparable basis and as a factor in determining incentive compensation for our executives.

The following table provides our Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented, as well as a reconciliation to net income:



(In thousands)	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016			Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
Net income (loss)	$	1,686		$	(38,304	)
Adjustments:
Income tax benefit	(122		)	(897		)
Interest expense	3,311			2,743
Gain on involuntary conversion	(3,543		)	—
Other (income) expense, net	88			(565		)
Change in fair value of contingent liability	(15		)	293
Straight-line lease expense	(94		)	(158		)
Depreciation	7,674			5,613
Amortization	(140		)	(219		)
Other	—			197
Biodiesel tax credit (1)	—			15,745
Non-cash stock compensation	1,076			1,080
Adjusted EBITDA	$	9,921		$	(14,472	)

(1)

On December 18, 2015, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 was signed into law, which reinstated and extended a set of tax provisions, including the retroactive reinstatement for 2015 and extension for 2016 of the federal biodiesel mixture excise tax credit. The retroactive credit for 2015 resulted in a net benefit to us that was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2015, however because this credit relates to the full year operating performance and results, we allocated a portion of the tax credit to the first three quarters of 2015 based upon gallons sold.

Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental performance measure that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP, or as alternatives to cash flows from operating activities or a measure of our liquidity or profitability. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for any of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:


•	Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures for capital assets or the impact of certain cash clauses that we consider not to be an indication of our ongoing operations;


•	Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital requirements;


•	Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our indebtedness;


•	although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash requirements for such replacements;


•	stock-based compensation expense is an important element of our long term incentive compensation program, although we have excluded it as an expense when evaluating our operating performance; and


•	other companies, including other companies in the industry, may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as a comparative measure.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources of liquidity. At March 31, 2016, the total of our cash and cash equivalents was $164.1 million compared to $47.1 million at December 31, 2015. At March 31, 2016, we had total assets of $1,224.4 million compared to $1,223.6 million at December 31, 2015. At March 31, 2016, we had term debt before debt issuance costs of $264.1 million, compared to term debt of $256.6 million at December 31, 2015. Over $101.3 million of our term debt is fully cash collateralized with a certificate of deposit with Bank of America. There were $2.9 million in outstanding borrowings on our revolving lines of credit at March 31, 2016, compared to $23.1 million at December 31, 2015. Availability under the Wells Fargo and Bankers Trust revolvers was

$60.2 million as of March 31, 2016. We were in compliance with all restrictive financial covenants associated with the borrowings as of March 31, 2016.

Our term debt (in thousands) is as follows:



	March 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
2.75% Convertible Senior Notes, $143,750 face amount, due in June 2019	$	127,255	$	126,053
REG Geismar GOZone bonds, secured, variable interest rate of daily LIBOR, due in October 2033	100,000		100,000
REG Danville term loan, secured, variable interest rate of LIBOR plus 4%, due in December 2017	6,192		—
REG Newton term loan, secured, variable interest rate of LIBOR plus 4%, due in December 2018	16,106		16,800
REG Mason City term loan, fixed interest rate of 5%, due in July 2019	3,445		3,675
REG Ames term loans, secured, fixed interest rates of 3.5% and 4.25%, due in January 2018 and December 2019, respectively	3,818		3,901
REG Grays Harbor term loan, variable interest of minimum of 3.5% or Prime Rate plus 0.25%, due in May 2022	5,225		5,225
Other	2,039		908
Total debt before debt issuance costs	$	264,080	$	256,562

A full description of our credit facilities and other agreements related to our outstanding indebtedness is included under the heading “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. .

REG Danville, LLC

Bankers Trust Line of Credit

On March 16, 2016, REG Energy Services, LLC ("REG Energy Services") entered into an operating and revolving line of credit agreement (the "Agreement") with Bankers Trust Company (“Bankers Trust”). Pursuant to the Agreement, Bankers Trust agreed to provide an operating and revolving line of credit (the "Line of Credit") to REG Energy Services in the amount of $30,000 . Amounts outstanding under the Agreement bear variable interest as stipulated in the Agreement. As of March 31, 2016, there was $1,000 outstanding under the Line of Credit with Bankers Trust.

Cash flows. The following table presents information regarding our cash flows and cash and cash equivalents for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended March 30,
	2016			2015
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	$	163,286		$	164,022
Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities	(27,196		)	10,336
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(19,670		)	(23,011		)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	116,420			151,347
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	164,052		$	213,545

In the first quarter of 2016, we received approximately $231.2 million related to the 2015 reinstatement of the BTC while the majority of the related payable amounts remained outstanding at quarter end, which led to a significant increase in operating cash flows, offset by an increase in inventories, similar to 2015. Our net cash flows provided by investing activity was impacted by the use of cash to acquire certain assets of Sanimax Energy, along with expenditures made for continued

biorefinery capital improvements. Financing activities were impacted by payments made under our share repurchase program as well as payments for our lines of credits.

Capital expenditures. We have three partially constructed plants, one near New Orleans, Louisiana, one in Emporia, Kansas, one in Clovis, New Mexico and a non-operational plant near Atlanta, Georgia. We expect additional investments of approximately $165 to $180 million in the aggregate, excluding working capital requirements, would be required before these plants would be able to commence production. These facilities would add an expected 150 mmgy to our nameplate production capacity. Our Clovis plant is currently being operated as a terminal facility. We plan to make significant capital expenditures when debt or equity financing becomes available to complete construction of these four facilities.

During 2015, we were working on a $31 million upgrade to our Danville facility as well as fixing and upgrades to bring our Geismar facility back on-line. In 2014, we completed a $20 million upgrade at our Mason City facility and a $13 million upgrade to our Newton facility. We plan to undertake various upgrades at our existing facilities to further expand processing capabilities. Our budgeted capital expenditures for 2016 is approximately $55 to $60 million. We may enter into additional tolling arrangements with third parties from time to time where third parties will produce biomass-based diesel on our behalf using our feedstocks. Such arrangements may require investments of additional working capital during the tolling periods.

We continue to be in discussions with lenders in an effort to enter into equity and debt financing arrangements to meet our projected financial needs for facilities under construction and capital improvement projects for our operating facilities. Since these discussions are ongoing, we are uncertain when or if financing will be available. The financing may consist of common or preferred stock, debt, project financing or a combination of these financing techniques. Additional debt would increase our leverage and interest costs and would likely be secured by certain of our assets. Additional equity or equity-linked financings would likely have a dilutive effect on our existing and future stockholders. It is likely that the terms of any project financing would include customary financial and other covenants on our project subsidiaries, including restrictions on the ability to make distributions, to guarantee indebtedness and to incur liens on the plants of such subsidiaries.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For a discussion of new accounting pronouncements affecting the Company, refer to “Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The primary objectives of our investment activity are to preserve principal, provide liquidity and maximize income without significantly increasing risk. Some of the securities we invest in are subject to market risk. This means that a change in prevailing interest rates may cause the principal amount of the investment to fluctuate. To minimize this risk, we maintain a portfolio of cash equivalents in short-term investments in money market funds.

Commodity Price Risk

Over the period from January 2010 through March 31, 2016, average diesel prices based on Platts reported pricing for Group 3 (Midwest) have ranged from a high of approximately $3.64 per gallon reported in October 2012 to a low of approximately $0.85 per gallon in January 2016, with prices averaging $2.55 per gallon during this period. Over the period January 2010 to March 31, 2016, soybean oil prices (based on daily closing nearby futures prices on the CBOT for crude soybean oil) have ranged from a high of $0.5977 per pound, or $4.48 per gallon of biodiesel, in April 2011 to a low of $0.2605 per pound, or $1.95 per gallon, in September 2015 assuming 7.5 pounds of soybean oil yields one gallon of biodiesel with closing sales prices averaging $0.4332 per pound, or $3.25 per gallon. Over the period from January 2010 through March 31, 2016, animal fat prices (based on prices from The Jacobsen Missouri River, for choice white grease) have ranged from a high

of $0.5450 per pound in June 2011 to a low of $0.1600 per pound in December 2015, with sales prices averaging $0.3510 per pound during this period. Over the period from July 2010 through March 31, 2016, RIN prices (based on prices from OPIS) have ranged from a high of $1.99 in September 2011 to a low of $0.24 in November 2013, with sales prices averaging $0.86 during this period.

Lower biomass-based diesel prices and lower feedstock prices but at a disproportionate decreasing rate as compared to biomass-based diesel prices result in lower profit margins and, therefore, represent unfavorable market conditions. The availability and price of feedstocks are subject to wide fluctuations due to unpredictable factors such as weather conditions during the growing season, rendering volumes, carry-over from the previous crop year and current crop year yield, governmental policies with respect to agriculture and supply and demand.

We have prepared a sensitivity analysis to estimate our exposure to market risk with respect to our sales contracts, lower cost feedstock requirements, soybean oil requirements and the related exchange-traded contracts for 2015. Market risk is estimated as the potential loss in fair value, resulting from a hypothetical 10% adverse change in the fair value of our lower cost feedstock and soybean oil requirements and biomass-based diesel sales. The results of this analysis, which may differ from actual results, are as follows:



	2015 Volume (in millions)	Units	Hypothetical Adverse Change in Price		Impact on Annual Gross Profit (in millions)			Percentage Change in Gross Profit
Biomass-based diesel	374.7	gallons	10	%	$	(111.3	)	(99.9	)%
Lower Cost Feedstocks	1,745.2	pounds	10	%	$	(44.6	)	(40.4	)%
Soybean Oil	302.6	pounds	10	%	$	(9.5	)	(8.6	)%

We attempt to protect operating margins by entering into risk management contracts that mitigate price volatility of our feedstocks, such as inedible animal fat and inedible corn oil and energy prices. We create offsetting positions by using a combination of forward physical purchases and sales contracts on feedstock and biomass-based diesel, including risk management futures contracts, swaps and options primarily on heating oil and soybean oil; however, the extent to which we engage in risk management activities varies substantially from time to time, and from feedstock to feedstock, depending on market conditions and other factors. A 10% adverse change in the prices of NYMEX NY Harbor ULSD would have had a negative effect on the fair value of these instruments of $5.4 million. A 10% adverse change in the price of CBOT Soybean Oil would have had a negative effect on the fair value of these instruments of $1.2 million.

Interest Rate Risk

Our weighted average interest rate on variable rate debt balances for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was 1.24% and a hypothetical increase in interest rate of 10% would not have a material effect on our annual interest expenses and consolidated financial statements.

Inflation

To date, inflation has not significantly affected our operating results, though costs for petroleum-based diesel fuel, feedstocks, construction, labor, taxes, repairs, maintenance and insurance are all subject to inflationary pressures. Inflationary pressure in the future could affect our ability to sell the biomass-based diesel we produce, maintain our production facilities adequately, build new biomass-based diesel production facilities and expand our existing facilities as well as the demand for our facility construction management and operations management services.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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, including our Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.

We acquired the assets of Sanimax Energy in March 2016 and was subsequently renamed REG Madison, LLC ("REG Madison"). The acquisition represented less than 5% of our total assets as of March 31, 2016 and less than 1% of our revenues for the three month period ended March 31, 2016. As the acquisition occurred recently during the first quarter of 2016, the

scope of our assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting does not include REG Madison, which is in accordance with the SEC's general guidance that an assessment of a recently acquired business may be omitted from our scope in the year of acquisition.

Management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, as of March 31, 2016. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2016.

Based on such evaluations, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are not a party to any material pending legal proceeding, nor is any of our property the subject of any material pending legal proceeding, except ordinary routine litigation arising in the ordinary course of our business and incidental to our business, none of which is expected to have a material adverse impact upon our business, financial position or results of operations.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described below, and as a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline.

RISKS RELATED TO FEDERAL AND STATE INCENTIVES

RFS2: Loss or reductions of federal governmental requirements for the use of biofuels could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and operating margins.

The biomass-based diesel industry relies substantially on federal requirements for use of biofuels. Since biomass-based diesel has been more expensive to produce than petroleum-based diesel fuel, the biomass-based diesel industry depends on governmental programs that support a market for biomass-based diesel that might not otherwise exist.

The most important of these government programs in the United States is RFS2, which requires annual consumption of specified volumes of biomass-based diesel fuel, including biodiesel and renewable hydrocarbon diesel. RFS2 became effective on July 1, 2010 and applies through 2022. Under RFS2, the EPA is required to determine the annual consumption volumes based on the EPA’s consideration of a variety of factors. The annual consumption volume requirements must be at least one billion gallons. The minimum volume requirement for 2013 was 1.28 billion gallons. On November 30, 2015, the EPA released final RFS targets for biomass based diesel of 1.63 billion gallons for 2014, 1.73 billion gallons for 2015, 1.90 billion gallons for 2016 and 2.00 billion gallons for 2017. We believe that much of the increase in demand for our biomass-based diesel since July 2010 is attributable to, and accelerated by, the existence and implementation of RFS2. In addition, we believe that biomass-based diesel prices since July 2010 have received significant support from RFS2. The United States Congress could repeal, curtail or otherwise change, and the EPA could curtail or otherwise change, the RFS2 program in a manner adverse to us. The petroleum industry is generally opposed to RFS2 and is expected to continue to press for changes that eliminate or reduce its impact. We believe that state requirements and incentives for the use of biofuels increase demand for our biomass-based diesel within such states, but do not increase overall demand for biofuels in excess of RFS2 requirements. Rather, state requirements and tax incentives influence where petroleum refiners and petroleum fuel importers choose to consume the volume requirements established by the EPA under RFS2. Any repeal or reduction in the RFS2 requirements or reinterpretation of RFS2 resulting in our biomass-based diesel failing to qualify as a required fuel would materially decrease the demand for and price of our biomass-based diesel, which would materially and adversely harm our revenues and cash flows.

Loss of or reductions in tax incentives for biomass-based diesel production or consumption may have a material adverse effect on industry revenues and operating margins.

Federal

The biomass-based diesel industry has historically been substantially aided by federal and state tax incentives. Prior to RFS2, the biomass-based diesel industry relied principally on tax incentives to make the price of biomass-based diesel more cost competitive with the price of petroleum-based diesel fuel to the end user. The most significant tax incentive program has been the federal biodiesel mixture excise tax credit, referred to as the Biodiesel Tax Credit or BTC. The BTC provides a $1.00 refundable tax credit for each gallon of pure biomass-based fuel, or B100, blended with petroleum-based diesel fuel. The entity to first blend the fuels receives the credit. The BTC was established on January 1, 2005 and existed until it was allowed to lapse on January 1, 2010. Thereafter, the BTC was periodically reinstated by Congress both prospectively and retroactively, and then again allowed to lapse. For instance, Congress reinstated the BTC in December 2010, covering 2010 retroactively and 2011 prospectively, and allowed it to lapse at the end of 2011. On January 2, 2013, over a full year following its previous expiration, Congress again reinstated the BTC covering 2012 retroactively and 2013 prospectively. The credit lapsed a third time on January 1, 2014 and was reinstated almost one year later on December 19, 2014, covering only 2014 retroactively. Most recently, the credit was reinstated on December 18, 2015, covering 2015 retroactively and 2016 prospectively. There is no assurance that the BTC will be extended or, if it is allowed to lapse, be reinstated. In response to the regular lapsing and reinstatement of the BTC, the biomass-based diesel industry and its customers have adopted arrangements for sharing revenue generated from selling gallons of biomass-based diesel that benefit from the BTC. Unlike RFS2, the BTC has a direct effect on federal government spending and could be changed or eliminated as a result of changes in the federal budget policy. It is uncertain what action, if any, Congress may take with respect to allowing the BTC to lapse or reinstate or extend the BTC, or whether such action would apply retroactively or prospectively.

If Congress does not extend or reinstate the credit, demand for our biomass-based diesel and the price we are able to charge for our product may be significantly reduced, harming revenues and profitability. In addition, uncertainty regarding the extension or reinstatement of the BTC has caused fluctuations in our operating results. For example, we experienced a reduction in gallons sold in the first quarter of 2012 following an industry-wide acceleration of gallons produced and sold in the fourth quarter of 2011, when the BTC was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2011. We believe reduced demand in the first quarters of 2014 and 2015 also resulted from the lapsing of the BTC at the end of 2013 and 2014, respectively.

State

Several states have enacted tax incentives for the use of biodiesel and/or biomass-based diesel. For example, we derive a significant portion of our revenues from operations in the State of Illinois, which offers an exemption from the generally applicable 6.25% sales tax for biodiesel blends at 11% biodiesel, or B11. Like the BTC, the Illinois tax incentive program, and

the tax incentive programs of other states, could be changed as a result of state budget considerations or otherwise. Reduction or elimination of such incentives could materially and adversely harm our revenues and profitability.

Increased industry-wide production of biomass-based diesel, including as a result of existing excess production capacity, could harm our financial results.

If the volume of excess biomass-based diesel RINs exceeds the volume mandated for use under RFS2, the demand for and price of our biomass-based diesel, and biomass-based diesel RINs may be reduced, which could harm revenues and cash flows.

According to the National Biodiesel Board, or NBB, as of September 12, 2012, 2.7 billion gallons per year of biodiesel production capacity in the United States was registered under the RFS2 program by NBB members. In addition to this amount, several hundred million more gallons of U.S. based biomass-based diesel production capacity was registered by non-NBB members and another 1.2 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel production was registered by foreign producers. Furthermore, plants under construction and expansion in the United States as of December 31 2011, if completed, could add an additional several hundred million gallons of annual biodiesel production capacity. The annual production capacity of existing plants and plants under construction far exceeds both historic consumption of biomass-based diesel in the United States and required consumption under RFS2. If this excess production capacity was fully utilized for the U.S. market, it would increase competition for our feedstocks, increase the volume of biomass-based diesel on the market and may reduce biomass-based diesel gross margins, harming our revenues and profitability.

Increased biomass-based diesel production may result in the generation of RINs in excess of the volume of RINs mandated for consumption under RFS2. RIN prices can be expected to decrease as the calendar year progresses if the RIN market is oversupplied compared to that year’s RVO. For example, in 2012, which had a RVO for biomass-based diesel of one billion gallons, biomass-based diesel RIN prices, as reported by OPIS, began to decrease in September when biomass-based diesel RIN generation neared the equivalent of 900 million gallons, as reported by EMTS. Similarly, in September of 2013 when biomass-based diesel RIN generation reached approximately 960 million gallons compared to a 2013 biomass-based diesel RVO of 1.28 billion gallons, biomass-based diesel RIN prices, as reported by OPIS, began to decline.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND THE MARKETS IN WHICH WE OPERATE

Our gross margins are dependent on the spread between biomass-based diesel prices and feedstock costs, each of which are volatile and can cause our results of operations to fluctuate substantially.

Biomass-based diesel has traditionally been marketed primarily as an additive or alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuel, and, as a result, biomass-based diesel prices have been influenced by the price of petroleum-based diesel fuel, adjusted for government incentives supporting renewable fuels, rather than biomass-based diesel production costs. A lack of close correlation between production costs and biomass-based diesel prices means that we may be unable to pass increased production costs on to our customers in the form of higher prices. Any decrease in the spread between biomass-based diesel prices and feedstock costs, whether as a result of an increase in feedstock prices or a reduction in biomass-based diesel prices, along with a reduction in the value of RINs, would adversely affect our gross margins, cash flow and results of operations.

Energy prices, particularly the market price for crude oil, started to rebound in the first quarter of 2016. However, they significantly decreased throughout 2015. The price we sold our biomass-based diesel also significantly decreased from $3.62 per gallon in 2014 to $2.97 per gallon in 2015 to $2.69 in the first quarter of 2016. Petroleum prices are volatile due to global factors, such as the impact of wars, political uprisings, new extraction technologies and techniques, OPEC production quotas, worldwide economic conditions, changes in refining capacity and natural disasters.

In addition, an element of the price of biomass-based diesel that we produce is the value of the associated RINs. While RINs prices, as reported by Oil Price Information Service, or OPIS were fairly stable in the first quarter of 2016, there was a significant decline in RIN prices throughout 2015, with RIN prices starting the year at $0.92 per RIN, dipping below $0.40 per RIN in September 2015 and ending the year at $0.72 per RIN, as reported by OPIS. There was significant volatility in RIN prices during 2014, with a decline in the second and third quarters of 2014, and subsequent increase in the fourth quarter, finishing the year at its peak at $0.77 per RIN, as reported by OPIS. In 2013, RIN prices decreased sharply from $1.09 per RIN on July 1, 2013 to $0.35 per RIN on December 31, 2013. Reductions in RIN values, such as those experienced in 2015 and prior years, may have a material adverse effect on our revenues and profits as they directly reduce the price we are able to charge for our biomass-based diesel.

A decrease in the availability or an increase in the price, of feedstocks may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results. The price and availability of feedstocks and other raw materials may be influenced by general economic, market and regulatory factors. These factors include weather conditions, farming decisions, government policies and subsidies with respect to agriculture and international trade and global supply and demand. During periods when

the BTC has lapsed, biomass-based diesel producers may elect to continue purchasing feedstock and producing biomass-based diesel at negative margins under the assumption the BTC will be retroactively reinstated, and consequently, the price of feedstock may not decrease to a level proportionate to current operating margins. The development of alternative fuels and renewable chemicals also puts pressure on feedstock supply and availability to the biomass-based diesel industry. If these emerging technologies compete with biomass-based diesel for feedstocks, are more profitable or have greater governmental support than biomass-based diesel does, then the biomass-based diesel industry may have difficulty in procuring feedstocks at economical prices.

At elevated feedstock price levels, certain feedstocks may be uneconomical to use, as we may be unable to pass feedstock cost increases on to our customers. In addition, we generally are unable to enter into forward contracts at fixed prices for some of our feedstocks, such as animal fat, because markets for these feedstocks are less developed.

Historically, the spread between biomass-based diesel prices and feedstock costs has varied significantly. Although actual yields vary depending on the feedstock quality, the average monthly spread between the price per gallon of 100% pure biodiesel, or B100, as reported by The Jacobsen Publishing Company, and the price per gallon for the amount of choice white grease, a common inedible animal fat used by us to make biomass-based diesel, was $1.26 in 2012, $1.61 in 2013, $0.92 in 2014, $1.09 in 2015 and $1.29 in the first quarter of 2016, assuming eight pounds of choice white grease yields one gallon of biomass-based diesel. The average monthly spread for the amount of crude soybean oil required to produce one gallon of biomass-based, based on the nearby futures contract as reported on the Chicago Board of Trade, was $0.65 in 2012, $1.19 in 2013, $0.65 in 2014, $0.58 in 2015 and $0.57 in the first three months of 2016, assuming 7.5 pounds of soybean oil yields one gallon of biomass-based. From 2012-2015, approximately 85% of our annual total feedstock usage was inedible corn oil, used cooking oil or inedible animal fat, and approximately 15% was virgin vegetable oils.

Risk management transactions could significantly increase our operating costs and may not be effective.

In an attempt to partially offset the effects of volatile feedstock costs and biomass-based diesel fuel prices, we enter into contracts that establish market positions in feedstocks, such as inedible corn oil, used cooking oil, inedible animal fats and soybean oil, along with related commodities, such as heating oil and ultra-low sulfur diesel, or ULSD. The financial impact of such market positions depends on commodity prices at the time that we are required to perform our obligations under these contracts as well as the cumulative sum of the obligations we assume under these contracts.

Risk management activities can themselves result in losses when a position is purchased in a declining market or a position is sold in a rising market. Risk management arrangements expose us to the risk of financial loss in situations where the counterparty defaults on its contract or, in the case of exchange-traded or over-the-counter futures or options contracts, where there is a change in the expected differential between the underlying price in the contract and the actual prices paid or received by us. Changes in the value of these futures instruments are recognized in current income and may result in margin calls. We may also vary the amount of risk management strategies we undertake, or we may choose not to engage in risk management transactions at all. Our results of operation may be negatively impacted if we are not able to manage our risk management strategy effectively.

Our facilities and our customer’s facilities are subject to risks associated with fire, explosions and leaks, and other natural disasters which may disrupt our business and increase costs and liabilities.

Because biomass-based diesel and some of its inputs and outputs are combustible and/or flammable, a leak, fire or explosion may occur at a plant or customer’s facility which could result in damage to the plant and nearby properties, injury to employees and others, and interruption of operations. For example, in April 2015 and again in September 2015, we experienced fires at our Geismar facility. In both fires, employees and contractors were injured. We may be subject to litigation as a result of these injuries. In addition, on March 3, 2016 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, issued a citation and notification of penalty regarding the September 2015 incident, citing three “willful” safety violations.

As a result of the fires, our Geismar facility was shut down from April 2015 through early March 2016 while repairs and upgrades were completed. Our Geismar facility began start-up operations in early March 2016, although we do not expect that the plant will achieve full capacity operation for a couple months due to variable sales opportunities and the start-up process. While we expect a significant portion of the costs associated with the Geismar fires will be covered by insurance, our insurance company may dispute coverage and we may be subject to costs and penalties that are not covered by insurance. Accordingly, as a result of these two incidents at the Geismar facility, we may incur significant additional costs, including potential liability for damages or injuries, legal expenses and loss of profit, which could seriously harm our results of operations and financial condition.

A majority of our facilities are also located in the Midwest, which is subject to tornado activity. Furthermore, REG Life Sciences' research and development center is in South San Francisco, California, which is subject to earthquakes. In addition,

our Houston and Geismar facilities, due to their Gulf Coast location, are vulnerable to hurricanes, which may cause plant damage, injury to employees and others and interruption of operations. Every one of our plants could incur damage from other natural disasters as well. If any of the foregoing events occur, we may incur significant additional costs including, among other things, loss of profits due to unplanned temporary or permanent shutdowns of our facilities, cleanup costs, liability for damages or injuries, legal expenses and reconstruction expenses, which would seriously harm our results of operations and financial condition.

Our insurance may not protect us against our business and operating risks.

We maintain insurance for some, but not all, of the potential risks and liabilities associated with our business. For some risks, we may not obtain insurance if we believe the cost of available insurance is excessive relative to the risks presented. As a result of market conditions, premiums and deductibles for certain insurance policies can increase substantially and, in some instances, certain insurance policies may become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. As a result, we may not be able to renew our existing insurance policies or procure other desirable insurance on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. Although we intend to maintain insurance at levels we believe are appropriate for our business and consistent with industry practice, we will not be fully insured against all risks. In addition, pollution, environmental risks and the risk of natural disasters generally are not fully insurable. Losses and liabilities from uninsured and underinsured events and delay in the payment of insurance proceeds could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

One customer accounted for a meaningful percentage of revenues and a loss of this customer could have an adverse impact on our total revenues.

One customer, Pilot Travel Centers LLC, or Pilot, accounted for 8%, 18% and 16% of our revenues in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our revenues from Pilot generally do not include the RINs associated with the gallons of biomass-based diesel sold to Pilot. The value of those RINs represented approximately an additional 13% of our total sales in 2015, based on the OPIS average RIN price for the year. In the event we lose Pilot as a customer or Pilot significantly reduces the volume of biomass-based diesel bought from us, it could be difficult to replace the lost revenues from biomass-based diesel and RINs, and our profitability and cash flow could be materially harmed. We do not have a long term contract with Pilot that ensures a continuing level of business from Pilot.

Our business is primarily dependent upon two similar products. As a consequence, we may not be able to adapt to changing market conditions or endure any decline in the biomass-based diesel industry.

Our revenues are currently generated almost entirely from the production and sale of biodiesel and renewable hydrocarbon diesel, collectively referred to as biomass-based diesel. Our reliance on biomass-based diesel means that we may not be able to adapt to changing market conditions or to withstand any significant decline in the size or profitability of the biomass-based diesel industry. In the beginning of 2015, we were required to periodically idle our plants due to insufficient demand at profitable price points. If we are required to idle our plants in the future or are unable to adapt to changing market conditions, our revenues and results of operations may be materially harmed.

Technological advances and changes in production methods in the biomass-based diesel industry and renewable chemical industry could render our plants obsolete and adversely affect our ability to compete.

It is expected that technological advances in biomass-based diesel production methods will continue to occur and new technologies for biomass-based diesel production may develop. Advances in the process of converting oils and fats into biodiesel and renewable hydrocarbon diesel could allow our competitors to produce biomass-based diesel faster and more efficiently and at a substantially lower cost. Additionally, we currently produce biomass-based diesel to conform to or exceed standards established by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). ASTM standards for biomass-based diesel and biomass-based diesel blends may be modified in response to new technologies from the industries involved with diesel fuel.

New standards or production technologies may require us to make additional capital investments in, or modify, plant operations to meet these standards. If we are unable to adapt or incorporate technological advances into our operations, our production facilities could become less competitive or obsolete. Further, it may be necessary for us to make significant expenditures to acquire any new technology and retrofit our plants in order to incorporate new technologies and remain competitive. In order to execute our strategy to expand into the production of renewable chemicals, additional advanced biofuels, next generation feedstocks and related renewable products, we may need to acquire licenses or other rights to technology from third parties. We can provide no assurance that we will be able to obtain such licenses or rights on favorable terms. If we are unable to obtain, implement or finance new technologies, our production facilities could be less efficient than our competitors, and our ability to sell biomass-based diesel may be harmed, negatively impacting our revenues and profitability.

Our intellectual property is integral to our business. If we are unable to protect our intellectual property, or others assert that our operations violate their intellectual property, our business could be adversely affected.

Our success depends in part upon our ability to protect and prevent others from using our intellectual property. Failure to obtain or maintain adequate intellectual property protection could adversely affect our competitive business position. We rely on a combination of intellectual property rights, including patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets in the United States and in select foreign countries. Effective patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret protection may be unavailable, limited or not applied for in some countries.

We rely in part on trade secret protection to protect our confidential and proprietary information and processes. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. We have taken measures to protect our trade secrets and proprietary information, but these measures may not be effective. For example, we require new employees and consultants to execute confidentiality agreements upon the commencement of their employment or consulting arrangement with us. These agreements generally require that all confidential information developed by the individual or made known to the individual by us during the course of the individual’s relationship with us be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties. These agreements also generally provide that knowhow and inventions conceived by the individual in the course of rendering services to us are our exclusive property. Nevertheless, these agreements may be breached, or may not be enforceable, and our proprietary information may be disclosed. Despite the existence of these agreements, third parties may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques.

It may be difficult for us to protect and enforce our intellectual property. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights. If we pursue litigation to assert our intellectual property rights, an adverse judicial decision in any legal action could limit our ability to assert our intellectual property rights, limit our ability to develop new products, limit the value of our technology or otherwise negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

A competitor could seek to enforce intellectual property claims against us. Defending intellectual property rights claims asserted against us, regardless of merit, could be time-consuming, expensive to litigate or settle, divert management resources and attention and force us to acquire intellectual property rights and licenses, which may involve substantial royalty payments. Further, a party making such a claim, if successful, could secure a judgment that requires us to pay substantial damages.

Increases in our transportation costs or disruptions in our transportation services could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our business depends on transportation services to deliver raw materials to us and finished products to our customers. The costs of these transportation services are affected by the volatility in fuel prices or other factors. For example, in 2012, the market rates of leasing new rail cars nearly doubled as a result of increased demand to move domestically drilled crude oil from new supply fields in the upper Midwest to various refineries. We have not been able in the past, and may not be able in the future, to pass along part or all of any of these price increases to customers. If we continue to be unable to increase our prices as a result of increased fuel costs charged to us by transportation providers, our gross margins may be materially adversely affected.

If any transportation providers fail to deliver raw materials to us in a timely manner, we may be unable to manufacture products on a timely basis. Shipments of products and raw materials may be delayed due to weather conditions, strikes or other events. Any failure of a third-party transportation provider to deliver raw materials or products in a timely manner could harm our reputation, negatively affect our customer relationships and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are dependent upon our key management personnel and other personnel whereby the loss of any of these persons could adversely affect our results of operations.

Our success depends on the abilities, expertise, judgment, discretion, integrity and good faith of our management and employees to manage the business and respond to economic, market and other conditions. We are highly dependent upon key members of our relatively small management team and employee base that possess unique technical skills for the execution of our business plan. There can be no assurance that any individual will continue in his or her capacity for any particular period of time or that replacement personnel with comparable skills could be found. The inability to retain our management team and employee base or attract suitably qualified replacements and additional staff could adversely affect our business. The loss of employees could delay or prevent the achievement of our business objectives and have a material adverse effect upon our results of operations and financial position.

We have not generated any revenue from sales of renewable chemicals to date and we expect to incur additional costs and face significant challenges to develop this business.

In January 2014 we entered the market for renewable chemicals through our acquisition of a proprietary microbial fermentation technology and related assets. To date, we have incurred significant research and development costs and have not generated any revenues from this business which is still at a pre-commercial stage. In order to generate revenue from our renewable chemicals, we must be able to produce sufficient quantities of our products. Accordingly, we would need to partner with a third party fermentation facility, or purchase or construct a production facility, which would involve a significant capital expenditure by us.

In entering this market, we intend to sell renewable chemicals as an alternative to chemicals currently in use, and in some cases the chemicals that we seek to replace have been used for many years. The potential customers for our renewable chemical products generally have well developed manufacturing processes and arrangements with suppliers of the chemical components of their products and may resist changing these processes and components. These potential customers frequently impose lengthy and complex product qualification procedures on their suppliers. Factors that these potential customers consider during the product qualification process include consumer preference, manufacturing considerations such as process changes and capital, other costs associated with transitioning to alternative components, supplier operating history, regulatory issues, product liability and other factors, many of which are unknown to, or not well understood by, us. Some of our products may also require regulatory registrations and approvals from governmental authorities. The requirements for obtaining regulatory registrations and approvals may change or may take longer than we anticipate. Satisfying these processes may take many months or years.

If we are unable to convince these potential customers that our products are comparable to the chemicals that they currently use, or that the use of our products produce benefits to them, we will not be successful in these markets and our business will be adversely affected. Additionally, in contrast to the tax incentives relating to biofuels, tax credits and subsidies are not currently available in the United States for consumer products or chemical companies who use renewable chemical products. We do not expect meaningful revenue from our sale of renewable chemicals in the near term.

We may encounter difficulties in effectively integrating the businesses we acquire, including our international businesses where we have limited operating history.

We may face significant challenges in effectively integrating entities and businesses that we acquire, including our acquisition of the majority interest in Petrotec, a German biodiesel producer, in December 2014 along with our acquisition of substantially all the assets of Imperium in August 2015 and the assets of Sanimax Energy in March 2016. We may not realize the benefits anticipated from such acquisitions. Achieving the anticipated benefits of our acquired businesses will depend in part upon whether we can integrate our businesses in an efficient and effective manner. Our integration of acquired businesses involves a number of risks, including:


•	difficulty in integrating the operations and personnel of the acquired company;


•	difficulty in effectively integrating the acquired technologies, products or services with our current technologies, products or services;


•	demands on management related to the increase in our size after the acquisition;


•	the diversion of management’s attention from daily operations to the integration of acquired businesses and personnel;


•	failure to achieve expected synergies and costs savings;


•	difficulties in the assimilation and retention of employees;


•	difficulties in the assimilation of different cultures and practices, as well as in the assimilation of broad and geographically dispersed personnel and operations;


•	difficulties in the integration of departments, systems, including accounting systems, technologies, books and records and procedures, as well as in maintaining uniform standards and controls, including internal control over financial reporting, and related procedures and policies;


•	incurring acquisition-related costs or amortization costs for acquired intangible assets that could impact our operating results;


•	the need to fund significant working capital requirements of any acquired production facilities;

•

potential failure of the due diligence processes to identify significant problems, liabilities or other shortcomings or challenges of an acquired company or technology, including but not limited to, issues with the acquired company’s intellectual property, product quality, environmental liabilities, data back-up and security, revenue recognition or other accounting practices, employee, customer or partner issues or legal and financial contingencies;


•	exposure to litigation or other claims in connection with, or inheritance of claims or litigation risk as a result of, an acquisition, including but not limited to, claims from terminated employees, customers, former stockholders or other third parties;


•	incurring significant exit charges if products or services acquired in business combinations are unsuccessful; and


•	if we are unable to complete the tender offer, our ability to control the operations of Petrotec may be limited.

Our ability to recognize the benefit of our investment in Petrotec, or any other international operations we invest in, will require the attention of management and is subject to a number of risks. We have no experience operating a biorefinery outside of the United States. The biodiesel market in Europe benefits from regulations that encourage the use of biodiesel. These regulations are subject to political and public opinion and may be changed. In addition, expanding our operations internationally subjects us to the following risks:


•	recruiting and retaining talented and capable management and employees in foreign countries;


•	challenges caused by distance, language and cultural differences;


•	protecting and enforcing our intellectual property rights;


•	difficulties in the assimilation and retention of employees;


•	the inability to extend proprietary rights in our technology into new jurisdictions;


•	currency exchange rate fluctuations;


•	general economic and political conditions in foreign jurisdictions;


•	foreign tax consequences;


•	foreign exchange controls or U.S. tax restrictions that might restrict or prevent us from repatriating income earned in countries outside the United States;


•	political, economic and social instability;


•	higher costs associated with doing business internationally; and


•	export or import regulations as well as trade and tariff restrictions.

Our failure to successfully manage and integrate our acquisitions could have an adverse effect on our operating results, ability to recognize international revenue, and our overall financial condition.

We may not successfully identify acquisitions, investment opportunities and other strategic relationships on favorable terms or be able to secure capital to pursue such opportunities.

We regularly review investment opportunities, including domestic and international acquisitions of biofuel production facilities, opportunities to develop our renewable chemicals business, expand, complete or enhance our biomass-based operations or acquire complementary businesses and technologies. We have acquired most of our facilities from third parties. However, we may be unable to identify suitable acquisition candidates in the future. Even if we identify appropriate acquisition candidates, we may be unable to complete such acquisitions on favorable terms, if at all.

We have three partially constructed plants, one near New Orleans, Louisiana, one in Emporia, Kansas and one in Clovis, New Mexico. There is also one non-operational plant near Atlanta, Georgia. The biomass-based facility near Atlanta, Georgia, which had been idled prior to our acquisition will remain so pending certain repairs and upgrades. Our Clovis plant is currently being operated as a terminal facility.

While we intend to finance certain upgrades to our existing facilities from our cash flow from operations, we will need to raise significant capital to pursue investment opportunities, complete construction of the three partially constructed or non-operational facilities and to fund related working capital requirements. Accordingly, we may need to engage in equity or debt financing to secure additional funds. Any debt financing could involve restrictive covenants, which may restrict our flexibility in operating our business, including restrictions on the ability to make distributions, to guarantee indebtedness and to incur liens on the plants of such subsidiaries, thereby, making it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities, including potential acquisitions. We may not be able to obtain additional financing on terms favorable to us, if at all. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing on terms satisfactory to us, when we require it, our ability to continue to support our business growth and to respond to business challenges could be significantly limited, and our business, operating results, financial condition and prospects could be adversely affected.

We incur significant expenses to maintain and upgrade our operating equipment and plants, and any interruption in the operation of our facilities may harm our operating performance.

We regularly incur significant expenses to maintain and upgrade our equipment and facilities. The machines and equipment that we use to produce our products are complex, have many parts and some are run on a continuous basis. We must perform routine maintenance on our equipment and will have to periodically replace a variety of parts such as motors, pumps, pipes and electrical parts. In addition, our facilities require periodic shutdowns to perform major maintenance and upgrades. These scheduled shutdowns of facilities result in decreased sales and increased costs in the periods in which a shutdown occurs

and could result in unexpected operational issues in future periods as a result of changes to equipment and operational and mechanical processes made during the shutdown period.

Growth in the sale and distribution of biomass-based diesel is dependent on the expansion of related infrastructure which may not occur on a timely basis, if at all, and our operations could be adversely affected by infrastructure limitations or disruptions.

Growth in the biomass-based diesel industry depends on substantial development of infrastructure for the distribution of biodiesel. Substantial investment required for these infrastructure changes and expansions may not be made on a timely basis or at all. The scope and timing of any infrastructure expansion are generally beyond our control. Also, we compete with other biofuel companies for access to some of the key infrastructure components such as pipeline and terminal capacity. As a result, increased production of biomass-based diesel will increase the demand and competition for necessary infrastructure. Any delay or failure in expanding distribution infrastructure could hurt the demand for or prices of biomass-based diesel, impede delivery of our biomass-based diesel, and impose additional costs, each of which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Our business will be dependent on the continuing availability of infrastructure for the distribution of increasing volumes of biomass-based diesel and any infrastructure disruptions could materially harm our business.

We operate in a highly competitive industry and competition in our industry would increase if new participants enter the biomass-based diesel business.

We operate in a very competitive environment. The biomass-based diesel industry is primarily comprised of smaller entities that engage exclusively in biodiesel production, large integrated agribusiness companies that produce biodiesel along with their soybean crush businesses and increasingly, integrated petroleum companies. We face competition for capital, labor, feedstocks and other resources from these companies. In the United States, we compete with soybean processors and refiners, including Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus Commodities. In addition, petroleum refiners are increasingly entering into biomass-based diesel production. Such petroleum refiners includes Neste Oil with approximately 720 million gallons of global renewable hydrocarbon diesel production capacity in Asia and Europe and Valero Energy Corporation with its Diamond Green joint venture in an approximate 160 million gallon renewable hydrocarbon diesel plant. These and other competitors that are divisions of larger enterprises may have greater financial resources than we do.

Petroleum companies and diesel retailers form the primary distribution networks for marketing biomass-based diesel through blended petroleum-based diesel. If these companies increase their direct or indirect biomass-based diesel production, there will be less need to purchase biomass-based diesel from independent biomass-based diesel producers like us. Such a shift in the market would materially harm our operations, cash flows and financial position.

A volatile regulatory environment, lack of debt or equity investments and volatile biofuel prices and feedstock costs have likely contributed to the necessity of bankruptcy filings by biofuel producers. We may encounter new competition from buyers of distressed biodiesel properties that enter the industry at a lower cost than original plant investors or from competitors consolidating or otherwise growing. Our business has been, and in the future may be, negatively impacted by the industry conditions that influenced the bankruptcy proceedings of other biofuel producers. Our business and prospects may be significantly and adversely affected if we are unable to similarly increase our scale.

We face competition from imported biodiesel and renewable hydrocarbon diesel, which may reduce demand for biomass-based diesel produced by us and cause our revenues and profits to decline.

Biodiesel and renewable hydrocarbon diesel imports into the United States have increased significantly and compete with biodiesel produced in the United States. The imported fuels may benefit from production incentives or other financial incentives in foreign countries that offset some of their production costs and enable importers to profitably sell biodiesel or renewable hydrocarbon diesel in the United States at lower prices than United States-based biodiesel producers. Under RFS2, imported biodiesel and renewable hydrocarbon diesel is eligible and, therefore, competes to meet the volumetric requirements for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels. If imports continue to increase, this could make it more challenging for us to market or sell biomass-based diesel in the United States, which would have a material adverse effect on our revenues. In January 2015, the EPA announced the approval for Argentinian biodiesel made from soybean oil to generate RINs. Imported biomass-based diesel that does not qualify under RFS2, also competes in jurisdictions where there are biomass-based diesel blending requirements.

Our business is subject to seasonal fluctuations, which are likely to cause our revenues and operating results to fluctuate.

Our operating results are influenced by seasonal fluctuations in the price of and demand for biodiesel. Seasonal fluctuations may be based on both the weather and the status of both the BTC and RVO obligations. Demand may be higher in the quarters leading up to the expiration of the BTC as customers seek to purchase biodiesel when they can benefit from the agreed upon value sharing of the BTC with producers of biodiesel. Seasonal fluctuation also occurs in the colder months when historically there has been reduced demand for biodiesel in northern and eastern United States markets, which are the primary markets in which we currently operate.

Biodiesel typically has a higher cloud point than petroleum-based diesel. The cloud point is the temperature below which a fuel exhibits a noticeable cloudiness and eventually gels, leading to fuel handling and performance problems for customers and suppliers. Reduced demand in the winter for our higher cloud point biodiesel may result in excess supply of such higher cloud point biodiesel and lower prices for such higher cloud point biodiesel. Most of our production facilities are located in colder Midwestern states and our costs of shipping biodiesel to warmer climates generally increase in cold weather months.

The tendency of biodiesel to gel in colder weather may also result in long-term storage problems. In cold climates, fuel may need to be stored in a heated building or heated storage tanks, which result in higher storage costs. Higher cloud point biodiesel may have other performance problems, including the possibility of particulate formation above the cloud point which may result in increased expenses as we try to remedy these performance problems, including the costs of extra cold weather treatment additives. Remedying these performance problems may result in decreased yields, lower process throughput or both, as well as substantial capital costs. Any reduction in the demand for our biodiesel product, or the production capacity of our facilities will reduce our revenues and have an adverse effect on our cash flows and results of operations.

Failure to comply with governmental regulations, including EPA requirements relating to RFS2 and FDA requirements relating to the Food Safety Modernization Act, could result in the imposition of penalties, fines, or restrictions on our operations and remedial liabilities.

The biomass-based diesel industry is subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations. Under certain environmental laws and regulations, we could be held strictly liable for the removal or remediation of previously released materials or property contamination regardless of whether we were responsible for the release or contamination, and regardless of whether current or prior operations were conducted consistent with accepted standards of practice. Many of our assets and plants were acquired from third parties and we may incur costs to remediate property contamination caused by previous owners. Compliance with these laws, regulations and obligations could require substantial capital expenditures. Failure to comply could result in the imposition of penalties, fines or restrictions on operations and remedial liabilities.

Changes in environmental laws and regulations occur frequently, and any changes that result in more stringent or costly waste handling, storage, transport, disposal or cleanup requirements could require us to make significant expenditures to attain and maintain compliance and may otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business in general and on our results of operations, competitive position or financial condition. We are unable to predict the effect of additional environmental laws and regulations which may be adopted in the future, including whether any such laws or regulations would significantly increase our cost of doing business or affect our operations in any area.

We are subject to various laws and regulations related to RFS2, most significantly regulations related to the generation and dissemination of RINs. These regulations are highly complex and continuously evolving, requiring us to periodically update our compliance systems. Recently, the EPA implemented a quality assurance program and regulations related to the generation and sale of biomass-based diesel RINs. Compliance with these or any new regulations or Obligated Party verification procedures could require significant expenditures to attain and maintain compliance. Any violation of these regulations by us, could result in significant fines and harm our customers’ confidence in the RINs we issue, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

In response to the Food Safety Modernization Act, we may change certain processes at some of our plants, which may add to our cost of production, and may restrict the markets where we have traditionally sold some of the co-products of our biodiesel production process.

The development of alternative fuels and energy sources may reduce the demand for biodiesel, resulting in a reduction in our revenues and profitability.

The development of alternative fuels, including a variety of energy alternatives to biodiesel has attracted significant attention and investment. Neste Oil operates four renewable hydrocarbon diesel plants: a 300 million gallon per year plant in Singapore, a 300 million gallon per year plant in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and two 60 million gallon per year plants in Porvoo, Finland. In the United States, Diamond Green Diesel, LLC operates a 160 million gallon per year renewable hydrocarbon diesel plant in Norco, Louisiana in 2013. Under RFS2, renewable hydrocarbon diesel made from biomass meets the definition of biomass-based diesel and thus is eligible, along with biodiesel, to satisfy the RFS2 biomass-based diesel requirements. Furthermore, under RFS2, renewable hydrocarbon diesel may receive up to 1.7 RINs per gallon, whereas biodiesel currently

receives 1.5 RINs per gallon. As the value of RINs increases, this 0.2 RIN advantage may make renewable hydrocarbon diesel more cost-effective, both as a petroleum-based diesel substitute and for meeting RFS2 requirements. If renewable hydrocarbon diesel proves to be more cost-effective than biodiesel, revenues from our biodiesel plants and our results of operations would be adversely impacted.

In addition, the EPA may allow other fuels to satisfy the RFS2 requirements and allow RINs to be generated upon the production of these fuels. The EPA recently adopted regulations to amend the definition of “Home Heating Oil” under RFS2, which expands the scope of fuels eligible to generate RINs.

The biomass-based diesel industry will also face increased competition resulting from the advancement of technology by automotive, industrial and power generation manufacturers which are developing more efficient engines, hybrid engines and alternative clean power systems. Improved engines and alternative clean power systems offer a technological solution to address increasing worldwide energy costs, the long-term availability of petroleum reserves and environmental concerns. If and when these clean power systems are able to offer significant efficiency and environmental benefits and become widely available, the biomass-based diesel industry may not be able to compete effectively with these technologies and government requirements for the use of biofuels may be discontinued.

If automobile manufacturers and other industry groups express reservations regarding the use of biodiesel, our ability to sell biodiesel will be negatively impacted.

Because it is a relatively new product compared with petroleum diesel, research on biodiesel use in automobiles is ongoing. While most heavy duty automobile manufacturers have approved blends of up to 20% biodiesel, some industry groups have recommended that blends of no more than 5% biodiesel be used for automobile fuel due to concerns about fuel quality, engine performance problems and possible detrimental effects of biodiesel on rubber components and other engine parts. Although some manufacturers have encouraged use of biodiesel fuel in their vehicles, cautionary pronouncements by other manufacturers or industry groups may impact our ability to market our biodiesel.

Perception about “food vs. fuel” could impact public policy which could impair our ability to operate at a profit and substantially harm our revenues and operating margins.

Some people believe that biomass-based diesel may increase the cost of food, as some feedstocks such as soybean oil used to make biomass-based diesel can also be used for food products. This debate is often referred to as “food vs. fuel.” This is a concern to the biomass-based diesel industry because biomass-based diesel demand is heavily influenced by government policy and if public opinion were to erode, it is possible that these policies would lose political support. These views could also negatively impact public perception of biomass-based diesel. Such claims have led some, including members of Congress, to urge the modification of current government policies which affect the production and sale of biofuels in the United States.

Concerns regarding the environmental impact of biomass-based diesel production could affect public policy which could impair our ability to operate at a profit and substantially harm our revenues and operating margins.

Under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2017, (the EISA), the EPA is required to produce a study every three years of the environmental impacts associated with current and future biofuel production and use, including effects on air and water quality, soil quality and conservation, water availability, energy recovery from secondary materials, ecosystem health and biodiversity, invasive species and international impacts. The first such triennial report was released in February 2012. The 2012 report concludes that (1) the extent of negative impacts to date are limited in magnitude and are primarily associated with the intensification of corn production; (2) whether future impacts are positive or negative will be determined by the choice of feedstock, land use change, cultivation and conservation practices; and (3) realizing potential benefits will require implementation and monitoring of conservation and best management practices, improvements in production efficiency, and implementation of innovative technologies at commercial scales. Should future EPA triennial studies, or other analyses find that biofuel production and use has resulted in, or could in the future result in, adverse environmental impacts, such findings could also negatively impact public perception and acceptance of biofuel as an alternative fuel, which also could result in the loss of political support. To the extent that state or federal laws are modified or public perception turns against biomass-based diesel, use requirements such as RFS2 and state tax incentives may not continue, which could materially harm our ability to operate profitably.

Nitrogen oxide emissions from biodiesel may harm its appeal as a renewable fuel and increase costs.

In some instances, biodiesel may increase emissions of nitrogen oxide as compared to petroleum-based diesel fuel, which could harm air quality. Nitrogen oxide is a contributor to ozone and smog. New technology diesel engines eliminate any such increase. Emissions from older vehicles while the fleet turns over may decrease the appeal of biodiesel to environmental groups

and agencies who have been historic supporters of the biodiesel industry, potentially harming our ability to market our biodiesel.

In addition, several states may act to regulate potential nitrogen oxide emissions from biodiesel. California recently adopted regulations that may limit the volume of biodiesel that can be used or require an additive to reduce potential emissions. In states where such an additive is required to sell biodiesel, the additional cost of the additive may make biodiesel less profitable or make biodiesel less cost competitive against petroleum-based diesel or renewable hydrocarbon diesel, which would negatively impact our ability to sell our products in such states and therefore have an adverse effect on our revenues and profitability.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDEBTEDNESS

We and certain subsidiaries have indebtedness, which subjects us to potential defaults, that could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations and limits our ability to react to changes in the economy or the biomass-based diesel industry.

At March 31, 2016, our total term debt before debt issuance costs was $264.1 million. This includes $127.3 million aggregate carrying value on our $143.7 million, 2.75% convertible senior notes due in June 2019 that we issued in June 2014, or the Convertible Notes, and $100.0 million of GOZone Bonds for which our subsidiary, REG Geismar, is obligated. Our obligation with respect to the GOZone Bonds is secured by the deposit of $101.3 million with the financial institution whose letter of credit supports payments on the bonds. We also have short-term debt obligations under revolving credit agreements provided by certain banks. At March 31, 2016 , there were $2.9 million borrowings made under our revolving lines of credit, all of which we guarantee. See "Note 7 - Debt" to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of our indebtedness.

Our indebtedness could:

•require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments of principal, interest on, and other fees related to such indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital and capital expenditures, and for other general corporate purposes;

•increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and biomass-based diesel industry conditions;

•limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the biomass-based diesel industry, which may place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt; and

•limit among other things, our ability to borrow additional funds.

Our ability to make scheduled payments of the principal of, to pay interest on or to refinance our indebtedness, including the Convertible Notes, depends on our future performance, which is subject to several factors including economic, financial, competitive and other factors beyond our control. Our business may not generate cash flow from operations in the future sufficient to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness or any future indebtedness we may incur as well as our ability to make necessary capital expenditures. If we are unable to generate such cash flow, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as reducing or delaying investments or capital expenditures, selling assets, refinancing or obtaining additional capital on terms that may be onerous or highly dilutive. Our ability to refinance the Convertible Notes, the GOZone Bonds, our other existing indebtedness or future indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. We may not be able to engage in any of these activities or engage in these activities on desirable terms, which could result in a default on our current or future indebtedness.

We are subject to counterparty risk with respect to the capped call transactions that we entered into in connection with the issuance of our Convertible Notes.

In connection with the issuance of our Convertible Notes, we entered into privately-negotiated capped call transactions with various counterparties. The counterparties to the capped call transactions are financial institutions, and we will be subject to the risk that they might default under the capped call transactions. Our exposure to the credit risk of the option counterparties will not be secured by any collateral. Recent global economic conditions have resulted in the actual or perceived failure or financial difficulties of many financial institutions. If any option counterparty becomes subject to insolvency proceedings, we will become an unsecured creditor in those proceedings, with a claim equal to our exposure at that time under our transactions with such option counterparty. Our exposure will depend on many factors, but generally, an increase in our exposure will be correlated to an increase in the market price and volatility of shares of our common stock. In addition, upon a default by any option counterparty, we may suffer more dilution than we currently anticipate with respect to our common stock. We can provide no assurances as to the financial stability or viability of the option counterparties.

We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to settle conversions of our Convertible Notes in cash or to repurchase the Convertible Notes for cash upon a fundamental change, and our future debt may contain limitations on our ability to repurchase the Convertible Notes.

Holders of the Convertible Notes will have the right to require us to repurchase their Convertible Notes upon the occurrence of a fundamental change at a repurchase price generally equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. In addition, upon conversion of the Convertible Notes, unless we elect to deliver solely shares of our common stock to settle such conversion (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share), we will be required to make cash payments in respect of the Convertible Notes being converted. However, we may not have enough available cash or be able to obtain financing at the time we are required to make repurchases of the Convertible Notes upon a fundamental change or to settle conversion of the Convertible Notes in cash.

In addition, our ability to repurchase the Convertible Notes may be limited by law, by regulatory authority or by agreements governing our future indebtedness. Our failure to repurchase Convertible Notes at a time when the repurchase is required by the indenture would constitute a default under the indenture governing the Convertible Notes. A default under the indenture or the fundamental change itself could also lead to a default under agreements governing our other indebtedness. If the repayment of the related indebtedness were to be accelerated after any applicable notice or grace periods, we may not have sufficient funds to repay the indebtedness and repurchase the Convertible Notes.

Certain provisions in the indenture governing the Convertible Notes could delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial takeover or takeover attempt of us.

Certain provisions in the Convertible Notes and the indenture could make it more difficult or more expensive for a third party to acquire us. For example, if a takeover would constitute a fundamental change, holders of the notes will have the right to require us to repurchase their notes in cash. In addition, if a takeover constitutes a make-whole fundamental change, we may be required to increase the conversion rate for holders who convert their notes in connection with such takeover. In either case, and in other cases, our obligations under the notes and the indenture could increase the cost of acquiring us or otherwise discourage a third party from acquiring us or removing incumbent management.

We are a holding company and there are limitations on our ability to receive dividends and distributions from our subsidiaries.

All of our principal assets, including our biomass-based diesel production facilities, are owned by subsidiaries and some of these subsidiaries are subject to loan covenants that generally restrict them from paying dividends, making distributions or making loans to us or to any other subsidiary. These limitations will restrict our ability to repay indebtedness, finance capital projects or pay dividends to stockholders from our subsidiaries’ cash flows from operations.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR COMMON STOCK

The market price for our common stock may be volatile.

Although there is currently an active and liquid trading market for our common stock, the market price for our common stock is likely to be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors including the following:


•	actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition and operating results;


•	changes in the performance or market valuations of other companies engaged in our industry;


•	issuance of new or updated research reports by securities or industry analysts;


•	changes in financial estimates by us or of securities or industry analysts;


•	investors’ general perception of us and the industry in which we operate;


•	changes in the political climate in the industry in which we operate, existing laws, regulations and policies applicable to our business and products, including RFS2, and the continuation or adoption or failure to continue or adopt renewable energy requirements and incentives, including the BTC;


•	other regulatory developments in our industry affecting us, our customers or our competitors;


•	announcements of technological innovations by us or our competitors;


•	announcement or expectation of additional financing efforts, including sales or expected sales of additional common stock;


•	additions or departures of key management or other personnel;


•	litigation;


•	inadequate trading volume;


•	general market conditions in our industry; and


•	general economic and market conditions, including continued dislocations and downward pressure in the capital markets.

In addition, stock markets experience significant price and volume fluctuations from time to time that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may have material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

We may issue additional common stock as consideration for future investments or acquisitions.

We have issued in the past, and may issue in the future, our securities in connection with investments and acquisitions. Our stockholders could suffer significant dilution, from our issuances of equity or convertible debt securities. Any new equity securities we issue could have rights, preferences and privileges superior to those of holders of our common stock. The amount of our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock issued in connection with an investment or acquisition could constitute a material portion of our then outstanding common stock.

If we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, we might not be able to report our financial results accurately or prevent fraud. In that case, our stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and could negatively impact the value of our stock.

Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud. The process of maintaining our internal controls may be expensive and time consuming and may require significant attention from management. Although we have concluded as of March 31, 2016 that our internal control over financial reporting provides reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect fraud or misstatements. Failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our results of operations or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. If we or our independent registered public accounting firm discover a material weakness, the disclosure of that fact could harm the value of our stock and our business.

We have never paid dividends on our common stock and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

We have paid no cash dividends on our common stock to date, have contractual restrictions against paying cash dividends and currently intend to retain our future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, stockholders must look solely to appreciation of our common stock to realize a gain on their investment. This appreciation may not occur. Investors seeking cash dividends should not invest in our common stock.

Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain anti-takeover provisions that could delay or discourage takeover attempts that stockholders may consider favorable.

Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control or changes in our management. These provisions include the following:


•	the right of the board of directors to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the board of directors;


•	the requirement for advance notice for nominations for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting;


•	the ability of the board of directors to alter our bylaws without obtaining stockholder approval;


•	the ability of the board of directors to issue, without stockholder approval, up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with rights set by the board of directors, which rights could be senior to those of common stock;


•	a classified board;


•	the required approval of holders of at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors to adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws or amend or repeal the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation regarding the classified board, the election and removal of directors and the ability of stockholders to take action by written consent; and


•	the elimination of the right of stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders and to take action by written consent.

In addition, because we are incorporated in Delaware, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL. These provisions may prohibit or restrict large stockholders, in particular those owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock, from merging or combining with us. These provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws and under Delaware law could discourage potential takeover attempts and could

reduce the price that investors might be willing to pay for shares of our common stock in the future and result in our market price being lower than it would without these provisions.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

On February 19, 2015, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing up to $30.0 million in repurchases. The program is in effect through October 31, 2016. At March 31, 2016, approximately $0.9 million remained available for future stock repurchases under this repurchase program. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, we repurchased 647,794 shares of our Common Stock under this program as follows.



Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan	Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased
January and February 2016 (from January 1, 2016 to February 29, 2016)	None	N/A		None	$	6,700,000
March 2016 (from March 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016)	647,794	$	8.95	3,126,907	$	870,000

On March 5, 2016, the Company's board of directors approved a repurchase program of up to $50 million of the Company's shares of common stock and/or convertible notes, in effect through March 5, 2018. Under the program, REG may repurchase shares or bonds from time to time in open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or by other means. The timing and amount of repurchase transactions will be determined by the Company's management based on its evaluation of market conditions, share price, bond price, legal requirements and other factors. The program may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time without prior notice.

On March 15, 2016, we issued 33,973 shares of Common Stock with respect to the intangible supply agreement in connection with the purchase of substantially all Tellurian Biodiesel, Inc. and American BDF, LLC assets.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

(A) Exhibits:



Exhibit No.		Description
10.1		Amendment No. 9 to Credit Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2015, by and among the lenders identified on the signature pages thereto, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, REG Services Group, LLC and REG Marketing & Logistics Group, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2015)
31.1		Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).
31.2		Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).
32.1*		Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 USC Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2*		Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 USC Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS		XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

* In accordance with Item 601(b)(32)(ii) of Regulation S-K and SEC Release No. 34-47986, the certifications furnished in Exhibit 32.1 and Exhibit 32.2 hereto are deemed to accompany this Form 10-Q and will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act. Such certifications will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.




		RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP, INC.


Dated:	May 9, 2016	By:	/s/ Daniel J. Oh
			Daniel J. Oh
			Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

Dated:	May 9, 2016	By:	/s/ Chad Stone
			Chad Stone
			Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

Dated:	May 9, 2016	By:	/s/ Chad A. Baker
			Chad A. Baker
			Controller and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)