Segment Reporting

3 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2013

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 15. Segment Reporting

The Company has two segments: alternative energy and real estate. The Company evaluates the performance of each reportable segment based on segment profit. Segment profit excludes income taxes, indirect interest expense, discontinued operations, indirect interest income and certain other items that are included in net income determined in accordance with GAAP. Segment profit includes realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments. The following table summarizes segment and other results and assets (amounts in thousands):

	Three Months Ended April 30,
	2013		2012
Net sales and revenue:
Alternative energy	$	178,324	$	150,664
Real estate		423		342
Total net sales and revenue	$	178,747	$	151,006
Segment gross profit:
Alternative energy	$	9,026	$	5,510
Real estate		71		15
Total gross profit	$	9,097	$	5,525

	Three Months Ended April 30,
	2013			2012
Segment profit (loss):
Alternative energy	$	6,626		$	2,469
Real estate		8			(60	)
Corporate expense		(701	)		(548	)
Interest expense		(14	)		(18	)
Interest income		18			29
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	5,937		$	1,872

		April 30, 2013		January 31, 2013
Assets:
Alternative energy	$	341,863	$	337,857
Real estate		12,271		13,326
Corporate		52,436		54,147
Total assets	$	406,570	$	405,330

	Three Months Ended April 30,
	2013			2012
Sales of products alternative energy segment:
Ethanol		74	%		78	%
Dried distillers grains		17	%		17	%
Modified distillers grains		6	%		3	%
Other		3	%		2	%
Total		100	%		100	%
Sales of services real estate segment:
Lease revenue		100	%		100	%

Certain corporate costs and expenses, including information technology, employee benefits and other shared services are allocated to the business segments. The allocations are generally amounts agreed upon by management and are based on a reasonable and systematic approach, which may differ from amounts that would be incurred if such services were purchased separately by the business segment. Corporate assets are primarily cash and deferred income tax benefits.

Cash, except for cash held by One Earth and NuGen, is considered to be fungible and available for both corporate and segment use depending on liquidity requirements. Cash of approximately $25.4 million held by One Earth and NuGen will be used primarily to fund working capital needs for the subsidiaries.