UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including
area code (
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one):
Large accelerated filer ☐
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial
reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared
or issued its audit report. Yes
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) Yes ☐ No
At the close of business on July 31, 2020
the aggregate market value of the registrant’s outstanding Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant (for purposes
of this calculation,
There were
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Portions of REX American Resources Corporation’s definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 16, 2021 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-K contains or may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements can be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or “continue” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Readers are cautioned that there are risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those referred to in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include the risk factors set forth from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and include among other things: the effect of pandemics such as COVID-19 on the Company’s business operations, including impacts on supplies, demand, personnel and other factors, the impact of legislative and regulatory changes, the price volatility and availability of corn, distillers grains, ethanol, non-food grade corn oil, gasoline and natural gas, logistical delays, our ethanol and refined coal plants operating efficiently and according to forecasts and projections, changes in the international, national or regional economies, weather, results of income tax audits, changes in income tax laws or regulations, the impact of U.S. foreign trade policy, changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the effects of terrorism or acts of war. The Company does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are set forth in Item 1A.
Available Information
REX makes available free of charge on its Internet website its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. REX’s Internet website address is www.rexamerican.com. The contents of the Company’s website are not a part of this report.
PART I
| Item 1. | Business |
References to “we”, “us”, “our”, “REX” or “the Company” refer to REX American Resources Corporation and its majority owned subsidiaries.
Fiscal Year
All references in this report to a particular fiscal year are to REX’s fiscal year ended January 31. For example, “fiscal year 2020” means the period February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021. We refer to our fiscal year by reference to the year immediately preceding the January 31 fiscal year end date.
Corporate History and Background
REX was incorporated in Delaware in 1984 as a holding company. Our principal offices are located at 7720 Paragon Road, Dayton, Ohio 45459. Our telephone number is (937) 276-3931.
In 2006, we started investing in ethanol production facilities. We are currently invested in three ethanol production entities – One Earth Energy, LLC (“One Earth”), NuGen Energy, LLC (“NuGen”), and Big River Resources, LLC (“Big River”). We own a majority interest in One Earth and NuGen. We also own a majority interest in an entity that owns and operates a refined coal facility. We have two reportable segments: i) ethanol and by-products; and ii) refined coal.
| 2 |
General Overview
Net income attributable to REX common shareholders was approximately $3.0 million in fiscal year 2020 compared to approximately $7.4 million in fiscal year 2019. Both fiscal years 2020 and 2019 benefitted from reductions in our effective tax rate resulting from the impact of federal production tax credits associated with our refined coal operations and from the impact of research and experimentation credits associated with our ethanol and by-products operations. However, as refined coal production declined significantly in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019, the benefit of the related tax credits also declined.
Our fiscal year 2020 operations and commodity prices in general were significantly impacted by the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic. In an effort to contain the virus, there have been various and prolonged restrictions on travel, public gatherings and work from home orders throughout the world. This has resulted in reduced demand for gasoline and ethanol. Corn pricing was also impacted by this lower demand for ethanol and resulting reduced ethanol production, although China increased its imports of U.S. corn during the latter part of fiscal year 2020 causing corn prices to increase. In the early periods of the Covid-19 pandemic, CBOT ethanol pricing declined sharply to approximately $0.84 per gallon while CBOT corn pricing declined to a low of approximately $3.03 per bushel. These and other market factors led to the shutdown of our NuGen ethanol plant from late March 2020 to late June 2020 and the shutdown of our One Earth ethanol plant from late March 2020 to late May 2020. CBOT ethanol and corn prices were at their highest levels during fiscal year 2020 at the end of January 2021 as the ethanol price was approximately $1.64 per gallon and the corn price was approximately $5.47 per bushel.
The form and structure of our ethanol investments were tailored to the specific needs and goals of each project and the local farmer group or investor with whom we partnered. We generally participate in the management of our projects through our membership on the board of managers of the limited liability companies that own the plants. We provide management oversight and direction with respect to most aspects of plant operations for our consolidated ethanol companies. We have equity investments in three entities engaged in the production of ethanol as of January 31, 2021. The following table is a summary of our ethanol investments at January 31, 2021 (gallons in millions):
| Entity | Trailing 12 Months Ethanol Gallons Shipped |
REX’s Current Ownership Interest |
Current Effective Ownership of Trailing 12 Months Ethanol Gallons Shipped |
| One Earth Energy, LLC | 118.6 | 75.4% | 89.4 |
| NuGen Energy, LLC | 98.5 | 99.5% | 98.0 |
| Big River Resources, LLC: | |||
| Big River Resources W Burlington, LLC | 101.0 | 10.3% | 10.4 |
| Big River Resources Galva, LLC | 115.3 | 10.3% | 11.9 |
| Big River United Energy, LLC | 116.1 | 5.7% | 6.6 |
| Big River Resources Boyceville, LLC | 55.3 | 10.3% | 5.7 |
| Total | 604.8 | 222.0 |
| 3 |
Our ethanol operations are highly dependent on commodity prices, especially prices for corn, ethanol, distillers grains, non-food grade corn oil and natural gas. As a result of price volatility for these commodities, our operating results can fluctuate substantially. The price and availability of corn is subject to significant fluctuations depending upon several factors that affect commodity prices in general, including crop conditions, weather, federal policy and foreign trade. Because the market prices of ethanol and distillers grains are not always directly related to corn prices, at times ethanol and/or distillers grains prices may lag movements in corn prices. In an environment of higher corn prices or lower ethanol/distillers grains prices, the overall margin structure at the plants could be reduced. As a result, at times, we may operate our plants at negative or minimally positive operating margins.
We expect our ethanol plants to produce approximately 2.8 gallons of denatured ethanol for each bushel of grain processed in the production cycle. We refer to the actual gallons of denatured ethanol produced per bushel of grain processed as the realized yield. We refer to the difference between the price per gallon of ethanol and the price per bushel of grain (divided by the realized yield) as the “crush spread.” Should the crush spread decline, it is possible that our ethanol plants will generate operating results that do not provide adequate cash flows for sustained periods of time. In such cases, production at the ethanol plants may be reduced or stopped altogether in order to minimize variable costs at individual plants.
We attempt to manage the risk related to the volatility of commodity prices by utilizing forward grain purchase, forward ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil sale contracts, and commodity futures and swap agreements, as management deems appropriate. We attempt to match quantities of these sales contracts with an appropriate quantity of grain purchase contracts over a given period of time when we can obtain an adequate gross margin resulting from the crush spread inherent in the contracts we have executed. However, the market for future ethanol sales contracts generally lags the spot market with respect to ethanol prices. Consequently, we generally execute fixed price contracts for no more than four months into the future at any given time and we may lock in our corn or ethanol price without having a corresponding locked in ethanol or corn price for short durations of time. As a result of the relatively short period of time our fixed price contracts cover, we generally cannot predict the future movements in our realized crush spread for more than four months; thus, we are unable to predict the likelihood or amounts of future income or loss from the operations of our ethanol facilities. We utilize derivative financial instruments, primarily exchange traded commodity future and swap contracts, in conjunction with certain of our grain procurement activities and commodity marketing activities.
On August 10, 2017, we purchased, through a 95.35% owned subsidiary, for approximately $12.0 million, the entire ownership interest of an entity that owns a refined coal facility. We began operating the refined coal facility immediately after the acquisition. We expect that the refined coal operating results will be subsidized by federal production tax credits through November 2021, subject to meeting qualified emissions reductions as governed by Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). In order to maintain compliance with Section 45 of the IRC, we are required to test every six months, through an independent laboratory, the effectiveness of our process with respect to emissions reductions. Annually, the IRS publishes the amount of federal income tax credit earned per ton of refined coal produced and sold for a given calendar year, which for 2020 is approximately $7.30 per ton. The tax credits can be earned for refined coal produced and sold by our facility through November 18, 2021. We expect to cease refined coal production operations on or before November 18, 2021.
During fiscal year 2013, we entered into a joint venture with Hytken HPGP LLC (“Hytken”) to file and defend patents for eSteam technology relating to heavy oil and oil sands production methods, and to attempt to commercially exploit the technology to generate license fees, royalty income and development opportunities. The patented technology is an enhanced method of heavy oil recovery involving zero emissions downhole steam generation. To date, we have paid and expensed approximately $2.5 million to purchase our ownership interest and fund patent and other expenses. We have not successfully demonstrated that the technology is commercially feasible. We own 60% and Hytken owns 40% of the entity named Future Energy, LLC (“Future Energy”), an Ohio limited liability company. Future Energy is managed by a board of three managers, two appointed by us and one by Hytken.
| 4 |
We plan to seek and evaluate various investment opportunities including energy related, carbon dioxide related, agricultural or other ventures we believe fit our investment criteria. We can make no assurances that we will be successful in our efforts to find such opportunities.
Ethanol Industry
Ethanol is a renewable fuel produced by processing corn and other biomass through a fermentation process that creates combustible alcohol that can be used as a fuel additive to reduce vehicle emissions from gasoline, as an octane enhancer to improve the octane rating of gasoline with which it is blended and, to a lesser extent, as a gasoline substitute. The majority of ethanol produced in the United States is made from corn because of its wide availability and ease of convertibility from large amounts of carbohydrates into glucose, the key ingredient in producing alcohol that is used in the fermentation process. Ethanol production can also use feedstocks such as grain sorghum, switchgrass, wheat, barley, potatoes and sugarcane as carbohydrate sources. Most ethanol plants have been located near large corn production areas, such as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota. Railway access and interstate access are vital for ethanol facilities due to the large amount of raw materials and finished goods required to be shipped to and from the facilities. An adequate supply of natural gas is key to maintaining optimal operating levels.
According to the Renewable Fuels Association (“RFA”), the United States ethanol industry produced an estimated 13.8 billion gallons of ethanol in 2020, which represents a decline of approximately 2.0 billion gallons from 2019, primarily due to the impacts of COVID-19. Approximately 1.3 billion gallons were exported from the United States in 2020. According to the RFA, the United States ethanol industry consists of 208 plants in 25 states with an annual capacity of approximately 17.4 billion gallons of ethanol production.
Domestic demand for ethanol is highly dependent upon federal and state legislation and regulations. On December 19, 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (the “Energy Act of 2007”) was enacted. The Energy Act of 2007 established new levels of renewable fuel mandates, including two different categories of renewable fuels: conventional biofuels and advanced biofuels. The federal government mandates the use of renewable fuels under Renewable Fuel Standard II (“RFS II”), established in October 2010. Corn-based ethanol is considered a conventional biofuel which is subject to a renewable fuel standard (“RFS”) of 15.0 billion gallons annually through 2022. After 2022, RFS volumes will be determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in coordination with the Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture.
The EPA has the authority to waive the mandates in whole or in part if one of two conditions is met: 1) there is inadequate domestic renewable fuel supply, or 2) implementation of the mandate requirement severely harms the economy or environment of a state, region or the United States. In 2014, 2015 and 2016, the EPA took action to reduce the volumes for both conventional biofuels and advanced biofuels. The U.S. Federal District Court for the D.C. Circuit ruled on July 28, 2017 against the EPA related to its decision to lower the 2016 volume requirements. As a result, the Court vacated the EPA’s decision to reduce the total renewable fuel volume requirements by 500 million gallons for 2016 through its waiver authority. To date, the EPA has not reinstated these gallons.
Under RFS II, a small refiner that processes less than 75,000 barrels of oil per day can petition the EPA for a waiver of their requirement to submit renewable identification numbers (“RINs”). The EPA, through consultation with the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture, can grant the refiner a full or partial waiver, or deny the waiver. The EPA issued 85 refinery exemptions for 2016-2018 compliance years, undercutting the statutory renewable fuel volumes by a total of 4.0 billion gallons. In its final rule establishing the 2020 renewable fuel volume obligations, the EPA stated it will reallocate gallons lost to exemptions, based on a rolling three year average of what the Department of Energy has recommended, and extend this to the 2019 compliance year. On average, these recommendations have represented only about half of the waivers the EPA has granted. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit recently vacated decisions by the EPA to
| 5 |
extend exemptions of renewable fuel obligations to three small refineries. The Court ruled the extensions should not have been granted because the three refineries were not already in possession of exemptions. In addition, the Court ruled the economic hardship should be determined by whether complying with RFS II created the hardship solely, not compliance with RFS II amongst other factors. The oil refiners appeal was denied. Two of the refiners appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, and in January 2021, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case.
Ethanol Production
The plants we have invested in are designed to use the dry milling method of producing ethanol. In the dry milling process, the entire corn kernel is first ground into flour, which is referred to as “meal,” and processed without separating out the various component parts of the grain. The meal is processed with enzymes, chemicals and water, and then placed in a high-temperature cooker. It is then transferred to fermenters where yeast is added and the conversion of sugar to ethanol begins. After fermentation, the resulting liquid is transferred to distillation columns where the ethanol is separated from the remaining “stillage” for fuel uses. The anhydrous ethanol is then blended with a denaturant, such as natural gasoline, to render it undrinkable and thus not subject to beverage alcohol tax. With the starch elements of the corn consumed in the above described process, the principal by-product produced by the dry milling process is dry distillers grains with solubles, or DDGS. DDGS is sold as a protein used in animal feed, which recovers a portion of the corn value not absorbed in ethanol production. Depending on market and operating conditions, we may also sell modified distillers grains, or wet distillers grains, by removing less liquid content compared to DDGS. We also generate revenues from the sale of non-food grade corn oil produced at our facilities. Non-food grade corn oil is sold to the animal feed market, as well as biodiesel and other chemical markets.
The Primary Uses of Ethanol
Blend component. Today, much of the ethanol blending in the U.S. is done to meet the RFS. Most regular gasoline is produced using blendstock with an octane rating of 84, which is then increased to 87 (the minimum octane rating required in most states) by adding 10% ethanol according to the RFA. The industry is attempting to expand ethanol blending above the current 10% for most vehicles in use. The EPA has approved the use of 15% ethanol (“E-15”), which has an octane rating of 88, in gasoline for cars, SUV’s and light duty trucks made in 2001 and later. Previously, the EPA had not granted E-15 the same Reid vapor pressure (“RVP”) waiver as E-10 so it could only be sold from September 16 through May 31 for those vehicles in most markets. In May 2019, the EPA finalized regulatory changes to allow the same RVP waiver for E-15 for the summer months that it allows for E-10. This may remove a significant barrier to wider sales of E-15, although E-15 sales are still limited by the lack of infrastructure at retail locations to dispense E-15.
Clean air additive. Ethanol is employed by the refining industry as a fuel oxygenate, which when blended with gasoline, allows engines to combust fuel more completely and reduce emissions from motor vehicles, than gasoline that has not been oxygenated. Ethanol contains 35% oxygen, which results in more complete combustion of the fuel in the engine cylinder. Oxygenated gasoline is used to help meet certain federal and air emission standards.
Octane enhancer. Ethanol increases the octane rating of gasoline with which it is blended. Octane is a measure of fuel performance. Ethanol is used by gasoline suppliers as an octane enhancer both for producing regular grade gasoline from lower octane blending stocks and for upgrading regular gasoline to premium grades.
| 6 |
Legislation
The United States ethanol industry is highly dependent upon federal and state legislation. See Item 1A. Risk Factors for a discussion of legislation affecting the U.S. ethanol industry.
Refined Coal Overview
On August 10, 2017, we purchased, through a 95.35% owned subsidiary, the entire ownership interest of an entity that owns a refined coal facility. We began operating the refined coal facility immediately after the acquisition. Using licensed technology, our plant applies two separate chemicals to convert feedstock coal into refined coal, which is sold to the end user of the refined coal. We expect that the refined coal operating results will be subsidized by federal production tax credits through November 18, 2021, subject to meeting qualified emissions reductions as governed by Section 45 of the IRC. In order to maintain compliance with Section 45 of the IRC, we are required to test every six months, through an independent laboratory, the effectiveness of our process with respect to emissions reductions. Annually, the IRS publishes the amount of federal income tax credit earned per ton of refined coal produced and sold for a given calendar year, which for 2020 was approximately $7.30 per ton.
Section 45 of the IRC was created by Congress to encourage the development and use of environmentally sound solutions to control harmful emissions during energy production and to facilitate and move the United States towards better compliance with global environmental energy standards. The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 amended Section 45 of the IRC by adding provisions to incentivize the production of emission reducing refined coal. To qualify for tax credits under Section 45 of the IRC, a process must reduce coal emissions of nitrogen oxide by 20% and either sulfur dioxide or mercury by 40%. The tax credits can be earned for refined coal produced and sold by our facility through November 18, 2021. Absent the tax credits, our refined coal operations would not be profitable.
Facilities
As of our fiscal year end, our consolidated ethanol entities owned a combined 1,122 acres of land and two facilities that shipped a combined quantity of approximately 217 million gallons of ethanol in fiscal year 2020. We also own our corporate headquarters office building, consisting of approximately 7,500 square feet, located in Dayton, Ohio. We own a refined coal plant that is located on leased property on the site of an electrical generating station.
Human Capital Resources
The attraction, retention and development of employees is critical to our success. We accomplish these objectives through a variety of actions, including our competitive compensation policies, training initiatives and growth opportunities within our Company. At January 31, 2021, we had 119 employees at our two consolidated ethanol plants and at our corporate headquarters. None of our employees are represented by a labor union. We expect this employment level to remain relatively stable. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good.
We took measures to protect the health and safety of our employees during the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing to meet the needs of our customers. We continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, including our employees, and take appropriate actions to mitigate the impact including emphasizing CDC guidelines.
| 7 |
We conduct regularly scheduled safety meetings and require all employees to go through safety training. We evaluate employee safety incidents monthly and investigate such incidents promptly. In addition, we conduct periodic safety audits performed by an independent third party. A portion of our incentive compensation plan rewards employees for attaining certain safety goals.
We believe we offer market competitive compensation and benefit programs for our employees. In addition to competitive base wages, employees are eligible for an incentive compensation program, a Company matched 401(k) plan, healthcare benefits, and paid time off.
Service Marks
We have registered the service marks “REX”, and “Farmer’s Energy”, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. We are not aware of any adverse claims concerning our service marks.
| Item 1A. | Risk Factors |
We encourage you to carefully consider the risks described below and other information contained in this report when considering an investment decision in REX common stock. Any of the events discussed in the risk factors below may occur. If one or more of these events do occur, our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In this instance, the trading price of REX stock could decline, and investors might lose all or part of their investment.
Risks Related to our Ethanol and By-Products Business
During the early months of 2020, a new strain of COVID-19 spread into the United States and other countries.
In an effort to contain the spread of this virus, there have been various government mandated restrictions, in addition to voluntary privately implemented restrictions, including limiting public gatherings, retail store closures, restrictions on employees working and the quarantining of people who may have been exposed to the virus. The duration of the resulting downturn in economic activity is unknown. However, it has led to reduced demand for ethanol. This could lead to prolonged production stoppages at our ethanol plants and could result in an adverse material impact on the results of operations and on our financial position. We idled our NuGen and One Earth ethanol plants for portions of fiscal year 2020.
The ethanol industry is changing rapidly which could result in unexpected developments that could negatively impact our operations.
According to the RFA, the ethanol industry has grown from approximately 1.5 billion gallons of domestic annual ethanol production in 1999 to approximately 16.1 billion gallons in 2018. In 2020 and 2019, the industry produced approximately 13.8 and 15.8 billion gallons, respectively, with the reduction reflecting industry conditions. Thus, there have been significant changes in the supply and demand of ethanol over a relatively short period of time which could lead to difficulty in maintaining profitable operations at our ethanol plants.
| 8 |
The financial returns on our ethanol investments are highly dependent on commodity prices, which are subject to significant volatility, uncertainty and regional supply shortages, so our results could fluctuate substantially.
The financial returns on our ethanol investments are highly dependent on commodity prices, especially prices for corn, natural gas, ethanol, dried distillers grains, non-food grade corn oil and unleaded gasoline. As a result of the volatility of the prices for these items, our returns may fluctuate substantially and our investments could experience periods of declining prices for their products and increasing costs for their raw materials, which could result in operating losses at our ethanol plants.
Our returns on ethanol investments are highly sensitive to grain prices.
Corn is the principal raw material our ethanol plants use to produce ethanol and by-products. As a result, changes in the price of corn can significantly affect our businesses. Rising corn prices result in higher production costs of ethanol and by-products. Because ethanol competes with non-corn-based fuels, our ethanol plants may not be able to pass along increased grain costs to our customers. At certain levels, grain prices may make ethanol uneconomical to produce.
The price of corn is influenced by weather conditions and other factors affecting crop yields, transportation costs, farmer planting decisions, exports, the value of the U.S. dollar and general economic, market and regulatory factors. These factors include government policies and subsidies with respect to agriculture and international trade and global and local demand and supply. The significance and relative effect of these factors on the price of corn is difficult to predict. Any event that tends to negatively affect the production and/or supply of corn, such as adverse weather or crop disease, could increase corn prices and potentially harm the business of our ethanol plants, to include intermittent production slowdowns or stoppages. Increasing domestic ethanol capacity could boost the demand for corn and result in increased corn prices. International demand for corn could also result in higher corn prices. Our ethanol plants may also have difficulty, from time to time, in physically sourcing corn on economic terms due to regional supply shortages, transportation issues, delays in farmer marketing decisions or unfavorable local pricing. Such a shortage or price impact could require our ethanol plants to suspend operations which would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations.
The spread between ethanol and corn prices can vary significantly.
The gross margin at our ethanol plants depends principally on the spread between ethanol and corn prices. Fluctuations in the spread are likely to continue to occur. A sustained narrow or negative spread, whether as a result of sustained high or increased corn prices or sustained low or decreased ethanol prices, would adversely affect the results of operations at our ethanol plants.
Our risk management strategies may be ineffective and may expose us to decreased profitability and liquidity.
In an attempt to partially offset the impact of volatility of commodity prices, we enter into: i) forward contracts to sell a portion of our ethanol and distillers grains production and to purchase a portion of our corn and natural gas requirements and; ii) commodity futures and swap agreements. The financial impact of these risk management activities is dependent upon, among other items, the prices involved and our ability to receive or deliver the commodities involved. Risk management activities can result in financial loss when positions are purchased in a declining market or when positions are sold in an increasing market. In addition, we may not be able to match the appropriate quantity of corn contracts with quantities of ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil contracts. We vary the amount and type of risk management techniques we utilize, and we may choose not to engage in any risk management activities. Should we fail to properly manage the inherent volatility of commodity prices, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.
| 9 |
The market for natural gas is subject to market conditions that create uncertainty in the price and availability of the natural gas that our ethanol plants use in their manufacturing process.
Our ethanol plants rely upon third parties for their supply of natural gas, which is consumed as fuel in the production process. The prices for and availability of natural gas are subject to volatile market conditions. These market conditions often are affected by factors beyond the ethanol plants’ control, such as weather conditions, overall economic conditions, governmental regulation and foreign and domestic relations. Significant disruptions in the supply of natural gas could impair or completely prevent the ethanol plants’ ability to economically manufacture ethanol for their customers. Furthermore, increases in natural gas prices may adversely affect results of operations and financial position at our ethanol plants.
Fluctuations in the selling price of commodities may reduce profit margins at our ethanol plants.
Ethanol is marketed as a fuel additive to reduce vehicle emissions from gasoline, as an octane enhancer to improve the octane rating of gasoline with which it is blended and, to a lesser extent, as a gasoline substitute. As a result, ethanol prices are influenced by the supply and demand for gasoline, and our ethanol plants’ results of operations and financial position may be materially adversely affected if gasoline demand decreases or the price of gasoline declines making ethanol less economical.
Distillers grains compete with other protein based animal feed products. The price of distillers grains may decrease when the prices of competing feed products decrease. The prices of competing animal feed products are based in part on the prices of the commodities from which these products are made. Historically, sales prices for distillers grains have tracked along with the price of corn. However, there have been instances when the price increase for distillers grains has lagged increases in corn prices.
The production of distillers grains has increased as a result of increases in dry mill ethanol production in the United States. This could lead to price declines in what we can sell our distillers grains for in the future. Such declines could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Increased ethanol production or decreases in demand for ethanol may result in excess production capacity in the ethanol industry, which may cause the price of ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil to decrease.
According to the RFA, domestic ethanol production capacity is approximately 17.4 billion gallons per year. The EPA set the RFS requirement to be satisfied by corn-derived ethanol at 15.0 billion gallons for 2019 and 2020. However, the RFS requirements have been reduced through small refiner waivers (“SRWs”) issued by the EPA. These SRWs were in the amount of approximately 4.0 billion gallons for 85 refinery exemptions of ethanol for 2016 through 2018. There have been no rulings on waiver requests for subsequent years. The EPA has not yet released a draft rule for the 2021 volumes, despite the fact they typically release a draft mid-year of the preceding year and finalize the rule by November 30 of the preceding year. Excess capacity in the ethanol industry could have an adverse effect on the results of our operations. In a manufacturing industry with excess capacity, producers have an incentive to manufacture additional products for so long as the price exceeds the marginal cost of production (i.e., the cost of producing only the next unit, without regard for interest, overhead or fixed costs). This incentive could result in the reduction of the market price of ethanol to a level that is inadequate to generate sufficient cash flow to cover costs.
Excess capacity may also result from decreases in the demand for ethanol, which could result from a number of factors, including, but not limited to, regulatory developments and reduced U.S. gasoline consumption. Reduced gasoline consumption could occur as a result of increased prices for gasoline or crude oil, which could cause businesses and consumers to reduce driving or acquire vehicles with more favorable gasoline mileage or acquire non-gasoline powered vehicles. In addition, decreased overall economic activity could also lead to reduced gasoline consumption.
| 10 |
In addition, because ethanol production produces distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil as by-products, increased ethanol production will also lead to increased supplies of distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil. An increase in the supply of distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil, without corresponding increases in demand, could lead to lower prices or an inability to sell our ethanol plants’ distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil production. A decline in the price of distillers grains or non-food grade corn oil could have a material adverse effect on the results of our ethanol operations.
The price of ethanol and distillers grains may decline as a result of trade restrictions or duties on ethanol and distillers grains exports from the United States or from unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates.
If the United States were to withdraw from or materially modify certain international trade agreements, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. Ethanol and other products that we produce are sold into various other countries with trade agreements with the United States. If tariffs were raised on the foreign-sourced goods that lead to retaliatory actions, it could have material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The United States exported approximately 1.3 billion gallons of ethanol in 2020, down from approximately 1.5 and approximately 1.7 billion gallons in 2019 and 2018, respectively. If producers and exporters of ethanol are subject to trade restrictions, or additional duties are imposed on exports, it may make it uneconomical to export ethanol. Brazil, China and the European Union all have trade barriers or tariffs against fuel ethanol. In 2013, the European Union imposed a five year tariff of $83.33 per metric ton on U.S. fuel ethanol to discourage competition. Effective January 1, 2017, China indicated its intention to raise its 5% tariff on U.S. and Brazil fuel ethanol to 30%. On April 1, 2018, China raised their tariff rate to 45%, and later raised it to 70% in the U.S. and China trade war. On September 1, 2017, Brazil imposed a 20% tariff on U.S. fuel ethanol imports in excess of 150 million liters, or 39.6 million gallons per quarter. The tariff was extended several times but lapsed in December 2020 and a 20% tariff now applies to all U.S. ethanol exported to Brazil. This could result in an oversupply of ethanol in the United States, which could have a material adverse effect on the results of our ethanol operations.
In 2020, approximately 11.0 million metric tons (“mmt”) of distillers grains were exported which represented a record high of 38% of U.S. production. However, the export market may be jeopardized if foreign governments impose trade barriers or other measures to protect the foreign local markets. Exports to China were approximately 2% of U.S. global shipments in 2019 versus approximately 51% in 2015, due to punitive tariffs established beginning January 2017 in effect for 5 years per the RFA. Chinese exports rebounded slightly in 2020 but still remained depressed compared to earlier years. If producers and exporters of distillers grains are subjected to trade barriers when selling distillers grains to foreign customers, there may be a reduction in the price of distillers grains in the United States. In addition, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations could reduce the demand for United States exports of distillers grains. Declines in the price we receive for our distillers grains could lead to decreased revenues and may result in our inability to operate our ethanol plants profitably.
Future demand for ethanol is uncertain and changes in overall consumer demand for transportation fuel could affect demand.
There are limited markets for ethanol other than what is federally mandated. Increased consumer acceptance of E15 and E85 fuel is likely necessary in order for ethanol to achieve significant market share growth beyond federal mandate levels.
| 11 |
We depend on our partners to operate certain of our ethanol investments.
Our investments currently represent both majority and minority equity positions. Day-to-day operating control of minority owned plants generally remains with the local investor group. We do not have the ability to directly modify the operations of these plants in response to changes in the business environment or in response to any deficiencies in local operations of the plants. In addition, local plant operators, who also represent the primary suppliers of corn and other crops to the plants, may have interests, such as the price and sourcing of corn and other crops, that may differ from our interest, which is based solely on the operating profit of the plant. The limitations on our ability to control day-to-day plant operations could adversely affect plant results of operations.
We may not successfully acquire or develop additional ethanol investments.
The growth of our ethanol business depends on our ability to identify and develop new ethanol investments. Our ethanol development strategy depends on referrals, and introductions, to new investment opportunities from industry participants, such as ethanol plant builders and owners, financial institutions, marketing agents and others. We must continue to maintain favorable relationships with these industry participants, and a material disruption in these sources of referrals would adversely affect our ability to expand our ethanol investments.
Any expansion strategy will depend on prevailing market conditions for the price of ethanol and the cost of corn and natural gas and the expectations of future market conditions. Additional financing may also be necessary to implement any expansion strategy, which may not be accessible or available on acceptable terms. In addition, failure to adequately manage the risks associated with additional ethanol investments could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our ethanol plants may be adversely affected by technological advances and efforts to anticipate and employ such technological advances may prove unsuccessful.
The development and implementation of new technologies may result in a significant reduction in the costs of ethanol production. For instance, any technological advances in the efficiency or cost to produce ethanol from inexpensive cellulosic sources such as corn stalk, wheat, oat or barley straw could have an adverse effect on our ethanol plants, because our plants are designed to produce ethanol from corn, which is, by comparison, a raw material with other high value uses. We cannot predict when new technologies may become available, the rate of acceptance of new technologies by competitors or the costs associated with new technologies. In addition, advances in the development of alternatives to ethanol could significantly reduce demand for or eliminate the need for ethanol.
Any advances in technology which require significant unanticipated capital expenditures to remain competitive or which reduce demand or prices for ethanol would have a material adverse effect on the results of our ethanol operations.
In addition, alternative fuels, additives and oxygenates are continually under development. Alternative fuel additives that can replace ethanol may be developed, which may decrease the demand for ethanol. It is also possible that technological advances in engine and exhaust system design and performance could reduce the use of oxygenates, which would lower the demand for ethanol. Consumer demand for gasoline may be reduced by transportation related technological advances such as electric and hybrid vehicles. Several automobile manufacturers have announced target dates into the 2030s for ceasing production of gasoline vehicles and shifting production to electric vehicles. In addition, countries such as Japan and the United Kingdom as well as the state of California have pledged to ban the sale of vehicles with internal combustion engines over time. The Biden administration, in its early stages, appears to have placed an increased emphasis on electric vehicles. Reduced demand for ethanol could cause our results of operations to be materially adversely affected.
| 12 |
The U.S. ethanol industry is highly dependent upon a myriad of federal and state legislation and regulation and any changes in legislation or regulation could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.
The renewable fuel standard program was authorized under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and was expanded under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). EISA increased the amount of renewable fuel required to be blended into gasoline and required a minimum usage of corn-derived renewable fuels of 12.0 billion gallons in 2010, increasing annually by 600 million gallons to 15.0 billion gallons in 2015 through 2022, with no specified volume subsequent to 2022. The EPA has the authority to assign the mandated amounts of renewable fuels to be blended into transportation fuel to individual fuel blenders. RFS II has been a primary factor in the growth of ethanol usage. Over the past several years various pieces of legislation have been introduced to the U.S. Congress that were intended to reduce or eliminate ethanol blending requirements. To date, none of the bills have been successful but they are an indication of the continued effort to undermine the EISA.
Under EISA, the EPA has the authority to waive or modify the mandated RFS II requirements in whole or in part. In order to grant a waiver, the EPA administrator must determine in consultation with the Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy, that one of the following two conditions has been met: i) there is inadequate domestic renewable fuel supply or ii) implementation of the requirement would severely harm the economy or environment of a state, region or the country. In certain past years the EPA has taken action to reduce the mandated gallons called for under EISA for both conventional and advanced renewable fuels.
Pursuant to RFS II, if mandatory renewable fuel volumes are reduced by at least 20% for two consecutive years, the EPA is required to modify, or reset, statutory volumes through 2022. While conventional ethanol was maintained at 15 billion gallons, 2019 was the second consecutive year the total proposed RVOs was more than 20% below statutory volumes levels. The EPA Administrator directed his staff to initiate the reset rulemaking process. However, the EPA announced it would not move forward with a reset rulemaking in 2020. After 2022, volumes will be determined by the EPA in coordination with the Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture, taking into account such factors as environmental impact, energy security, future production rates, costs to consumers, infrastructure, impacts on commodity and food prices, job creation and rural economic development.
Obligated parties use RINs to show compliance with RFS-mandated volumes. RINs are attached to renewable fuels by producers and detached when the renewable fuel is blended with transportation fuel or traded in the open market. The market price of detached RINs affects the price of ethanol in certain markets and influences the purchasing decisions by obligated parties. As a result of fluctuations in RINs pricing, certain obligated parties have petitioned the EPA and filed court actions to change the point of obligation or to seek relief from their obligation. The EPA granted 85 total SRWs for 2016 through 2018 totaling approximately 4.0 billion gallons. This action led to reduced values for RINs and further action could decrease RIN values and ethanol pricing.
In January 2020, the U.S Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit overturned the EPA’s granting of refinery exemptions to three refineries on two separate grounds. The Court ruled refineries are eligible for SRWs only if such waivers are extensions of waivers granted in previous years. The refineries did not qualify for waivers in the year prior to the year the EPA granted them. The Court also stated the disproportionate economic hardship of SRWs should be based solely on whether compliance with RFS II creates such hardship, not whether compliance and other issues create the hardship. The refiners appeal was denied. Two of the refiners appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, and in January 2021, the Supreme Court announced they agreed to hear the case.
| 13 |
Due to the 10th Circuit ruling, a number of refiners have applied for gap year SRWs in an effort to establish continuous years of relief and to attempt to ensure they qualify for SRWs going forward. Until the Supreme Court rules on this case, there remains uncertainty regarding volume obligations. The EPA has not ruled on SRWs for years after 2018.
At the same time the EPA took action (in 2019) to allow the RVP waiver for E-15 for the summer months, it also took RIN market reform action. The reform action requires public disclosure when RIN holdings exceed specified thresholds by an entity and requires the reporting of additional price and affiliate data to the EPA.
Flexible fuel vehicles receive preferential treatment in meeting federally mandated corporate average fuel economy (“CAFE”) standards for automobiles manufactured by car makers. High blend ethanol fuels such as E-85 result in lower fuel efficiencies. Absent the CAFE preferences, car makers would not likely build flexible-fuel vehicles. Any change in CAFE preferences could reduce the growth of E-85 markets and result in lower ethanol prices.
Unfavorable changes in legislation or regulations could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.
The inability to generate or obtain RINs could adversely affect our operating results. Virtually all of our ethanol is sold with RINs that are used by customers to comply with RFS II. If our production does not meet EPA requirements for RIN generation in the future, we would have to purchase RINs in the open market or sell our ethanol at substantially lower prices to adjust for the absence of RINs. The price of RINs varies based on many factors and cannot be predicted. Failure to obtain sufficient RINS or reliance on invalid RINs could subject us to fines and penalties imposed by the EPA.
Various studies have criticized the efficiency of ethanol, in general, and corn-based ethanol in particular, which could lead to the reduction or repeal of incentives and tariffs that promote the use and domestic production of ethanol or otherwise negatively impact public perception and acceptance of ethanol as an alternative fuel.
Although many trade groups, academics and governmental agencies have supported ethanol as a fuel additive that promotes a cleaner environment, others have criticized ethanol production as consuming considerably more energy and emitting more greenhouse gases than other biofuels and as potentially depleting water resources. Other studies have suggested that corn-based ethanol is less efficient than ethanol produced from switchgrass or wheat grain and that it negatively impacts consumers by causing prices to increase for dairy, meat and other foodstuffs from livestock that consume corn.
If these views gain acceptance, support for existing measures promoting use and domestic production of corn-based ethanol could decline, leading to reduction or repeal of these measures. These views could also negatively impact public perception of the ethanol industry and acceptance of ethanol as an alternative fuel.
| 14 |
Federal support of cellulosic ethanol may result in reduced incentives to corn-derived ethanol producers.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and EISA provide funding opportunities in support of cellulosic ethanol obtained from biomass sources such as switchgrass and poplar trees. The amended RFS mandates an increasing level of production of non-corn-derived biofuels. These federal policies may suggest a long-term political preference for cellulosic processes using alternative feedstocks such as switchgrass, silage or wood chips. Cellulosic ethanol has a smaller carbon footprint than corn-derived ethanol and is unlikely to divert foodstuff from the market. Our plants are designed as single-feedstock facilities, located in corn production areas with limited alternative feedstock nearby, and would require significant additional investment to convert to the production of cellulosic ethanol. The adoption of cellulosic ethanol as the preferred form of ethanol could have a significant adverse effect on our ethanol business.
Our ethanol business is affected by environmental and other regulations which could impede or prohibit our ability to successfully operate our plants.
Our ethanol production facilities are subject to extensive air, water and other environmental regulations. We have had to obtain numerous permits to construct and operate our plants. Regulatory agencies could impose conditions or other restrictions in the permits that are detrimental, or which increase our costs. More stringent federal or state environmental regulations could be adopted which could significantly increase our operating costs or require us to expend considerable resources.
Our ethanol plants emit various airborne pollutants as by-products of the ethanol production process, including carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas). In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court classified carbon dioxide as an air pollutant under the Clean Air Act in a case seeking to require the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide in vehicle emissions. In February 2010, the EPA released its final regulations on the Renewable Fuel Standard program. We believe our plants are grandfathered up to certain operating capacity, but recent plant expansion requires us to meet a 20% threshold reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a 2005 baseline measurement to produce ethanol eligible for the RFS II mandate. To further expand our plant capacity, we may be required to obtain additional permits, install advanced technology equipment, or reduce drying of certain amounts of distillers grains. We may also be required to install carbon dioxide mitigation equipment or take other steps in order to comply with future laws or regulations. Compliance with future laws or regulations with respect to emissions of carbon dioxide, or if we choose to expand capacity at certain of our plants, compliance with then-current regulations of carbon dioxide, could be costly and may prevent us from operating our plants as profitably, which may have a negative impact on our financial performance. We also face the risk of ethanol production above our grandfathered capacity not qualifying for RINS if the plants do not meet certain emission requirements.
The California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) adopted a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (“LCFS”) requiring a 10% reduction in GHG emissions from transportation fuels. An Indirect Land Use Charge is included in this lifecycle GHG emission calculation. This standard could have an adverse impact on the market for corn-based ethanol in California if corn-based ethanol fails to achieve lifecycle GHG emission reductions and in other states if they adopt similar standards. This could have a negative impact on our financial performance.
Our ethanol business may become subject to various environmental and health and safety and property damage claims and liabilities.
Operation of our ethanol business exposes the business to the risk of environmental and health and safety claims and property damage claims, such as failure to comply with environmental regulations. These types of claims could also be made against our ethanol business based upon the acts or omissions of other persons. Serious claims could have a material negative impact on our results of operations, financial position and future cash flows.
| 15 |
Our business is not diversified.
Our financial results depend heavily on our ability to operate our ethanol plants profitably. Our lack of diversification could have a material negative impact on our results of operations, financial position and future cash flows should our ethanol plants operate unprofitably.
We may have commitments to produce and sell ethanol.
We may, at times, sell our products with forward contracts. If we are unable to produce the products due to economic conditions, business interruption, or other factors, we may incur additional costs or have to obtain commodities at unfavorable prices to meet our contractual commitments. This could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
We may have commitments to purchase commodities.
We may, at times, purchase certain commodities with forward contracts without a corresponding quantity of ethanol sold via forward contracts at known prices. Should ethanol and by-product prices decline to levels that would lead to significant unprofitable results of operations, we may incur additional costs and/or losses to meet our contractual commitments. This could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our revenue from the sale of distillers grains depends upon its continued market acceptance as an animal feed.
Distillers grains is a by-product from the fermentation of corn to produce ethanol. Antibiotics may be used during the fermentation process to control bacterial contamination; therefore, antibiotics may be present in small quantities in distillers grains marketed as animal feed. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has expressed concern about potential animal and human health hazards from the use of distillers grains as an animal feed due to the possibility of antibiotic residues. If the public became concerned about the impact of distillers grains in the food supply or as an acceptable animal feed, the market for distillers grains could be negatively impacted, which would have a negative impact on our results of operations. We may not be able to obtain a suitable replacement for antibiotics, should this be required, which would also negatively impact the market for distillers grains.
An estimated 38% of distillers grains produced in the United States were exported in 2020. The price of distillers grains has benefitted from the exports of the product. In recent years, certain countries have refused to import U.S. distillers grains for a variety of reasons. If export shipments are rejected or delayed, the market price for distillers grains would be negatively impacted, which would have a negative impact on our ethanol results of operations.
We extract non-food grade corn oil immediately prior to the production of distillers grains. Several studies are attempting to determine whether non-food grade corn oil extraction may impact the nutritional value of the resulting distillers grains. If it is determined that non-food grade corn oil extraction adversely impacts the nutritional energy content of distillers grains, the value of the distillers grains we sell may be negatively impacted, which would have a negative impact on our results of operations.
| 16 |
We face significant competition in the ethanol industry.
We face significant competition for new ethanol investment opportunities. There are varied enterprises seeking to participate in the ethanol industry. Some enterprises provide financial and management support similar to our business model. Other enterprises seek to acquire or develop plants which they will directly own and operate. Many of our competitors are larger and have greater financial resources and name recognition than we do. We must compete for investment opportunities based on our strategy of supporting and enhancing local development of ethanol plant opportunities. We may not be successful in competing for investment opportunities based on our strategy.
The ethanol industry is primarily comprised of entities that engage exclusively in ethanol production and large integrated grain companies that produce ethanol along with their base grain business. Several large oil companies have entered the ethanol production market. If these companies increase their ethanol plant ownership or if other oil companies seek to engage in direct ethanol production, there would be less of a need to purchase ethanol from independent producers such as our ethanol plants. No assurance can be given that our ethanol plants will be able to compete successfully or that competition from larger companies with greater financial resources will not have a materially adverse impact on the results of our ethanol operations.
We may face competition from foreign producers.
There is a risk of foreign competition in the ethanol industry. Brazil is presently the second largest producer of ethanol in the world. Brazil’s ethanol production is sugarcane based, and, depending on feedstock prices, may be cheaper to produce than corn-derived ethanol. Under the RFS, certain parties were obligated to meet an advanced biofuel standard. In recent years, sugarcane based ethanol imported from Brazil has been one of the most economical means for obligated parties to comply with this standard.
If significant additional foreign ethanol production capacity is created, such facilities could create excess supplies of ethanol, which may result in lower prices of ethanol. In addition, foreign ethanol producers may be able to produce ethanol at costs lower than ours. These risks could have significant adverse effects on our financial performance.
We are exposed to credit risk from our sales of ethanol and distillers grains to customers.
The inability of a customer to make payments to us for our accounts receivable may cause us to experience losses and may adversely impact our liquidity and our ability to make our payments when due.
We may not be able to hire and retain qualified personnel to operate our ethanol plants.
Our ability to attract and retain competent personnel has a significant impact on operating efficiencies and plant profitability. Competition for key plant employees in the ethanol industry can be intense, and we may not be able to attract and retain qualified employees. Failure to do so could have a negative impact on our financial results at individual plants.
Our plants depend on an uninterrupted supply of energy and water to operate. Unforeseen plant shutdowns could harm our business.
Our plants require a significant and uninterrupted supply of natural gas, electricity and water to operate. We generally rely on third parties to provide these resources. If there is an interruption in the supply of energy or water for any reason, such as supply, delivery or mechanical problems and we are unable to secure an adequate alternative supply to sustain plant operations, we may be required to stop production. A production halt for an extended period of time could result in material losses.
| 17 |
We rely on information technology in our operations and financial reporting and any material failure, inadequacy, interruption or security breach of that technology could harm our ability to efficiently operate our business and report our financial results accurately and timely.
We rely heavily on information technology systems across our operations, including for management of inventory, purchase orders, production, invoices, shipping, accounting and various other processes and transactions. Our ability to effectively manage our business, coordinate the production, distribution and sale of our products and ensure the timely and accurate recording and disclosure of financial information depends significantly on the reliability and capacity of these systems. The failure of these systems to operate effectively, problems with transitioning to upgraded or replacement systems, or a breach in security of these systems through a cyber-attack or otherwise could cause delays and/or interruptions in plant operations, product sales, reduced efficiency of our operations and delays in reporting our financial results. Significant capital investments could be required to remediate any such problem. Security breaches of employee information or other confidential or proprietary data could also adversely impact our reputation and could result in litigation against us or the imposition of penalties.
We are exposed to potential business disruption from factors outside our control, including natural disasters, severe weather conditions, accidents, pandemic diseases and unforeseen operational failures any of which could negatively affect our transportation operations and could adversely affect our cash flows and operating results.
Potential business disruption in available transportation due to natural disasters, severe weather conditions, the outbreak of a pandemic disease, significant track damage resulting from a train derailment, strikes or other interruptions by our transportation providers could result in delays in procuring and supplying raw materials to our ethanol facilities, or transporting ethanol and distillers grains to our customers. Such business disruptions may result in our inability to meet customer demand or contract delivery requirements, as well as the potential loss of customers.
Rail cars used to transport ethanol may need to be modified or replaced to meet proposed rail safety regulations.
The leased rail cars we use to transport ethanol to market will need to be retrofitted or replaced as the Enhanced Tank Car Standards and Operation Controls for High-Hazard Flammable Trains adopted by the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) imposes an enhanced tank car standard known as the DOT specification 117 and establishes a schedule to retrofit or replace older tank cars that carry crude oil and ethanol. The rule also establishes braking standards intended to reduce the severity of accidents and new operational protocols. This could lead to increased rail car lease costs and delays in transportation of ethanol if rail cars are out of service for extended periods of time.
We operate in a capital intensive industry. Limitations on external financing could adversely affect our financial performance.
We may need to incur additional financing to fund growth of our business or in times of increasing liquidity requirements (such as increases in raw material costs). Bankruptcy filings by several ethanol companies in past years and capital market volatility has reduced available capital for the ethanol industry. Any delays in obtaining additional financing, or our inability to do so, could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.
Risks Related to our Refined Coal Operations
We believe our refined coal production company qualifies to earn tax credits under IRC Section 45 through November 18, 2021. Our ability to generate returns and avoid write-offs in connection with this investment is subject to various risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties as set forth below.
| 18 |
Availability of the tax credits under IRC Section 45.
Our ability to claim tax credits under IRC Section 45 depends upon our refined coal operation satisfying certain ongoing conditions set forth in IRC Section 45. The IRS could ultimately determine that our refined coal facility and/or its operations have not satisfied, or have not continued to satisfy, the conditions set forth in IRC Section 45. As our refined coal operation is expected to generate pre-tax losses, the unavailability of the tax credits for any reason could have a material impact on our results of operations.
The refined coal operation depends on one customer.
The refined coal operation receives tax credits by selling its refined coal to an unrelated party. The unrelated party is not obligated to continue purchasing refined coal from us. Our user of refined coal could convert its fuel source to natural gas, oil or some other source instead of coal depending on the price of natural gas, oil or other sources relative to that of coal. If the unrelated party ceases to purchase refined coal from us, we would likely cease operations, given that we only intend to operate the refined coal plant until November 18, 2021. Market demand for coal may also decline as a result of an economic slowdown. Sustained low natural gas prices may also cause users of coal to phase out or close existing coal using operations. If users of coal burn less coal or eliminate the use of coal, there would be less need for our product. A reduction or cessation of refined coal sales could have a material impact on our results of operations.
Environmental concerns regarding coal could lead to reduced or suspended refined coal operations.
Environmental concerns about greenhouse gases, toxic wastewater discharges and the potentially hazardous nature of coal combustion waste could lead to regulations that discourage the burning of coal. Such regulations could mandate that electric power generating companies purchase a minimum amount of power from renewable energy sources such as wind, hydroelectric, solar and geothermal. This could result in utilities burning less coal, which could have a material impact on our results of operations.
Our refined coal operation and its by-products may result in environmental and product liability claims and environmental compliance costs.
The construction and operation of refined coal operations are subject to Federal, state and local laws, regulations and potential liabilities arising under or relating to the protection or preservation of the environment, natural resources and human health and safety. Such laws and regulations generally require the operations and/or the utilities at which the operations are located to obtain and comply with various environmental registrations, licenses, permits, inspections and other approvals. Such laws and regulations also impose liability, without regard to fault or the legality of a party’s conduct, on certain entities that are considered to have contributed to, or are otherwise involved in, the release or threatened release of hazardous substances into the environment. Such hazardous substances could be released as a result of burning refined coal in a number of ways, including air emissions, wastewater, and by-products such as fly ash. One party may, under certain circumstances, be required to bear more than its share or the entire share of investigation and cleanup costs at a site if payments or participation cannot be obtained from other responsible parties. We may be exposed to the risk of becoming liable for environmental damage we may have had little, if any, involvement in creating. Such risk remains even after production ceases at an operation to the extent the environmental damage can be traced to the types of chemicals or compounds used or operations conducted in connection with the use of refined coal.
| 19 |
Once we permanently cease operations, we are responsible to remove all the equipment, supplies and materials from the utility host site. This could result in additional cost and the risk of environmental damage or impact.
No assurances can be given that contractual arrangements and precautions taken to ensure assumption of these risks by facility owners or operators will result in that facility owner or operator accepting full responsibility for any environmental damage. It is also not uncommon for private claims by third parties alleging contamination to also include claims for personal injury, property damage, diminution of property or similar claims. Furthermore, many environmental, health and safety laws authorize citizen suits, permitting third parties to make claims for violations of laws or permits and force compliance. Our insurance may not cover all environmental risk and costs or may not provide sufficient coverage in the event of an environmental claim. If significant uninsured losses arise from environmental damage or product liability claims, or if the costs of environmental compliance increase for any reason, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
We rely on a third party to operate the refined coal facility.
We rely on an unrelated third party to operate the refined coal plant. Should the third party fail to perform or underperform in the operation, management or regulatory compliance of the facility, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected as we are not experienced in operating a refined coal facility.
We will have to generate taxable income to utilize the Section 45 federal production tax credits.
If we do not generate sufficient taxable income to utilize the tax credits earned by our refined coal operation, we could incur write-offs of the related tax attributes which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We use patented technology.
As part of the operations, we pay a license fee for patented technology. If our third party operator is subject to patent infringement claims, we may incur legal fees to defend our position and be subject to additional costs and fees.
Risks Related to our eSteam investment
eSteam testing methods and results are not known.
We do not have specific testing methodologies or specifications developed for testing the viability of the eSteam technology. The actual eSteam testing process could result in injury to others, and property and other damages that could expose us to claims for damages from unrelated parties.
Our eSteam technology may be subject to patent challenges.
If our patents of the eSteam technology are challenged, we could be required to spend considerable time and resources defending our patents.
Operations utilizing our eSteam technology may cause environmental damage.
When testing and operating the eSteam technology, we may cause environmental damage, as we would be injecting water and other fluids into the ground to generate underground steam in order to extract oil. We could be subject to significant penalties and fines if we were to cause environmental damage.
| 20 |
Risks Related to REX and General Risk Factors
Given the amount of our cash and short-term investments, actions by the Federal Reserve, related to the COVID-19 outbreak, which have reduced interest rates and could impact future periods.
Depending on the length of time interest rates remain at these levels, this could result in an adverse material impact on the results of operations and on our financial position.
We have concentrations of cash deposits at financial institutions that exceed federal insurance limits.
We generally have cash deposits that exceed federal insurance limits. Should the financial institutions we deposit our cash in experience insolvency or other financial difficulty, our access to cash deposits could be limited. In extreme cases, we could lose our cash deposits entirely. This would negatively impact our liquidity and results of operations.
We may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of mergers, acquisitions, or other investments.
We intend to continue seeking growth opportunities. Acquisitions and similar transactions involve many risks that could harm our business, which include:
| ● | The anticipated benefits of these transactions may not be fully realized, or take longer to realize than expected, |
| ● | Future acquisitions could result in operating losses or loss of investment, |
| ● | Future acquisitions may involve incurring debt to complete these transactions, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, and |
| ● | Future acquisitions may require us to invest a significant portion of our excess cash, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. |
Federal, state and local jurisdictions may challenge our tax return positions.
We use significant judgments, estimates and interpretation and application of complex tax laws in preparing the tax returns we file, and the positions contained therein. We believe that our tax return positions are fully supportable. However, certain positions may be successfully challenged by federal, state and local jurisdictions. We are currently undergoing a federal income examination for the years ended January 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017. This could result in material additional income tax payments we would have to make and higher income tax expense in future periods.
| Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments |
None.
| Item 2. | Properties |
The information required by this Item 2 is set forth in Item 1 of this report under “Ethanol Investments” and “Facilities”.
| Item 3. | Legal Proceedings |
We are, from time to time, involved in various legal proceedings incidental to the conduct of our business. We believe that any current proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
| 21 |
Information About Our Executive Officers
Set forth below is certain information about each of our executive officers.
| Name | Age | Position |
| Stuart Rose | 66 | Executive Chairman of the Board* |
| Zafar Rizvi | 71 | Chief Executive Officer and President* |
| Douglas Bruggeman | 60 | Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
| Edward Kress | 71 | Secretary* |
*Also serves as a director.
Stuart Rose was elected our Executive Chairman of the Board in 2015. Mr. Rose had served as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since our incorporation in 1984 as a holding company. Prior to 1984, Mr. Rose was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Rex Radio and Television, Inc., which he founded in 1980 to acquire the stock of a corporation which operated four retail stores.
Zafar Rizvi was elected Chief Executive Officer in 2015. Mr. Rizvi has been our President and Chief Operating Officer since 2010, was Vice President from 2006 to 2010. From 1991 to 2006, Mr. Rizvi was our Vice President – Loss Prevention.
Douglas Bruggeman has been our Vice President–Finance and Treasurer since 1989 and was elected Chief Financial Officer in 2003. From 1987 to 1989, Mr. Bruggeman was our Manager of Corporate Accounting. Mr. Bruggeman was employed with the accounting firm of Ernst & Young prior to joining us in 1986.
Edward Kress has been our Secretary since 1984. Mr. Kress has been a partner of the law firm of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP (formerly Chernesky, Heyman & Kress P.L.L.), our legal counsel, since 1988. Mr. Kress has practiced law in Dayton, Ohio since 1974.
| Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures |
Not Applicable.
PART II
| Item 5. | Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities |
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol REX.
As of April 9, 2021, there were 67 holders of record of our common stock, including shares held in nominee or street name by brokers.
| 22 |
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
| |||||||||||||||||
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (1) | Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1) | |||||||||||||
| November 1-30, 2020 | 9,500 | $ | 74.78 | 9,500 | 33,512 | ||||||||||||
| December 1-31, 2020 | - | $ | - | - | 33,512 | ||||||||||||
| January 1-31, 2021 | - | $ | - | - | 33,512 | ||||||||||||
| Total | 9,500 | $ | 74.78 | 9,500 | 33,512 | ||||||||||||
On March 20, 2018, our Board of Directors increased our share repurchase authorization by an additional 500,000 shares. At January 31, 2021, a total of 33,512 shares remained available to purchase under this authorization.
Equity Compensation Plans
Refer to Item 12 – Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters for information regarding shares authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans.
Performance Graph
The following graph compares the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total shareholder return on our Common Stock against the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Stock Index and a peer group comprised of Alto Ingredients, Inc. and Green Plains, Inc. for the period commencing January 31, 2016 and ended January 31, 2021. The graph assumes an investment of $100 in our Common Stock and each index on January 31, 2016 and reinvestment of all dividends.
| 23 |
| Item 6. | Selected Financial Data |
The following statements of operations and balance sheet data have been derived from our consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes. See Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a discussion of net sales and revenue and gross profit, income from ethanol investments, the benefit/provision for income taxes and the refined coal acquisition. These items have fluctuated significantly in recent years and may affect comparability of years.
Five Year Financial Summary
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
| Years Ended January 31, | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||||
| Statement of Operations Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales and revenue | $ | 372,846 | $ | 418,034 | $ | 486,671 | $ | 452,586 | $ | 453,799 | ||||||||||
| Gross profit | 13,861 | 12,485 | 30,215 | 44,161 | 71,039 | |||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | (17,661) | (19,258) | (20,551) | (24,060) | (21,388) | |||||||||||||||
| Equity in income of unconsolidated ethanol affiliates | 500 | 1,392 | 1,536 | 3,232 | 6,144 | |||||||||||||||
| Benefit (provision) for income taxes | 7,100 | 12,813 | 22,922 | 19,519 | (17,393) | |||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to REX common shareholders | 3,001 | 7,427 | 31,645 | 39,706 | 32,333 | |||||||||||||||
| Diluted net income per share attributable to REX common shareholders | $ | 0.49 | $ | 1.18 | $ | 4.91 | $ | 6.02 | $ | 4.91 | ||||||||||
| January 31, | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||||
| Balance Sheet Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 144,501 | $ | 179,658 | $ | 188,531 | $ | 190,988 | $ | 188,576 | ||||||||||
| Short-term investments | 36,194 | 26,073 | 14,975 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
| Current assets | 258,750 | 271,135 | 250,621 | 239,034 | 226,517 | |||||||||||||||
| Deferred taxes – long-term asset | 24,390 | 17,061 | 5,843 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
| Property and equipment – net | 153,186 | 163,327 | 182,521 | 197,827 | 182,761 | |||||||||||||||
| Deferred taxes – long-term liability | 3,713 | 4,334 | 4,185 | 21,706 | 41,135 | |||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests | 52,400 | 52,599 | 52,334 | 50,434 | 47,839 | |||||||||||||||
| Total REX shareholders’ equity | $ | 384,783 | $ | 401,007 | $ | 392,937 | $ | 381,492 | $ | 340,435 | ||||||||||
| Item 7. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
Overview
We have been an investor in ethanol production facilities beginning in 2006 and a refined coal production facility in 2017. We currently have equity investments in three ethanol production entities, two of which are majority ownership interests, and a majority ownership in one refined coal production entity. We may make additional alternative energy investments in the future.
| 24 |
Our ethanol operations are highly dependent on commodity prices, especially prices for corn, ethanol, distillers grains, non-food grade corn oil and natural gas. As a result of price volatility for these commodities, our operating results can fluctuate substantially. The price and availability of corn is subject to significant fluctuations depending upon a number of factors that affect commodity prices in general, including crop conditions, weather, federal policy and foreign trade. Because the market price of ethanol is not always directly related to corn prices, at times ethanol prices may not follow movements in corn prices and, in an environment of higher corn prices or lower ethanol prices, reduce the overall margin structure at the plants. As a result, at times, we may operate our plants at negative or minimally positive operating margins.
We expect our ethanol plants to produce approximately 2.8 gallons of denatured ethanol for each bushel of grain processed in the production cycle. We refer to the actual gallons of denatured ethanol produced per bushel of grain processed as the realized yield. We refer to the difference between the price per gallon of ethanol and the price per bushel of grain (divided by the realized yield) as the “crush spread.” Should the crush spread decline, it is possible that our ethanol plants will generate operating results that do not provide adequate cash flows for sustained periods of time. In such cases, production at the ethanol plants may be reduced or stopped altogether in order to minimize variable costs at individual plants.
We attempt to manage the risk related to the volatility of commodity prices by utilizing forward grain and natural gas purchase contracts, forward ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil sale contracts and commodity futures and swap agreements as management deems appropriate. We attempt to match quantities of these sales contracts with an appropriate quantity of grain purchase contracts over a given period of time when we can obtain an adequate gross margin resulting from the crush spread inherent in the contracts we have executed. However, the market for future ethanol sales contracts generally lags the spot market with respect to ethanol price. Consequently, we generally execute fixed price contracts for no more than four months into the future at any given time and we may lock in our corn or ethanol price without having a corresponding locked in ethanol or corn price for short durations of time. As a result of the relatively short period of time our fixed price contracts cover, we generally cannot predict the future movements in our realized crush spread for more than four months; thus, we are unable to predict the likelihood or amounts of future income or loss from the operations of our ethanol facilities. We utilize derivative financial instruments, primarily exchange traded commodity future contracts and swaps, in conjunction with certain of our grain procurement and commodity marketing activities.
Our fiscal year 2020 operations and commodity prices in general were significantly impacted by the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic. In an effort to contain the virus, there have been various and prolonged restrictions on travel, public gatherings and work from home orders throughout the world. This has resulted in reduced demand for gasoline and ethanol. Corn pricing has also been impacted by this lower demand for ethanol and resulting reduced ethanol production, although China increased its imports of U.S. corn during the latter part of fiscal year 2020. In the early periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, CBOT ethanol pricing declined sharply to approximately $0.84 per gallon while CBOT corn pricing declined to a low of approximately $3.03 per bushel. These and other market factors led to the shutdown of our NuGen ethanol plant from late March 2020 to late June 2020 and the shutdown of our One Earth ethanol plant from late March 2020 to late May 2020. CBOT ethanol and corn prices were at their highest levels during fiscal year 2020 at the end of January 2021 as the ethanol price was approximately $1.64 per gallon and the corn price was approximately $5.47 per bushel.
On August 10, 2017, we, through a 95.35% owned subsidiary, purchased the entire ownership interest of an entity that owns a refined coal facility for approximately $12.0 million. We began operating the refined coal facility immediately after the acquisition. We expect that the revenues from the sale of refined coal produced in the facility will be subsidized by federal production tax credits through November 18, 2021, subject to meeting qualified emissions reductions and other requirements as governed by Section 45 of the IRC. In order to maintain compliance with Section 45 of the IRC, we are required to test every six months, through an
| 25 |
independent laboratory, the effectiveness of our process with respect to emissions reductions. Annually, the IRS publishes the amount of federal income tax credit earned per ton of refined coal produced and sold for a given calendar year, which for 2020 is approximately $7.30 per ton. The tax credits can be earned for refined coal produced and sold by our facility through November 18, 2021. We expect to cease refined coal production operations on or before that date.
Net income attributable to REX common shareholders was approximately $3.0 million in fiscal year 2020 compared to approximately $7.4 million in fiscal year 2019. Both fiscal years 2020 and 2019 benefitted from reductions in our effective tax rate resulting from the impact of federal production tax credits associated with our refined coal operations and from the impact of research and experimentation credits associated with our ethanol and by-products operations. However, as refined coal production declined significantly in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019, the benefit of the related tax credits also declined.
We plan to seek and evaluate various investment opportunities including ethanol and/or energy related, carbon dioxide related, agricultural or other ventures we believe fit our investment criteria. We can make no assurances that we will be successful in our efforts to find such opportunities.
During fiscal year 2013, through a wholly owned subsidiary REX I.P., LLC, we entered into a joint venture to file and defend patents for technology relating to heavy oil and oil sands production methods, and to attempt to commercially exploit the technology to generate license fees, royalty income and development opportunities. The patented technology is an enhanced method of heavy oil recovery involving zero emissions downhole steam generation. We own 60% and Hytken owns 40% of the entity named Future Energy, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company. Future Energy is managed by a board of three managers, two appointed by us and one by Hytken.
We agreed to fund direct patent expenses relating to patent applications and defense, annual annuity fees and maintenance on a country by country basis, with the right to terminate funding and transfer related patent rights to Hytken. We may also fund all costs relating to new intellectual property, consultants, and future research and development, pilot field tests and equipment purchases for commercialization stage of the patents. To date, we have paid and expensed approximately $2.5 million to purchase our ownership interest and fund patent and other expenses. We have not tested or proven the commercial feasibility of the technology.
Ethanol Investments
In fiscal year 2006, we entered the ethanol industry by investing in several entities organized to construct and subsequently operate, ethanol producing plants. We are invested in three entities as of January 31, 2021,
| 26 |
utilizing equity investments. The following table is a summary of our ethanol investments at January 31, 2021 (gallons in millions):
| Entity | Trailing 12 Months Ethanol Gallons Shipped |
REX’s Current Ownership Interest |
Current Effective Ownership of Trailing 12 Months Ethanol Gallons Shipped |
| One Earth Energy, LLC | 118.6 | 75.4% | 89.4 |
| NuGen Energy, LLC | 98.5 | 99.5% | 98.0 |
| Big River Resources, LLC: | |||
| Big River Resources W Burlington, LLC | 101.0 | 10.3% | 10.4 |
| Big River Resources Galva, LLC | 115.3 | 10.3% | 11.9 |
| Big River United Energy | 116.1 | 5.7% | 6.6 |
| Big River Resources Boyceville | 55.3 | 10.3% | 5.7 |
| Total | 604.8 | 222.0 |
Trends and Uncertainties
During fiscal years 2020 and 2019, operating results in our ethanol and by-products segment have been, at times, adversely affected by a weak margin environment highlighted by higher costs for corn, lower availability of local corn, lower oil prices resulting from an oversupply of oil, the EPA granting small refiner waivers, and in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, the outbreak of a new strain of COVID-19.
Weather conditions delayed, and in some cases prevented the planting of corn in much of the United States during 2019. Weather also contributed to intermittent logistical delays during fiscal year 2019. Throughout most of fiscal year 2019 and for the first six months of fiscal year 2020, we struggled to obtain adequate supplies of corn at our NuGen facility, on a consistent basis, at acceptable price levels. Consequently, we were not able to operate our NuGen ethanol plant at production levels near our historical averages. Should these trends continue, we may experience intermittent production slowdowns or stoppages. We cannot reasonably predict the likelihood of future period production levels compared to historical averages.
Under RFS, the EPA assigns individual refiners, blenders and importers the volume of renewable fuels they are obligated to use based on their percentage of total domestic transportation fuel sales. The EPA can waive the obligation for individual small refineries that are experiencing “disproportionate economic hardship” due to compliance with the RFS. Previously, the EPA approved relatively few such waivers. However, for the 2016 to 2018 compliance years, the EPA approved 85 SRWs totaling approximately 4.0 billion gallons. These actions affect ethanol demand as obligated parties such as refiners can use the waivers granted by the EPA to help them meet their obligations in different years. There continues to be uncertainty regarding how the EPA will administer the SRWs as the EPA has not ruled on SRWs for years after 2018.
During the early months of 2020, a new strain of COVID-19 spread into the United States and other countries. In an effort to contain the spread of this virus, there have been various government mandated restrictions, in addition to voluntary privately implemented restrictions, including limiting public gatherings, retail store closures, restrictions on employees working and the quarantining of people who may have been exposed to the virus. This led to reduced demand for gasoline and ethanol, and consequently, historically low ethanol pricing. As a result, we idled our NuGen and One Earth ethanol plants in late March of 2020. In May of 2020, businesses and other activities slowly began to reopen, which led to an increase in demand for gasoline and ethanol, and in related prices. As a result, we resumed production operations at the One Earth ethanol plant in
| 27 |
late May of 2020 and at NuGen in late June of 2020. In addition, actions by the Federal Reserve, related to the COVID-19 outbreak, have reduced interest rates. Given the amount of cash and short-term investments we have, this will significantly reduce our interest income in future periods, depending on the length of time interest rates remain at these levels. The impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on our business operations, including the duration and impact on ethanol demand, cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, although a future prolonged production stoppage at our plants would have a further material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows in future periods.
Congress passed the CARES Act in March 2020, which provided the United States department of Agriculture (“USDA”) with additional funding for the “Commodity Credit Corporation (“CCC”). The USDA is using this additional funding to provide direct payments to farmers, including farmers that we purchase corn from. Such direct payments to farmers could cause them to delay marketing decisions. Consequently, this could reduce the supply of corn and result in a price increase for what we pay for corn. In addition, China has been purchasing large quantities of corn, which could lead to sustained higher prices for corn.
Renewable Fuel Standard II (“RFS II”), established in October 2010, has been an important factor in the growth of ethanol usage in the United States. When it was originally established, RFS II required the volume of “conventional” or corn derived ethanol to be blended with gasoline to increase each year until it reached 15.0 billion gallons in 2015 and was to remain at that level through 2022. There are no established congressional target volumes beginning in 2023. The EPA has the authority to waive the biofuel mandate, in whole or in part, if there is inadequate domestic renewable fuel supply or the requirement severely harms the domestic economy or environment. On December 19, 2019, the EPA announced the final 2020 renewable volume obligation for conventional ethanol, which met the 15.0 billion gallons congressional target. The EPA has missed its deadline and has not yet released a draft renewable volume obligation rule for the 2021 volumes. On April 15, 2020, five Governors sent a letter to the EPA requesting a general waiver from RFS II due to the drop in demand caused by COVID-19 travel restrictions. On October 21, 2020, 15 Senators sent a letter to the EPA requesting a general waiver from RFS II to reduce the 2021 renewable volume obligation, citing the reduced demand for fuels due to COVID-19. It is unclear when the renewable volume obligation for 2021 will be released.
Throughout fiscal years 2020 and 2019, operating results in our refined coal segment have been adversely affected by lower utility plant demand from our only customer. Projections, provided by the utility plant, for fiscal year 2021 indicate this trend may continue and may be further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. While this leads to lower pre-tax losses from this segment, it also leads to lower tax benefits from Section 45 credits being recognized. Ultimately, this results in lower amounts of segment profit.
Our refined coal operations will no longer qualify to earn Section 45 credits after November 18, 2021. Absent a change in tax regulations, this will result in the cessation of our refined coal operations on or before this date.
Should these trends and uncertainties continue, our future operating results are likely to be negatively impacted.
| 28 |
Results of Operations
For a detailed analysis of period to period changes, see the segment discussion that follows this section as that discussion reflects how management views and monitors our business.
Comparison of Fiscal Years 2020 and 2019 (Consolidated Results)
Net Sales and Revenue – Net sales and revenue in fiscal year 2020 were approximately $372.8 million, a 10.8% decrease from approximately $418.0 million in fiscal year 2019. The decrease was primarily caused by lower sales in our ethanol and by-products segment of approximately $45.0 million.
Gross Profit – Gross profit was approximately $13.9 million in fiscal year 2020, or 3.7% of net sales and revenue, versus approximately $12.5 million in fiscal year 2019 or 3.0% of net sales and revenue. Gross profit for fiscal year 2020 decreased by approximately $0.9 million compared to fiscal year 2019 as a result of operations in the ethanol and by-products segment and increased by approximately $2.2 million as a result of operations in the refined coal segment.
Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) Expenses – SG&A expenses for fiscal year 2020 were approximately $17.7 million (4.7% of net sales and revenue), a decrease of approximately $1.6 million or 8.3% from approximately $19.3 million (4.6% of net sales and revenue) for fiscal year 2019. A majority of the decrease results from lower shipping costs as less of our sales contracts provided for shipping to be paid by us in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. In addition, professional fees were lower in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. The decrease was also related to lower incentive compensation expense associated with lower profitability levels in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019.
Equity in Income of Unconsolidated Ethanol Affiliates – During fiscal years 2020 and 2019, we recognized income of approximately $0.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively, from our equity investment in Big River Resources, LLC (“Big River”), which is included in our ethanol and by-products segment results. Our investment in Big River, which has interests in four ethanol production plants, has an effective ownership of approximately 336 million gallons of ethanol shipped in the trailing twelve months ended January 31, 2021. Big River’s financial results were impacted by reduced ethanol demand related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We expect the operating experience of Big River to be generally consistent with the trends in crush spread margins described in the “Overview” section as Big River’s results are dependent on the same key drivers as our other ethanol investments (ethanol, corn, dried distillers grains and natural gas pricing).
Interest and Other Income – Interest and other income for fiscal year 2020 was approximately $1.8 million compared to approximately $4.2 million for fiscal year 2019. Interest income decreased as yields on our excess cash and our excess cash investment balances both decreased in fiscal year 2020.
Loss Before Income Taxes – As a result of the foregoing, loss before income taxes was approximately $1.5 million for fiscal year 2020 versus loss of approximately $1.2 million for fiscal year 2019.
Benefit for Income Taxes – Our effective tax rate was a benefit of 479.1 % and 1,096.1% for fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. Our effective rate is impacted by the noncontrolling interests of the companies we consolidate, as we recognize 100% of their income or loss before income taxes and noncontrolling interests. However, we only provide an income tax provision or benefit for our portion of the subsidiaries’ income or loss with a noncontrolling interest. Our effective tax rate decreased by 350.0% in fiscal year 2020 (approximately $5.2 million) and by 770.1% in fiscal year 2019 (approximately $9.0 million) as a result of federal production tax credits earned by our refined coal facility. The amount of these credits earned in fiscal year 2021 will vary with refined coal production levels and are expected to end by November 18, 2021. During fiscal years 2020 and 2019, our effective tax rate decreased by 135.5% (approximately $2.0 million) and 116.5% (approximately $1.4 million), respectively, as a result of research and experimentation credits earned by our ethanol plants. The amount of these credits earned in future periods will vary depending on the level of qualifying research expenditures at our ethanol plants. The provision for uncertain tax positions increased our effective tax rate by 70.6% (approximately $1.0 million) in fiscal year 2020. Primarily related to the statutes of limitation expiring, the provision for uncertain tax positions decreased our effective tax rate by 94.4% (approximately $1.1 million) in fiscal year 2019.
| 29 |
Net Income – As a result of the foregoing, net income was approximately $5.6 million for fiscal year 2020 versus approximately $11.6 million for fiscal year 2019.
Noncontrolling Interests – Income attributable to noncontrolling interests was approximately $2.6 million and $4.2 million during fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively, and represents the other owners’ share of the income or loss of NuGen, One Earth and the refined coal entity. Income attributable to noncontrolling interests of One Earth and NuGen combined was approximately $2.9 million and approximately $4.6 million, during fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. The loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of the refined coal entity was approximately $0.3 million during each of fiscal years 2020 and 2019. We do not expect to recover any portion of the noncontrolling interests holder’s share of current and prior Future Energy losses; thus, we did not recognize any income or expense related to the noncontrolling interests of Future Energy in fiscal years 2020 and 2019.
Net Income Attributable to REX Common Shareholders – As a result of the foregoing, net income attributable to REX common shareholders was approximately $3.0 million for fiscal year 2020 compared to $7.4 million for fiscal year 2019.
Business Segment Results
We have two reportable segments, i) ethanol and by-products and ii) refined coal. The following sections discuss the results of operations for each of our business segments and corporate and other. As discussed in Note 13, our chief operating decision maker (as defined by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280, “Segment Reporting” (“ASC 280”) evaluates the operating performance of our business segments using net income attributable to REX common shareholders. Segment profitability measures are determined using the same accounting policies used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. The following tables summarize segment and other results and assets (amounts in thousands):
| Fiscal Year | ||||||||
| Net sales and revenue: | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | 372,664 | $ | 417,700 | ||||
| Refined coal 1 | 182 | 334 | ||||||
| Total net sales and revenue | $ | 372,846 | $ | 418,034 | ||||
| Segment gross profit (loss): | ||||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | 19,533 | $ | 20,402 | ||||
| Refined coal | (5,672) | (7,917) | ||||||
| Total gross profit | $ | 13,861 | $ | 12,485 | ||||
| 30 |
| Fiscal Year | ||||||||
| (Loss) income before income taxes: | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | 6,696 | $ | 8,469 | ||||
| Refined coal 1 | (5,826) | (7,778) | ||||||
| Corporate and other | (2,352) | (1,860) | ||||||
| Total (loss) income before income taxes | $ | (1,482) | $ | (1,169) | ||||
| Benefit (provision) for income taxes: | ||||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | (31) | $ | 1,528 | ||||
| Refined coal | 6,554 | 10,828 | ||||||
| Corporate and other | 577 | 457 | ||||||
| Total benefit for income taxes | $ | 7,100 | $ | 12,813 | ||||
| Net income attributable to REX common shareholders: | ||||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | 3,788 | $ | 5,439 | ||||
| Refined coal | 988 | 3,391 | ||||||
| Corporate and other | (1,775) | (1,403) | ||||||
| Net income attributable to REX common shareholders | $ | 3,001 | $ | 7,427 | ||||
1 We record sales in the refined coal segment net of the cost of coal as we purchase the coal feedstock from the customer to which refined coal is sold.
| 31 |
Ethanol and by-products Segment
The ethanol and by-products segment includes the consolidated financial results of One Earth and NuGen, our equity investment in Big River and certain administrative expenses. The following table summarizes selected data of our ethanol segment:
| Fiscal Year | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
| Average selling price per gallon of ethanol | $ | 1.30 | $ | 1.37 | ||||
| Gallons of ethanol sold (in millions) | 217.1 | 235.3 | ||||||
| Average selling price per ton of dried distillers grains | $ | 144.73 | $ | 137.68 | ||||
| Tons of dried distillers grains sold | 495,915 | 521,163 | ||||||
| Average selling price per pound of non-food grade corn oil | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.25 | ||||
| Pounds of non-food grade corn oil sold (in millions) | 58,928 | 68,207 | ||||||
| Average selling price per ton of modified distillers grains | $ | 64.80 | $ | 59.66 | ||||
| Tons of modified distillers grains sold | 40,521 | 121,360 | ||||||
| Average cost per bushel of grain | $ | 3.73 | $ | 3.82 | ||||
| Average cost of natural gas (per Million British Thermal Unit (MmBtu) | $ | 3.00 | $ | 3.04 | ||||
The following table summarizes net sales and revenue from the ethanol and by-products segment, by product group (amounts in thousands):
| Fiscal Year | ||||||||
| Product or Service Category | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||
| Ethanol | $ | 284,191 | $ | 321,434 | ||||
| Dried distillers grains | 71,774 | 71,755 | ||||||
| Non-food grade corn oil | 15,066 | 17,135 | ||||||
| Modified distillers grains | 2,626 | 7,240 | ||||||
| Derivative financial instruments losses | (1,167) | - | ||||||
| Other | 174 | 136 | ||||||
| Total | $ | 372,664 | $ | 417,700 | ||||
Ethanol sales decreased from approximately $321.4 million in the prior year to approximately $284.2 million in the current year, primarily a result of a decrease of 18.2 million gallons (7.7%) sold during fiscal year 2020. In addition, a $0.07 decrease in the price per gallon sold contributed to the ethanol sales decrease from the prior year. Dried distillers grains sales were consistent with the prior year as a decrease of 4.8% in tons sold during fiscal year 2020 was offset by a 5.1% increase in the price per ton sold during fiscal year 2020. Non-food grade corn oil sales decreased from approximately $17.1 million in the prior year to approximately $15.1 million in the current year, primarily a result of a 13.6% decrease in pounds sold during fiscal year 2020. Modified distillers grains sales decreased from approximately $7.2 million in the prior year to approximately $2.6 million in the current year, primarily a result of a 66.7% decrease in tons sold during fiscal year 2020 as production was shifted towards more profitable dried distillers grains during fiscal year 2020. Losses on derivative financial instruments were approximately $1.0 million during fiscal year 2020 and were insignificant during fiscal year 2019. The volume decreases discussed above were primarily a
| 32 |
result of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on ethanol demand, lower ethanol pricing, an oversupply of oil and diminished local supplies of corn from a poor 2019 harvest caused by localized weather conditions. These factors resulted in idling both of our consolidated ethanol plants in March of 2020. In May of 2020, businesses and other activities slowly began to reopen, which led to an increase in demand for gasoline and ethanol, and in related prices. As a result, we resumed production operations at the One Earth ethanol plant in May of 2020 and at the NuGen ethanol plant in June of 2020. Because of the uncertainty regarding the economic impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak and the availability of corn, we do not have a reasonable estimate of future periods’ sales volume.
Gross profit was approximately $19.5 million in fiscal year 2020, or 5.2% of net sales and revenue which was approximately $0.9 million lower compared to approximately $20.4 million of gross profit in fiscal year 2019 or 4.9% of net sales and revenue. The crush spread for fiscal year 2020 was approximately $0.03 per gallon of ethanol sold compared to approximately $0.05 per gallon of ethanol sold during fiscal year 2019. Both of our consolidated ethanol plants were idled for portions of fiscal year 2020. Consequently, lower production and resulting sales volumes reduced gross profit for fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. Given the inherent volatility in ethanol, distillers grains, non-food grade corn oil, grain and natural gas prices, we cannot predict the likelihood that the spread between ethanol, distillers grains, non-food grade corn oil and grain prices in future periods will be consistent with prices in historical periods.
Grain accounted for approximately 78% ($274.6 million) of our cost of sales during fiscal year 2020 compared to approximately 78% ($311.2 million) during fiscal year 2019. Natural gas accounted for approximately 5% ($17.7 million) of our cost of sales during fiscal year 2020 compared to approximately 5% ($19.6 million) during fiscal year 2019. Both the grain and natural gas dollar decreases were primarily attributable to the lower production levels incurred in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019.
We attempt to match quantities of ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil sale contracts with an appropriate quantity of grain purchase contracts over a given period of time when we can obtain an adequate margin resulting from the crush spread inherent in the contracts we have executed. However, the market for future ethanol sales contracts generally lags the spot market with respect to ethanol price. Consequently, we generally execute fixed price contracts for no more than four months into the future at any given time and we may lock in our corn or ethanol price without having a corresponding locked in ethanol or corn price for short durations of time. As a result of the relatively short period of time our fixed price contracts cover, we generally cannot predict the future movements in our realized crush spread for more than four months. We utilize derivative financial instruments, primarily exchange traded commodity future contracts and swaps, in conjunction with our grain procurement and commodity marketing activities.
SG&A expenses for fiscal year 2020 were approximately $14.8 million (4.0% of net sales and revenue) which was approximately $1.6 million lower compared to approximately $16.4 million (3.9% of net sales and revenue) for fiscal year 2019. A majority of the decrease results from lower shipping costs as less of our sales contracts provided for shipping to be paid by us in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. In addition, professional fees were lower in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. The decrease was also related to lower incentive compensation expense associated with lower profitability levels in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019.
During fiscal years 2020 and 2019, we recognized income of approximately $0.5 million and approximately $1.4 million, respectively, from our equity investment in Big River. Big River’s results for fiscal year 2020 were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Big River has interests in four ethanol production plants, has an effective ownership of ethanol gallons shipped in the trailing twelve months ended January 31, 2021 of approximately 336 million gallons. Big River’s operations also include agricultural elevators.
Interest and other income was approximately $1.5 million for fiscal year 2020 compared to approximately $3.0 million for fiscal year 2019. Interest income decreased as yields on our excess cash and our excess cash investment balances both decreased in fiscal year 2020.
| 33 |
Income related to noncontrolling interests was approximately $2.9 million and approximately $4.6 million during fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. These amounts represent the other owners’ share of the income or loss of NuGen and One Earth.
The provision for income taxes was approximately $31,000 in fiscal year 2020 compared to a benefit for income taxes of approximately $1.5 million in fiscal year 2019. During fiscal years 2020 and 2019, we recognized the tax benefits of research and experimentation credits earned by our ethanol plants. We recognized a provision for increasing the liability for unrecognized tax benefits during fiscal year 2020 and recognized a tax benefit from reducing the liability for unrecognized tax benefits during fiscal year 2019 as a result of statutes expiring.
Segment profit for fiscal year 2020 was approximately $3.8 million, a decrease of approximately $1.7 million from approximately $5.4 million for fiscal year 2019. The decrease from fiscal year 2019 results is primarily related to lower interest and other income and lower income from our equity investment in Big River in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. In addition, we recognized a tax provision in fiscal year 2020 compared to a tax benefit in fiscal year 2019.
Refined Coal Segment
The refined coal segment includes the consolidated financial results of our refined coal entity and certain administrative expenses. We acquired the refined coal entity during the third quarter of fiscal year 2017. Our refined coal facility is eligible to earn Section 45 production tax credits through November 2021. The operations of the facility are not profitable without such credits. We therefore expect to cease operating our refined coal facility by November 2021.
The refined coal entity sells one product, refined coal. We record sales in the refined coal segment net of the cost of coal as we purchase the coal feedstock from the customer to which refined coal is sold. Sales decreased from approximately $334,000 in the prior year to approximately $182,000 in the current year. During fiscal year 2020, operating results have been adversely affected by lower utility plant demand from our only customer. We expect sales to vary depending on fluctuations in demand from the site host utility, which generally change based upon weather conditions in the geographic markets the utility serves and competing fuel prices and supplies. Based upon projections from the site host utility, we expect varying and intermittent demand for refined coal.
Gross loss was approximately $5.7 million in fiscal year 2020, which was approximately $2.2 million lower compared to approximately $7.9 million of gross loss in fiscal year 2019. The decrease in gross loss results primarily from lower refined coal production in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. We expect future period gross loss to vary in generally the same manner as the sales fluctuations described above. Based on the agreements in place that govern the operations, sales and purchasing activities of the refined coal plant, we expect that the refined coal operation will continue operating at a gross loss and that the ongoing losses will be subsidized by federal production income tax credits through November 18, 2021.
SG&A expenses were insignificant for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2019.
Loss related to noncontrolling interests was approximately $0.3 million during each of fiscal years 2020 and 2019. This amount represents the other owner’s share of the pre-tax loss of refined coal operations.
| 34 |
The benefit for income taxes was approximately $6.6 million and approximately $10.8 million during fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. These amounts include the benefit of Section 45 production tax credits and a benefit related to segment loss before income taxes. The decrease in the benefit for income taxes primarily results from lower production in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. The refined coal facility is eligible to earn tax credits through November 2021. However, the amount of credits earned will vary with annual production levels.
As a result of the foregoing, including the benefit of federal tax credits associated with refined coal production and sales, segment profit was approximately $1.0 million and approximately $3.4 million for fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Corporate and Other
SG&A expenses for fiscal year 2020 were approximately $2.7 million, consistent with approximately $3.0 million for fiscal year 2019.
Interest and other income was approximately $0.3 million for fiscal year 2020 versus approximately $1.2 million for fiscal year 2019. Interest income decreased as yields on our excess cash and our excess cash investment balances both decreased in fiscal year 2020.
Corporate and other expenses exceeded interest and other income, for fiscal year 2020 by approximately $1.8 million, compared to approximately $1.4 million for fiscal year 2019.
Comparison of Fiscal Years 2019 and 2018
See “Item 7 Management’s discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2020.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary sources of cash have been income from operations. Our primary uses of cash have been capital expenditures at our ethanol plants, stock repurchases and contributions to fund refined coal operating losses.
Outlook – Our cash and short-term investments balance of approximately $180.7 million at January 31, 2021 includes approximately $132.5 million held by One Earth and NuGen. We expect that One Earth and NuGen will use a majority of their cash for working capital needs, capital expenditures, general corporate purposes and dividend payments. We expect our equity method investee to limit the payment of dividends based upon working capital needs.
We are investigating various uses of our excess cash. We have a stock buyback program with an authorization level of an additional approximately 34,000 shares at January 31, 2021. We typically repurchase our common stock when our stock price is trading at prices we deem to be a discount to the underlying value of our net assets. We plan to seek and evaluate various investment opportunities including ethanol and/or energy related, carbon dioxide related, agricultural or other ventures we believe fit our investment criteria.
We expect capital expenditures to be in the range of approximately $5 million to $10 million in fiscal year 2021 for various projects at our consolidated ethanol plants. However, actual capital expenditures could vary from this range for unexpected expenditures as our plants continue to age. We expect to fund these capital expenditures with available cash at our ethanol plant subsidiaries.
| 35 |
Operating Activities – Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $8.6 million for fiscal year 2020 compared to approximately $10.3 million in fiscal year 2019. During fiscal year 2020, operating cash flow was provided by net income of approximately $5.6 million and adjustments of approximately $17.9 million, which consisted of depreciation, amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets, stock based compensation expense, income from equity method investments, interest income from investments, and the deferred income tax provision. Big River paid dividends to REX of approximately $3.5 million during fiscal year 2020. Accounts receivable increased approximately $6.7 million, primarily a result of the timing of products shipped and the receipt of customer payments at One Earth and NuGen. Inventory increased approximately $2.2 million, primarily a result of larger quantities of finished goods and higher per unit costs at January 31, 2021. Prepaid expenses and other assets increased approximately $3.1 million, primarily a result of higher fair values of forward purchase contracts. Accounts payable decreased approximately $2.3 million, primarily a result of the timing of inventory receipts and vendor payments. Accrued expenses and other liabilities decreased approximately $3.8 million, which was primarily a result of operating lease payments, lower incentive compensation in fiscal year 2020 and lower refined coal segment related commissions.
Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $10.3 million for fiscal year 2019. During fiscal year 2019, operating cash flow was provided by net income of approximately $11.6 million and adjustments of approximately $17.2 million, which consisted of depreciation, amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets, stock based compensation expense, income from equity method investments, interest income from investments, and the deferred income tax provision. Big River paid dividends to REX of approximately $1.0 million during fiscal year 2019. Accounts receivable increased approximately $1.6 million, primarily a result of the timing of products shipped and the receipt of customer payments at One Earth and NuGen. Inventory increased approximately $17.2 million, primarily a result of larger quantities of corn and higher per unit costs at January 31, 2020. Accounts payable increased approximately $11.4 million, primarily a result of the inventory increase. Accrued expenses and other liabilities decreased approximately $13.0 million, which was primarily a result of operating lease payments, lower incentive compensation in fiscal year 2019 and lower refined coal segment related commissions.
Investing Activities – Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $20.8 million during fiscal year 2020 compared to approximately $14.4 million during fiscal year 2019. Capital expenditures in fiscal year 2020 totaled approximately $10.4 million, the majority of which were various projects at One Earth’s and NuGen’s ethanol plants. During fiscal year 2020, we used cash of approximately $96.2 million for purchases of short-term investments and received cash of approximately $86.3 million related to maturities of these investments as certain of these investments remained outstanding at January 31, 2021. We began investing in highly liquid short-term investments during fiscal year 2018 in order to increase earnings on excess cash.
Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $14.4 million during fiscal year 2019. Capital expenditures in fiscal year 2019 totaled approximately $3.8 million, the majority of which were various projects at One Earth’s and NuGen’s ethanol plants. During fiscal year 2019, we used cash of approximately $26.0 million for purchases of short-term investments and received cash of approximately $15.0 million related to maturities of these investments as certain of these investments remained outstanding at January 31, 2020.
Financing Activities – Net cash used in financing activities was approximately $22.4 million during fiscal year 2020 compared to approximately $4.0 million for fiscal year 2019. During fiscal year 2020, we purchased approximately 315,000 shares of our common stock for approximately $19.6 million in open market transactions. During fiscal year 2020, we used cash of approximately $2.9 million to purchase shares from and pay dividends to noncontrolling members of the entities that own One Earth’s and NuGen’s ethanol plants. During fiscal year 2020, we received approximately $0.1 million in capital contributions from the minority investor in the refined coal entity.
| 36 |
Net cash used in financing activities was approximately $4.0 million during fiscal year 2019. During fiscal year 2019, we used cash of approximately $4.3 million to purchase shares from and pay dividends to noncontrolling members of the entities that own One Earth’s and NuGen’s ethanol plants. During fiscal year 2019, we received approximately $0.3 million in capital contributions from the minority investor in the refined coal entity.
Based on our forecasts, which are primarily based on estimates of plant production, prices of ethanol, corn, distillers grains, non-food grade corn oil and natural gas as well as other assumptions, management believes that cash flow from operating activities together with working capital will be sufficient to meet One Earth’s and NuGen’s respective liquidity needs. However, if a material adverse change in the financial position of One Earth or NuGen should occur, or if actual sales or expenses are substantially different than what has been forecasted (because of the COVID-19 pandemic or other factors), One Earth’s and NuGen’s liquidity, and ability to fund future operating and capital requirements could be negatively impacted.
We expect to fund future operating losses at our refined coal facility with cash at the parent company level.
Approximately 4.0% of our net assets are restricted pursuant to the terms of various loan agreements of our equity method investment as of January 31, 2021. None of our consolidated subsidiaries or the parent company has restricted net assets at January 31, 2021.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
None.
Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
In the ordinary course of business, we enter into agreements under which we are legally obligated to make future cash payments. These agreements include obligations related to purchasing inventory and leasing rail cars. The following table summarizes by category expected future cash outflows associated with contractual obligations in effect, at January 31, 2021 (amounts in thousands):
| Payment due by period | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Contractual Obligations | Total | Less than 1 Year | 1-3 Years | 3-5 Years | More
than 5 Years | |||||||||||||||
| Operating lease obligations (a) | $ | 13,308 | $ | 5,397 | $ | 6,214 | $ | 1,697 | $ | - | ||||||||||
| Purchase obligations (b) | 32,748 | 27,727 | 1,452 | 702 | 2,867 | |||||||||||||||
| Total contractual obligations (c) | $ | 46,056 | $ | 33,124 | $ | 7,666 | $ | 2,399 | $ | 2,867 | ||||||||||
| (a) | Amounts primarily represent payments due for rail car leases at One Earth and NuGen. |
| (b) | Amounts primarily represent payments due for a natural gas pipeline, grain, natural gas and other contracts at One Earth and NuGen. We are not able to determine the likely settlement for forward corn purchase contracts which do not contain a determinable fixed price; accordingly, payments for such contracts have been excluded from the table above. |
| 37 |
| (c) | We are not able to determine the likely settlement period for uncertain tax positions, accordingly, approximately $8.4 million of uncertain tax positions and related interest and penalties have been excluded from the table above. |
Seasonality and Quarterly Fluctuations
Our business is directly affected by the supply and demand for ethanol. The demand for ethanol typically increases during the spring and summer months and during holiday travel.
Impact of Inflation
The impact of inflation has not been material to our results of operations for the past three fiscal years.
Critical Accounting Policies
We believe the application of the following accounting policies, which are important to our financial position and results of operations, require significant assumptions, judgments and estimates on the part of management. We base our assumptions, judgments, and estimates on historical experience, current trends and other factors that management believes to be relevant at the time our consolidated financial statements are prepared. On a regular basis, management reviews the accounting policies, assumptions, estimates and judgments to ensure that our financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our assumptions and estimates, and such differences could be material. Further, if different assumptions, judgments and estimates had been used, the results could have been different and such differences could be material. For a summary of all of our accounting policies, including the accounting policies discussed below, see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The full impact of the economic downturn resulting from the spread of COVID-19 is unknown at this time. However, it could lead to material impacts to our financial position and results of operations, including, but not limited to, charges from adjustments of the carrying amount of inventory, long-lived asset impairment charges and deferred tax valuation allowances.
Management believes that the following accounting policies are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results, and they require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, resulting from the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.
Revenue Recognition – For ethanol and by-products segment sales, we recognize sales of ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil when obligations under the terms of the respective contracts with customers are satisfied; this occurs with the transfer of control of products, generally upon shipment from the ethanol plant or upon loading of the rail car used to transport the products. For refined coal segment sales, we recognize sales of refined coal when obligations under the term of the contract with its customer are satisfied; this occurs when control of the product transfers to the customer, generally upon the refined coal leaving the plant. Refined coal sales are recorded net of the cost of coal as we purchase the coal feedstock from our customer to which we sell refined coal.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets – We review our long-lived assets, consisting of property and equipment, equity method investments and operating lease right-of-use assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. We assess long-lived assets for impairment by first determining the forecasted, undiscounted cash flows the asset group is expected to generate. If this total is less than the carrying value of the asset, we will then determine the fair value of the asset group. An impairment loss would be recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset
| 38 |
exceeded the fair value of the asset. Significant management judgement is required to determine the fair value of long-lived assets, which includes discounted cash flows. Such estimates could be significantly affected by future changes in market conditions. During fiscal year 2020, we concluded the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our industry and our operating results was an indicator that impairment may exist related to certain of our long-lived assets. As a result, we performed a recoverability test for the One Earth and NuGen asset groups (the lowest level at which related cash flows can be identified) and determined that there was no impairment as the gross undiscounted future cash flows substantially exceeded the respective carrying values. We recorded no impairment charges in fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Income Taxes – Income taxes are recorded based on the current year amounts payable or refundable, as well as the consequences of events that give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities based on differences in how those events are treated for tax purposes, net of valuation allowances. We base our estimate of deferred tax assets and liabilities on current tax laws and rates and other expectations about future outcomes. Changes in existing regulatory tax laws and rates and future business results may affect the amount of deferred tax liabilities or the valuation of deferred tax assets over time. We have established valuation allowances for certain state net operating loss carryforwards. We assessed all available positive and negative evidence to determine whether we expect sufficient future taxable income will be generated to allow for the realization of existing federal deferred tax assets. Despite the cumulative book loss incurred over the three-year period ended January 31, 2021, we believe there is sufficient objectively verifiable income for management to conclude that it is more likely than not that the Company will utilize available federal deferred tax assets prior to their expiration. However, realization of these deferred tax assets is not certain. Changes in our current estimates for factors such as unanticipated market conditions and legislative developments could have a material effect on our ability to utilize deferred tax assets. As we earn federal income tax credits (pursuant to IRC Section 45) based on the amount of refined coal produced and sold, variations in refined coal production and related sales will result in changes in our future effective income tax rate.
New Accounting Pronouncements
For information related to recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
| 39 |
| Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
We are exposed to the impact of market fluctuations associated with commodity prices as discussed below.
Commodity Price Risk
We manage a portion of our risk with respect to the volatility of commodity prices inherent in the ethanol industry by using forward purchase and sale contracts. At January 31, 2021, One Earth and NuGen combined had purchase commitments for approximately 6.4 million bushels of corn, the principal raw material for their ethanol plants. At January 31, 2021, One Earth and NuGen combined had purchase commitments for approximately 1.4 million MmBtu of natural gas. At January 31, 2021, One Earth and NuGen had combined sales commitments for approximately 38.6 million gallons of ethanol, 73,000 tons of distillers grains and 21.6 million pounds of non-food grade corn oil. Our exposures to market risk, which include the impact of our risk management activities, are based on the estimated effect on pre-tax income starting on January 31, 2021, are as follows (amounts in thousands):
| Commodity | Estimated Total Volume for the Next 12 Months |
Unit of Measure | Decrease in Pre-tax Income From a 10% Adverse Change in Price | |||
| Ethanol | 280,000 | Gallons | $40,422 | |||
| Corn | 100,000 | Bushels | $47,558 | |||
| Distillers Grains | 700 | Tons | $12,304 | |||
| Non-food grade Corn Oil | 75,000 | Pounds | $ 1,721 | |||
| Natural Gas | 7,400 | MmBtu | $ 1,933 |
| 40 |
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
REX AMERICAN RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in Thousands)
| January 31, | ||||||||
| ASSETS | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
| CURRENT ASSETS: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Short-term investments | ||||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | ||||||||
| Inventory | ||||||||
| Refundable income taxes | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other | ||||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||||
| Property and equipment - net | ||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | ||||||||
| Other assets | ||||||||
| Equity method investments | ||||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | $ | ||||||
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable – trade (includes $ | $ | $ | ||||||
| Current operating lease liabilities | ||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (includes $ | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| LONG-TERM LIABILITIES: | ||||||||
| Deferred taxes | ||||||||
| Long-term operating lease liabilities | ||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | ||||||||
| Total long-term liabilities | ||||||||
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 12) | ||||||||
| EQUITY: | ||||||||
| REX shareholders’ equity: | ||||||||
| Common stock, | ||||||||
| Paid in capital | ||||||||
| Retained earnings | ||||||||
| Treasury stock, | ( | ( | ||||||
| Total REX shareholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests | ||||||||
| Total equity | ||||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | $ | ||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
| 41 |
REX AMERICAN RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
| Years Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Net sales and revenue | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Cost of sales (includes $ | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit | ||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses (includes $( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates | ||||||||||||
| Interest and other income, net | ||||||||||||
| (Loss) income before income taxes | ( | ( | ||||||||||
| Benefit for income taxes | ||||||||||||
| Net income | ||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net income attributable to REX common shareholders | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted | ||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net income per share attributable to REX common shareholders | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
| 42 |
REX AMERICAN RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2021, 2020 AND 2019
(Amounts in Thousands)
| REX Shareholders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Shares Issued | Treasury | Paid-in | Retained | Noncontrolling | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Capital | Earnings | Interest | Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 31, 2018 | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital contributions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Treasury stock acquired | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests distribution and other | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of equity awards, stock based compensation expense and related tax effects | - | - | ( | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 31, 2019 | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital contributions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests distribution and other | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of equity awards, stock based compensation expense and related tax effects | - | - | ( | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 31, 2020 | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital contributions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Treasury stock acquired | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests distribution and other | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of equity awards and stock based compensation expense | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 31, 2021 | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
| 43 |
REX AMERICAN RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in Thousands)
| Years Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation | ||||||||||||
| Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets | - | |||||||||||
| Stock based compensation expense | ||||||||||||
| Income from equity method investments | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Dividends received from equity method investments | ||||||||||||
| Interest income from investments | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Gain on disposal of real estate and property and equipment | ( | - | ||||||||||
| Deferred income tax | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | ( | ( | ||||||||||
| Inventory | ( | ( | ||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | ( | ( | ||||||||||
| Income taxes refundable | ( | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable-trade | ( | |||||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | ||||||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Purchases of short-term investments | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Sales of short-term investments | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of real estate and property and equipment | - | - | ||||||||||
| Repayment of note receivable | - | |||||||||||
| Deposits | ( | - | ||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||||
| Treasury stock acquired | ( | - | ( | |||||||||
| Payments to noncontrolling interests holders | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Capital contributions from minority investor | ||||||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| NET DECREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH-Beginning of year | ||||||||||||
| CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH-End of year | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Non cash financing activities-Equity awards issued | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Non cash financing activities-Equity awards accrued | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Non cash investing activities-Accrued capital expenditures | $ | $ | $ | - | ||||||||
| Initial right-of-use assets and liabilities recorded upon adoption of ASC 842 | $ | - | $ | $ | - | |||||||
| Right-of-use assets acquired and liabilities incurred upon lease execution | $ | $ | $ | - | ||||||||
| Reconciliation of total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash: | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
| 44 |
REX AMERICAN RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| 1. | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Principles of Consolidation
– The accompanying financial statements consolidate the operating results and financial position of REX American
Resources Corporation and its wholly-owned and majority owned subsidiaries (the “Company” or “REX”). All
intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. As of January 31, 2021, the Company owns interests in
Fiscal Year – All references in these consolidated financial statements to a particular fiscal year are to the Company’s fiscal year ended January 31. For example, “fiscal year 2020” means the period February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021. The Company refers to its fiscal year by reference to the year immediately preceding the January 31 fiscal year end date.
Segments –
The Company has
In applying the criteria set
forth in ASC 280, the Company determined that based on the nature of the products and production process and the expected financial
results, the Company’s operations at its ethanol plants are aggregated into
Use of Estimates – The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash Equivalents – Cash equivalents are principally short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less. The carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates fair value.
Concentrations of Risk
–The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents in accounts with financial institutions which exceed federally
insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. The Company does not believe there is significant
credit risk related to its cash and cash equivalents.
Inventory – Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost for all inventories is determined using the first-in, first-out method. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonable predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. Inventory includes direct production costs and certain overhead costs such as depreciation, property taxes and utilities related to producing ethanol and related by-products and refined coal. Inventory is
| 45 |
permanently written down for
instances when cost exceeds estimated net realizable value; such write-downs are based primarily upon commodity prices as the market
value of inventory is often dependent upon changes in commodity prices. The company recorded approximately $
| January 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Ethanol and other finished goods | $ | $ | ||||||
| Work in process | ||||||||
| Grain and other raw materials | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
Property and Equipment
– Property and equipment is recorded at cost or the fair value on the date of acquisition (for property and equipment
acquired in a business combination).
| January 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Land and improvements | $ | $ | ||||||
| Buildings and improvements | ||||||||
| Machinery, equipment and fixtures | ||||||||
| Construction in progress | ||||||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
In accordance with ASC 360-05 “Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, the carrying value of long-lived assets is assessed for recoverability by management when changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews its long-lived assets, consisting of property and equipment, equity method investments and operating lease right-of-use assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The Company assesses long-lived assets for impairment by first determining the forecasted, undiscounted cash flows the asset group is expected to generate. If this total is less than the carrying value of the asset, the Company will then determine the fair value of the asset group. An impairment loss would be recognized in the amount
| 46 |
by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeded the fair value of the asset. Significant management judgement is required to determine the fair value of long-lived assets, which includes discounted cash flows. Such estimates could be significantly affected by future changes in market conditions. During fiscal year 2020, the Company concluded the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ethanol industry and the Company’s operating results was an indicator that impairment may exist related to certain of its long-lived assets. As a result, the Company performed a recoverability test and determined that there was no impairment. The Company recorded no impairment charges in fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Depreciation expense was approximately
$
Investments – The method of
accounting applied to long-term investments, whether consolidated, equity or cost, involves an evaluation of the significant terms
of each investment that explicitly grant or suggest evidence of control or influence over the operations of the investee and also
includes the identification of any variable interests in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for
investments in limited liability companies in which it may have a less than
The Company periodically evaluates its investments for impairment due to declines in market value considered to be other than temporary. Such impairment evaluations include, in addition to persistent, declining market prices, general economic and company-specific evaluations. If the Company determines that a decline in market value is other than temporary, then a charge to earnings is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and a new cost basis in the investment is established.
Short-term investments, consisting of U.S. government obligations and certificates of deposit, are considered held-to-maturity, and therefore are carried at amortized historical cost.
Revenue Recognition – For ethanol and by-products segment sales, the Company recognizes sales of ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil when obligations under the terms of the respective contracts with customers are satisfied; this occurs with the transfer of control of products, generally upon shipment from the ethanol plant or upon loading of the rail car used to transport the products. For refined coal segment sales, the Company recognizes sales of refined coal when obligations under the term of the contract with its customer are satisfied; this occurs when control of the product transfers to the customer, generally upon the coal leaving the refined coal plant. Refined coal sales are recorded net of the cost of coal as the Company purchases the coal feedstock from the customer to which refined coal is sold (after processing). Sales, value add and other taxes the Company collects concurrent with revenue producing activities are excluded from net sales and revenue.
The majority of the Company’s sales have payment terms ranging from 5 to 10 days after transfer of control. The Company has determined that sales contracts do not generally include a significant financing component. The Company has not historically, and does not intend to, enter into sales contracts in which payment is due from a customer prior to transferring product to the customer. Thus, the Company does not record contract liabilities.
| 47 |
See Note 13 for disaggregation of net sales and revenue by operating segment and by product.
Cost of Sales – Cost of sales includes depreciation, costs of raw materials, inbound freight charges, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, other distribution expenses, warehousing costs, plant management, certain compensation costs and general facility overhead charges.
SG&A Expenses –
The Company includes non-production related costs such as professional fees, outbound freight charges, selling charges
and certain payroll in SG&A expenses. Outbound freight charges were approximately $
Financial Instruments
– Certain of the forward grain purchase and ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil sale contracts are accounted
for under the “normal purchases and normal sales” scope exemption of ASC 815, because these arrangements are for purchases
of grain that will be delivered in quantities expected to be used and sales of ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn
oil that will be produced in quantities expected to be sold by us over a reasonable period of time in the normal course of business.
During fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018 there were no material settlements of forward contracts that were recorded at fair value.
The company recorded an asset of approximately $
The Company uses derivative financial instruments (exchange-traded futures contracts and swaps) to manage a portion of the risk associated with changes in commodity prices, primarily related to corn and ethanol. The Company monitors and manages this exposure as part of its overall risk management policy. As such, the Company seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on its operating results. The Company may take hedging positions in these commodities as one way to mitigate risk. While the Company attempts to link its hedging activities to purchase and sales activities, there are situations in which these hedging activities can themselves result in losses. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The changes in fair value of these derivative financial instruments are recognized in current period earnings as the Company does not use hedge accounting.
Stock Compensation –
The Company has a stock-based compensation plan, approved by its shareholders, which reserves a total of
Income Taxes – The Company provides for deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company provides for a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company’s annual effective tax rate includes the impact of its refined coal operation and the expected federal income tax credits to be earned and the impact of research and experimentation credits.
| 48 |
Comprehensive Income – The Company has no components of other comprehensive income, and therefore, comprehensive income equals net income.
New Accounting Pronouncements – Effective February 1, 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-13, “Changes to Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements”, which improves the effectiveness of recurring and non-recurring fair value measurements disclosures. This standard removes, modifies and adds certain disclosure requirements. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”, which removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Accounting Standards Codification 740 (“ASC 740”), “Income Taxes”. The new guidance also improves the consistent application of and simplifies U.S. accounting standards for other areas of ASC 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The amendments are effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
| 2. | INVESTMENTS |
The Company’s equity method
investment in Big River is accounted for under ASC 323.
| January 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Carrying amount | $ | $ | ||||||
| Ownership percentage | ||||||||
The Company invested approximately
$
| 49 |
following tables (amounts in thousands):
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
| Current assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Non current assets | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Current liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
| Long-term liabilities | - | |||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
| Noncontrolling interests | $ | $ | ||||||
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Net sales and revenue | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Income from continuing operations | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Big River has debt agreements
that limit and restrict amounts the entity can pay in the form of dividends or advances to owners. The restricted net assets of
Big River at January 31, 2021 are approximately $
At January 31, 2021, the Company
owned certificates of deposit (classified as short-term investments) that had an amortized cost, or carrying value, of approximately
$
At January 31, 2020, the Company
owned certificates of deposit that had an amortized cost, or carrying value, of approximately $
| 3. | FAIR VALUE |
The Company applies ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”) which defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.
The Company determines the fair market values of its financial instruments based on the fair value hierarchy established by ASC 820, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values which are provided below. The Company carries certain cash equivalents, investments and derivative financial instruments at fair value.
| 50 |
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 1 assets and liabilities include debt and equity securities and derivative contracts that are traded in an active exchange market, as well as certain U.S. Treasury securities that are highly liquid and are actively traded in over-the-counter markets.
Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 2 assets and liabilities include derivative contracts whose value is determined using a pricing model with inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally or corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methods, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. Unobservable inputs are developed based on the best information available, which may include the Company’s own data.
The fair values of derivative assets and liabilities traded in the over-the-counter market are determined using quantitative models that require the use of multiple market inputs including interest rates, prices and indices to generate pricing and volatility factors, which are used to value the position. The predominance of market inputs are actively quoted and can be validated through external sources, including brokers, market transactions and third-party pricing services. Estimation risk is greater for derivative asset and liability positions that are either option-based or have longer maturity dates where observable market inputs are less readily available or are unobservable, in which case interest rate, price or index scenarios are extrapolated in order to determine the fair value. The fair values of derivative assets and liabilities include adjustments for market liquidity, counterparty credit quality, the Company’s own credit standing and other specific factors, where appropriate. The fair values of property and equipment are determined by using various models that discount future expected cash flows.
To ensure the prudent application of estimates and management judgment in determining the fair value of derivative assets and liabilities and property and equipment, various processes and controls have been adopted, which include: (i) model validation that requires a review and approval for pricing, financial statement fair value determination and risk quantification; and (ii) periodic review and substantiation of profit and loss reporting for all derivative instruments. Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value at January 31, 2021 on a recurring basis are summarized below (amounts in thousands):
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total
Fair Value | |||||||||||||
| Forward purchase contracts asset (1) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Investment in cooperative (2) | ||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | - | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
| Commodity futures (3) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| 51 |
Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value at January 31, 2020 on a recurring basis are summarized below (amounts in thousands):
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total Fair Value | |||||||||||||
| Commodity futures (4) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Investment in cooperative (2) | ||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | - | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
| Forward purchase contracts liability (5) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| (1) |
| (2) |
| (3) |
| (4) |
| (5) |
The Company determined the fair value of the investment in cooperative by using a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows. Inputs used in the analysis include the face value of the allocated equity amount, the projected term for repayment based upon a historical trend, and a risk adjusted discount rate based on the expected compensation participants would demand because of the uncertainty of the future cash flows. The inherent risk and uncertainty associated with unobservable inputs could have a significant effect on the actual fair value of the investment. The changes in the balances of the investment in cooperative represent the change in the fair value.
No other financial instruments were elected to be measured at fair value in accordance with ASC 470-20-25-21.
There were no assets measured at fair value at January 31, 2021 and 2020 on a non-recurring basis.
| 52 |
| 4. | OTHER ASSETS |
The components of other noncurrent assets are as follows (amounts in thousands):
| January 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Deferred taxes | $ | $ | ||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
| 5. | ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES |
The components of accrued expenses and other current liabilities at January 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows (amounts in thousands):
| January 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Accrued payroll and related items | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued utility charges | ||||||||
| Accrued transportation related items | ||||||||
| Commodity futures | - | |||||||
| Accrued real estate taxes | ||||||||
| Accrued income taxes | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
| 6. | LEASES |
The Company used the optional transition method in adopting ASC Topic 842 “Leases” (“ASC 842”), which resulted in applying ASC 842 at the date of adoption (February 1, 2019). Thus, comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under accounting standards in effect for those periods.
ASC 842 provides for three practical expedients, which the Company elected as a package. Pursuant to this package, the Company did not reassess: i) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases; ii) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases that were previously classified as operating leases; or iii) the initial direct costs for any existing leases.
The Company elected the practical expedient, available pursuant to ASC 842, for lessees to include both lease and non-lease components as a single component and account for it as a lease. In general, certain maintenance costs are the responsibility of the Company under its railcar leases. These maintenance costs are a non-lease component which the Company elected to combine with rental payments and account for the total amount as operating lease expense.
| 53 |
At January 31, 2021, the Company
has lease agreements, as lessee, for railcars. All the leases are accounted for as operating leases. The lease agreements do not
contain a specified implicit interest rate; therefore, the Company’s estimated incremental borrowing rate was used to determine
the present value of future minimum lease payments. The exercise of any lease renewal is at the Company’s sole discretion.
The lease term for all the Company’s leases includes the noncancelable period of the lease and any periods covered by renewal options
that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. Certain leases include rent escalations pre-set in the agreements, which are
factored into the lease payment stream.
| Fiscal Year | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
| Operating lease expense | $ | $ | ||||||
| Variable lease expense | ||||||||
| Total lease expense | $ | $ | ||||||
The following table is a summary of future minimum rentals on such leases at January 31, 2021 (amounts in thousands):
Years Ended January 31, | Minimum Rentals | |||
| 2022 | $ | |||
| 2023 | ||||
| 2024 | ||||
| 2025 | ||||
| 2026 | ||||
| Total | ||||
| Less: present value discount | ||||
| Operating lease liabilities | $ | |||
At January 31, 2021, the weighted
average remaining lease term is
| 54 |
The following table is a summary of future minimum rentals on such leases at January 31, 2020 (amounts in thousands):
| Years Ended January 31, | Minimum Rentals | |||
| 2021 | $ | |||
| 2022 | ||||
| 2023 | ||||
| 2024 | ||||
| 2025 | ||||
| Thereafter | ||||
| Total | ||||
| Less: present value discount | ||||
| Operating lease liabilities | $ | |||
At January 31, 2020, the weighted
average remaining lease term is
| 7. | COMMON STOCK |
During fiscal years 2020 and
2018, the Company purchased approximately
| January 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Authorized shares | ||||||||
| Issued shares | ||||||||
| Outstanding shares | ||||||||
| 8. | DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
The Company is exposed to various market risks, including changes in commodity prices (raw materials and finished goods). To manage risks associated with the volatility of these natural business exposures, the Company enters into commodity agreements (exchange-traded futures contracts and swaps) and forward purchase (corn) and sale (ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil) contracts. The Company does not purchase or sell derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The Company does not purchase or sell derivative financial instruments for which a lack of marketplace quotations would require the use of fair value estimation techniques. The changes in fair value of these derivative financial instruments are recognized in current period earnings as the Company does not use hedge accounting.
| 55 |
The following table provides information about the fair values of the Company’s derivative financial instruments and the line items on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in which the fair values are reflected (in thousands):
| Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||||||||||||
| Fair Value at January 31, | Fair Value at January 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
| Commodity futures (1) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Forward purchase contracts (2) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| (1) |
| (2) |
As of January 31, 2021, and
2020, all of the derivative financial instruments held by the Company were subject to enforceable master netting arrangements.
The Company’s accounting policy is to offset positions owed or owing with the same counterparty. As of January 31, 2021,
and 2020 the gross positions of the enforceable master netting agreements are not significantly different from the net positions
presented in the table above. Depending on the amount of unrealized gains and losses on derivative contracts held by the Company,
the counterparty may require collateral to secure the Company’s derivative contract positions. As of January 31, 2021, and
2020, the Company was required to maintain collateral with the counterparty in the amount of approximately $
The Company recognized gains (losses) (included
in cost of sales) on derivative financial instruments of approximately $(
The Company recognized gains (losses) (included
in net sales and revenue) on derivative financial instruments of $(
| 9. | EMPLOYEE BENEFITS |
The Company maintains the REX
2015 Incentive Plan, approved by its shareholders, which reserves a total of
| 56 |
for issuance under the Plan. As a component of their compensation, restricted stock has been granted to directors at the market price of REX common stock on the date of the grant. In addition, one third of executives’ incentive compensation is payable by an award of restricted stock based on the then market price of REX common stock. The Company’s board of directors has determined that the grant date will be June 15th, or the next business day, for all grants of restricted stock.
At January 31, 2021 and 2020,
unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock was approximately $
| 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Weighted | Weighted | |||||||||||
| Average Grant | Average Remaining | |||||||||||
| Non-Vested | Date Fair Value | Vesting Term | ||||||||||
| Shares | (000’s) | (in years) | ||||||||||
| Non-Vested at January 31, 2020 | $ | |||||||||||
| Granted | ||||||||||||
| Forfeited | - | - | ||||||||||
| Vested | ||||||||||||
| Non-Vested at January 31, 2021 | $ | |||||||||||
| 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Weighted | Weighted | |||||||||||
| Average Grant | Average Remaining | |||||||||||
| Non-Vested | Date Fair Value | Vesting Term | ||||||||||
| Shares | (000’s) | (in years) | ||||||||||
| Non-Vested at January 31, 2019 | $ | |||||||||||
| Granted | ||||||||||||
| Forfeited | - | - | ||||||||||
| Vested | ||||||||||||
| Non-Vested at January 31, 2020 | $ | |||||||||||
| 2018 | ||||||||||||
| Weighted | Weighted | |||||||||||
| Average Grant | Remaining Vesting | |||||||||||
| Non-Vested | Date Fair Value | Vesting Term | ||||||||||
| Shares | (000’s) | (in years) | ||||||||||
| Non-Vested at January 31, 2018 | $ | |||||||||||
| Granted | ||||||||||||
| Forfeited | - | - | ||||||||||
| Vested | ||||||||||||
| Non-Vested at January 31, 2019 | $ | |||||||||||
The above tables include
| 57 |
| 10. | COMMITMENTS |
At January 31, 2021, One Earth
and NuGen have combined forward purchase contracts for approximately
At January 31, 2021, One Earth
and NuGen have combined sales commitments for approximately
One Earth has entered into
an agreement with an unrelated party for the use of a portion of that party’s natural gas pipeline. The term of the original
agreement was
One Earth and NuGen each have
a contract with an unrelated party (“Distillers Grains Marketers”) for distillers grains marketing services. Under
the terms of the contracts, the Distillers Grains Marketers will purchase all of One Earth’s and NuGen’s distillers grains
production during the term of the contracts. The contracts call for One Earth and NuGen to pay a fee per ton of distillers grains
sold for the Distillers Grains Marketers’ services. The terms of the agreements are for one year and renew automatically
for additional one-year terms, unless either party sends notice to the other party of its intent to terminate the agreement at
least 90 days prior to the expiration of the then current term of the agreement. One Earth and NuGen combined incurred fees of
approximately $
The refined coal entity has
various agreements (site license, operating agreements, etc.) containing payment terms based upon production of refined coal under
which the Company is required to pay various fees. These fees totaled approximately $
| 58 |
| 11. | INCOME TAXES |
The (benefit) provision for income taxes for fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018 consist of the following (amounts in thousands):
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Federal: | ||||||||||||
| Current | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Deferred | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
| State and Local: | ||||||||||||
| Current | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Deferred | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||
| Benefit for income taxes | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
The tax effects of significant temporary differences representing deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (amounts in thousands):
| January 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||
| General business credit carryforward | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued liabilities | ||||||||
| State net operating loss carryforward | ||||||||
| Other items | ||||||||
| Valuation allowance | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total | ||||||||
| Liabilities: | ||||||||
| Basis in pass through entities, including depreciation | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Other | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net deferred tax asset | $ | $ | ||||||
The Company has a general business
credit carryforward of approximately $
The Company has a valuation allowance of approximately
$
| 59 |
The Company assessed all available positive and negative evidence to determine whether it expects sufficient future taxable income will be generated to allow for the realization of existing federal deferred tax assets. For the three year period ended January 31, 2021, the Company has a cumulative pre-tax book loss on a comprehensive basis, including the impact of an operation that has historically produced pre-tax book losses, but after tax net income. The Company expects that this entity will cease operations in fiscal year 2021. There is sufficient objectively verifiable income for management to conclude that it is more likely than not that the Company will utilize available federal deferred tax assets prior to their expiration.
Through its refined coal operation, the Company
earns production tax credits pursuant to IRC Section 45. The credits can be used to reduce future income tax liabilities for up
to 20 years. These credits increased the income tax benefit by approximately $
During fiscal years 2020, 2019
and 2018, the Company recognized an income tax benefit for federal and state research and experimentation credits (net of uncertain
tax position expense) of approximately $
The Company paid income taxes
of approximately $
Reconciliations of the federal statutory tax and the Company’s income tax (benefit) expense for fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018 are as follows (amounts in thousands):
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Federal income tax at statutory rate | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||
| State and local taxes, net of federal tax benefit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Section 45 production tax credits | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Research and experimentation credits | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Tax Cuts and Jobs Act | - | - | ||||||||||
| Domestic production activities deduction | - | - | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Uncertain tax positions | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Other | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
The Company files a U.S. federal income tax return and income tax returns in various states. In general, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state or local income tax examinations by tax authorities for fiscal years ended January 31, 2014 and prior. The Company is currently undergoing a federal income tax examination for the years ended January 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
| 60 |
The Company applies the provisions
of ASC 740-10-25-5 for uncertain tax positions. As of January 31, 2021, total unrecognized tax benefits were approximately $
On a quarterly and annual basis,
the Company accrues for the effects of open uncertain tax positions and the related potential penalties and interest. It is reasonably
possible that the amount of the unrecognized tax benefit with respect to certain unrecognized tax positions will increase or decrease
during the next 12 months; however, the Company does not expect the change to have a material effect on results of operations or
financial position.
| Fiscal Year | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
| Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of year | $ | $ | ||||||
| Changes for tax positions for prior years | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Changes for tax positions for current year | ||||||||
| Unrecognized tax benefits, end of year | $ | $ | ||||||
| 12. | CONTINGENCIES |
The Company is involved in various legal actions arising in the normal course of business. After taking into consideration legal counsels’ evaluation of such actions, management is of the opinion that their outcome will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. There were no liabilities recorded at January 31, 2021 or 2020 as the Company did not believe that there was a probable and reasonably estimatable loss associated with any legal contingencies.
| 13. | SEGMENT REPORTING |
The Company has
| 61 |
The following tables summarize segment and other results and assets (amounts in thousands):
| Fiscal Year | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Net sales and revenue: | ||||||||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Refined coal 1 | ||||||||||||
| Total net sales and revenue | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Segment gross profit (loss): | ||||||||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Refined coal | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total gross profit | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| (Loss) income before income taxes: | ||||||||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Refined coal | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Corporate and other | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total (loss) income before income taxes | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | |||||||
| Benefit (provision) for income taxes: | ||||||||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||
| Refined coal | ||||||||||||
| Corporate and other | ||||||||||||
| Total benefit for income taxes | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Net income attributable to REX common shareholders: | ||||||||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Refined coal | ||||||||||||
| Corporate and other | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net income attributable to REX common shareholders | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
1
| 62 |
| Fiscal Year | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Sales of products, ethanol and by-products segment: | ||||||||||||
| Ethanol | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Dried distillers grains | ||||||||||||
| Non-food grade corn oil | ||||||||||||
| Modified distillers grains | ||||||||||||
| Derivative financial instruments losses | ( | - | - | |||||||||
| Other | ||||||||||||
| Total sales | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Sales of products, refined coal segment: | ||||||||||||
| Refined coal | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Interest income: | ||||||||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Refined coal | - | - | - | |||||||||
| Corporate and other | ||||||||||||
| Total interest income | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Depreciation expense: | ||||||||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Refined coal | ||||||||||||
| Corporate and other | ||||||||||||
| Total depreciation expense | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates: | ||||||||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Refined coal | - | - | - | |||||||||
| Corporate and other | - | - | - | |||||||||
| Total equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| 63 |
| January 31, | ||||||||
| Assets: | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | $ | ||||||
| Refined coal | ||||||||
| Corporate and other | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Additions to property and equipment: | ||||||||
| Ethanol and by-products | $ | $ | ||||||
| Refined coal | - | - | ||||||
| Corporate and other | - | |||||||
| Total additions to property and equipment | $ | $ | ||||||
All of the Company’s sales are in the domestic market. The Company’s customers make all decisions with regard to where products they purchase from the Company are distributed.
| 14. | QUARTERLY UNAUDITED INFORMATION |
The following tables set forth the Company’s net sales and revenue, gross profit, net income and net income per share (basic and diluted) for each quarter during the last two fiscal years. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.
| Quarters Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) | ||||||||||||||||
| April 30, | July 31, | October 31, | January 31, | |||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2020 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| Net sales and revenue | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Gross (loss) profit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to REX common shareholders | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share attributable to REX common shareholders (a) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||
| Quarters Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) | ||||||||||||||||
| April 30, | July 31, | October 31, | January 31, | |||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2019 | 2019 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
| Net sales and revenue | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit (loss) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to REX common shareholders | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to REX common shareholders (a) | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||
| a) |
| 64 |
| 15. | RELATED PARTIES |
During fiscal years 2020, 2019
and 2018, One Earth and NuGen, combined, purchased approximately $
During fiscal years 2020, 2019
and 2018, the Company recognized commission expense of approximately ($
During fiscal years 2020 and
2019, the Company received approximately $
******
| 65 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of REX American Resources Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of REX American Resources Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of January 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 2021, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 31, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 6 to the financial statements, as of February 1, 2019, the Company changed its method of accounting for leases due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
| 66 |
Income Taxes – Valuation Allowance — Refer to Notes 1 and 11 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company provides for deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company provides for a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
The Company has a general business credit carryforward of approximately $40.6 million at January 31, 2021. The Company can carry these credits forward for up to twenty years and the carryforward period begins to expire in fiscal year 2037. The Company assessed all available positive and negative evidence to determine whether it expects sufficient future taxable income will be generated to allow for the realization of existing federal deferred tax assets. For the three-year period ended January 31, 2021, the Company has a cumulative pre-tax book loss on a comprehensive basis, including the impact of an operation that has historically produced pre-tax book losses, but after tax net income. The Company expects that this entity will cease operations in fiscal year 2021. The Company expects to realize the federal deferred tax assets prior to their expiration based on their projection of future taxable income based on objectively verifiable historical results.
We identified management’s assertion that the federal deferred income tax assets are more likely than not going to be realized as a critical audit matter due to the significance of management’s judgments and the inherent uncertainty in forecasting financial results, coupled with the specialized tax knowledge that is necessary to accurately schedule future taxable income and deductions. A high degree of auditor judgment and the involvement of our tax specialists was required when performing audit procedures to evaluate management’s assertion.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures, with the assistance of income tax specialists, to evaluate management’s assertion that the unreserved federal deferred tax assets are more likely than not realizable included the following:
| ● | We tested the effectiveness of the Company’s controls over income taxes, including those over the evaluation of a valuation allowance and the projections of future taxable income. |
| ● | We evaluated management’s projections of future taxable income by: |
| ● | Evaluating management’s ability to accurately project future reversals of temporary differences including the use of tax planning strategies by comparing these projections to historical results, evaluation of current tax laws, and our understanding of anticipated future events. |
| ● | Testing the reasonableness of management’s determination of the Company’s objectively verifiable income by: |
| ● | Testing that applicable amounts agree to historical results |
| ● | Testing the normalization for appropriate one-time items |
| ● | We evaluated management’s assessment that it is more likely than not that sufficient taxable income will be generated in the future to utilize the federal deferred tax assets. |
| ● | We tested the mathematical accuracy of the Company’s valuation allowance analysis. |
| ● | We evaluated whether the projections of future taxable income were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. |
| 67 |
| ● | We evaluated the sufficiency of the Company’s disclosures related to the realizability of deferred income tax assets and valuation allowances in the financial statements. |
/s/ Deloitte and Touche LLP
Dayton, Ohio
April 12, 2021
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2002.
| 68 |
REX AMERICAN RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Schedule II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2021, 2020 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands)
| Additions | Deductions | |||||||||||||||
| Balance | Charged to | Charges for | Balance | |||||||||||||
| Beginning | Cost and | Which Reserves | End | |||||||||||||
| of Year | Expenses | Were Created | of Year | |||||||||||||
| 2021: | ||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax valuation allowance | $ | 232 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 232 | ||||||||
| 2020: | ||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax valuation allowance | $ | 232 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 232 | ||||||||
| 2019: | ||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax valuation allowance | $ | 241 | $ | - | $ | 9 | $ | 232 | ||||||||
| Item 9. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
None.
| Item 9A. | Controls and Procedures |
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management evaluated, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a–15(e) and 15d–15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Our officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are also effective at the reasonable assurance level to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
| 69 |
Material Changes to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems deemed to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2021 based on the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based upon this assessment, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of January 31, 2021 based on those criteria.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2021 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.
| /s/ ZAFAR RIZVI | Chief Executive Officer and President | |
| Zafar Rizvi | (principal executive officer) | April 12, 2021 |
| /s/ DOUGLAS L. BRUGGEMAN | Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |
| Douglas L. Bruggeman | (principal financial and accounting officer) | April 12, 2021 |
| 70 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of REX American Resources Corporation
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of REX American Resources Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of January 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended January 31, 2021, of the Company and our report dated April 12, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and included an explanatory paragraph related to the Company’s change in its method of accounting for leases due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), as of February 1, 2019.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
| 71 |
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Deloitte and Touche LLP
Dayton, Ohio
April 12, 2021
| 72 |
| Item 9B. | Other Information |
None.
PART III
| Item 10. | Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance |
The information required by this Item 10 is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 16, 2021, except for certain information concerning our executive officers which is set forth in Part I of this report.
| Item 11. | Executive Compensation |
The information required by this Item 11 is set forth in the Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 16, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
The information required by this Item 12 is set forth in the Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 16, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 13. | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence |
The information required by this Item 13 is set forth in the Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 16, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 14. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services |
The information required by this Item 14 is set forth in the Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 16, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
| Item 15. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules |
(a)(1) Financial Statements
The following consolidated financial statements of REX American Resources Corporation and subsidiaries are filed as a part of this report at Item 8 hereof.
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended January 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended January 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended January 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
| 73 |
(a)(2)(i) Financial Statement Schedules
The following financial statement schedules are filed as a part of this report at Item 8 hereof.
Schedule II -Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or not required, or because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
(a)(3) Exhibits
EXHIBIT INDEX
| 74 |
| (21) | Subsidiaries of the registrant: | ||
| 21 | Subsidiaries of registrant.............................................................................................................................. | ||
| (23) | Consents of experts and counsel: | ||
| 23(a) | Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP to use its reports dated April 12, 2021 included in this annual report on Form 10-K into registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-205419). ........................................................................................................................................................ | ||
| (31) | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications: | ||
| 31 | Certifications.................................................................................................................................................... | ||
| (32) | Section 1350 Certifications: | ||
| 32 | Certifications.................................................................................................................................................... | ||
| 75 |
| (101) | Interactive Data File: |
| 101 | The following information from REX American Resources Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, formatted in iXBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. | |
| Copies of the Exhibits not filed herewith may be obtained by writing to Edward M. Kress, Secretary, REX American Resources Corporation, 7720 Paragon Road, Dayton, Ohio 45459. |
Those exhibits marked with an asterisk (*) above are management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements for directors or executive officers of the registrant.
| Item 16. | Form 10-K Summary |
None.
| 76 |
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.
| REX AMERICAN RESOURCES CORPORATION | |
| By: /s/ ZAFAR RIZVI | |
| Zafar Rizvi | |
| Chief Executive Officer and President |
Date: April 12, 2021
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Capacity | Date | ||
| /s/ STUART A. ROSE | ||||
| Stuart A. Rose | Executive Chairman of the Board | April 12, 2021 | ||
| /s/ ZAFAR RIZVI | Chief Executive Officer, President | |||
| Zafar Rizvi | and Director (principal executive officer) | April 12, 2021 | ||
| /s/ DOUGLAS L. BRUGGEMAN | Vice President-Finance, Chief | |||
| Douglas L. Bruggeman | Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal financial and accounting officer) | April 12, 2021 | ||
| /s/ EDWARD M. KRESS | ||||
| Edward M. Kress | Director | April 12, 2021 | ||
| /s/ CHARLES A. ELCAN | ||||
| Charles A. Elcan | Director | April 12, 2021 | ||
| /s/ DAVID S. HARRIS | ||||
| David S. Harris | Director | April 12, 2021 | ||
| /s/ MERVYN L. ALPHONSO | ||||
| Mervyn L. Alphonso | Director | April 12, 2021 | ||
| /s/ LEE FISHER | ||||
| Lee Fisher | Director | April 12, 2021 | ||
| /s/ ANNE MACMILLAN | ||||
| Anne MacMillan | Director | April 12, 2021 |
| 77 |