Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC Announces Financial Results for Q1 Fiscal 2018

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, Feb. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC ("SIRE" or the "Company") announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal 2018 (Amounts in $ and 000's, except Book Value per Unit)

SIRE reported net income of $1.2 million, or $88.62 per  unit, for the three months ended December 31, 2017, compared to a net income of $5.6 million, or $422.60 per unit, for the three months ended December 31, 2016.

SIRE revenue from operations was $50.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, compared to $52.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016.

Modified EBITDA, which is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, and unrealized hedging gains and losses was $4.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, compared to $8.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016.

The Company's debt continues to shrink, as we were able to reduce our total debt outstanding by $8.0 million dollars compared to December 31, 2016. This reduction included a $1.5 million prepayment of our term loan for March 2018.

SIRE's book value was lower at December 31, 2017 by $2.2 million compared to December 31, 2016.  However, the book value is net of $11.2 million paid in member distributions in February 2017, and accrued at December 31, 2017 for payment in January 2018.  The aggregate amount of distributions made to our members totaled $840 per unit.

SIRE had $2.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and $36.0 million available under revolving loan agreements, for a total cash and available borrowings of $38.5 million at December 31, 2017. The cash flow provided by operating activities was $8.5 million compared to $9.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Brian Cahill, SIRE's President and CEO stated, "this first quarter of Fiscal 2018, we saw very tight margins, continuing the trends of the previous quarter.  Corn prices are down slightly per bushel as compared to the first quarter of Fiscal 2017.   However, ethanol prices in the U.S. have been trending downwards over the past twelve months. Demand for ethanol has been strong with the lower prices, both in the U.S. and abroad. The industry has continued to adjust and we expect margins to remain positive but are becoming more dependent on continued good export demand. Our distiller grains have also seen increased demand offset by reduced prices, and a shift to a heavier weighting of wet distiller grains."

During the first quarter of Fiscal 2018, SIRE produced 31.7 million gallons of ethanol, compared to 29.9 million gallons during the first quarter of Fiscal 2017.  Cahill commented - "we continue to evaluate and implement new production technology.  We will continue to focus on running the plant efficiently, increasing our ethanol yield, with a balance of optimizing the yield and profit." 

About Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC:

SIRE is located on 275 acres in Council Bluffs, Iowa, operating a 140 million gallon per year ethanol plant. SIRE began producing ethanol in February, 2009 and sells its ethanol, distillers grains, corn syrup, and corn oil in the continental United States, Mexico and the Pacific Rim.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "1995 Act").  Such statements are made in good faith by SIRE and are identified as including terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "plans," or similar language.  In connection with these safe-harbor provisions, SIRE has identified in its Annual Report on Form 10-K , important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement made by or on behalf of SIRE, including, without limitation, the risk and nature of SIRE's business, and the effects of general economic conditions on SIRE. The forward-looking statements contained in this Press Release are included in the safe harbor protection provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. SIRE further cautions that such factors are not exhaustive or exclusive. SIRE does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement which may be made from time to time by or on behalf of SIRE.

Financial Results

Modified EBITDA

Management uses Modified EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, to measure the Company's financial performance and to internally manage its business. Management believes that Modified EBITDA provides useful information to investors as a measure of comparison with peer and other companies. Modified EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to net income or cash flow as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Modified EBITDA calculations may vary from company to company. Accordingly, our computation of Modified EBITDA may not be comparable with a similarly-titled measure of another company.

Modified EBITDA, which is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, unrealized hedging gains and losses, and other significant noncash expenses was $4.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 , compared to $8.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. The following sets forth the reconciliation of Net Income to Modified EBITDA for the periods indicated:

SOURCE Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC