Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC Announces Fiscal Results ended June 30, 2018

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, Aug. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC ("SIRE" or the "Company") announced its unaudited financial results for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018.

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

SIRE reported net loss of $(2.9) million or $(217.53) basic unit for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $9.6 million net income or $722.29 per basic unit for the nine months ended June 30, 2017.  SIRE reported net loss of $(3.2) million, or $(243.49) per unit for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to net income of $1.9, or $144.74 per basic unit, for the three months ended June 30, 2017.

SIRE revenue from operations was $157.7 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $162.2 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2017.  SIRE revenue from operations was $53.6  million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $54.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Modified EBITDA, which is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, and unrealized hedging gains and losses was $6.4 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $18.8 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2017.The Modified  EBITDA was  $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $5.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017.

The Company's debt increased $6.8 million at June 30, 2018 compared to September 30, 2017, as our continued paydown of term debt was offset by short term borrowing requirements of $11.7 million.

SIRE's book value was lower at June 30, 2018 by $9.6 million compared to September 30, 2017, due primarily to the $6.7 million paid in member distributions in January 2018.

SIRE had $1.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and $20.2 million available under revolving loan agreements, for total cash and available borrowings of $21.4 million at June 30, 2018. The cash flow provided by operating activities was $4.4 million compared to $11.7 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Brian Cahill, SIRE's President and CEO stated, "So far during Fiscal 2018, we have seen very tight margins, continuing the trends of the previous quarters.  Corn prices have increased per bushel as compared to Fiscal 2017, and the cost has increased over 13% in 2018 to date.   However, ethanol prices in the U.S. have been trending upwards over the past months, but still remain below last year's levels. We also underwent a more extended and extensive shutdown period this year, combining capital projects with enhancements to allow better and more consistent throughput in our operations. This resulted in more down time and higher expenses than in previous shutdowns. Demand for ethanol has been strong with the lower prices, both in the U.S. and abroad, as our shipments are up 4% compared to the first nine months of Fiscal 2017. 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 and price improvements in Fiscal 2018 as compared to 2017, and a shift to a heavier weighting for wet distiller grains.  We also experienced price improvement for distilled grains during the last quarter."

During the third quarter of Fiscal 2018, SIRE produced 29.9 gallons of ethanol, compared to 30.0 gallons during the third quarter of Fiscal 2017.  For the first nine months of Fiscal 2018, SIRE produced 93.5 million gallons of ethanol, compared to 90.9 million gallons in the first nine months 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 $6.4 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the $18.8 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2017 and $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $5.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The following sets forth the reconciliation of Net Income to Modified EBITDA for the periods indicated:

Statistical Information

Summary Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)

SOURCE Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC