Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022:

• Fourth quarter EPS of $(0.66) per basic and diluted share, compared to EPS of $(0.18) per basic and diluted share for the same period in the prior year
• Full Year EPS of $(2.29) per basic and diluted share, compared to EPS of $(1.41) per basic and diluted share for the prior year
• Positive fourth quarter consolidated ethanol crush margin of $0.03 per gallon, inclusive of negative impact of winter storms across the platform

Business Highlights:

• Protein technology currently operating at five facilities, with approximately 330,000 tons of annual capacity, and protein ingredients shipping from each of these facilities during the first quarter of 2023
• Protein sales program on track with achievement of contracted and anticipated recurring customer sales of approximately 75% of platform capacity for 2023 across numerous species and high-value markets
• Achieved record renewable corn oil yield across the platform, driven by MSC™ installations coming online
• Clean Sugar Technology™ construction at Green Plains Shenandoah underway and conversations advancing with numerous potential customers and co-location partners
• Development of a novel Sustainable Aviation Fuel technology underway through a joint venture, Blue Blade Energy, with United Airlines and Tallgrass
• Further executing on carbon strategy alternatives through potential opportunity in synthetic methane production with Osaka Gas USA and Tallgrass
• Strong position to continue executing transformation plan with $500.3 million of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash along with $235.0 million available under a committed credit facility

Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2022. Net loss attributable to the company was $38.6 million, or $(0.66) per basic and diluted share for the fourth quarter compared to net loss attributable to the company of $9.6 million, or $(0.18) per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2021. Revenues for the quarter were $914.0 million compared with $802.3 million for the same period in the prior year. EBITDA was $5.7 million for the quarter compared to $30.3 million for the same period in 2021.

“Execution on our transformation plan hit an important milestone in recent weeks with the completion of our fifth MSC system,” said Todd Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer. “These deployments of MSC are an important step toward what we believe will be significant earnings contributions in future quarters from this technology. During the fourth quarter, we continued to experience a challenging ethanol margin environment that was impacted significantly late in the quarter by both rail delays and weather-related shutdowns, coupled with continued seasonally high corn basis. Utilization remained strong at 93% during the quarter and despite the challenging macro operating environment, we achieved a positive consolidated crush margin of $0.03 per gallon. We have begun to see the positive impact from Ultra-High Protein production and expanded oil yields, as they were strong contributors in a weak ethanol margin environment.”

“Our strong protein ingredient sales program continues to accelerate,” added Becker. “Our customer base continues to grow, and when combined with anticipated recurring customer sales, we have approximately 75% of our platform capacity already spoken for and have sold out most of the first half of the year. With five facilities now operational, we are able to serve our customers from multiple locations, demonstrating the unique capabilities of our platform. With our production volumes and the redundancy of our platform increasing, we are beginning to realize the opportunity to future proof our customers’ animal feed diets to meet increasing consumer demand for healthier, low-carbon protein products. We have seen robust demand after demonstrating our ability to service customers with higher volumes. With our expanded reach, our products continue to be shipped to aqua, pet, poultry, swine, and dairy customers in North America, South America and Asia Pacific.”

Construction is progressing at the first commercial clean sugar facility in Shenandoah, Iowa, deploying Fluid Quip Technologies’ CST™ and laying the groundwork for a growing biocampus.

“We believe producing low-carbon dextrose to support the emerging bio-economy, in addition to traditional food and chemical users, is a game changing opportunity to maximize our production platform and unlock significant value for our shareholders as we attempt to disrupt a century old industry,” said Becker. “Our CST system at Shenandoah is leading to substantive discussions with interested co-location partners and potential customers. We believe this opportunity is larger than all other value drivers and when combined with protein and oil, will help leave traditional ethanol volatility in the rear-view mirror.”

“As we begin 2023, we finally see the inflection points in our transformation,” concluded Becker. “The milestones achieved during 2022 leave us in firm position to continue executing on our vision to maximize value by expanding production of our protein ingredients and renewable corn oil, capturing the biogenic carbon dioxide, and converting a portion of starch into dextrose. All of these initiatives are on track and our confidence that we will achieve our 2024 and beyond transformation financial guidance outlined at the beginning of this journey continues to grow.”

Full Year Highlights:

• Plant modernization and upgrade programs completed, returning platform to full utilization rate capability
• Achieved 60% protein concentration, as fed, at a trial at Green Plains Wood River in the second quarter using Fluid Quip Technologies’ MSC™ system combined with biological solutions exclusive to Green Plains
• Broke ground on MSC™ at turnkey solution partner Tharaldson Ethanol in Casselton, North Dakota, anticipated to be operational in early 2024
• Commenced construction of first commercial deployment of Clean Sugar Technology™ at Green Plains Shenandoah, anticipated to be operational in late 2023
• Announced aquafeed partnership with Riverence to expand trout and salmon feed production in Idaho
• Expanded protein sales to customers in North America, South America and Asia Pacific across multiple species

Results of Operations

Green Plains ethanol production segment sold 225.2 million gallons of ethanol during the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with 200.5 million gallons for the same period in 2021. The consolidated ethanol crush margin was $7.9 million, or $0.03 per gallon, for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with $41.0 million, or $0.20 per gallon, for the same period in 2021. The consolidated ethanol crush margin is the ethanol production segment’s operating income before depreciation and amortization, which includes renewable corn oil and Ultra-High Protein, plus intercompany storage, transportation, nonrecurring decommissioning costs, nonethanol operating activities and other fees, net of related expenses.

Consolidated revenues increased $111.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022, compared with the same period in 2021, primarily due to higher average selling prices and higher volumes sold for ethanol, distillers grains and renewable corn oil.

Net loss increased $28.4 million and EBITDA decreased $24.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022, compared with the same period the prior year, primarily due to lower ethanol crush margins. Interest expense decreased $0.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 compared with the same period in 2021. Income tax expense was $4.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 compared with income tax expense of $4.8 million for the same period in 2021.

Segment Information

The company reports the financial and operating performance for the following three operating segments: (1) ethanol production, which includes the production of ethanol, distillers grains, Ultra-High Protein and renewable corn oil, (2) agribusiness and energy services, which includes grain handling and storage, commodity marketing and merchant trading for company-produced and third-party ethanol, distillers grains, renewable corn oil, natural gas and other commodities and (3) partnership, which includes fuel storage and transportation services. Intercompany fees charged to the ethanol production segment for storage and logistics services, grain procurement and product sales are included in the partnership and agribusiness and energy services segments and eliminated upon consolidation. Third-party costs of grain consumed and revenues from product sales are reported directly in the ethanol production segment.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2022, Green Plains had $500.3 million in total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, and $235.0 million available under a committed revolving credit facility, which is subject to restrictions and other lending conditions. Total debt outstanding at December 31, 2022 was $634.8 million, including $137.7 million outstanding debt under working capital revolvers and other short-term borrowing arrangements and $58.6 million of non-recourse debt related to Green Plains Partners, net of debt issuance costs.

Conference Call Information

On February 8, 2023, Green Plains Inc. and Green Plains Partners LP will host a joint conference call at 9 a.m. Eastern time (8 a.m. Central time) to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2022 operating results for each company. Domestic and international participants can access the conference call by dialing 888.210.4215 and 646.960.0269, respectively, and referencing conference ID 5027523. The company advises participants to call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. Alternatively, the conference call and presentation will be accessible on Green Plains’ website here.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management uses EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, segment EBITDA and consolidated ethanol crush margins to measure the company’s financial performance and to internally manage its businesses. EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization excluding the change in right-of-use assets. Adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments related to our proportional share of EBITDA adjustments of our equity method investees, gains and losses related to the sale of assets, and other income associated with the USDA COVID-19 relief grant. Management believes these measures provide useful information to investors for comparison with peer and other companies. These measures should not be considered alternatives to net income or segment operating income, which are determined in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP calculations may vary from company to company. Accordingly, the company’s computation of adjusted EBITDA, segment EBITDA and consolidated ethanol crush margins may not be comparable with similarly titled measures of another company.

About Green Plains Inc.

Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is a leading biorefining company focused on the development and utilization of fermentation, agricultural and biological technologies in the processing of annually renewable crops into sustainable value-added ingredients. This includes the production of cleaner low carbon biofuels, renewable feedstocks for advanced biofuels and high purity alcohols for use in cleaners and disinfectants. Green Plains is an innovative producer of Ultra-High Protein and novel ingredients for animal and aquaculture diets to help satisfy a growing global appetite for sustainable protein. The Company also owns a 48.8% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest in Green Plains Partners LP. For more information, visit www.gpreinc.com.

About Green Plains Partners LP

Green Plains Partners LP (NASDAQ:GPP) is a fee-based Delaware limited partnership formed by Green Plains Inc. to provide fuel storage and transportation services by owning, operating, developing and acquiring ethanol and fuel storage terminals, transportation assets and other related assets and businesses. For more information about Green Plains Partners, visit www.greenplainspartners.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views, which are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, anticipated financial and operating results, plans and objectives that are not historical in nature. These statements may be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar expressions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include: competition in the industries in which Green Plains operates; commodity market risks, financial market risks; counterparty risks; risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, including changes to tax laws; risks related to closing and achieving anticipated results from acquisitions and disposals. Other factors can include risks associated with Green Plains’ ability to realize higher margins anticipated from the company’s high protein feed initiative or to achieve anticipated benefits from its plant upgrade and modernization program, disruption caused by health epidemics, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, and other risks discussed in Green Plains’ reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Green Plains assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

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