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8-K - 8-K - WESTERN PLAINS ENERGY LLCa10-9861_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

From the CEO’s Desk

 

Hello again!  Spring has finally sprung again in Northwest Kansas and many of you are busily out preparing for and planting next fall’s corn and milo crops.  Similarly, Western Plains Energy continues to busily working to continually improve operations.  Projects, projects, projects.  Beginning with the Enogen grain trials and commercialization work with Syngenta nearly three years ago, WPE has been steadily working to improve both current processes as well as trying out new technologies for the ethanol industry.  May is the month that many of these new ideas come on-line.

 

We have re-routed our CO2 scrubber to send the water to distillation instead of straight back to our process water.  By doing so, we were able to capture ethanol we were making and losing to the atmosphere.  This minor change is working well.  Capturing these lost gallons has resulted in a lower cost per gallon of ethanol production.

 

Chemical costs are another area of continual focus within the industry.  WPE is no different in this regard.  As is the case with many others in the ethanol industry, WPE has begun utilizing anhydrous ammonia in fermentation instead of urea.  This change has taken longer to implement than we had originally anticipated.  The fermentation process is very sensitive to pH.  The introduction of the anhydrous ammonia can change pH much more rapidly than usual and that affects the yeast reaction.  Although we have had some challenges in getting the system totally on-line, we have ceased introduction on anhydrous ammonia in the cook process and reduced the amount of Sulphuric acid as well.  As a result, chemical costs are down significantly.

 

This winter we began construction of a fifth fermenter.  In response to the new construction, I am often asked “is WPE expanding?”  Technically, the answer to that question is no.  The purpose of the fermenter is to extend fermentation time and increase ethanol yield per bushel.  As many of you know, the Enogen grain we have been utilizing allows us to have much higher starch levels in our fermenters than a traditional ethanol facility.  As a result, there is more work for the yeast to do.  The easiest way to think of the process is that the yeast have a bigger meal to consume and by adding an additional fermenter, we are giving them more time to finish it.

 

Along with my responsibilities at WPE, I continue to represent you and the ethanol industry at both the state and national level.  I am truly blessed to have such a fine staff and workforce at WPE.  The challenges for the industry remain pressing.  I will continue to fight these battles as the chairman of the Kansas Association of Ethanol Processors and as a board member of Growth Energy, an ethanol industry advocacy group.  Without a capable group at WPE, I would not be able to spend the time required to effectively perform these roles.  This summer, we anticipate that the EPA will rule on our petition to increase fuel blends to E15.  In addition to promoting higher blends, Growth Energy continues to fight back against our critics.  If you have not seen the national television advertisements airing on Fox News, CNN, HLN, and MSNBC you can go to www.growthenergy.org and view them.  You can also help by signing up to be

 



 

a member of Growth Force at the same web site.  Eventually, our elected officials need to execute a true energy policy.  Ethanol is the ONLY true answer.  While wind and solar are great energy sources, neither impact our dependence on foreign oil.  The US has not produced electricity in any measurable amount from crude oil in decades.  Oil is used for transportation fuel, and so long as we remain dependent upon it to power our vehicles, we will remain dependent upon foreign oil.

 

As always, I thank you for the opportunity to work for you.  Even with all of the challenges facing our industry, it is a pleasure to get up and go to work everyday.  Rest assured, we will continue to work hard for you in the future.  Be safe and enjoy the rest of the spring and have a great summer!

 

Sincerely,

 

/s/ Steven R. McNinch

 

Steven R. McNinch

 

CEO Western Plains Energy, L.L.C.

 

 



 

From the Financial Corner

 

We have just completed our second quarter for fiscal 2010.  Below you will find our unaudited income statement comparing the three and six month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.  Although we posted a modest increase in net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 as compared to fiscal 2009, thanks to a strong first quarter in fiscal 2010, we recognized nearly a $7.5 million year to date net income in fiscal 2010, as compared to a net loss of approximately $400,000 for fiscal 2009.  You will also find our balance sheet comparing our financial position at March 31, 2010 and September 30, 2009, the end of our 2009 fiscal year.  Although Member’s Equity declined modestly, primarily as a result of distributions paid to our Members, our balance sheet remains financially sound and our lack of debt has benefited our ability to weather the financial challenges the ethanol industry has experienced recently.

 

As Steve McNinch has stated, we continue to look for ways to improve our plant and all the current projects are proceeding on schedule. I would like to remind   you all to visit our website at westernplainsenergy.biz, where you can click on any of several links to access stock, proxy, SEC financial statement filings, and even the local weather. As always, if you have any questions that I can help with, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

 

Curt Sheldon

CAO, Western Plains Energy

 

WESTERN PLAINS ENERGY, L.L.C.

STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE THREE  AND SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010 AND 2009

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED

 

SIX MONTHS ENDED

 

 

 

MARCH 31,

 

MARCH 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUE

 

$

23,156,723

 

$

22,545,319

 

49,825,922

 

$

47,045,707

 

COST OF SALES

 

19,298,620

 

19,129,066

 

37,825,356

 

43,101,386

 

GROSS PROFIT

 

3,858,103

 

3,416,253

 

12,000,566

 

3,944,321

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses

 

689,718

 

603,303

 

1,341,246

 

1,179,371

 

Depreciation expense

 

1,646,773

 

1,593,886

 

3,273,686

 

3,192,999

 

Amortization expense

 

10,110

 

10,110

 

20,220

 

20,220

 

Total expenses

 

2,346,601

 

2,207,299

 

4,635,152

 

4,392,590

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

1,511,502

 

1,208,954

 

7,365,414

 

(448,269

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

(4,932

)

 

(9,973

)

Interest from Industrial Development Revenue Bonds

 

280,000

 

280,000

 

560,000

 

560,000

 

Plant lease expense

 

(280,000

)

(280,000

)

(560,000

)

(560,000

)

Bioenergy incentive program income

 

 

 

148,999

 

 

Interest income

 

16,438

 

16,688

 

32,762

 

43,255

 

Other income (expense)

 

(87,177

)

6,689

 

(87,177

)

6,689

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total other income (expense)

 

(70,739

)

18,445

 

94,584

 

39,971

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

1,440,763

 

$

1,227,399

 

$

7,459,998

 

$

(408,298

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (loss) on grain hedging contracts

 

(208,720

)

168,795

 

(390,808

)

826,053

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

1,232,043

 

1,396,194

 

7,069,190

 

417,755

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER UNIT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BASIC AND DILUTED

 

$

50.70

 

$

43.19

 

$

262.49

 

$

(14.37

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE UNITS OUTSTANDING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BASIC AND DILUTED

 

28,420

 

28,420

 

28,420

 

28,420

 

 



 

WESTERN PLAINS ENERGY, L.L.C.

BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

SEPTEMBER 30,2009

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Audited)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

1,801,822

 

8,352,894

 

Accounts receivable

 

5,220,938

 

4,852,593

 

Accounts receivable - government subsidies

 

 

700,000

 

Inventory

 

5,971,543

 

2,899,434

 

Prepaid expense

 

431,730

 

436,674

 

Commodities trading accounts - futures and options contracts

 

275,414

 

94,771

 

Total current assets

 

13,701,447

 

17,336,366

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

 

 

 

 

Land

 

701,872

 

701,872

 

Land improvements

 

1,237,029

 

1,220,677

 

Manufacturing equipment

 

39,218,326

 

39,029,728

 

Buildings

 

3,011,442

 

3,011,442

 

Vehicles

 

550,480

 

550,480

 

Grain Handling and other Equipment

 

4,946,789

 

3,742,557

 

Office equipment, furniture, fixtures

 

189,468

 

184,188

 

Construction-in-progress

 

2,032,789

 

679,828

 

Spare parts

 

842,809

 

727,145

 

 

 

52,731,004

 

49,847,917

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation

 

(37,688,027

)

(34,414,342

)

 

 

15,042,977

 

15,433,575

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in Industrial Development Revenue Bonds

 

32,000,000

 

32,000,000

 

Water rights

 

340,408

 

340,408

 

Loan origination fees, net

 

146,093

 

162,947

 

Financing fees, net

 

157,155

 

160,521

 

Deposits

 

97,834

 

97,834

 

 

 

32,741,490

 

32,761,710

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

61,485,914

 

$

65,531,651

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

$

4,286,845

 

$

3,607,416

 

Accrued interest

 

5,000

 

5,056

 

Total current liabilities

 

4,291,845

 

3,612,472

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEASE OBLIGATION

 

32,000,000

 

32,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEMBERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Class A Capital Units, 16,002 issued

 

10,910,140

 

10,910,140

 

Class B Capital Units, 12,068 issued

 

7,940,895

 

7,940,895

 

Class C Capital Units, 350 issued

 

250,000

 

250,000

 

Membership distributions

 

(87,378,600

)

(75,584,300

)

Accumulated comprehensive income

 

(2,321,954

)

(1,931,146

)

Retained earnings

 

95,793,588

 

88,333,590

 

Total members’ equity

 

25,194,069

 

29,919,179

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY

 

$

61,485,914

 

$

65,531,651